Happy February 27th; Jazz saxophonist Dexter Gordon was born on this day in 1923, he was among the earliest tenor players to adapt the bebop musical language of people like Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie. Click here for more information.
Who is Randy Fankell:
I have known and followed Randy Fankell for many years and to this day, he is one of my favorite jazz drummers.
Randy has played drums for m
ore than four decades, making his professional debut at 18 years of age with the Steve Adams Blues Band. Following a brief stint in college, Randy opted for education “on the road” spending the 70’s and part of the 80’s traveling and performing with a variety of bands and show groups. Traveling throughout the U.S. and Canada included working in Las Vegas, Atlantic City, Chicago, and many other major venues. Randy has also performed in Aruba, Norway, Finland and Germany.
In the mid-80’s, Randy settled in Dayton, OH and started to pursue his real love in music – Jazz. Randy has performed with an array of artists such as Grammy-Winning composer, pianist and recording artist Bill Cunliff, and master bassist, the late great Dave Carpenter whose credits include Buddy Rich and Peter Erskine. Randy also played with recording artist Randy Villars, Tony Monaco and Doug Simon (Jack McDuff). From 2003 to 2010 Randy was the house drummer at The Crowne Plaza Hotel in Dayton, OH, performing with a variety of artists.
After years of professional musicianship as a ‘sideman’, Randy has moved into the leadership role with the Randy Fankell Jazz Trio/Quartet and has had numerous performances in local venues to include Wright State University and The Crowne Plaza Hotel, downtown Dayton.
Upcoming events:
The next scheduled event is on Saturday, March 23, from 7 – 10pm at the top of Dayton’s Crowne Plaza Hotel, located at 33 E Fifth Street, in their newly remodeled View 162 Room.
Jazz Calendar
Here are some (not all) of the upcoming jazz events for the next couple of weeks:
Tonight Wednesday, February 27 – Arnold’s Bar & Grill presents Todd Hepburn in Cincinnati and you can Swing Dance with Lizz & Rex Review at the Dayton Event Connection.
Thursday February 28 – The Weekend of Jazz kicks off with the Beavercreek Schools free concert at their high school in Beavercreek.
Friday March 1 – The Weekend of Jazz continues with Jeff Coffin and the Mu’Tet in Beavercreek and the Cohesion Jazz Ensemble plays the Thompson House in Newport, Ky.
Saturday March 2 – The Weekend of Jazz holds their all day High School Jazz Band playoffs and presents Ramsey Lewis as the grand finale.
Sunday March 3 – a Live Jazz Party produced by Gene Walker will be at the Hunan Gourmet Restaurant in Whitehall and the Jam Session w/ Kenny Baccus is at Dayton’s Jazz Central.
Monday February 4 – a Jazz Jam hosted by Sandy Suskind Quartet is at the Blue Wisp in Cincinnati and Vaughn Wiester’s Famous Jazz Orchestra is at the Clintonville Woman’s Club in Columbus.
Tuesday March 5 – the JD Allen Band is at the Blue Wisp in Cincinnati and the Part St. Tavern Jazz Jam continues in Columbus.
Wednesday March 6 – Boudin’s Bistro & Jazz Club presents a Jam Session with Fo/Mo/Deep and Ricky Nye & Rob Lumbard are at Chez Nora in Covington, KY.
Thursday March 7 – the Jazz Central Big Band returns to Jazz Central in Dayton and Rick Brunetto Big Band is at The 94th Aero Squadron Restaurant in Columbus.
Friday March 8 – Shawn Stanley Trio is at Carvers Steaks & Chops in Centerville, OH and Phil DeGreg Quartet is at the Thompson House in Newport, Ky.
Saturday March 9 – C’est Tout Bistro in Oakwood presents James & Moore and Andrew Waters – Smooth Jazz is at the Eastern Palace Restaurant in Columbus.
Sunday March 10 – Art Gore and Friends is at the MidPointe Library in Middletown and there’s at Jazz Jam at Victory’s in Columbus..
Monday March 11 – John Taylor Trio is at the Brio Tuscan Grille in Beavercreek and Mark Flugge, Derek Dicenzo & Jimmy Castoe are at Due Amici in Columbus.
Tuesday March 12 – Ed Moss & the Society Jazz Orchestra are at the Schwartz Point Jazz Club and Jazz Cab is at The Greenwich both in Cincinnati.
More info and jazz listings can be found at JazzAdvocate.com
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