I had a brief but fun Jazz Day Out when I finally made it to the Harrison West Jazz Stage for the first time to see the Robert Mason Trio on Sunday the 24th. The first Sunday of Fall was an unseasonable scorcher, but the trio’s cool tunes met the heat head on, starting with a summery take on Cedar Walton’s “Martha’s Prize.” Of what I saw, the band’s rendition of beautiful standard “Yesterdays” stood out. Mason’s solo was a pummeling, dazzling display of piano technique, bassist John Allen and drummer Willie Barthel added their own swinging passages, and the tune’s conclusion quietly gathered intensity before easing to a close. There is one more show left in the series’ excellent 2017 schedule – catch veteran Brazilian outfit Brasileira on Sunday, October 1st, featuring the return of beloved vocalist Kelly Delaveris!
Shows To See This Week
Friday, September 29th (8 – 10pm): Ohio State Big Bands: “Swingin’ in September” at Weigel Hall. All three of The Ohio State University’s big bands will take part in a fun concert to swing into a new school year! The Jazz Workshop Ensemble, directed by Mike Smith, will tackle some great swing tunes, including material by Mercer Ellington, Thad Jones, and Dizzy Gillespie. Under the direction of Jim Masters, the Jazz Lab Ensemble will delve into some hard bop classics from the likes of Horace Silver and Bobby Timmons. Finally, The Ohio State University Jazz Ensemble and director Kris Keith will change gears and present the music of Stevie Wonder, with help from trumpeter Anthony Stanco, Ohio State professor of jazz trumpet and jazz composition, and vocalist Jared Mahone, solo artist and member of the HooDoo Soul Band. More details on this FREE show are available here. And if you can’t make it to campus Friday, you can live stream the concert here!
Sunday, October 1st (3 – 5pm): Richard Lopez Presents: Jazz Masters Series – “Amor de Cuba: Celebrate the Sounds of Cuba” at Columbus Museum of Art. Pianist Lopez starts another season of his Jazz Masters Series at CMA by exploring the musical hotbed of Cuba, powered by contributions from excellent Columbus musicians. From Lopez, the concert is:
Featuring local charanga orchestra, La Charanga Tres, with music director and flutist Kris Keith. Performance styles include the danzón (the national music of Cuba); the cha-cha-cha; as well as the bolero and mambo. Star performers are many: Kris Keith, Roger Hines, Eric Paton, Francisco Rojas, Erin Gilliland and Devin Copfer (Strings!). I get to sit in, so I am digging into the claves and montunos…ay caramba! You can’t sit still to this music!! A rare chance to hear some really authentic Cuban music. Please come out! Tickets available at the door.
Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for seniors, and $7 for students under 18 – and available in advance here.
Wednesday, October 4th (8 – 11pm): Swingin’ Wednesdays with Joe Smith & The Spicy Pickles at Big Room Bar. SwingColumbus‘ weekly series of swing dances continues to have monthly (or so) live band shows with great acts that are keeping the music vibrant in the 21st century. The seven-piece Denver-based Joe Smith & The Spicy Pickles is currently on a national tour supporting their new album Gin & Moonlight. The band is said to “fuse musical influences from the sounds of Count Basie, Benny Goodman, and Artie Shaw with the showmanship of Louis Armstrong, Lucky Millinder, and Jimmy Lunceford,” so this should be a treat for swing fans of all stripes! Get ready to dance, and a beginner dance lesson starts at 7:30 to help you get your steps in line. Admission is $10, cash or credit card accepted. More details are available here.
Have a great week! Get a taste of the Pickles below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XT16U1SyI_M