Happy September jazz fans! I hope everyone had a great Labor Day – if you had a chance to catch some of the plentiful jazz in town over the weekend, please tell us about it in the Comments section. This fall is looking to be a great season for local live jazz, but is also notable for the plethora of local albums that are scheduled for release. See below for the first of six (and counting!) new local jazz albums being celebrated in the next month, and stay tuned to the site for reviews of these albums. For live jazz this week, in addition to my suggestions below, don’t forget about the Hot Times Festival and the Kate Schulte Tribute “tour” at multiple great venues!
Shows To See This Week
Thursday, September 4th: Derek DiCenzo Trio at Explorers Club, 1586 South High Street. For the month of September, jazz will find a new home at this Merion Village restaurant that has often drawn rave reviews for its wide-ranging internationally-influenced cuisine since it opened in 2011. Every Thursday this month will feature the band (DiCenzo on guitar, Dave DeWitt on bass, Aaron Scott on drums) playing from 8 to 10pm, and the restaurant will offer food and drink specials each week. This should be a great opportunity to enjoy great food and great jazz in a comfortable environment on the south side.
Friday, September 5th: Annie Sellick & the Hot Club of Nashville at McConnell Arts Center. This band, a leading proponent of gypsy jazz a la Django Reinhardt, has garnered great success at many international and domestic venues and music festivals with its rousing live performances. Led and founded by fingerstyle guitar wiz Richard Smith, the band later added vocalist Sellick, who brought their festive show up another few notches. While Smith and Sellick have had great performances separately in Columbus in recent years, the combination of their powers is rare locally, so this should be a special treat. Expect to hear gypsy jazz classics and the band’s own original material.
Saturday, September 6th: Liver Quiver CD Release at Double Happiness. This local trio of Aaron Quinn (guitar), Alex Burgoyne (saxophone), and Seth Daily (drums) will celebrate the release of their first studio album at this Brewery District club which usually books rock and hip-hop shows but has recently shown more interest in the less mainstream strains of jazz. The album, which has been available since the band went on the Team Players tour with Billy Wolfe, highlights the composition skills of each of its members and covers a variety of moods and styles with tunes often peaking in exciting climaxes. Click here to preview and purchase the album. In continuing the band’s “bassless” theme, Saturday’s bill will be rounded out with a solo percussion set by Ryan Jewell and a set by Orson Buggy, a two guitar and drums rock trio led by guitarist Brett Burleson.
Here’s a video of the Hot Club of Nashville to get you in the mood: