Coming up in Local Jazz – July 4-17

Happy Fourth of July, the day Louis Armstrong claimed to be his birthday.

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:

Who is Tim Berens?

Tim is one of the area’s most talented guitarists. He plays jazz and classical guitar and other styles as well. He is a gifted reader.

Tim Berens has created a unique position for himself in the world of music:  orchestral guitarist.  Tim is the guitarist for the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, under Erich Kunzel.  He has also performed with many other orchestras including the Naples Philharmonic Orchestra under Erich Kunzel; the New World Symphony under Michael Tilson Thomas; the Colorado Symphony Orchestra under Marin Alsop in a PBS special with jazz pianist Marcus Roberts; the Indianapolis Symphony and the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra.

A versatile musician, Tim performs on the mandolin, banjo, and bouzouki in addition to the electric, classical, and steel string acoustic guitars.  As an avid and accomplished jazz guitarist, Tim recorded Another Rhumba for Armando in 1999 and Nortonomy in 2001 for Red Mark Records, and he performs more than 100 dates per year at jazz clubs.

Tim Berenshas performed on more than 30 CDs with the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, and he has toured with the Pops on many occasions including performances inJapan,Taiwan, and inNew Yorkat Carnegie Hall.  He has also been featured with the Cincinnati Pops during many of it’s nationally telecast PBS specials.

Tim, an enthusiastic but bad golfer, is a graduate of theUniversityofCincinnati College-Conservatoryof Music.

Jazz Calendar

Here are some (but not all) of the upcoming jazz events for the next couple of weeks:

Wednesday July 4 – Dave Greer’s Classic Jazz Stompers will be at Neil’s Heritage House, and the Lizz & Rex Quartet will be at the Dayton Event Connection in Dayton.  You will find Swing Dancing & Music at Nyoh’s Buckeye Bar, Rich Lopez at Rigsby’s, a Jam Session w/ Even Oberla at Ruby Tuesday and the James Elliott Project Featuring Roger Baccus will be at the Zanzibar Brews in Columbus.   The Jack Carr Big Band will be playing at The Court House in Hamilton.

Thursday July 5 – Riverscape Metro Parks opens their Big Band Series with the Hal Harris Orchestra followed by the Dayton Jazz Orchestra on July 12 in Dayton.

Friday July 6 – Yvette-Diva Williams at the Remixx Lounge inDayton, the Shawn Stanley Trio at Carvers Steaks & Chops in Centerville,Kathy Wade& Ed Moss at Schwartz’s Point in Over-The-Rhine and fo/mo/deep at the Redmoor in Cincinnati, the Eastern Blok Quartet at the Thompson House inNewport,Ky. and the Kim Kelly Orchestra in Tipp City.

Saturday July 7 – Michael WadeAmbassadors with guest Khalid Mosswill be at Gilly’s and Dave Greer’s Classic Jazz Stompers will be at Riverscape in Dayton.

Sunday July 8 – Phil DeGreg Trio will be at Dee Felice inCovington,Ky.

Monday July 9 -Vaughn Wiester’s Famous Jazz Orchestra at the Clintonville Woman’s Club and Tia Roseboro & Vernon Hairston at the Old Bag of Nails in Columbus.

Tuesday July 10 – Fraze Pavilion presents an Evening with Santana in Kettering and the Park Street Tavern holds their ongoing Jazz Jam in Columbus.

Wednesday July 11 – Blue Wisp Big Band performs at the Wisp and John LaIacona will be at Eddie Merlot’s in Cincinnati, while Puzzle of Light plays the Fraze Pavilion in Kettering and Rich Lopez performs at Rigsby’s in Columbus.

Thursday July 12 – Retrospect Jazz Quartet plays atDayton’s Jazz Central and the Ron Enyard Quartet will be at the Blue Wisp in Cincinnati.

Friday July 13 – Thompson House in Newport presents Mark Lomax Quartet with William Menefield.

Saturday July 14 – Erwin Stuckey & Omega 3″ will be at the Greenwich in Cincinnati, Tropicoso will be at Riverscape in Daytonand Roderick Wilson and Sun Star performs at the Point United Methodist Church in Trotwood.

Sunday July 15 – Phil DeGreg Trio performing at Dee Felice inCovington,Ky. and the Hoo Doo Soul Band plays the Rumba Café in Columbus.

Monday July 16 – 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.

Tuesday July 17 – at the Fraze Pavilion in Kettering you’ll find Big Sam’s Funky Nation and the Tony Monaco Trio at the Rumba Café in Columbus.

More info and jazz listings can be found at JazzAdvocate.com