In our 34th season we bent the rules, just a bit! The Columbus Jazz Orchestra created the 2006-2007 season bubbling with familiar jazz standards, but they mixed in a creative explosion of hot, new jazz. This dynamic blend enriched your musical life, challenged your ears, and provided soothing comfort long after you left the theater. From Count Basie and Stan Kenton, to Cole Porter and Frank Sinatra, the glorious sound of jazz rang through the Southern Theatre all season long. Stretching the boundaries of contemporary big band jazz, the Columbus Jazz Orchestra had works commissioned that foreshadowed the shape of jazz to come.

Season Sponsor: Greater Columbus Arts Council, The Columbus Foundation, and Ohio Arts Council

Series Sponsor: The Westin Columbus and 920 WMNI

 

BLUES IN THE NIGHT

Featuring Ann Hampton Callaway
The Great American Songbook Series
September 22-23, 2006 | Southern Theatre

Ann Hampton Callaway is one of the finest singer-songwriters of our time. The statuesque performer dazzled music lovers as a singer, pianist, composer, lyricist, arranger, actress, and educator. Her talents made her equally at home in jazz and pop as well as on stage, in the recording studio, on television and in film. She is best known for singing the theme to the internationally successful TV series, The Nanny. Ann is a devoted keeper-of-the flame of the great American songbook, and brings fresh and original interpretations to these timeless classics. Selections included: Empty Ballroom Blues, Taste of Honey, Topsy, But I was Cool, S’Wonderful, Just Squeeze Me, Jumpin’ At The Woodside, Swingin’ Away The Blues, Teach Me Tonight, It’s All Right With Me, Blue Moon, I Don’t Know Enough About You, Black Coffee, Fever, Blues In The Night, Lover Come Back to Me, and The Glory Of Love.

Performers:
Artistic Director – Byron Stripling

Saxophones
Byron Rooker, Hal Mella, Michael Cox, Pete Mills, Kris Keith

Trombones
Linda Landis, Ola Hanson, Jim Masters, Pat Lewis

Trumpets
Wes Orr, Bob Everhart, Jim Powell, John Harner
Rhythm Section
Chris Berg – Bass| Bob Breithaupt – Drums | Bobby Floyd – Piano

FEELS SO GOOD

Featuring Chuck Mangione
Swingin’ at the Southern Series
October 25-29, 2006 Southern Theatre

Concert Sponsor: AEP Ohio

International jazz star Chuck Mangione delivered boundless energy and melodic jazz-pop sounds to the stage for an unforgettable evening with the Columbus Jazz Orchestra. Mangione’s sound on flugelhorn is instantly recognizable, and his upbeat, melodic pop music made him an international celebrity throughout the 1970s and ‘80s. Though known for his memorable jazz-pop tunes, Mangione was originally a be-bopper, and Dizzy Gillespie was a close family friend. Mangione and his brother co-led a bop quintet, the Jazz Brothers, and recorded several albums in the early 1960s. Mangione has released more than 30 albums since the early 1960s, including two releases on Chesky Records in 2000 and 2001. Selections included: C Jam Blues, Ambiance, I Found A New Baby, La Fiesta, Infant Eyes, Sweet Georgia Brown, Love The Feelin’, Slo Ro, Bellavia, Land Of Make Believe, Children Of Sanchez (Main Theme), and Feels So Good.

Performers:
Artistic Director – Byron Stripling

Saxophones
Byron Rooker, Chad Eby, Michael Cox, Pete Mills, and Steve Genteline

Trombone
Linda Landis, Ola Hanson, Jim Masters, and Pat Lewis

Trumpets
Wes Orr, Bob Everhart, Jim Powell, and John Harner

Rhythm Section
Chris Berg – Bass | Bob Breithaupt – Drums | Bobby Floyd – Piano | Ed Davis – Percussion | Dan Faehnle – Guitar

Horns
David Nesmith and Chuck Waddell

 

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS

Featuring Dave Powers and The Fort Hayes Metropolitan Singers
Swinging at the Southern Series
November 29-December 3, 2006 Southern Theatre

Concert Sponsor: Grange Insurance

Dave Powers has been a vital part of the Columbus music scene as a pianist, keyboardist, and vocalist, and is considered one of the most successful musicians in the local spectrum. Selections included: Five Pound Box of Money, Deck the Halls, Jingle Bells, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, What Child Is This, Santa Claus Is Coming to Town (Shell Game), Linus & Lucy, The Christmas Song, Sleigh Ride, It’s The Holiday Season, Christmas Time Is Here, and Go Tell It On the Mountain.

Performers:
Artistic Director – Bryon Stripling

Saxophones
Bryon Rooker, Pete Mills, Michael Cox, and Bryan Olsheski

Trombones
Linda Landis, Ola Hanson, Jim Masters, and Pat Lewis

Trumpets
Wes Orr, Bob Everhart, Jim Powell, and Dwight Adams

Rhythm Section
Chris Berg – Bass | Bob Breithaupt – Drums | Bobby Floyd – Piano

 

JOHN PIZZARELLI SINGS SINATRA

Featuring John Pizzarelli
The Great American Songbook Series
January 12-13, 2007 Southern Theatre

John Pizzarelli has had a multi-faceted career as a jazz guitarist, vocalist, and bandleader. Known for classic standards, late-night ballads, and cool jazz flavor he brings to his performances and recordings, he has won legions of fans around the world. Pizzarelli has performed numerous times with the Columbus Jazz Orchestra and on the country’s most popular national television shows. Pizzarelli continues to tour throughout the United States, Europe and Japan, performing classic pop, jazz and swing, while setting the standard for stylish modern jazz. Selections included: Come Fly With Me, Splanky, Cute, Chicago, Moten Swing, Corner Pocket, One O’Clock Jump, You Make Me Feel So Young, How About You?, Witchcraft, Nice ‘n’ Easy, In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning, Ring-A-Ding-Ding, I’ve Got You Under My Skin, I Get A Kick Out Of You, One For My Baby (And One More For The Road), and I’ve Got The World On A String.

Performers:
Artistic Director – Bryon Stripling

Saxophones
Byron Rooker, Kris Keith, Michael Cox, Jay Migila, and Steve Genteline

Trumpets
Wes Orr, Bob Everhart, Jim Powell, and Dwight Adams

Trombones
Linda Landis, Ola Hanson, Jim Masters, and Pat Lewis

Rhythm Section
Chris Berg – Bass | Bob Breithaupt – Drums | Bobby Floyd – Piano

 

BIG BAND MACHINE

Featuring Gerald Wilson and Anthony Wilson
Swingin’ at the Southern Series
February 14-18, 2007 Southern Theatre

From Benny Goodman to Duke Ellington and beyond, you took a swing through the best of the big band era with classics like Sing Sing Sing, and One O’Clock Jump, plus a few unexpected surprises! The Columbus Jazz Orchestra was joined by Guest Composer and Bandleader Gerald Wilson as well as Anthony Wilson. Selections included: Opus One, April In Paris, Begin The Beguine, Eager Beaver, Woodchopper’s Ball, Song of India, Don’t Be That Way, In The Mood, One O’Clock Jump, Sing, Sing, Sing, I’m Getting Sentimental Over You, Shiny Stockings, Minuano (Six-Eight), The Diminished Triangle (movements: one, two, three), Theme For Monterey (movements: one, and two), and Don’t Get Around Much Anymore.

 

Performers:
Artistic Director – Byron Stripling

Saxophones
Bryon Rooker, Chad Eby, Michael Cox, Pete Mills, and Steve Genteline

Trombones
Linda Landis, Ola Hanson, Jim Masters, and Pat Lewis

Trumpets
Wes Orr, Bob Everhart, and Jim Powell

Rhythm Section
Chris Berg – Bass | Bob Breithaupt – Drums | Bobby Floyd – Piano

 

MILES SMILES

Featuring Terell Stafford and John Clayton
Swingin’ at the Southern Series
March 14-18, 2007 Southern Theatre

A lyrical and uniquely expressive player, trumpeter Terell Stafford joined the CJO and Guest Conductor John Clayton for an inspired program featuring the music of jazz giant Miles Davis, one of the genre’s most innovative and creative forces. Everyone knows that Kind of Blue is the Miles Davis album to own, the kind of record that even people who don’t normally listen to jazz have in their collection. This concert featured works on that album as well as works from some of his other jaw-dropping talent-filled albums. Selections included: The Legendary Prestige Quintet Sessions, Miles Ahead, Miles Smiles, and Bitches Brew. Some of the songs chosen included: So What, Bye Bye Blackbird, Summertime, Move, Boplicity (Be Bop Lives), A Portrait of Miles, The Theme, Buzzard Song, Seven Steps To Heaven, E.S.P., and Blue In Green.

Performers:
Artistic Director – Bryon Stripling

Saxophones
Byron Rooker, Kris Keith, Michael Cox, Pete Mills, and Steve Genteline

Trombones
Linda Landis, Ola Hanson, Jim Masters, and Pat Lewis

Trumpets
Wes Orr, Bob Everhart, Jim Powell, and Dwight Adams

Rhythm Section
Bobby Floyd – Piano | Chris Berg – Bass | Bob Breithaupt – Drums

 

COLE PORTER TONIGHT

Featuring Milton Ruffin, Mary Mcclendon, Dick Mackey, and Kelly Crum Delaveris 
Swingin’ at the Southern Series
April 18-22, 2007 Southern Theatre

Concert Sponsor: Huntington Bank

The unmatched lyricist and composer, Cole Porter, penned countless enduring songs of wit, style, and swing. “Anything Goes” when the Columbus Jazz Orchestra offers up a celebration of the Porter songbook with guest vocalists Milton Ruffin, Mary McClendon, and Kelly Crum Delaveris. Selections included: Now You Has Jazz, At Long Last Love, Begin The Beguine, I Get A Kick Out Of You, I’ve Got You Under My Skin, My Heart Belongs To Daddy, You’d Be So Nice To Come Home To, Don’t Fence Me In, Love For Sale, Too Darn Hot, Why Shouldn’t I, I Love You, Let’s Do It (Let’s Fall In Love), I Love Paris, and Just One Of Those Things.

Performers:
Artistic Director – Bryon Stripling

Saxophones
Bryon Rooker, Shawn Wallace, Michael Cox, Jay Migila, and Steve Genteline

Trombones
Linda Landis, Ola Hanson, Jim Masters, and Pat Lewis

Trumpets
Wes Orr, Bob Everhart, Jim Powell, and Dwight Adams

Rhythm Section
Chris Berg – Bass | Bob Breithaupt – Drums | Bobby Floyd – Piano

 

ROADSHOW

Featuring The Four Freshman, Kelly Crum Delaveris and Ray Eubanks
The Great American Songbook Series
May 18-19, 2007 Southern Theatre

Concert Sponsor: Sequent

In the fall of 1959, Stan Kenton’s orchestra hit the road with “The Misty” June Christy and “The Four Freshmen” for 38 shows in as many nights. The Columbus Jazz Orchestra and guest conductor along with Artistic Director Emeritus Ray Eubanks rocked the re-creation of this famous tour, with today’s version of “The Four Freshmen” and songbird Kelly Crum Delaveris. Selections included: Peanut Vendor, Speak Low, All The Things You Are, Cherokee, Limehouse Blues , My Old Flame, The Thrill Is Gone, Midnight Sun, How High The Moon, Route 66, After You, If I Had You, Fools Rush In, Walkin’ My Baby Back Home, Something’s Gotta Give, Angel Eyes, and It’s Alright With Me.

Performers:
Artistic Director – Bryon Stripling

Saxophones
Byron Rooker, Shawn Wallace, Michael Cox, Hal Melia, and Steve Genteline

Trombones
Linda Landis, Ola Hanson, Jim Masters, and Pat Lewis

Trumpets
Wes Orr, Bob Everhart, Jim Powell, and Dwight Adams

Rhythm Section
Chris Berg – Bass | Bob Breithaupt – Drums | Bobby Floyd – Piano

 

BASIE, BOOGIE AND THE BLUES

Featuring Wycliffe Gordon, Willie Pooch, and Aaron Diehl
Swingin’ at the Southern Series
June 13-17, 2007 Southern Theatre

Concert Sponsor: Alliance Data

The Swingin’ at the Southern Series was concluded when the CJO went eight-to-the-bar with a rousing show full of blues and boogie woogie. Basie, Boogie and the Blues starred hard-swinging trombonist Wycliffe Gordon, Columbus native and piano phenomenon Aaron Diehl, and the inimitable Willie Pooch on vocals. Selections included: Boogie Stop Shuffle, The Spirit Is Willing, Person To Person, The Kid From Red Bank, Basie Boogie, Things Ain’t What They Used To Be, Tired Of Pretty Women, Work Song, I Needs To Be Bee’d With, and Night Train.

Performers:
Artistic Director – Bryon Stripling

Saxophones
Bryon Rooker, Shawn Wallace, Michael Cox, Hal Mella, and Steve Genteline

Trombones
Linda Landis, Ola Hanson, Jim Masters, and Pat Lewis

Trumpets
Wes Orr, Bob Everhart, Jim Powell, and Dwight Adams

Rhythm Section
Chris Berg – Bass | Bob Breithaupt – Drums| Bobby Floyd – Piano