Jazz Arts Group’s 15th season was packed with many talented guest artists. This season not only featured some of the country’s best jazz musicians, but also commissioned two world premieres commissioned by the Jazz Arts Group.

 

SWING FEVER

Featuring Terry Gibbs, Byron Rooker, Michele Horsefield, and Bill Moore

Big Band Guest Artist Series
October 22-25, 1987 | Battelle Memorial

Benny Goodman’s 1938 Carnegie Hall Concert was a musical event of historic importance. What better way to celebrate the beginning of our 15^th season than to pay homage to a true American pioneer? JAG’s own Byron Rooker played the legendary “King of Swing,” Bob Breithaupt played Gene Krupa (remember last year’s incredible “Sing, Sing, Sing”?), and Rusty Bryant took up his robust saxophone as we recreated some of the music from that memorable night. In addition, vibraharpist/band leader Terry Gibbs performed music from several of his award-winning albums and vocalists Bill Moore and Michele Horsefield sang some swingtime jazz classics. Selections included: Life Goes To A Party, Don’t Be that Way, Wrappin’ It Up, One O’Clock Jump, Blue Skies, Big John’s Special, Stompin’ At The Savoy, Let’s Dance, Sing Sing Sing, Clarinet a la King, Loch Lomond, Swingtime in the Rockies, I’ve Got You Under My Skin, Opus One, I Got Rhythm, Fat Man, Softly As In a Morning Sunrise, What’s New, Don’t Worry ‘Bout Me, Where or When, Calabogie Blues, and There’ll Be Some Changes Made.

Performers:

Artistic Director – Ray Eubanks

Saxophones
Burdette Green, Jim Gallagher, Sonny McBroom, Byron Rooker, Steve Genteline

Trombones
Tom Dale, Ola Hanson, Gary Carney, Pat Lewis, Gary Twining

Trumpets
Wes Orr, Bob Everhart, Jerry Kaye, Stan Gilliland, John Harnar

Rhythm Section
Hank Marr – Piano | Al Berry – Bass | Bob Breithaupt – Drums | Steve Grier – Congas

 

BIG BAND TODAY

Featuring Phil Woods, Bobby Floyd, and Karen Massie

Big Band Guest Artist Series
December 3-6, 1987 | Battelle Memorial

Grammy Award-winning saxophonist Phil Woods returned to our stage after an eight year absence. During that period, he won a dozen more awards and was the altoist of note on Billy Joel’s song “Just the Way You Are.” Woods emerged as one of the legends of jazz. Pianist Bobby Floyd and vocalist Karen Massie were big hits with our audience in their JAG debuts last season and we were pleased to present them again! This concert also featured the world premiere of a new composition by former Columbus resident Ladd McIntosh. Selections included: I Write The Songs, Come Rain Or Come Shine, Ain’t Misbehavin’, All Of Me, Misty, I Remember April, Another You, Banja-Luka, Goodbye Mr. Evans, Reet’s Neet, Repetition, The Last Page, Randi, Technopop, Naina, and Undecided.

Performers:
Artistic Director – Ray Eubanks

Saxophones
Burdette Green, Jim Gallagher, Sonny McBroom, Byron Rooker, Steve Genteline

Trombones
Tom Dale, Ola Hanson, Gary Carney, Pat Lewis, Gary Twining

Trumpets
Wes Orr, Bob Everhart, Jerry Kaye, Stan Gilliland, John Harnar

Rhythm Section
Hank Marr – Piano | Al Berry – Bass | Bob Breithaupt – Drums |
Steve Grier – Congas

DOC SEVERINSEN

Featuring Richard Eames, Jeff D’Angelo, Tom Rizzo, and Ron Davis

One Night Only
January 9, 1988 | Ohio Theatre

Program selections were announced from the stage.

Performers:
Artistic Director – Ray Eubanks

Saxophones
Burdette Green, Jim Gallagher, Sonny McBroom, Byron Rooker, Steve Genteline

Trombones
Tom Dale, Ola Hanson, Gary Carney, Pat Lewis, Gary Twining

Trumpets
Wes Orr, Bob Everhart, Jerry Kaye, Stan Gilliland, John Harnar

Rhythm Section
Hank Marr – Piano | Al Berry – Bass | Bob Breithaupt – Drums | Steve Grier – Congas

 

 

THE COUNT & THE DUKE

Featuring Norris Turney, Vince Andrews, and Mary McClendon

Big Band Guest Artist Series
January 21-24, 1988 | Battelle Memorial

The previous season, our Count and the Duke program rivaled our Kenton Concert in popularity. It was that wonderful evening that initially prompted our move to four nights. Norris Turney, former Ellington altoist, returned as our special guest with popular local favorites Vince Andrews and Mary McClendon. You heard “Satin Doll,” “Take the A Train,” “Mood Indigo,” and a host of other jazz classics from the big band libraries of two of America’s most important artists. Selections included: Take the ‘A’ Train, Isfahan, This Could Be The Start of Something Big, Flight of the Foo Birds, Come Fly With Me, Ring Dem Bells, Something To Live For, Ellington Medley (Mood Indigo, Do Nothin’ Till You Hear From Me, Things Ain’t What They Used To Be), Clarinet Lament, East St. Louis Toodle-oo, Everything But You, Love You Madly, Whirlybird, Taxi War Dance, and April In Paris.

Performers:

Artistic Director – Ray Eubanks

Saxophones
Burdette Green, Jim Gallagher, Sonny McBroom, Byron Rooker, Steve Genteline

Trombones
Tom Dale, Ola Hanson, Gary Carney, Pat Lewis, Gary Twining

Trumpets
Wes Orr, Bob Everhart, Jerry Kaye, Stan Gilliland, John Harnar

Rhythm Section
Hank Marr – Piano | Al Berry – Bass | Bob Breithaupt – Drums  | Steve Grier – Congas

AN EVENING WITH JOE WILLIAMS

Featuring Rusty Bryant

Big Band Guest Artist Series
March 3-6, 1988 | Battelle Memorial

Joe Williams was a singer’s singer and musician’s musician throughout his long and illustrious career. His media exposure as “Grandpa” on “The Cosby Show” gained him a whole new audience of young people. The air resounded with the Blues as only this 1985 Grammy Award winner sang them and we prepared Joe’s way with an hour of big band jazz featuring the men of the orchestra and our own Central Ohio legend, Mr. Rusty Bryant. Also featured was the premiere of a new composition by orchestra member Gary Carney. Selections included: I’m Walkin’, Don’t You Know I Care, *To Bop or Not To Bop, Mr. Smoke, Threshold, Evergreen, Spring Will Be A Little Late This Year, A Time For Love, Swing Low Sweet Chariot, and On The Sixth Day. *Premiere performance.

Performers:
Artistic Director – Ray Eubanks

Saxophones
Burdette Green, Jim Gallagher, Sonny McBroom, Byron Rooker, Steve Genteline

Trombones
Tom Dale, Ola Hanson, Gary Carney, Pat Lewis, Gary Twining

Trumpets
Wes Orr, Bob Everhart, Jerry Kaye, Stan Gilliland, John Harnar

Rhythm Section
Hank Marr – Piano | Al Berry – Bass | Bob Breithaupt – Drums  | Steve Grier – Congas

KENTON VIII

Featuring Conte Candoli, John Von Ohlen, and Kelly Crum Delaveris

Big Band Guest Artist Series
April 21-24, 1988 | Battelle Memorial

Nowhere in the world was there a Kenton event like this one! As a result, people came from as far as Chicago, Cincinnati, Dayton, and Cleveland to hear this concert which had become a regional music event. “Tonight Show” trumpeter and former Kentonite Conte Candoli was joined by Kenton alumni John Harner (trumpet) and John Von Ohlen (drums) plus own our Kelly Crum (recreating some June Christy gems) in an evening of big band jazz you never forgot. Selections included: Artistry Theme, I Hear Music, Black Coffee, Tenderly, Out of Nowhere, There Will Never Be Another You, Autumn in New York, But Beautiful, Stairway to the Stars, Speak Low, Back in Your Own Backyard, Cuban Fire, and Come Back to Sorrento.

Performers:
Artistic Director – Ray Eubanks

Saxophones
Burdette Green, Jim Gallagher, Sonny McBroom, Byron Rooker, Steve Genteline

Trombones
Tom Dale, Ola Hanson, Gary Carney, Pat Lewis, Gary Twining

Trumpets
Wes Orr, Bob Everhart, Jerry Kaye, Stan Gilliland, John Harnar

Rhythm Section
Hank Marr – Piano | Al Berry – Bass | Bob Breithaupt – Drums  | Steve Grier – Congas