School is back in session across Central Ohio but the Outdoor Jazz season rages on! Our top pick for the fresh air schedule is the annual Hot Times Festival, 240 Parsons Ave in Olde Towne East. The festival presents a wide range of family-friendly entertainment and activities all weekend, and is headlined by zydeco legend C.J. Chenier Saturday at 9:30pm on the Main Street Stage. This year’s jazz schedule is largely condensed into a happening block on the afternoon of Sunday, September 9th: Glen Echo Saxophone Quartet at noon (Main St. Stage), Chief Johnny Lonesome at 1pm (Parsons Ave. Stage), James Elliot Project at 2pm (Main St.), and The JazzPoetry Ensemble Three Tenors Hot Times Tribute at 3:15pm (Main St., see here and below for more). Check out the festival website for the full schedule and more details, and get ready for hot times in Olde Towne! Keep reading for more outdoor festivities and more great shows this week!
Outdoor jazz gets going this weekend on Friday, September 7th at 6pm, when Mansfield’s Just Jazz Live Duo plays its penultimate Cimi’s Bistro (Grove City) patio gig of the season with tasty classic vocal jazz. There are four great early options on Saturday, September 8th. Starting at 11am and running all day, the Columbus Soul festival in Genoa Park Downtown features a mix of great jazz and R&B, with performances including Urban Jazz Coalition (2pm) and Maestro J (6:25pm) plus a 8pm headlining set from the SOS Band (tickets and details here)! At Noon, the final PBJ & Jazz concert for children and families at the Topiary Park Downtown presents the Pete Mills Quartet with Rachel Azbell (more details here). Also at noon, the Anna Paolucci 6 takes the Oktoberfest stage at the State Fairgrounds for a long set of sassy torch blues sure to please wienerschnitzel and lederhosen fans of all ages! Finally, at 1:15pm Mansfield’s The Trio helps get the 3rd annual 934 Fest outside 934 Gallery (Milo Grogan) underway with their blend of hip-hop and jazz (more details here). And on Sunday, September 9th at 1pm, the area’s September outdoor jazz staple returns when the Harrison West Jazz Stage welcomes Birdshack to the Harrison Park Gazebo (full season details here). Have fun with jazz in the sun this weekend!
Shows To See This Weekend
Friday, September 7th (6 – 9pm): Hot Times Tribute: Three Tenors with The JazzPoetry Ensemble at Dick’s Den. The annual Hot Times Tribute tour benefiting the Kate Schulte Foundation is pared down this year, but is still presenting two FREE can’t miss events! With the superlative support of The JazzPoetry Ensemble – Roger Hines, Roger Myers, Brett Burleson, and Michael Vander Does – the Three Tenors in the starring role are: International jazz star Edward “Kidd” Jordan, making his annual trip from New Orleans, plus Columbus luminaries Eddie Bayard and Randy Mather! Friday’s show will include “songs of resistance to the current administration as well as some basketball pieces and more,” and while there is no cover, donations to the Kate Schulte Foundation will be requested. The full lineup hits the Main Street Stage at Hot Times on Sunday for an hour of “topical pieces including ‘We Are Not Going Away,’ ‘La Cuenta (the bill is due Mr. Trump),’ ‘The Old God of War,’ and more.” Enjoy world-class, inspirational jazz this weekend!
Saturday, September 8th (9pm – midnight): Mwenso and the Shakes: “Protest Songs from Africa to America” at Rumba Cafe. Led by Michael Mwenso, originally from Freetown, Sierra Leone, with a group that hails from around the world, NYC’s Mwenso and the Shakes builds a foundation of Fats Waller, Muddy Waters, James Brown and other American greats into a thrilling live show. Tickets are available here. More from the band:
Mwenso and the Shakes’ “Protest Songs from Africa to America” is a unique and curated presentation that showcases three different templates of human protest. The evening will culminate with a presentation of new music of empowerment by Mwenso and the Shakes with the cyclical but inspirational message to have no regrets and to persevere.
Sunday, September 9th (7 – 9:30pm): Swingin Into Fall Dance with Cyndi Black Big Band at Clintonville Woman’s Club. The Monday night home of big band jazz in Central Ohio is starting a three-date monthly series this weekend. The 17-piece Cyndi Black Big Band, led by woodwind specialist Cyndi Black Colburn, will provide great dance tunes on the next three second Sundays for a great way to end your weekends in style. With a music library of more than 3,000 songs, this high-powered outfit is ready to entertain! Admission is $15 at the door (cash/check only). For reservations or information email cyndiblackbigband@gmail.com or call 614-216-5569 – more details here.
Have a great week! Here’s videos from the bands to get you started:
https://www.facebook.com/thecyndiblackbigband/videos/224076901513811/