The 1994-1995 season signaled a major change for the Jazz Arts Group- renaming the band itself to the Columbus Jazz Orchestra and retaining the Jazz Arts Group as the parent corporation behind several jazz organizations. In its first season with its new name, the CJO presented a wide array of guest artists, including Dionne Warwick, Arturo Sandoval, and Mel Torme.

Season Sponsors: Nationwide Insurance, Huntington Bank, Grange Insurance, Infiniti of Columbus, Kroger, Key Bank (previously Society Bank), The Columbus Foundation, Ohio Arts Council, and Greater Columbus Arts Council

DIONNE WARWICK

Featuring Bobby Floyd

Palace Theatre Series
September 17, 1994 | Palace Theatre

Concert Sponsor: Nationwide Insurance

Dionne has been playing a part in American popular music for over 30 years, and she brought her rich voice and incomparable style to the Palace stage. Considered to be the “voice” by songwriters Burt Bacharach and Hal David, you heard her sing their hit Do You Know The Way To San Jose, as well as Déjà Vu, That’s What Friends Are For, I’ll Never Love This Way Again, and many, many more. A superstar to start our super season! Selections were announced from the stage.

 

 

 

Performers:
Artistic Director – Ray Eubanks

Musical Director – Joe Kloess

Saxophones
Burdette Green, Michael Cox, Sonny McBroom, Byron Rooker, Steve Genteline

Trombones
Mark Greenwood, Ola Hanson, Gary Carney, Pat Lewis

Trumpets
Wes Orr, Bob Everhart, Bob Birkhimer, Jerry Kaye

Rhythm Section
Bobby Floyd – piano | Al Berry – bass | Bob Breithaupt – drums

Violins
Andrew Lisko, Kevin Annest, Phil Baldwin, Jim McCullough, Pavana Baird, Deborah Price, David Shelton, Korine Fujiwara, Amy Shevrin, Jane Snyder

Violas
Lucy Firlie, Beth Weingroff

Cellos
Mary Tanner, Wendy Tomlinson

Accompanying Ms. Warwick:
Singers
Myrna Smith, Damon Elliot, Allan White

Guitars
Neal Anzalotti, Lee Valentine

Rhythm Section
Dennis Allen – drums | David Coy – bass | Rob Schrock – keyboards

 

AN EVENING WITH BENNY CARTER

Featuring Louise Salvador

Battelle Series
October 26-30, 1994 | Battelle Memorial

Concert Sponsor: Infiniti of Columbus

Songs performed included: Sweet And Lovely, Apple Honey, Sister Sadie, All Of Me, How Insensitive, I Got It Bad (And That Ain’t Good), But Not For Me, Dream Time, Doozy, Hello, How High The Moon, Remember, Sao Paulo, Sleep, Souvenir, Stockholm Sweetnin’, Symphony In Riffs, Vine Street Rumble, When Lights Are Low, and Cottontail.

 

 

Performers:
Artistic Director – Ray Eubanks

Saxophones
Burdette Green, Michael Cox, Sonny McBroom, Byron Rooker, Steve Genteline

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

Trumpets
Wes Orr, Bob Everhart, Bob Birkhimer, Dean Congin, Lee Savory

Rhythm Section
Hank Marr – piano | Al Berry – bass | Bob Breithaupt – drums

 

BIG BAND BASH WITH LOUIE BELLSON

Featuring Leon Cook

Battelle Series
November 30-December 4, 1994 | Battelle Memorial

Concert Sponsor: Grange Insurance

Songs performed included: My Man’s Gone Now, Party Hearty, Horse Feathers, Ol’ Man River, Take The “A” Train, Stormy Monday Blues, Don’t Push, Don’t Pull, Don’t Worry ‘Bout Me, Alright, OK, You Win, The Music Makes You Move, Airmail Special, The Louie Shuffle, Our Manne Shelly, Conte, Blues, Body And Soul, Santos, Love For Sale, The Drum Squad, Walkin’ With Buddy, and 12th Street Blues.

 

Performers:
Artistic Director – Ray Eubanks

Saxophones
Burdette Green, Michael Cox, Sonny McBroom, Byron Rooker, Steve Genteline

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

Trumpets
Wes Orr, Bob Everhart, Bob Birkhimer, Jerry Kaye, Dean Congin

Rhythm Section
Hank Marr – piano | Al Berry – bass | Bob Breithaupt – drums | Steve Grier – congas

 

ARTURO SANDOVAL

Featuring Bobby Floyd and Vince Andrews

Palace Theatre Series
January 14, 1995 | Palace Theatre

Concert Sponsor: Chase Bank (previously Bank One)

That’s right! The most sound-sational artist from our 1993-1994 Battelle season makes a special one night stop at the Palace. You’ll hear his fiery trumpet and fantastic Afro-Cuban rhythms that have won accolades world-wide and the heart of jazz lovers in central Ohio. Musical selections were announced from the stage.

 

 

 

Performers:
Artistic Director – Ray Eubanks

Saxophones
Burdette Green, Vince Andrews, Sonny McBroom, Byron Rooker, Steve Genteline

Trombones
Tom Dale, Ola Hanson, Mark Greenwood, Kevin Peters

Trumpets
Wes Orr, Bob Everhart, Jerry Kaye, Dean Congin

Rhythm Section
Bobby Floyd – piano | Jeff Halsey – bass | Matt Wagner – drums | Steve Grier – congas

BUDDY DEFRANCO

Featuring Paula Owen

Battelle Series
February 15-19, 1995 | Battelle Memorial

Songs performed included: Easy To Love, My Man’s Gone Now, Witchcraft, Ev’ry Time We Say Goodbye, The Way You Look Tonight, I Love You, My Funny Valentine, I Get A Kick Out Of You, Body And Soul, I’m Beginning To See The Light, Bye, Bye Birdland; On The Sunny Side Of The Street, Stella By Starlight, Blues In The Night, The Blues, Where Or When, Gershwin Medley, Thou Swell, In The Still Of The Night, Mr. Lucky, and Invitation.

 

 

 

 

Performers:
Artistic Director – Ray Eubanks

Saxophones
Burdette Green, Byron Rooker, Sonny McBroom, Joel Johanson, Steve Genteline

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

Trumpets
Wes Orr, Bob Everhart, Jerry Kaye, Bob Birkhimer, Lee Savory

Rhythm Section
Hank Marr – piano | Jeff Halsey – bass | Bob Breithaupt – drums

 

KENTON XV-ARTISTRY IN RHYTHM

Featuring Bud Shank, Jiggs Whigham, John Von Ohlen, and Mary Ellen Tanner
Battelle Series
March 22-26, 1995 | Battelle Memorial

Concert Sponsor: Huntington Bank

Songs performed included: Artistry In Rhythm, Bogata, Concerto To End All Concertos, The End Of A Love Affair, Lover Man, Cherokee, Intermission Riff, The Thrill Is Gone, Midnight Sun, Willow Weep For Me, He Was A Good Man, The Night Has A Thousand Eyes, How Long Has This Been Goin’ On?, The Infernal Triangle, Come Rain Or Come Shine, Polka Dots And Moonbeams, My Romance, and I’ll Be Around.

Performers:
Artistic Director – Ray Eubanks

Saxophones
Burdette Green, Byron Rooker, Sonny McBroom, Michael Cox, Steve Genteline

Trombones
Tom Dale, Ola Hanson, Gary Carney, Pat Lewis, Kevin Peters

Trumpets
Wes Orr, Bob Everhart, Jerry Kaye, Bob Birkhimer, Dean Congin

Rhythm Section
Hank Marr – piano | Al Berry – bass | John Von Ohlen – drums | Steve Grier – congas

 

 

ARTISTRY IN RHYTHM A TRIBUTE TO STAN KENTON

Featuring Jon Von Ohlen and Mary Ellen Tanner

Special Event
March 31, 1995 | Battelle Memorial

Concert Sponsor: Key Bank (previously Society Bank)

Songs performed included: Artistry In Rhythm, Bogota, Concerto To End All Concertos, In A Lighter Vein, Intermission Riff, The Thrill Is Gone, Midnight Sun, He Was A Good Man, Opus In Chartreuse, Eager Beaver, Stompin’ At The Savoy, On The Street Where You Live, and Malagueña.

 

 

Performers:
Artistic Director – Ray Eubanks

Saxophones
Burdette Green, Byron Rooker, Sonny McBroom, Steve Genteline, Michael Cox

Trombones
Tom Dale, Ola Hanson, Gary Carney, Pat Lewis, Kevin Peters

Trumpets
Wes Orr, Bob Everhart, Jerry Kaye, Bob Birkhimer, Dean Congin

Rhythm Section
Peter Larson – piano | Al Berry – bass | John Von Ohlen – drums | Steve Grier – congas

 

JON FADDIS

Featuring Roseanna Vitro

Battelle Series
April 26-30, 1995 | Battelle Memorial

Concert Sponsor: Kroger

Songs performed included: Senator Sam, Le Sucrier Velours – from “The Queens Suite”, The Star-Crossed Lovers – from “Such Sweet Thunder”, The Two Of You, Cruisin’ For A Bluisin’, Gentle Rain, My Favorite Things, Through The Fire, No Regrets, Someone To Watch Over Me, Without You, No Me, Lover, Come Back To Me!, Manteca, A Night In Tunisia, Woody ‘N You, Upper Manhattan Medical Group, Swing The Music, and ‘Round Midnight.

 

Performers:
Artistic Director – Ray Eubanks

Saxophones
Burdette Green, Byron Rooker, Sonny McBroom, Michael Cox, Steve Genteline

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

Trumpets
Wes Orr, Bob Everhart, Jerry Kaye, Bob Birkhimer, Dean Congin

Rhythm Section
Hank Marr – piano | Lou Fischer – bass | Bob Breithaupt – drums

 

MEL TORME

Featuring Mike Renzi, John Leitham, and Donny Osborne

Palace Theatre Series
May 20, 1995 | Palace Theatre

Concert Sponsor: Mountain Dew, Wolfe Associates, Inc.

You’ve been asking for this one for years, and we’ve finally got him! One of the most versatile performers in American music, he has written, arranged, and sung his way into the history books. Mel performed the great American standards that made him famous, backed up by the swingingest band around. A fabulous finale to a fantastic season!!! Program selections were announced from the stage.

 

Performers:
Artistic Director – Ray Eubanks

Saxophones
Burdette Green, Michael Cox, Sonny McBroom, Byron Rooker, Steve Genteline

 

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

Trumpets
Wes Orr, Bob Everhart, Bob Birkhimer, Dean Congin

Rhythm Section
Hank Marr –piano | Al Berry – bass | Bob Breithaupt – drums