Happy July 18, the day RCA Victor recorded When I Hear That Jazz Band Play by Marion Harris from Ziegfeld’s “Midnight Frolic.
It occurs to me that many people in our area may not know who some of the better jazz artists who perform locally on a regular basis. In an attempt to rectify this shortcoming I’ll be writing articles from time to time featuring a different jazz performer:
Classic Jazz Stompers at Crowne Plaza
Who are the Classic Jazz Stompers?
(A politically correct question, who are Dave Greer’s Classic Jazz Stompers?)
They call themselves a territory band from Dayton, Ohio and claim to be magnetized by the moment in the late 1920’s and early 1930’s when classic jazz evolved into small band swing. Dave Greer aside from being one of Dayton’s leading attorneys is one of the fine gentlemen of jazz. He has been leading his band, the Classic Jazz Stompers and expounding on the history of their chosen style of music from bandstands in our area since 1981 (33 years) and have played at different times through out the Unites States and Europe but they are mainly a hometown commodity and our local standard bearer of what we call Traditional Jazz (Dixieland and Ragtime jazz styles) today. This kind of music leaves lead players free to explore their individual creativity with the support of a “modern” rhythm section. My first exposure with the group was through Mama Jazz, (15 – 20 years ago) who’s theme song for her regular Tuesday Trad Jazz program was “Hello Central Give Me Mama Jazz by Dave and the Stompers. This has to be one of the most talented groups going today and we’re so lucky to have them in our area. You can catch them this Friday at Jay’s Seafood 8:30 to 11:30pm and at Neil’s Heritage House from 7:00 to 10:00 pm every Wednesday.
Jazz Calendar
Here are some (not all) of the upcoming jazz events for the next couple of weeks:
Thursday July 19 – Riverscape Metro Parks continues their Big Band Series with the Tom Daugherty and the Tommy Dorsey Tribute. and Jazz Central presents the nineteen member Generations Big Band.
Friday July 20 – Jazz Alive presents a Tribute to Larry Kinley at The Redmoor in Cincinnati and Doc. Broadnax presents The Norman Connors with Tom Browne and Azar Lawrence is at the Thompson House in Newport, KY.
Saturday July 21 – Trumpeter Mike Wade and the Jazz Ambassadors will be at the Blue Wisp and the NEW Ed Moss Trio will be at Schwartz’s Point in Over-The-Rhine in Cincinnati.
Sunday July 22 – Phil DeGreg Trio will be at Dee Felice inCovington,Ky. and Jazz Central’s regular (for 34 years) Jazz Jam continues in Dayton.
Monday July 23 -Vaughn Wiester’s Famous Jazz Orchestra is at the Clintonville Woman’s Club in Columbus and the John Taylor Trio is at the Brio Tuscan Grille in Beavercreek.
Tuesday July 24 –the Park Street Tavern holds their ongoing Jazz Jam in Columbus and Recording Artist Ron Enyard is at the Blue Wisp in Cincinnati.
Wednesday July 25 – Blue Wisp Big Band performs at the Wisp and John LaIacona will be at Eddie Merlot’s in Cincinnati, while Dave Greer’s Classic Jazz Stompers will be at Neil’s Heritage House in Dayton.
Thursday July 26 – Riverscape Metro Parks presents the Swing Era Big Band in Dayton and Triage w/Vocalist/Percussionist Eugene Goss and Keyboardist Billy Larkin will be at the Blue Wisp in Cincinnati.
Friday July 27 – The John Tesh Big Band will perform at Fraze Pavilion in Kettering and the Shawn Stanley Trio is at Carvers in Centerville.
Saturday July 28 – April Aloisio sings! at the Park Square Hyde Park, OH.
Sunday July 29 – Phil DeGreg Trio performing at Dee Felice inCovington,Ky. and the Hoo Doo Soul Band plays the Rumba Café in Columbus.
Monday July 30 – Sandy Suskind continues their long running jazz jam at the Blue Wisp inCincinnati and the John Taylor Trio does likewise at the Brio Tuscan Grille in Beavercreek.
Wednesday August 1 – Ricky Nye with Liz Pennock & Dr. Blues @ Chez Nora in Covington, KY.
More info and jazz listings can be found at JazzAdvocate.com
A few more near-term jazz events you may find of interest: 