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Music Fans, Check Out: Jason Becker: Not Dead Yet

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Editor’s Note: Although we tend to focus on musical happening in and around the Miami Valley, we also occasionally like to share something music-related that inspires our writers as music fans.  Here’s one such inspiration.  (JF)

Not Dead Yet is an incredible odds defying inspiring story of one man’s true dedication, passion and drive to create incredible music despite insurmountable life obstacles, and dire circumstances. Jason Becker personifies the sheer driving force and spirit of the human artistic will to enjoy life, persevere and make music.

Becker a future guitar prodigy was born in 1969 in Richmond California and exposed to music early by his family becoming proficient on acoustic guitar, harmonica and xylophone at age five. By his early teens he was playing Bob Dylan, Clapton and Van Halen note for note, blowing away local talent contests and variety shows. Becker was very inspired by classical music which influenced his style cranking Bach while friends cranked Slayer. He also had a comical side doing yoyo tricks with one hand while playing with the other.

In his teens Becker replied to an ad, submitting a tape to Shrapnel Records founder Mike Varney who was looking for the ten best guitar players at the time. Subsequently future Megadeth guitarist Marty Friedman had come to LA to work on his solo record. Varney suggested a duet to Friedman who after initial reluctance was won over by Becker’s playing and personality becoming fast friends. Their playing so complemented and inspired each other Friedman often said Becker could play his material better than he could. They formed the band Cacophony. His father concerned about his education told the principal Jason had a record deal and was going on tour and asked if he could finish high-school early. He finished six months early with straight A’s

After touring with Cacophony he returned to Japan supporting his first solo CD Perpetual Burn, doing guitar clinics between gigs. One particular clinic drew 800-1000 people validating his rising momentum.

In 1989 at age 20 he auditioned for David Lee Roth, the most sought after high profile gig at the time, earned his spot and recorded A Little Ain’t Enough, released in 1991. During recording he started feeling a ‘lazy limp’ in his left leg and was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) aka Lou Gehrig’s disease, a debilitating condition that rapidly weakens muscle mobility and use of tongue and speech causing permanent paralysis. Becker was given 3-5 years to live. Undergoing uncomfortable and painful therapy while recording and rehearsing his condition progressed to where he could barely play notes or hold the guitar. He told Roth who reluctantly got a replacement.

They tried alternate forms of therapy but nothing worked. Becker went from using canes to a wheelchair in months. In 1992 he met his former fiancé and main caregiver Serrana Pilar. Though he had moments of hopelessness and darkness they believe he never hit the point of giving up. He still had music and ideas in his head he needed to get out somehow.

To accomplish this a computer program was invented using a visor equipped with sensors that would move the cursor on the screen according to his head movements. He slowed down music in his head hitting the mouse with his chin entering intricate and complex melodies note by note adjusting the phrasing and velocity of each one until everything played the way he internally heard it at speed.

>After a near death experience his speech failed and his father invented an eye movement sign language/geometry system so Becker could communicate based on angles. A clear six squared grid with four letters in each square allows him to spell out words and have conversations. First movement is the square, second is the letter in the square. His father’s learned to guess the word after the first couple letters and Becker doesn’t ‘dull’ conversations with filler words, everything he says is important.

“I couldn’t quit on my music, it never even entered my mind. I just love making music and no matter how hard it is, it’s like my drug.”

Becker’s longevity is attributed by his family and friends 20 year care and commitment to keeping his drive, passion and love for music and life alive with a custom made healthy diet and dark rooted sense of humor.

To make music his father plays guitar notes into a computer then Becker organizes them giving instructions on any needed changes. Though they’re no longer together Serrana is his inspiration and taught him what true love is and makes him want to be a better person.

Becker is a global inspiration encompassing the true, unflinching spirit of the human will to never give up.

“I have Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. It has crippled my body and speech, but not my mind.”

Becker’s discography includes Perpetual Burn 1988, Perspective 1995, The Raspberry Jams 1999, The Blackberry Jams 2003, Collection 2008 and Boy Meets Guitar Volume 1 of Youngster Tapes 2012.  He also performed on Cacophony’s Speed Metal 1987, Go Off 1988 and David Lee Roth’s A Little Ain’t Enough 1991. Along with two tribute CD’s Warmth in the Wilderness I and IIfeaturing guitarist’s Steve Vai, Paul Gilbert, Marty Friedman, Joe Becker, Rusty Cooley, and Mattias Eklundh. The album profits were sent to Becker to help with medical expenses. In 2008 Paradise Guitars worked with Becker to design a Jason Becker signature guitar. In 2012 Carvin worked with Becker to design a Jason Becker Tribute guitar that is modeled after the original DC-series guitar he used toward the latter part of his career. In 2011 the inaugural Jason Becker Not Dead Yet Festival was held in San Francisco promoting ALS awareness and the love of the guitar featuring Joe Satriani, Marty Friedman, Richie Kotzen and many others.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) (Lou Gehrig’s disease) is a relentlessly progressive degenerative disease targeting the motor nerves and muscles, effecting how the bodies lower and upper neurons communicate and function. When the neurons connected to the muscles from the spinal cord die, the brain loses ability to communicate thus the muscles become inactive. ALS is described as the ‘worst’ disease due to its relatively short window of mortality. Long term symptoms include the break down and eventual loss of mobility, ability to speak and swallow leading to permanent paralysis and death. Scientist Stephen Hawking has had ALS for over 50 years. The ALS Association has committed more than $67 million to find effective treatments and a cure for Lou Gehrig’s Disease, including the discovery of two ALS genes (SOD1 and ALS 6) responsible for 25% of all inherited cases and the trial of a new drug that targets SOD1.

Learning How To Play Vol. 1

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It all began with a thought…

I grew up in the small town of Jamestown, Ohio.  Jamestown is your typical small town-just about 2000 citizens.  A McDonalds  sits right between a Dollar General and the local pizza establishment, Bentinos Pizza.  You have the two traffic lights that await you when you come to town.  On Friday nights in the fall season, the Greeneview Rams take to the field that is located in the same parking lot of the old high school.  On weekends, you grab a couple of cases of cold, cheap beer and drive out to the outskirts of the town, and into the never-ending acres of country land.  If you have some buddies have trucks that have more rust on it than the paint on truck, strap the rope on the machine, and have a tug and pull shake down.

My family and I lived out in those fields that the hijinks and absurd behavior would take place.  When the threat of tornados circled us, we would drive down the road to our friends of the family’s home.  Mike and Liz Bentley would be ever so gracious and open their doors to us, and let us stay in their basement if the time came to take shelter.  Of course, when you live in the country-tornados don’t scare you till they are knocking on your door.  We would sit on the porch, and watch the movement of the storm in the dark skies.  When the threat would move on towards another town, my folks would want to stick around and talk with the Bentleys.  That meant that Mike would go to a small room which was connected to the living room, and put on some music on his record.  The music room was incredible.  On the wall, each shelving unit would stack across left to right, up and down, with records from all decades.  It was a true sight to see.   Any type of classic rock you could think of, Mike had it.  The collection was impressive-still is in my opinion.

For hours, I would sit down at the kitchen table with my folks, and the Bentleys.  They had daughters, so my sister would go and play with girl toys.  Now, being young as I was-I didn’t feel like playing with Barbie’s, playing with dolls.  I was a boy.  I don’t play with those things.  Who would do such a thing, I thought.  I told myself that I would just sit in the kitchen with the adults, and watch whatever was on the small screen television that hung in the corner of the room.  I would never

watch the shows that were being screened with the volume turned up.  The music would be turned up to the farthest that the level that the volume could go.  The walls shook with the sound coming blaring through the speakers.  It was those nights that I would start the relationship that I have with music.  It’s a small part of why I became a music writer.

As I mentioned in my article about open mics in town, I got to college and wondered what it would be like to pick up an acoustic guitar, and learn how to play.  So, I knew that this wasn’t going to be easy.  I received a guitar for my birthday, and soon enough from there I would start to learn.  Well-that didn’t happen.  I had a friend that would try to show me some chords to play, and my fingers would start to bleed.  I was told that this normal, which never made any sense to me.  Why the hell would you want to do something that was going to make you bleed, and you weren’t really do anything that you think would make you do such?

So there I was, trying to push through some of the pain that the fingers would feel, and play some.  I learned how to play ‘Smoke On The Water’ from Deep Purple.  Alright-I learned just to play the chorus.  I would go to college parties, and try to impress girls with my pathetic guitar play.  It didn’t work.   Apparently, you needed to learn how to play songs about love, and also be a little better looking.  I didn’t possess any of those traits, so I gave up playing.  However, for some reason, I would never give away the guitar.  Is it the best guitar to have?!  Probably not, but I wouldn’t give it up.  I have had it for over 10 plus years now.  It’s always been in the black, nylon travel bag that came with it.  It’s always sitting next to the dresser.  I don’t know why I haven’t just hang it up or do anything with it-I just never wanted to give it up.  That is till now.

Starting this past year, I have been going around the Dayton area and watching some of the best music that is played anywhere in the United States.  I will go to show to show, meet up with the artists and bands that would be playing, and write about them and their performances.  I have been going to open mic nights as well.  Being able to live in Dayton, I notice thThe passion and dedication that these people have is incredible.  It’s something that I want to be part of-this special group of individuals around the world that has taken to playing music.

I decided that this year I would dust off the guitar that have had sitting around for so long, and learn how to play.  I would then sign up and play a set at an open mic night around town.  I want to see how it feels to be able to perfect a craft that makes people come together.  I wanted to learn how to play in order to show my appreciation to the people who go out there each and every night and show their talent off.  I want people to read this and see that it’s in fact not the easiest thing to do.  However at the end of the day, the experience will ultimately show that if you follow a dream, it will come true.  I will be doing a monthly update here.  I will discuss the highest of the highs, and the lowest of the lows.  I won’t be holding anything back.  If you have any comments or suggestions, please share them.

Here we go…

 

 

2013 Gentlemen of the Road Featuring Mumford and Sons comes to Troy, Ohio

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Mumford and SonsAn amazing lineup of bands will be coming through Troy, Ohio – including Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, Mumford & Sons, Old Crow Medicine Show, The Vaccines, Half Moon Run, Those Darlins, Willy Mason, Bear’s Den plus more to be announced!

2013 Dayton Does Dayton: 5 Bands To Watch For

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Of all the concerts and shows that people have attended at time or another, there has usually been a cover a song that the act performs.  The artist or band will put their spin on it, either by playing a different riff on the guitar, or by singing it a different way.  A lot of artists will even go as far as recording the cover and releasing their version.  It’s the sincerest form of flattery to be able to have people care that much about the original artist/band’s song to go on stage and perform it live to an audience.

One of Dayton’s rising events focuses primary on this concept, and presents bands from all over town and come play live.  The event is called Dayton Does Dayton, and the two day event will be going on this weekend, Friday and Saturday at the legendary Canal Street Tavern.  The event will be entering its third year by local promoter Louie Wood Jr.  Each band will perform songs from Dayton bands past and present, along with their own material.  With over 25 local bands scheduled to take the stage over 2 days, it would be difficult for most to see all every single one.  Here are 5 bands that you should at least get a chance to check out.

City of Kings

City of Kings is an up and coming band that you should be keeping your eyes on.  The 5 piece group got their start in the small town of Marion, Ohio.  Dalton Sipes, Matt Woodrum, Drew Mosley, and Kevin Hardy all played in different groups in town, playing in battle of the bands shows.  Eventually the guys are synched up and soon realized that their small town wasn’t going to be able to give them the chance to showcase their talent.  So, the guys all packed up and moved to Dayton.  They met lead singer Jake Rose at a wedding of one of the band member’s family. The group’s unreal psychedelic sound mixed with garage rock flair is unreal, and the lyrics to the songs are simply mystifying.  City of Kings is a tour de force that is only slated to become stronger over time.  Be prepared to fall into a trance when listening to these guys.  Their debut album, The Foundation is simply a music lover’s delight.

 

 

Jah Soul

Reggae is extremely popular throughout the world, with the great Bob Marley giving us music that has become a staple of our lives.  The up-tempo, funky beats along with the loose play of the guitar makes anyone and everyone stand up and just to become unrestricting and free from all the problems that they have.  It’s all about having fun with reggae music, we have a band that offers it-Jah Soul.  With their combination of not only reggae, but soul, funk and disco, Jah Soul will be supplying the good times with their music.  The eight member band gets the party going and has the positivity flood the club in the only way the can.  Jah Soul will be bringing a different flair to the weekend that will be anything but boring.

 

 

The New Old-Fashioned

The Midwest is considered to many to be viewed as a hardworking, blue collar area of the United States.  The New Old-Fashioned conveys that feeling in their music.  With the influences of Tom Petty and The Old 97s, The New Old-Fashioned is slowly building a rapport with their fans with incorporating rock and roll with country music.  The lyrics of the band represent the life of living in the lush, beautiful Americana land.  When listening to the band, you instantly notice the band’s outstanding harmonies.  The New-Old Fashioned recently released their self-titled debut in 2012.  If you haven’t had the pleasure of seeing The New Old-Fashioned, do yourself a favor and go see them live this weekend.

 

 

Cinder Home

If you have ever listened to Old Crow Medicine Show, Mumford and Sons, and Fleet Foxes know that each of these bands have a folk sound that stands about apart from most.  These bands have seen their popularity rise as of yet because of the low-key vibe and beautiful instrumental play.  Cinder Home belongs with these bands in the picture as well.  The band began with two of the band members hanging around playing music.  They both realized that they had something amazing, and decided to add a couple of members.  Cinder Home not only brings a new age folk sound, but also add elements of bluegrass roots.  The passion of the band playing live is nothing but astonishing.  The crowds that will fill Canal Street are going to be treated to a band that will bring they got, and will without question give everyone something to talk about for days to come after their set.

 

 

William The Accountant

William The Accountant’s sound is anything but ordinary, and that is why they are a band that can’t be missed.  The band brings all types of instruments into their music, including a didgeridoo.  Don’t be surprised if William The Accountant brings a saxophone and some ukulele to their shows.  As far as their sound?!  Try one moment hearing alternative rock to jazz to Caribbean music.  Each of their songs brings an emotional aspect to the front.  Don’t be shocked if the band’s performance stretches beyond the five members.

 

 

 

Dayton Does Dayton will be celebrating its third this year with no plans of stopping.  It has become yet another reason to celebrate the amazing music that continues to be played each and every night.  To check out these bands, and to see the others lined up, Dayton Does Dayton will taking place tonight and tomorrow night, starting at 7pm at the hollow grounds of the great Canal Street Tavern.

A Musical Journey ‘Unbroken’ With Tim Gebard

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The Dayton music scene has people from all walks of life immersed into it.  Go to a show, and you will notice the differences of each and every single person performing.  You have your punk rock bands that wail around the stage, and occasionally throw themselves onto the crowd.  There are the artists and bands that just take the room over, and will not let go till they say that they are done.  You have your dreamers-the people that will not allow anyone to get in the way.  There is also the performer that simply enjoy going on stage and play live, simply just for the thrill on being on stage.  Old and young, no matter the case, there is one thing that each and every artist or band has in common. That is they have love and appreciation for music.

Photo by Jennifer Taylor Clarke

Photo by Jennifer Taylor Clarke

One great example of someone that truly has a love for music is local musician Tim Gebard.  Gebard is currently in the process of working on his newest EP, which is due by April.  His first album, Unbroken Hearts, is available at Omega Music, The Record Gallery, and on his website (www.timgebard.com).

Gebard grew up in Springfield, Ohio and started playing music in his teens.  He grew up listening to the classics – Van Morrison, The Doors, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd.  He worked at a local record store in Dayton in the early 70’s, where he was able to spin some of his favorite music.  It was great experience for him, getting the chance to branch out and find music that would inspire and influence his music playing.  While sitting down at Ghostlight Coffee recently, Gebard told me a story about an experience he had at the record shop.  He went into detail of when Pink Floyd’s groundbreaking tour de force, The Wall, was released.  “We had to play that record from the minute we opened to the minute we closed”, explained Gebard.  “We all got sick of hearing it.  So, one day we got our shipment and I noticed that we got a record of a woman whose vocals were simply amazing.  We put it on, and immediately sold every single copy within an hour.  It was the latest album from Aretha Franklin.”  That speaks to broad musical influences.

While he was always around the music scene, and many friends went on to careers in the music field, Tim’s playing was limited to his solo acoustic efforts. Gebard would continue to write music throughout the years, always continuing to keep the passion for music running around his body and mind.  About five years ago, he joined with some friends in a cover band called Pocket Change, playing for private parties and events.  Internal conflicts proved to be a struggle.  At one point, Gebard would use his work that he had written and fill in the lead role in the singing department.  Ultimately, the band broke up.  But the experience of singing and writing helped propel him to go into the studio.

In October, 2010, Gebard started recording with Dean Vincent at Studio D in New Carlisle.  He would use all the music that he wrote, and have people come in and help with the process.  He had legendary guitarist Junior Smith come in and play on many of the songs.  Violin accompaniment from the ever-talented Sara Kasten and Susan Heeg would bring orchestral influence to some of the songs.  Contributions from the Toles family, local Gospel music legends (especially nephew Doug Toles Jr.), added another influence to his music.  Ron Hartwell, a noted Dayton-area band leader, added dynamic sax and flute tracks.  And the pedal steel guitar playing of virtuoso Wayne Hobbs brought an incredible country influence on several cuts.  And local singer-songwriter Jayne Sachs sang on several songs.  When Gebard spoke of the people that came in to help lay down the tracks, his eyes lightened up, and the humbleness came and stood squarely right in front of him.  “I still can’t believe that I was able to have all this talent come in and play”, Gebard said.  “I loved how the album turned out.  Ultimately, each artist brought a desire to serve the song.”

Unbroken Hearts is an album that simply will not let you define it as one genre, something that Gebard purposely did.  With each song, there are different influences that sprinkle throughout the album.  From country to rock, from soft to fast, Unbroken Hearts guides you all around the dial of music in its purest forms.  ‘Someone To Believe’ presents a lounge room vibe to the song that gives it a jazz feel.  For the Jimmy Buffet fans, ‘Let’s Find Out’ will fulfill those dreams of lying around on the beach, having a drink with an umbrella in the clear glass.  ‘Crazy ‘Bout That Woman’ is a twang upbeat that would give classic country fans a reason to smile.  Hearts is a warm, inviting collection of songs that dives into the joys of being in relationships, and the beauty of being in love.

Unbroken HeartsThe album Unbroken Hearts has seen some remarkable things tied to the album.  ‘Life Time Love’ was the winner of the 8th Annual International Acoustic Music Awards in the Country/Bluegrass category.  ‘Smiles Without Words’ was Honorable Mention in the Instrumental category in the 2011 International Songwriting Competition.  Several songs are under non-exclusive contracts with A&R companies.  (Note: A song from his upcoming EP – “To Licata”, an instrumental inspired by a recent trip to Italy – was recently named an Honorable Mention in the Songdoor 2012 International Songwriting Competition.)

Another great storyline with the album – Gebard’s son, Aaron, plays bass on most of the songs.  “It was really fun being able to have my son play on this album.  He is extremely talented, and it just added to the joy of making this album”, Gebard said.  Aaron has his own band as well: The Mergs, who have been playing locally for the past several years.

When you listen to Gebard talk, you hear the joys of being able to do something that he loves.  While we sat at Ghostlight Coffee, he spoke of the joys of being able to play with all the great musicians around town.  He spoke about wanting to travel to Nashville and getting the chance to show his talent at the famous Bluebird Cafe.  He talked about recent trips he has taken, and becoming influenced by the local music.  It’s always refreshing and a thrill to speak with people like Tim Gebard.  His love for music is all the reason to support the great music that is being performed live in town.

To see for yourself, Gebard will be performing at O’Riley’s Tavern in Brookville, Ohio on February 23rd.  Gebard will have a band performing with him (Jay Madewell on drums, Todd The Fox on guitar and dobro, Steve Makofka on accordion/etc.).  Aaron Gebard will also be playing in his dad’s band and also be playing with his own band.  The Tim Gebard Band/The Mergs show will start around 8pm.

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Jazz Spotlight: Bill Burns + Upcoming Local Jazz Jan 30 – Feb 12

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Happy January 30th; Jazz trumpeter David Roy Eldridge was born on this day in 1911, Eldridge joined Gene Krupa’s Orchestra, and was successfully featured with rookie singer Anita O’Day. (read more here)

Bill BurnsWho is Bill Burns?

William (Bill) Burns is a Jazz Educator and Performer from Centerville Ohio: He is a music educator for the Centerville City Schools and president of the Jazz Education Connection of Ohio,  a freelance saxophonist and recording artist.

Bill is an active educator and performer across southwest Ohio and teaches elementary general music and Jazz Ensemble in Centerville City Schools. He holds a B.A. in Music Education from the University of Dayton and Masters in Saxophone from the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. Bill is an in-demand clinician across southwest Ohio and has been invited to present at the national Jazz Education Convention and the Ohio Music Education Association conventions. He also maintains a busy performance schedule. Bill has recorded with numerous groups including the CCM Jazz Ensemble, The Dayton Jazz Orchestra, and the Bill Burns Quartet. Bill’s music is available at CDBaby.com.

Starting this Wednesday, Bill Burns and Chris Berg are teaching a jazz improvisation class at McCutcheon Music on Marco Lane in Centerville. I understand space is still available and more information is available here. Interested students can email bill at billburnsohio@gmail.com.

Some other upcoming Bill Burns events: – Jazz Jam at Jimmie’s Ladder 11 on Brown St. Saturday, February 10th, 3 to 6pm – Centerville Jazz Ensembles concert on Tuesday, February 26th, 7:30pm at Centerville Performing Arts Center (all three Centerville Jazz Ensembles) – JazzCakes on Saturday, March 23rd, 8am to 1pm at Centerville High School Aux. Gym (all 3 middle school jazz ensembles and HS jazzensembles) – Centerville High School Jazz Night at the Dayton Art Institute on Thursday, May 9th from 5:30 to 8:30pm.

Jazz Calendar

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

Tonight Wednesday, January 30 – Jazz Central presents Blue Wednesday with Jack & Joe Waters and an the Tuxedo Junction Big Band is at the Dayton Event Connection.

Thursday January 31 – The Rusty Burge/Chris Barrick Two Vibraphone Quartet is at the Blue Wisp  in Cincinnati and Tony Monaco is at Giammarco’s Pizza in Columbus.

Friday February 1 – Art Gore & Special Guests JD Allen, Dan Karlsberg, & Eddie Brookshire is the  Thompson House in Newport, Ky – the Venue Lounge has Khasmir Jazz Trio in Columbus.

Saturday February 2 – the C’est Tout Bistro in Oakwood presents James & Moore and Andrew Waters – Smooth Jazz is at Eastern Palace Restaurant in Columbus.

Sunday February 3 – A live Jazz Party produced by Gene Walker is at Hunan Gourmet Restaurant in Whitehall, OH and the Jazz Jam Session w/ Kenny Baccus continues at Jazz Central.

Monday February 4 – Vaughn Wiester’s Famous Jazz Orchestra is at the Clintonville Woman’s Club in Columbus and a Jazz Jam hosted by Sandy Suskind Quartet is at the Wisp in Cincinnati.

Tuesday February 5 – Arnold’s Bar & Grill presents Cincy Blues Society – Bluesday Tuesdays and Ed Moss & the Society Jazz Orchestra ia at Schwartz Point in Cincinnati.

Wednesday February 6 – Swing Dance with Lizz & Rex Review is at the Dayton Event Connection and Rich Lopez ia at Rigsby’s inColumbus.

Thursday February 7 – Dottie Warner and Ricky Nye are at Arnold’s Bar & Grill in Cincinnati and the Rick Brunetto Big Band is at the 94th Aero Squadron Restaurant in Columbus and Dave Powers is at Amano’s Sports Bar in Worthington, OH.

Friday February 8 – Shawn Stanley Trio is at Carvers Steaks & Chops in Centerville, OH and Mike Wade and The Ambassadors are the Thompson House in Newport, Ky.

Saturday February 9 – A Mardi Gras Celebration to benefit The Human Race Theatre Company is at Temple Beth Or in Dayton and Gilly’s presents Touch in Dayton.

Sunday February 10 – Dayton Blues Society present Uptown Blues Players at Jazz Central and  Patrick Kelly’s PsychoAcoustic Orchestra plays the Blue Wisp in Cincinnati.

Monday February 11 – the John Taylor Trio is at the Brio Tuscan Grille in Beavercreek and Mark Flugge, Derek Dicenzo & Jimmy Castoe is at Due Amici in Columbus.

Tuesday February 12 – Ron Purdon Orchestra Plays for Dancing at the Blue Wisp in Cincinnati and the Part St. Tavern Jazz Jam is going on in Columbus.

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

BoJangles Host Somebody’s Angel Benefit Show

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Saturday January 12th Dayton’s Clockwork Soul in cooperation with DaytonRocks.com and BoJangles Nightclub in West Carrollton hosted a benefit/fundraiser for the families affected by the Sandy Hook tragedy. Five bands volunteered their energy, talent and time to help raise money for the charity. Event Organizer’s Michael Anspach and Eric Liddic booked an impressive lineup of local talent each band different to each other both in sound, performance and appearance but committed and united for the cause. Tish & Carrie, 8 Kount, SuperKreep, Induced and Clockwork Soul brought the goods to the packed house whether it was the opening acoustic flavor, Rock n Roll, hard rock or southern fried Middletown metal. Clockwork Soul also took over the Fox 45 News Morning Show with Meghan Mongillo promoting the event and performing ‘Out There’ live in studio on January 9th.

Tish & Carrie

Tish & Carrie

Event sponsors included Babblefish Recording Studios, Side Tat Mafia, Greenleaf Printing, On The Go Printing, Annaleahs hair designs, Pure Romance, and DaytonRocks.com. Local businesses donating raffle prizes included Dayton Dragons, The Funny Bone, Grease Monkey, Pure Romance, The Trolley Stop, Life-Source Massage Therapy and Second Shelf Thrift Store. Co-headliner Induced also donated a blue Schecter Diamond Series Omen 6 Guitar for one lucky winner. Rockstarsglued.com’s Hellbilly was the evening’s MC introducing bands and calling out ticket numbers for lucky winners of some sweet swagOpening the show was the feminine unplugged charm of Dayton’s musical answer to the Wilson sister’s Tish & Carrie. They sang with plenty of heart and soul bringing a coffee house flavor into the rock club, prepping ears for the upcoming noise opening with some acoustic attitude rolling on the river with Proud Mary and Miss Turner then broke out the Black Horse and a Cherry Tree with KT Tunstall. We visited The Angel from Montgomery then they put the crowd in their songstress spell Rolling In the Deep with Adele. Tish went solo with Miss Etheridge on Bring Me Some Water. They hit Zombies with some Cranberries finishing with a tribute to one of the great lost voices of a generation Janis Joplin and Bobby McGee.

8 Kount

8 Kount

Up next is the big rock sound of Dayton’s standing 8 Kount. They brought out their special brand of infection with the Real Disease putting the pedal through the pavement on Getaway Car. They break it all down with the rockstar swagger on Ashes to Ashes. Singer Sugar opens the rockstar handbook to page 56 which tells aspiring RockGods what to say when you’ve said/done something wrong and you’re not sure what it was. He also tours the club personally serenading all the smitten vixens with the Insanity Defense. There’s a Fire in the Hole for anyone that says you’re not good enough, doesn’t love you anymore or doesn’t care what you think because we all have lives to live and we’re gonna live them, because we’re all… More Human Than Human. They finish with their greatest beastly creation Straw Monster. They introduced/broke in new guitarist Stephen Lowe for the nights show. They are definitely a do it yourself, driven, self-financed, self-made working man’s rock n roll band. Website info can be found at www.facebook.com/8KOunt along with their Getaway Car EP/Merch and official video for Ashes to Ashes. SuperKreep busted open the skin with a brutally bloody offering of holy southern forged metal from the mid-west. Performing a few new tunes and select favorites from their second record 2010’s Wizer than the Wicked. They opened up the mind possessing liquid demons with Whisky Devil. This is pure country truckin metal with southern pride and the semi-automatic Dean Guitar riffage of We Are The Truth proves it. Singer Greg Banks born of Chuck Billy spawn brings the Holy Testament from the Bible belt to BoJangles. They put us down for a creeping death Dirt Nap then leave us Dead and Somewhere in Pantera country with some Dimebag chug and concrete sledge with a pounding three guitar fisted hammer. They play a new tune with Pride then Bring on the Pain for the front row diehards. They’re a head bangers delight of mid-south dirty slither and slang with a Wylde side, Hellyeah. They finish living the Fine Life and get a little Psycho-Friendly with the crowd. They’ve been making noise in the underground since 2004 and have shared the stage with Skid Row, Quiet Riot and The Misfits. Their music goes down smooth with a strong after-kick but has enough thrashy dirt and grit to keep the good ole boys happy. Expect a new CD mid-year. Banks has good vocal range doing some solid singing on most tunes adding in gravel in a tree chipper growls occasionally and even sounded a bit like Manson on a few CD tracks.

Induced

Induced

Performing their first show at BoJangles the multidimensional, hard hitting melodic foursome Induced the crowd into their musical mesh of originals and favorites. When your singer looks like a cross between Freddy Mercury and Kit from The Forsaken, you’re guaranteed attention. Speaking of blood suckers they started with the Afterlife, Feeling good. They pull open the covers with Say You’ll Haunt Me, the first song they wrote Left Alone and the drum work of Betrayal. It’s the End of Heartache and time for some heavy Bad Company. They finished with one of Drowning Pools big hits. They’ve incorporated/intertwined Godsmack, Disturbed and some Bush into their sound and love taking a walk around. Guitarist Rodney Collins and bassist Matt Hohenbrink both took extended tours of the venue, mingling with the crowd while playing.

Clockwork Soul

Clockwork Soul

As we’re past the midnight hour headliners ClockWork Soul and dirty blonde debutant Mystie Rose took the stage playing to all the late night guests and faithful souls left to hear the screeching roar and growl from the lady in black. She offers the men some special handcuffed Straight Jacket Love and gets red faced ferocious unmasking her wild eyed aggressive Masquerade. They keep it hot with a time machine trip back with The Boys of Summer. Rose’s voice can go from bubblegum pop to pissed off death metal at will. They get grungy with Alice’s Would finishing the night with Out There. Rose resembles a female Bret Michael’s on steroids and a few shots of Jack. For helping make the event happen she’s our rock of love.

“There are no words we can express on how we feel at this time. So we decided to show how much we care and put on a big show and support this great cause. We had an amazing amount of sponsors and very generous people donated their time and businesses to provide support for this cause as well. This show demonstrates a substantial gesture of solidarity and support for the victims of this tragic event.”

A very genuine, heartfelt thank you to Michael Anspach of Clockwork Soul and Eric Liddic of Daytonrocks.com for organizing the event and a special thank you to everyone who contributed, donated, sponsored and showed up for the event, and to BoJangles.Rocks for hosting. All proceeds go to The Sandy Hook Elementary School Victims Relief Fund which will provide counseling to survivors, pay for funeral expenses for victims, create a scholarship fund for the school’s students and fund a memorial. If you’d like to donate please go to newtownmemorialfund.org. Mail donations to Newtown Memorial Fund, Inc. P.O. Box 596 Botsford, CT 06404, checks payable to Newtown Memorial Fund, check donations page for information on sending care packages, letters and other goods.

Genghis Barbie Performs at the University of Dayton

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Genghis BarbieWith painted horns and colorful personalities to match, Genghis Barbie will be bringing the crowd to its feet this weekend at the University of Dayton.

This lively “post post-feminist feminist” horn ensemble is comprised of four accomplished female musicians: Danielle Kuhlmann, Rachel Drehmann, Alana Vegter, and Wei-ping Chou; stage named Velvet Barbie, Attila the Horn, Freedom Barbie, and Sunshine Barbie, respectively. Integrating music from the 70’s to now, each of Genghis Barbie’s songs is a unique conglomerate of conventional meets contemporary, resulting in their vow to “create distinctive, interactive and personal performances.”  Expect this group to cover the songs of pop artists ranging from Queen to Mariah Carey, Madonna to the Beach Boys, and Lady Gaga to Frankie Valli.

According to Eileen Carr, the University of Dayton’s Arts Series manager, Genghis Barbie was the perfect choice for this Arts Series event because they are a group that “pushes the envelope” of conventional music.

“…these women have tremendous education and professional experience, but rather than stick with the classical canon, [they] mix it up and create their own arrangements of pop songs, alternative music and lots more.  They’re not afraid to have fun with their music–which is so appealing, especially for this generation,” Carr said.

A list of Genghis Barbie’s accomplishments include performing as Contributing Artists at the 2011 International Horn Society Symposium in San Francisco, and releasing two studio albums: the self-titled debut album “Genghis Barbie,” and the newly released holiday album, “Genghis Barbie: Home for the Holidays.”  As a testament to their fun and flamboyant nature, Genghis Barbie says that their next aspiration is to appear on the Ellen DeGeneres show by the end of this year.

The performance will be held on Friday, Feb. 1, at 7:30 p.m. in the University of Dayton’s Sears Recital Hall located in the Jesse Philips Humanities Center.  Tickets for this event cost $15 for general admission, and can be purchased at the Kennedy Union Box Office located on the UD campus (937-229-2545).

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMAKBCyXDHo’]

Want to find out what it means to be a post post-feminist feminist? For those who are interested, there will be a pre-performance program discussing feminism and featuring the four women of Genghis Barbie, at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 31.  This event is free and open to the public, and will be held in Sears Recital Hall located in the Jesse Philips Humanities Center on the UD campus.

For more information about arts events at the University of Dayton and a map of campus arts venues, visit www.udayton.edu/arts.

Submitted b Lauren Glass, a senior at the University of Dayton who is studying journalism. Currently working as a social media assistant for ArtStreet, she enjoys music, writing, and photography.

Elton John Comes to Dayton in April 2013!

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Tickets on sale: Jan 28, 2013 (Mon) 10:00 AM

Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, is one of the most highly acclaimed and successful solo artists of all time. With his songwriting partner Bernie Taupin, Elton has written some of the greatest songs of our time including ‘Rocket Man’, ‘Your Song’, ‘Daniel’ and ‘Goodbye Yellow Brick Road’. He has achieved 35 gold and 25 platinum albums, has sold more than 250-million records worldwide, and holds the record for the biggest selling single of all time.

Elton is the third most successful artist in the history of the American charts, behind Elvis Presley and The Beatles. He has had 56 top forty singles in the United States, a total second only to Elvis Presley. He achieved seven number one albums in a three-and-a-half-year period from 1972 to 1975, a period of concentrated success surpassed only by The Beatles.

Over the five decades since his career began in 1969, Elton has played more than 3,000 concerts worldwide. He continues to record and to tour the world, performing both solo and band concerts, and usually plays around 100 concerts each year. Currently he is on the ‘quest for 100 countries’ – aiming to play concerts in as many countries as possible.

Elton remains committed to his music and to touring, becoming more, rather than less, busy as time passes. Last year The Million Dollar Piano, Elton’s new production, opened at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas. This production, which received fantastic reviews, is set to run for at least three years.

In 2012 Elton returned to the recording studio with producer T Bone Burnett, to record The Diving Board, an album scheduled for release in 2013. He then toured North, Central and South America, before heading to Europe, where his summer tour included an unforgettable appearance at The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee concert at Buckingham Palace. 2012 also gave Elton a UK number album – his first in 22 years – with Good Morning To The Night, the remix project by Elton John versus Pnau. This album introduced Elton’s music to a new, young audience who sang along heartily to Your Song when Elton performed it at a summer festival in Ibiza.

Elton and his band will continue to tour throughout the coming year, and plans are now under way to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the 1973 release of Goodbye Yellow Brick Road during 2013.

From http://www.eltonjohn.com

Help Save The Attic!

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THEATTICCOVER
For a little over a decade 2852 Wilmington Pike in Kettering has been a club unlike any other. Its 22,000 square foot spacious inner cavernous sanctum can hold 700+ kids, young adults, teenagers, and adults. Whether hitting the dance floor, jumping up and down screaming during a concert or hanging out/relaxing at a bible study the large epicenter of friendly fun and frolic for kids-late teens and on occasion adults has stood proud and unabashed in its mission to give local youth a place to hang, study the word, dance, chill and head-bang while Facebooking, texting or Tweeting when needed and…. it’s in danger of closing its doors after February 7th.This year The Attic finds itself in the worst financial bind in the ten years they’ve been open. A decrease in national tours and less local bands booking shows are contributing factors. Originally they were going to lose their insurance due to a lawsuit filed by parents whose teenage daughter was inadvertently hit in the crowd at a show. Staff and management have always gone out of their way to preach and stress safety and watching out for one another due to the aggressive nature of some shows, going as far as permanently banning the rowdiest of the rowdies and troublemakers. After talking to the parents, the father, a Christian decided to drop the suit as an act of grace, never intending to hurt the venue but was trying to recoup some of his losses. In turn The Attic will hold a huge benefit show on February 1st all proceeds going to the families medical costs. 

Finding affordable insurance is still a major issue as they are a non-profit organization and need to at least break even to continue operations. There will be an all-day music festival held on January 26th featuring over 15 bands performing to help raise funds. The venues last scheduled event will be a pre-closing booked show on February 7th featuring The Color Morale.

Closing the venue would mean area start up bands and those who have a following would have to find other places and there aren’t many all age options. The staff has kept eyes and ears on the Dayton scene and teens and their families are their heartbeat. Ideally, they would like to continue serving them in whatever way possible. Although they’re optimistic they’re not sure what the immediate future holds. Area kids would lose a place where they’re always welcome and invited to hang out. The staff has seen lots of teens comment and say that they will lose a “home” and those are the hardest comments to read and hear. They strive to provide a place where everyone feels welcome and loved and they’d hate to think that they would no longer have that sanctuary in their lives. Many kids say they have figured out who they were and where they were going because of the Attic. Their goal is to continue finding ways to serve the kids so hopefully this will only be a short blip in that mission and they will be able to continue serving them or find a way to once again give them a place to belong.

There’s been a huge outpouring of support from local teens and their families to help raise awareness since the January closing was announced. Facebook and YouTube videos and testimonies have been posted supporting the positive impact The Attic has had on area teens.

DSCF8829Since 2002 The Attic has served as a club/meeting spot for area youth. Though visitors have flocked from all parts of the state and some have crossed the border to see shows. The double doors have opened to all manner of social groups who come in and come together to enjoy the music of their generation performed loudly on stage, sometimes by friends, sometimes by national bands and they all want this grand tradition to continue.

Founder Pastor Jim Kilby and Co-manager Elizabeth Kilby Johnson have painstakingly worked to build a good reputation over the years with business neighbors and the community. The Attic hosts a staff of 20-25. Pastor Kilby is a retired Air Force officer. One day the simple word ‘go’ from Jesus’ ‘great commission’ moved him so much that he decided to move from ministering to teens within the walls of the local church and try to reach those outside. As a result, he founded Harvest Youth Ministries, the parent organization of The Attic.

Harvest Youth Ministries is a non-profit organization operating a unique ministry for local teens. Their hope and mission is summed up by “Some place to go!”  Since Harvest Youth was founded in 1998, they’ve worked hard to provide teens a place to have fun, hang out with friends and just be themselves.

The first Harvest Youth center, The Cellar, opened in Dayton in 1998.  Originally located in the back room of a church, The Cellar soon moved to a building of its own in Moraine where it was transformed into a neighborhood skate park. Through God’s grace and provision, their ministry at The Cellar led thousands of teens to accept Jesus Christ as savior and begin an authentic relationship with Him.  Due to economy changes and the popularity of free, outdoor skate parks, The Cellar closed in 2009.  However, many of the teens that attended The Cellar began to attend The Attic, the second Harvest Youth Ministry location.

Lots of big names have played the hallowed Attic Stage including Hawthorne Heights, Staple, Super Chick, Gwen Stacy, Haste the Day, Red, Skillet, Spoken, Between the Buried and Me, The Devil Wears Prada, Brian ‘Head’ Welch, most of the Scream the Prayer Tours, Becoming the Archetype and A Plea for Purging. There’s also a healthy dose of local acts to help polish the future rock stars of tomorrow. The venue has also catered to positive mainstream acts as well.

The club is alcohol, drug and smoke free. There’s a fully stocked drink/food/snack ‘bar’, a few video games, two stages, a family of pool tables and plenty of lounging spots to prop up or plop down on and a generous amount of space up front reserved for the most devoted fans.

The Attic also has available counseling for any alienation, vulnerability, depression, heartache, confusion or other issues today’s youth deal with. Additionally weekly bible studies have been offered for those interested in hearing/learning more about biblical history and The Almighty. The Harvest Christian Fellowship is a grassroots ministry that meets every Sunday in the building and is designed to help teens and families feel more comfortable communicating and participating in a spiritual/religious setting. Thanks to this movement and its fellowship The Attic has had two confirmed miracles within their walls. Two young lives were saved on two different occasions from near suicide just by being there and the staff/entertainment showing the troubled souls that people did care about them. One of which a former bad boy drinker and drug user had planned on OD’ing  after one of the Scream The Prayer Tours but was stopped and saved after the singer from one of the performing bands received a spiritual message and intervened and the young man was baptized at the club and has been a staff member since. His testimonial along with Save The Attic testimonials can be found on The Attic’s sister sites www.harvestdayton.com and www.harvestyouth.org

Other upcoming shows include 1/18-The Rose Hill, IATM and Witness, 1/19- The Paramedic, 1/24-The Almost, All Get Out and Makeshift Prodigy, 1/25-Misery Signals, Corelia.  Support for keeping The Attic open can be sent to Mailing Donations: C/o Harvest Youth Ministries 4004 Woodcliffe Ave Dayton, OH 45420.

Jazz Spotlight: DAI Jazz & Beyond + Upcoming Local Jazz Jan 16 – 29

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Happy January 16th; Irving Mills was born on this day in 1894, He and his brother Jack built a company that became the largest independent music publisher in the world. Check out Wikipeda for more information.

Miscellaneous Jazz Notes:

Latest word on the possible closing status of the Blue Wisp in Cincinnati: Click Here

More sad news for local jazz – Worthington Inn to Discontinue Regular Jazz Programming: Click Here

Here’s a note on the Cincinnati Winter Blues Fest: Click Here

Dayton Art Institute’s 2013 Vectren Jazz & Beyond

Centerville High School Jazz Ensemble

Centerville High School Jazz Ensemble

The Dayton Art Institute will present their 2013 Vectren Jazz & Beyond season on the second Thursday of the month this year. The schedule is as follows:

March 14 – The ShinSings Orchestra

April 11 – Jazz Central Jammers

May 9 – Centerville High School Jazz Night

June 13 – Ron Jones Quartet

August 8 – Generations Big Band

September 12 – Tribute to Louie Armstrong

October 10 – Greg Abate and the Lee McKinney Trio

November 14 – Puzzle of Light

Performances take place 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. in the intimate setting of the museum’s Shaw Gothic Cloister. Admission is FREE for museum members and $8 for non-members.

Jazz CentralJazz Central

Over the years many big bands have played at Jazz Central and back in the day they even had their own band. It’s my understanding their band was mostly made up of Air Force players and they always had a grate time playing the music they loved. Coming up on Thursday, January 17 that very same music is returning to Jazz Central. This is because club owner Charles Stone had saved the original charts and Mike Rinderle had the idea of getting a band together to fill in the spot of the vacationing Generations Big Band. Well Mike has assembled some of the very best players in our area:

Steve Shininger – drums

John Slate – keyboard

Leo Smith – bass

John Harner – trumpet       

Wade Baker – trumpet

Tom Shirley – trumpet        

Mike Rinderle – trumpet

Ronald Hartwell – alto saxophone

Luis Rosa – alto saxophone 

Grant Koeller – tenor saxophone

Carlos Serrano – tenor saxophone

Bill Burns – baritone saxophone

Linda Landis – trombone  

Dustin Malone – trombone
Jon Hoff – trombone

Their performance promises to be something very special, which you can check out at: http://www.jazzcentraldayton.com/#16

 

Jazz Calendar

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

Tonight Wednesday, January 16 – Jazz Central presents Blue Wednesday with Jack & Joe Waters and an the eleven piece Different Hats Band is at the Dayton Event Connection.

Thursday January 17 – The return of of the Jazz Central Big Band at Jazz Central in Dayton and Dottie Warner and Ricky Nye at Arnold’s Bar & Grill in Cincinnati.

Friday January 18 – Dave Greer’s Classic Jazz Stompers is at Jay’s Seafood Restaurant in Dayton and the Bobby Floyd Trio is at Boudin’s Bistro & Jazz Club in Columbus.

Saturday January 19 – Ed Clay’s Jazz Patrol featuring Randy Villars is at Gilly’s in Dayton and Ascension is at the The Greenwich in Cincinnati.

Sunday January 20 – the last night for the Slaughter Brothers at Jazz Central in Dayton this trip and there is a Sunday night Jazz Jam at Victory’s om Columbus.

Monday January 21 – the John Taylor Trio is at the Brio Tuscan Grille in Beavercreek and Mark Flugge, Derek Dicenzo & Jimmy Castoe is at Due Amici in Columbus.

Tuesday January 22 – Scott Belck Quartet featuring Alan Wyatt is at the Blue Wisp in Cincinnati and the Part St. Tavern Jazz Jam is going on in Columbus.

Wednesday January 23 – John LaIacona is at Eddie Merlot’s in Cincinnati and Chuchito Valdesos is playing Nighttown in Cleveland Heights.

Thursday January 24 – the Rick Brunetto Big Band is at the 94th Aero Squadron Restaurant in Columbus and Dave Powers is at Amano’s Sports Bar in Worthington, OH.

Friday January 25 – Shawn Stanley Trio is at Carvers Steaks & Chops in Centerville, OH and the Eddie BrookshireQuintet is playing Nighttown in Cleveland Heights.

Saturday January 26 – James & Moore is at C’est Tout Bistro in Oakwood and Gilly’s presents Winter Blues Showcase in Dayton.

Sunday January 27 – the Jazz Jam Session w/ Kenny Baccus is at Jazz Central in Dayton and Hoo Doo Soul Band is at the Rumba Café in Columbus.

Monday January 28 – Vaughn Wiester’s Famous Jazz Orchestra is at the Clintonville Woman’s Club in Columbus and a Jazz Jam hosted by Sandy Suskind Quartet is at the Wisp in Cincinnati.

Tuesday January 29 – the Derek DiCenzo Trio is at Local Roots in Powell, OH and Tony Monaco is at the Rumba Café in Columbus.

 

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

Mushroomhead Play Doomsday in Dayton

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Well, if you’re reading this the ancient Mayans were wrong and life as we know it has continued into 2013. It was reported that a new calendar was discovered in a Mayan Temple in the rain forests at Xultun in Guatemala with a life sized mural of a Mayan King and astronomical/numerology calendar symbols showing moon phases in years preserved on walls proving that the much discussed/feared and apocalyptically claimed Dec 21, end of the world prophecy was indeed not the end of days rather the end of an era and the beginning of a new one. But as many bands had certainly taken advantage of the day with such a built in metal theme, why not play a metal show on the last day on earth. At least we’ll all be banging our heads as the sky falls and hell, fire and brimstone hit the earth.
Though nothing earth shattering actually occurred and no rain of blood or fires from the sky scorched the planet, the weather was cold but normal. Though there were reports of a mushroom shaped cloud hovering over McGuffys before dark. Four bands braved the years prophesized final hours playing their best and most brutal metal for the packed house of ‘mostly’ heaven bound souls if rapture did happen.
Killbox

Killbox

Then I saw an angel come down from Heaven holding a key to the Killbox and a huge chain in his hand (Revelations Chapter 20 Verse 1)

We begin the beginning of the end opening up the Killbox to play with Armageddon’s favorite tools of mass destruction. Northern Kentucky’s the home to one of the genre’s newest metal making sons. Formed in 2011 and though they’re still in their infernal infancy, had much to offer this year and the ear. Named in part after an Overkill album, the group incorporates a loud, rabid speed infection to their heavy drive and loud intensity. The ferocious angry assault of Coming Back borrows the best iron rimmed canine gnashers snarling in your face ready to shred flesh with a red eyed slobbering hunger. They sound proud to sound so damn pissed off and for good reason. If you knew for sure tomorrow wasn’t coming you’d sound off spitting out some life spanning venom too.  Weaponry speaking a Killbox is a three-dimensional target area, designed to facilitate the integration of coordinate joint weapons fire. It’s an open free fire zone and a chance to ‘Fire at will commander’ so to speak.  Together we all Embraced the Second Coming and the second Mayan calendar. The Mike Muir headband wearing, David Draiman looking Brad Brochers belts out a screeching Sully Erna tangled in chains range with a little bit of Bobby Blitz and Dez Fafara for the rasp. They dedicate a tune to all the fallen hero’s including Dimebag. They dare standing up against the end and say it’s not over Till I Say It’s Over.
Forces of Nature

Forces of Nature

The first horror is over, after this there are still two more horrors to come. (Revelation chapter 9 verse 12) Then the main event.

When the first angel blew his trumpet there came hail and then fire mixed with blood which was hurled down to the earth. A third of the land was scorched along with a third of the trees and every green plant. (Revelation chapter 8 verse 7) Hence the forces of nature are seen.
One of Dayton’s major forces to be reckoned with Forces of Nature brought all of nature’s preliminary fury supplying a veracious wall of sound echoing from the stage to the earthbound skies above. Saturday December 22 proved the D-Day calendar was just Deception. Rotten Tooth pounded the brain like a bad incisor dangling from the inner oral cavity. Following was a mob of screaming, frantic populous Throwing Fists on board the off track Midnight Meat Train locomotive trying to outrun fate toward the Holy Lights. It will happen again, Nevermore. If the prophecies had been true, the world would be nothing but a huge Forest of Corpses on a Black Earth. With a steel spiked boot up the ass goodbye.
I Died Trying

I Died Trying

Then I looked and I heard an eagle that was flying high in the air say in a loud voice, O horror! Horror! How horrible it will be for all who live on earth when the sound comes from the band that the other three bands and audience must hear. (Revelation chapter 9 verse 13, paraphrased) The sound of Armageddon is upon us.

Dayton’s answer to what a prison riot during a madman’s symphony would sound like took over the stage and sound waves playing an almost indescribable audio-ambivalent two song set of Opeth length tunes strung together by movie samples, screams, growls, instruments played and sounds put together in a cornucopias mismatch of sound that God and nature never intended. But since it was the end, it was time to take a long mental disconnect down the Lost Highway drawing First Blood. Time to bust open the padded cell for a train wreck in the brain. We’re all honored guests at this madman’s tea party of the damned. Sipping the best cup of earl grey with a touch of sugar cubed cyanide. Collective in cohesion done to perfection coming out of a soundbox/turntable possessed by the souls of a hundred departed musicians. Slow, quiet musical whispers in the mind to full blown psycho-pandemonium. Cold sweat down the back as blood stained eyes stare wide eyed into the stretching darkness, crystallized limbs reach out from fragments of memories grabbing, juggling, and spinning your mind into a paranoid schizophrenic war dance. Like Swallowing Swords with a grenade chaser. I tried to make sense of this beautiful insanity, but I Died Trying.
Then I saw a group of beasts coming up, out of the sea.  They had many instruments and seven heads each wearing a hideous mask.  (Revelation chapter 13 verse 1, paraphrased.)
Mushroomhead

Mushroomhead

One of Cleveland’s most bizarre and infamous exports, Mushroomhead, the seven man masked men traveling demented carnival nightmare came out dressed in their blood splattered dinner suit best. Comprised of a singing/rapping team of pain and pleasure divine, Waylon’s cast face looked like he’d had a few go arounds with Pinheads toy box while Jeffrey Nothing looks like he took a double sawed off shotgun blast to the face and lived to sing about it. Keyboard striker Shmotz sports another mashed up faceplate of the mushroom horde sporting a spiked army helmet of the marching dead. Bass was played by the human gargoyle Dr. F with guitars strummed by the human Collector known as Church. Backstage gets Skinny on the drums while front stage water drums bashing courtesy of a dread locked skeleton and a robotic HH Giger cyber holiday reindeer, respectively.

Every song sung played like a story from a book of twisted nursery rhymes, like Mother Goose but just the Grimm. Accompanied by a pleasant holiday array of strobe and Christmas stage lights, lasers, hand held spotlights and overall sick merry mayhem. The human horror movie performance artists lived up to their hallucinogenic ingested namesake.  It was indeed Jigsaws favorite torture music.
They started 12 Hundred with a Bwomp, Come On, the blood splattered MMA love song, Save Me from the next Brain Hemorrhage before I Kill Tomorrow so the Sun Doesn’t Shine. They play the dead man’s hand on Solitaire Unraveling and were Born of Desire to fill all the Empty Spaces in the wall.  The mad masked men have promised a new record this year so 2013 will be the year of the Mushroom.

Moshpits & Lighters III Sells Out McGuffys

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December 17 McGuffy’s House of Rock cleared the seats and tables for a standing room only sell-out crowd of 500+ gathered to watch 8 bands play the one and only of its kind annual metal showcase spotlighting local talent and a few state bordering and elsewhere local friends. Seconds Fall, Nightbeast, Chambers of Chaos, Amongst Villains, The Action Blast, Avenue Sky, My Name in Vain and In The Cut played a nightlong showcase plowing through tunes and pummeling heads, brain cells and earlobes.

Seconds Fall

Seconds Fall

Seconds Fall/In The Cut singer Daniel DeDoncker was the mastermind behind the nights event. The goal was to sell out McGuffys with a local show and he accomplished it with lots of old school hard work dedication, heart and a true passion for music. He wanted to book a show with his favorite local/regional bands breaking the traditional 3-4 band bill with an entire evening of talent playing music across the spectrum. Bands both similar and completely different of each other are part of DeDonckers vision.  Another future goal is to organize 3-4 like events a year while opening for national bands. To sweeten the deal if DeDoncker and Co sold out Dayton’s House of Rock they’d earn a signed guitar on the coveted wall of fame. 2 ½ months of advertising went into the show using all social media outlets also employing  grassroots methods of word of mouth and multiple flier copies. The show focuses on all types of rock, and eventually he wants to do an outdoor event, a local X-Fest of sorts.

After three years apart DeDonckers first band Seconds Fall played an acoustic reunion set opening festivities. The band played the first two Moshpits & Lighters shows at Badda Bings in Kettering breaking bar attendance and sales records that night, and surpassing that number the year after. Past show alumni includes Fluwid, Occams Razor, Orange Williard, Chapter of Progress, Inept and Negative Process among others.

For the shows third year they enlisted the help of local ink masters Truth n Triumph Tattoo and model talents of Megyn, Jeni, Jenn, Courtney and Tonya the bewitching tattooed beauties of the Michigan Twisted Angels.

Local stand up Funny Bone regular laugh riot Bizcuit MC’d the show opening with his trademark tearful farewell to Twinkies and all out ariel assault of oatmeal crème cookies.
Seconds Fall started with the Lighter stuff, breaking out the electric acoustics for a stripped down performance that really brought out the emotion of all songs performed. Tesla did the five man acoustic jam, Seconds Fall did it with three. A lyrically passionate heavy set brought out by 12 electrically acoustic strings gave us Insignificant, End of Our Time, We All Need Hero’s, Don’t Give Up On Me and the first song they wrote Lipstick Revenge. DeDonker proves big hulking metal dudes can leave the beast growls and screaming in the dressing room (till later) and work the vocals a different way singing some beautiful tunes. They finished with Congulate concluding the Lighter side of things.
Avenue Sky

Avenue Sky

The cranium crunching began with Chambers of Chaos. Max Headroom yellow Mohawk sporting, slick sunglasses wearing Shaun Clark dared everyone to Enter My Ring growling out an aggressive pounding sound borrowing vox from Dez Fafara mixed with some dirty evil sounding Godsmack with a punk attack from somewhere beneath the earth. There’s definite chaos in the guitars bringing out a mass riot of a sound. They look like a nice friendly bunch of metal blokes, until they’re Pushed to Stand Against something with a deep rooted melody. We’re all Faceless in the crowd enjoying the heavy hype on stage. They leave us hungry for more with the darkly melodious long Kiss of Goodnight. Clark yells his lyrical agenda to the gathering with the fury of a dictator at the podium who wasn’t shy about flashing the bird, letting it soar for all to see. (Metal’s one of the very few genre’s where the middle finger can be used as a sign of camaraderie and respect).

Straight up north from the cold depths of Flint Michigan come Avenue Sky with a chilled string intro launching into Day of the Intruder. They Breathe one part metal, one part coffee house rock and one part indie aura. Formed in 2008, their influences are as diverse and unique as their onstage show. Dragonflies rings out with a jingling, jangling coffee house ballad feel, the strings almost having a piano like effect. According to Kevin Swisher, you ’can’ make babies to this song. A Storm That Burns is sung with an almost Michael Sweet (Stryper) delivery between the growling. There are some nice doses of sporadic /spastic fast footed dancing fury. Swisher and Co play homage to Killswitch Engage and King X’s Doug Pinnick.
Amongst Villains

Amongst Villains

McGuffy’s regulars Amongst Villains return hot off their set supporting Psychostick a few weeks back. Hardcore sweater wearer Josh Marshall rocked the holy living Huxtable out of his wholly holiday gear, sporting a killer ’stash. He can make any fabric look angry as he screams himself flannel red, throwing himself into everything he does. AV are a band that just can’t stop moving. They play their patented blend of hard, rough but southern strong proofed metal on Heavy is the Crown and a trip down the darkened bayou on Black River Ruin. They take us To The Grave Dragging Hell along the way.

Suddenly a fan took the stage grabbed the mic and unleashed a hypnotic fury of beats, blasts, human throat noises uttering danceable delicacies to the crowd while Nightbeast prepared to roar. Security and staff were too in awe watching him take his vocal chords to almost indescribable heights in a Bobby McFerrin on steroids performance to stop him.
Shaking in the cellar, scared out of your mind, breath fights for freedom as the beast lurks by. Fingers scratch the surface, as night air seeps in, blood red eyes pierce the darkness as your end comes….. crashing through the wall.  Well, maybe not as evil as that night beast but with no less a killer instinct for performance Dayton’s Nick Testa aka The Nightbeast, Lonn Friends unofficial twin brother plays a show unique in its presence and somewhat indescribable for the pen to translate. They show up with their own club mix, a band that must be seen to be properly heard and yes, they are a bit different. They bring out the shirtless inked aggression in true comedic form. Blending top 40, rap, hip hop, rock and ska, NightBeast ’could be’ best described as a schizophrenic natural ruthied dance club rock show tattooed male review remix on wheels. We start the pawty on a Fullride, no worries your future educations taken care of. Living Large is the on key Biz Markie version of Will Smith’s Summertime. They add Tenanious D, Weird Al Yankovic lyrics to a dizzying range of performance art and bizarre hijinks. But without PG-X rated humor there can be no Anger Phase. Those topless souls brave enough to perform with him include Sean Patton, Robbie Bauer, Jordan Elam, Ryan ’Asher’ Jones and John Lakes.
My Name in Vain

My Name in Vain

My Name in Vain

took the stage with towering skyscraper Josh ’slinky’ Miller at the helm celebrating their first year as a band playing heavy artillerist paced music with a thick shovel in steamy blacktop in maximum security grit feel. We took a trip back to the river bathhouse in all our shame because we’re all Poor People. Santa came out to spread some holiday cheer before he Departed.  (Writers note: MNIV was the first local and mainstream band I’ve reviewed for the website (Static X show) so seeing them again and being there was extra special for me)

Chicago’s Action Blast came out ready to prove all the Disbeliever’s wrong, performing with a solid serving of rock, hard melody, and infectious vocals combining the singing Skillet/Killswitch Engage style with God Forbid appearance and screaming. They tap the audiences reserve tank with some hard rock addictive octane. After they hit us with The Plague, they offer us some tail from the headless chick that’ll leave any man stone faced. By the end they’d Erased any doubt they came to deliver the Chi-Town goods.
In the Cut

In the Cut

The evenings local hero’s/headliners, In the Cut, hit the stage bringing the party to the people, honoring those who lasted all night with shots, hot chicks dancing, Santa Clause on guitar and giving the crowd plenty of loud face time. Also celebrating their first year as a band, the Onslaught started symbolically Crossing the Rubicon on stage. They didn’t wait Until the End to pull out a blistering blast of super 80’s power ballads. Tonight’s show had indeed been an incredible Journey of personal triumph and victory for DeDoncker and all performers proving that hard work and dedication does pay off and the local scene can and does carry  hardcore heavyweight drawing power. If Tomorrow Never Comes we’ll all feast and get Wasted on Hatred Divine. We finish M&L’s trio show with the voice of its creator from creation to damnation, from Eden to Exile. Their next show will be opening for religious icons P.O.D. on February 9th.

Open Mic Nights – A Musicians Beginning

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Photo Credit: Jennifer Taylor Clarke

Mandy Jewell (photo credit: Jennifer Taylor Clarke)

When I was in college, I thought that it would be cool to fool around, impress the ladies, and pick up the acoustic guitar. Sadly with classes, hanging with friends, and pretty much being lazy-I never learned how to play.  I would never give up the guitar, however.  I always kept it in its black travel bag and placed it in my closet.  Recently-I decided that it’s the right time to unpack the instrument and develop a plan.  I will learn how to play, and perform in front of an audience during an open mic night.  If you are someone that is like me, and what’s to follow through on an idea, or if you want to start their journey on becoming a musician, open mic nights are a great start.  Here in Dayton, there are a couple of great open mic events throughout the week that you can perfect your craft at, and even get your name started.

The first open mic night we will discuss takes us to a small shopping center that is across Wright State University.  On Sunday nights at One Eyed Jacks in Fairborn,   the RnR Playdate, hosted by Jay Madewell and Todd the Fox is held.  Their concept of the open mic is very different than most.  For a 25 minute set, you can play with a drummer (Madewell), guitartist (Todd), bassist (Chris Barnett from the local band Mayliner).  If you choose to play solo, that’s fine.  Between sets, there are five minute comedy sets.  My first experience with this open mic night featured seeing what seemed like a reserved, coy woman named Mandy Jewell.  She walked up to the podium, and plugged in her guitar.  She sat down, took a deep breath, and waited to be introduced.  Todd grabbed the microphone and explained to the crowd that Jewell was in the process of having a largely successful Kickstarter campaign that would give the funds to travel to Nashville to record her first professional demo.  After hearing this, I couldn’t help but be intrigued to hear her play.  What took place for the next 25 minutes was something that I didn’t think I would expect.  This tiny framed young lady that seemed to be the person that would be considered a perfect example of being a wallflower proved me and everyone in the crowd otherwise.  Her guitar play and singing revealed a woman that has had sadness in her life, and that she is now rising from the wreckage.  She is stronger than most would give her.  Her voice was like if Mazzy Star decided to morph into someone else’s body.  Jewell spoke softly, which only built her charm level up more and more.  I can’t wait to see where Mandy takes her music.  She is truly a gem that Dayton better be ready for.  The whole concept, the performers, the location-RnR Playdate is a great start for anyone that wants to get started in their musical journey.  The crowd is very loyal, and will follow you wherever you go.

Kim Deal

Kim Deal

Our next stop is the South Park Tavern.  Every Wednesday night, the fantastic bar that offers some of the best pizza and beer in town also presents their open mic night.  This establishment is actually the birthplace of an idea.  On a chilled October night in 2011, a young man was sitting at one of the tables with some friends.  The group was sitting around catching up on what has been happening with one another. The young man has enjoyed the music that was being played in Dayton, and wanted to show his appreciation by starting a page people could go to and read about his adventures and his accounts of seeing the local shows.  He explained this vision to his friends, telling them that we would write reviews on the shows he attended, and hopefully meet some great people along the way.  That young man was me.  Over a year later, and continuing to move forward with Dayton Most Metro, I can’t begin to express my love to this open mic night.

Starting at 9, each act has 25 minutes to set up and perform.  At 11, the stage opens up for any upcoming rock band to come up and perform till the doors close.  The tavern on Wednesdays nights also offers up some acts that you would never think would happen.  Just a couple of weeks ago, an artist was penciled in to play.  The performer was labeled on the schedule as ‘K.D’.  What the people who were in attendance didn’t expect was that ‘K.D.’ was no other than The Breeders lead singer and bassist for the Pixies Kim Deal.  She performed a solo electric version of “Cannonball” but also another Breeders fan favorite “Fortunately Gone” from 1990’s Pod among others.

Travel over to the great Oregon District, and you will notice that some of the great establishments to run up and down the area also host fantastic open mic nights.  On Thursday nights, the Trolley Stop and Blind Bob’s each will give you the forum to come and sing your heart out.  Both venues also give you a great intimate crowd that will be looking forward to hearing good music played by you.

So, if you are ready to start embarking on a journey that you have been thinking of going on from some time, you always have to start somewhere.  If music is in your blood, and you want to become part of the great group of artists and musicians that call Dayton home, then go to one (or all) of the open mic nights the town offers you.  Maybe, just maybe, you will fulfill a lifelong dream of yours.  Or if you are like me-you will knock something off the bucket list.  Either way-have fun doing it.  If you don’t play any instruments, just sing only in the shower, or you just love seeing music, then go and support the people playing at the open mic nights.  Show them your appreciation.  Who knows-you just may see the next big star to come out of town…

Jazz Spotlight: Jazz Jam + Upcoming Local Jazz Jan 2 – 15

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Happy January 2nd!  American jazz singer Arthur Prysock, best known for his live shows and his baritone influenced by Billy Eckstine was born on this day in 1929.

JazzJamWhat is a Jazz Jam?

In simple terms a jam session is a musical act where musicians play by improvising without extensive preparation or predefined arrangements. A regular jazz jam is usually sponsored by a venue where this is a predefined core group of paid regulars and any and all musicians who care to come and join in are welcome. The guest musicians or vocalist would need to check or sign in with the event MC to maintain a good performing balance.

There are regular ongoing jams in Dayton, Cincinnati and Columbus, which are known well enough to draw guest performers both local and many times from out of town. Like I tell everyone, every chance I get, “Many times, depending upon who shows up, you get some of the very best jazz at jams!” Last Sunday at Jazz Central proved to be the case when the Slaughter Brothers, Clarence (saxophone) and William (trumpet) showed up to jam. Over the years many young jazz players have cut their teeth on Jazz Central’s stage, which has been home to Dayton’s longest running jazz jam.

The Slaughter brothers, who have been doing big things in South Carolina and New Orleans, are home for the holidays and we were treated to a rare performance. In addition to the Slaughters we had Kenny Baccus on organ, John Hampton Wagner as MC as well as trumpet and vocals and Greg Webster on drums, Clifford Darrett and Ahmed Abdullah on congas, and Ron Appleberry on bass as the basic jam core group. Additional guest performers included David Jenkins on saxophone and Darren Witherspoon on drums, two young Stivers School of the Arts students who were new to the jam sessions. Rounding out the evening were vocalist Jeff Ward and Always Triple, trombonist Mushandi Pillow, saxophonist Grant Koeller and drummers Henry Preston and Ismail Muhammad as well as Jack Hart on organ and Jerry Cox on flute. If I haven’t missed anyone (hopefully I’m correct on the spellings) there were eighteen on stage during the evening; what entertainment for a mere $2.00 cover charge.

Clarence started playing on the Jazz Central stage at age 12, was one of the Serious Young Musicians that played Showtime at the Apollo and has performed with some of today’s biggest names in New Orleans. Younger brother William Patrick who also grew up at the club is currently based in the South and comes back to us as a professional player of unbelievable skill. It’s my understanding that the brothers will be with us trough next Sunday’s jam and Clarence is scheduled to be part to Saturday’s “Secret! Kept?” show at the club, which you can check out at: http://www.jazzcentraldayton.com/#15

Jazz Calendar

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

Tonight Wednesday, January 2 – Jazz Central opens a new Blue Wednesday series with Jack & Joe Waters and Swing Dance with Lizz & Rex Review is at the Dayton Event Connection.

Thursday January 3 – Tony Monaco is at Giammarco’s Pizza in Westerville, OH.

Friday January 4 – the Marc Fields Quintet is at the Blue Wisp in Cincinnati and the Eddie Brookshire Quintet is at the Thompson House in Newport, Ky.

Saturday January 5 – James and Moore are performing at the C’est Tout Bistro in Oakwood and an allstar cast is doing Secret! Kept? at Jazz Central.

Sunday January 6 – the Slaughter Brothers return for the Jazz Jam Session w/ Kenny Baccus at Jazz Central in Dayton and a Live Jazz Party produced by Gene Walker is at the Hunan Gourmet Restaurant in Whitehall, OH.

Monday January 7 – the John Taylor Trio is at the Brio Tuscan Grille in Beavercreek and a Jazz Jam hosted by Sandy Suskind at the Blue Wisp in Cincinnati.

Tuesday January 8 – Matt Ellis and “Standard Time” is at the McConnell Arts Center in Worthington, OH.

Wednesday January 9 – the Blue Wisp Big Band performs at the Wisp in Cincinnati and Jack & Joe Waters is at Jazz Central in Dayton.

Thursday January 10 – the Rick Brunetto Big Band is at the 94th Aero Squadron Restaurant in Columbus.

Friday January 11 – Shawn Stanley Trio is at Carvers Steaks & Chops in Centerville, OH and Deep Blue Organ Trio is at the Thompson House in Newport, Ky

Saturday January 12 – Richard Lopez is at Hyde Park in Arlington in Columbus and the Rachel Sepulveda Trio is at the Worthington Inn both in Worthington, OH.

Sunday January 13 – the Jazz Jam Session w/ Kenny Baccus is at Jazz Central in Dayton  and Hoo Doo Soul Band is at the Rumba Café in Columbus.

Monday January 14 – Vaughn Wiester’s Famous Jazz Orchestra is at the Clintonville Woman’s Club in Columbus.

Tuesday January 15 – Trumpeter Scott Belck and CCM Jazz Orchestras is at the Blue Wisp in Cincinnati.

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

Jazz Spotlight: Cameron Voorhees + Upcoming Local Jazz Dec 19 – Jan 3

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Happy December 19th; Bob Brookmeyer was an American jazz valve trombonist, pianist, arranger, and composer born on this day in 1929. Check out Wikipeda for more information.

Cameron VoorheesWho is Cameron Voorhees?

Master Sergeant Cameron R. Voorhees is a Guitarist with the United States Air Force Band of Flight’s Concert Band, Night Flight, and Prism Brass, at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio. Cameron is one of many Band of Flight members both past and present who make a tremendous impact in our local jazz scene.

Sergeant Voorhees was born and raised in Leavenworth, KS, where he began studying guitar in the fourth grade. He graduated from LeavenworthSenior High School in 1976 and continued his studies at the Berklee College of Music in Boston. Sergeant Voorhees graduated in 1981 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Composition.

Sergeant Voorhees enlisted in the United States Air Force in August of 1992 and completed tours with Air Force Bands at Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts, and Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii. He began his current assignment with the USAF Band of Flight in August 2004. In addition to his performance duties, he serves as Unit Security Manager and Operations Representative.

A couple of years ago I met Cameron at Jazz Central where he was a regular part of their jazz jams for a period of time. One thing led to another and he helped me book the Band of Flight Nighthawk Jazz Combo (one of the groups of which he was a member), for Jazz Advocate’s 2011 Jazz & Peace Festival that we held in Centerville at Stubbs Park.

I just recently receive an email announcement: Cameron will be retiring from 21 years in the USAF in January of 2013. Cameron has had a great career over the past 21 years and has done some amazing things.  We are very proud of him and wish to celebrate his career. His official ceremony will be on Friday, January 25, 2013 here in Ohio at the base. He will be missed and we wish him the best in the next chapter of his life. If you have any stories or photos you would like to share, please send to: rebecca.taylor@wpafb.af.mil

In his spare time, Sergeant Voorhees is active in his local church and enjoys spending time with his family, studying the Bible and playing jazz in the local community.

Jazz Calendar

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

Tonight Wednesday, December 19 – Tonight, for you dancers The Dayton Event Connection is featuring a ten piece swing band and The Steve Schmidt Organ Trio Christmas Spectacular w/Eugene Goss & Mandy Gaines is at the Comet Bar in Cincinnati.

Thursday December 20 – The Generations Big Band invites you to their “End of the World Concert “ at Jazz Central.

Friday December 21 – James and Moore are performing at the C’est Tout Bistro in Oakwood and the Dan Karlsberg Quartet is at the Blue Wisp in Cincinnati.

Saturday December 22 – Schwartz’s Point in Over-The-Rhine has The NEW Ed Moss Trio in Cincinnati and Steinhaus Restaurant has the Phil DeGreg Trio in Florence, KY.

Sunday December 23 – Wade Baker & Friends Christmas Party from 5 to 9 pm and  the Jazz Jam Session w/ Kenny Baccus continues at Jazz Central in Dayton from 9 pm to midnight.

Monday December 24 – the John Taylor Trio is at the Brio Tuscan Grille in Beavercreek and James and Moore are at the C’est Tout Bistro in Oakwood.

Tuesday December 25 – Christmas Day – Happy Holiday!

Wednesday December 26 – John LaIacona is at Eddie Merlot’s in Cincinnati and Ricky Nye & Bekah Williams is at Chez Nora in Covington,KY.

Thursday December 27 – Songwriter showcase with Lisa Biales is at Natalie’s Coal Fired Pizza in Worthington, OH and Ricky Nye & Dottie Warner is at Arnold’s Bar & Grill in Cincinnati.

Friday December 28 – Shawn Stanley Trio is at Carvers Steaks & Chops in Centerville, OH and April Aloisio sings at Bella Luna Café inCincinnati.

Saturday December 29 – There is a tribute to Ray Charles at Natalie’s Coal Fired Pizza and the Erik Augis Trio is at the Worthington Inn both in Worthington, OH.

Sunday December 30 – the Jazz Jam Session w/ Kenny Baccus is at Jazz Central in Dayton  and Hoo Doo Soul Band is at the Rumba Café in Columbus.

Monday December 31 – Vaughn Wiester’s Famous Jazz Orchestra is at the Clintonville Woman’s Club and the Worthington Inn has the Rachel Sepulveda Trio in Worthington, OH.

Tuesday January 1 – New Year’s Day – Happy Holiday!

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