Jazz Arts Group kicks off a new season and the brand new “Jazz Arts Group Presents” series with a titan of the jazz world. Trombonist, composer, arranger and educator Wycliffe Gordon will be joined by the Bobby Floyd Trio for two performances on Thursday, September 15th at 7pm (tickets available here) and 9pm (tickets available here) at Notes. These shows, Gordon’s first in town since the world premiere of his Beyond the Blackberry Patch, will surely be special, as the legendary trombonist is paired with pianist Bobby Floyd, bassist Derek DiCenzo, and drummer Reggie Jackson – one of the top working trios in Columbus and beyond. Expect a night of passionate, fast-paced straight-ahead jazz with plenty of twists and turns. Keep reading for more details from JAG, and get ready for this excellent start to a new JAG season!
JAZZ ARTS GROUP’S 2016-2017 SEASON KICKS OFF WITH INTERNATIONALLY ACCLAIMED TROMBONIST, COMPOSER, ARRANGER AND EDUCATOR WYCLIFFE GORDON WITH THE BOBBY FLOYD TRIO FOR TWO PERFORMANCES ONLY THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15TH AT COPIOUS-NOTES
August 29, 2016 (Columbus, OH) — Jazz Arts Group of Columbus (JAG) kicks off the 2016-2017 season, its 44th, with Internationally-acclaimed jazz trombonist, composer, arranger and educator Wycliffe Gordon returning to Columbus to perform with the incomparable Bobby Floyd Trio for two performances only Thursday, September 15th at Copious-Notes (520 South High Street). Show times are at 7 and 9 p.m. Tickets are $25 and may be purchased at Eventbrite.com. Additional information about the performance is available at www.jazzartsgroup.org.
Wycliffe Gordon last performed in Columbus in March 2012 for the world premiere of his “Beyond the Blackberry Patch,” a score commissioned by the Jazz Arts Group to celebrate the rich cultural legacy of the city’s King-Lincoln District. Since then the four-time Downbeat Magazine Critics Award-winner and ten-time Jazz Journalists Association “Best Trombonist” winner has enjoyed critical and popular success performing throughout the world with big bands, symphony orchestras, intimate ensembles, singers and renowned instrumentalists including Wynton Marsalis, Paul Simon, Natalie Merchant, Rene Marie, Dianne Reeves, Anat Cohen, Ricky Skaggs, Arturo Sandoval and Doc Severinsen to name a few.
He has also been busy in the recording studio with 17 solo CDs, and another eight as co-leader. His most recent release, “Within These Gates of Mine,” is an original soundtrack and film score for the 1920’s silent film “Within Our Gates” by African-American filmmaker Oscar Micheaux. His arrangement of “Bill Bailey,” from his CD “Dreams of New Orleans” on Chesky Records, can be heard in the recent film “Race,” the biopic of track legend Jesse Owens. Other releases, “Somebody New,” a big band album featuring the DiMartino/Osland Jazz Orchestra, his “Hello Pops, A Tribute to Louis Armstrong” and “The Intimate Ellington: Ballads and Blues” continue to garner critical and public accolades. And his arrangement of the theme song to NPR’s “All Things Considered” is heard daily around the world.
Gordon is also a noted music educator. He is a founding faculty member of the highly touted Jazz Studies Program at The Julliard School, an instructor at the Vail Jazz Workshop and a frequent guest speaker/performer at the annual Jazz Educator’s Network (JEN) Conferences. Gordon will be giving workshops at several area schools during his stay in Columbus.
Wycliffe Gordon will share the intimate stage at Copious-Notes with Columbus’ own keyboard superstar, Bobby Floyd. Traveling the world as soloist, accompanist, and first-call recording artist on piano, organ and keyboards, Bobby Floyd has performed and toured with Ray Charles, Jeff Tyzik, Byron Stripling and many others. He is in high demand as a guest artists with a variety of distinguished orchestras including The Boston Pops, The Rochester Philharmonic, The Detroit Symphony, the Vancouver Symphony, Edmond Symphony and ProMusica Chamber Orchestra. Recent performances in Europe and Japan, along with several recent CD releases, have garnered high praise. Bobby Floyd’s Trio includes Derek DiCenzo on bass and Reggie Jackson on drums.
Wycliffe Gordon and the Bobby Floyd Trio perform two performances only at 7 and 9 p.m. Thursday, September 15th at Copious-Notes (520 South High Street). Tickets are $25 and are available at: http://www.eventbrite.com/o/jazz-arts-group-8549828772.
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The Jazz Arts Group of Columbus (JAG) is America’s premier not-for-profit arts organization dedicated to producing, performing and promoting jazz. JAG is the third largest performing arts organization in Columbus and consists of four focus areas: the Columbus Jazz Orchestra (CJO), one of the world’s finest professional jazz orchestras presented on an annual series, “Swingin’ with the CJO,” at the historic Southern Theatre; the Jazz Academy, JAG’s extensive instructional programs educating both students and adults about jazz and American music; “Jazz Arts Group Presents,” a jazz and blues performance series produced at the historic Lincoln Theatre and beyond; and Affiliate Musicians, a program providing employment opportunities for professional musicians.
For more information about Jazz Arts Group programs and events, subscriptions and single tickets, as well as opportunities to get involved, please visit our new website at www.jazzartsgroup.org.
The Jazz Arts Group’s 2016-2017 season is made possible by ongoing support from The Columbus Foundation, The Greater Columbus Arts Council, The Ohio Arts Council, The Reinberger Foundation and The Westin Columbus. Additional support is provided by Ann & Tom Hoaglin, Bob Evans, Cardinal Health, Fahn & Denny Tishkoff, Grange Insurance, L Brands, Plante Moran, PNC Grow Up Great Foundation and State Auto Insurance Companies. Jazz Arts Group 2016-2017 media partners include The Dispatch Media Group (DMG), WOSU Public Media, Sunny 95, WCBE-FM and WMNI-AM.