Happy December 5th; Art Davis who pioneered the use of two basses in a jazz combo setting and played with likes of Thelonious Monk, John Coltrane, Dizzy Gillespie, and Max Roach was born on this day in 1934. Check out Wikipeda at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
Roderick Wilson, Eddie Brookshire and Jack Novotny at Jazz Central
What do Johnny Lytle, Lady Day, Charlie Parker, Clifford Brown, Louis Armstrong, Benny Goodman and Dizzy Gillespie have in common?
These are names of some of the great jazz legends who contributed music that formed much of the backbone of jazz in our nation. This is also the list of artists who have had tribute concerts held in their honor at Jazz Central over the last sixteen months. All as part of the resurgence of jazz in Dayton, Ohio by our local talented jazz performers.
The latest example was last Saturday, December 1st. when Roderick Wilson and Friends: Roderick – trumpet, Jack Novotny – saxophone, Archie McPherson – keyboard, Eddie Brookshire – base, Fenton Sparks – drums and Cliff Darrett – congas paid tribute to Dizzy Gillespie one of the greatest jazz trumpeters of all time. September a year ago Mark Smarelli paid tribute to Springfield, Ohio native vibraphonist Johnny Lytle, then Teresa Moneé Gill did a Gabriel Foundation benefit tribute to Lady Day (Billie Holiday) in October of 2011. Next came Grant Koeller doing Charlie Part justice on his saxophone December a year ago and then came trumpeter Wade Baker paying homage to Clifford Brown in January, 2012. In March, 2012 Dean Simms brought Louis Armstrong to life for an entire evening and last October Ronald Hartwell played Benny Goodman while Mark Smarelli played Lionel Hampton.
Each of these events was not only very entertaining but educational and each had a story to tell us about the wonderful history of America’s great art form called Jazz! In addition to tribute concerts Jazz Central has offered many benefit, memorial and face-off concerts; all designed to expose the public to jazz and help keep the art alive. I was told years ago, by one a club owner, when I was writing for another paper that I shouldn’t write about what has happened but only about upcoming events. I disagree; I believe if people read about the fun and great times others had at an event, they will be encouraged to attend some of the great future events coming up:
Jazz Calendar
Here are some (not all) of the upcoming jazz events for the next couple of weeks:
Tonight Wednesday, December 5 – Tonight, for you dancers The Dayton Event Connection is featuring the Lizz & Rex Quartet and the Blue Wisp Big Band is at the Wisp in Cincinnati.
Thursday December 6 – Jeremy Pinell & The 55s w/Ricky Nye is at Japps in Cincinnati.
Friday December 7 – the Bob Niederriter Trio is at The Stone Tavern in Kent, Ohio and Kathy Wade & Ed Moss are at Schwartz’s Point in Over-The-Rhine in Cincinnati.
Saturday December 8 – Jazz Explosion w/Kenny Baccus & J. Webster Smith as Dr. Feel Good is doing a benefit for the Blind at Jazz Central in Dayton.
Sunday December 9 – Phil DeGreg Trio plays Dee Felice in Covington, KY and the Jazz Jam Session w/ Kenny Baccus continues at Jazz Central in Dayton.
Monday December 10 – the John Taylor Trio is at the Brio Tuscan Grille in Beavercreek and the Blue Wisp Jazz Club offers a Jazz Jam hosted by Sandy Suskind inCincinnati.
Tuesday December 11 – Park Street Tavern continues their Jazz Jam and the Tony Monaco Trio performs at The Rumba Café both in Columbus.
Wednesday December 12 – the Blue Wisp Big Band performs at the Wisp in Cincinnati and Ricky Nye & Bekah Williams is at Chez Nora in Covington, KY.
Thursday December 13 – Lisa Biales and Doug Hamilton plays the O’Pub in Oxford, OH and Ricky Nye & Dottie Warner is at Arnold’s Bar & Grill in Cincinnati.
Friday December 14 – Shawn Stanley Trio is at Carvers Steaks & Chops in Centerville, OH and the Thompson House presents Bashiri Asad & Xenobia Green in Newport,Ky.
Saturday December 15 – The final Gabriel Foundation Benefit of the season features The ShinSings Orchestra at Jazz Central in Dayton.
Sunday December 16 – the Blue Wisp Jazz Club has BLUESBENT with Lawrence Bloomfield in Cincinnati and Bill Rudman’s “A Christmas Cabaret” is at Nighttown inCleveland Heights.
Monday December 17 – Vaughn Wiester’s Famous Jazz Orchestra is at the Clintonville Woman’s Club and Mark Flugge, Derek Dicenzo & Jimmy Castoe plays the Due Amici both in Columbus.
Tuesday December 18 – the Derek DiCenzo Trio performs at Local Roots in Powell, OH and the Jazz Cab is at The Greenwich in Cincinnati.
More info and jazz listings can be found at http://www,JazzAdvocate.com
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