During the 2008-2009 season, our 35th, a night at the Southern Theatre with the Columbus Jazz Orchestra was always a special occasion, and this season we promised to take you over the top and bring down the house. From the first downbeat to the last cutoff, you were treated to the energy, excitement, and enthusiasm of one of the greatest big bands in America.

Season Sponsor: Greater Columbus Arts Council,  The Columbus Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts, and Ohio Arts Council
Media Sponsor: The Columbus Dispatch, WOSU 98.7, 920 WMNI, and 90.5 WCBE

FRANK & SAMMY

Featuring Ted Levy and John Fredo, in tribute to Sammy Davis, Jr. and Frank Sinatra

The Great American Songbook Series
September 19-20, 2008 | Southern Theatre

Concert Sponsor:  Plante Moran

The Columbus Jazz Orchestra presented the unforgettable music of two of America’s most beloved entertainers of the 20^th century:  Sammy Davis Jr. and Frank Sinatra.  We went back to a time when Vegas was hot, Sammy and Frank were cool, and the Count Basie band made it all swing. Selections included: Come Fly With Me, The Second Time Around, Chicago (That Toddlin’ Town), Day by Day, I’ve Got you Under My Skin, All Or Nothing At All, Fly Me To The Moon (In Other Words), That’s Life, That Old Black Magic, Where Or When, I Love Paris, Bye Bye Blackbird, The Lady Is A Tramp, Let There Be Love, Mr. Bojangles, My Favorite Things, Smile, Darn Ya Smile, What Kind Of Fool Am I?, The Candy Man, Hey There, I’ve Gotta Be Me, Once In A Lifetime, Too Close For Comfort, Me And My Shadow, and Birth Of The Blues.

Performers:
Artistic Director – Byron Stripling

Saxophones
Byron Rooker, Hal Melia, Michael Cox, Pete Mills, Steve Genteline

Trombones
Bill Gemmer, Vaughn Wiester, Jim Masters, Pat Lewis

Trumpets
Wes Orr, Jack Schantz, Jim Powell, Scott Belck

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

THE ROARING 20’s

Featuring Joe Wilder, Helen Welch, and Andy Carlson
Swingin’ at the Southern Series
October 15-19, 2008 | Southern Theatre

Concert Sponsor: Sequent

The 1920s gave us the Jazz Age – a decade bubbling with Prohibition, and characterized by the automobile, radio and movies.  The Columbus Jazz Orchestra captured the spirit of this free-wheeling era with the help of trumpet-playing octogenarian Joe Wilder, fiddler Andy Carlson, and classic song stylist Helen Welch who took us back to the roaring 20’s. Selections included: Oh Lady Be Good!, I Can’t Give You Anything But Love, Down Yonder, Kansas City Kitty, Limehouse Blues, Sonny Boy, Ain’t Misbehavin’, Swanee, Memories of You, ‘Tain’t Nobody’s Bizness If I Do, I wish I Could Shimmy Like My Sister Kate, Fascinating Rhythm, Rock-a-Bye Your Baby With A Dixie Melody, Medley from Chicago, Them There Eyes, Someone To Watch Over Me, and Blue Skies.

Performers:
Artistic Director – Byron Stripling

Saxophones
Byron Rooker, Hal Melia, Michael Cox, Pete Mills, Steve Genteline

Trombones
Linda Landis, Ryan Hamilton, Jim Masters, Vaughn Wiester

Trumpets
Wes Orr, Bob Everhart, Jim Powell, Scott Belck

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

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS

Featuring Derek DiCenzo and Nia Allen
Swingin’ at the Southern Series
December 3-7, 2008 | Southern Theatre

Concert Sponsor: Grange Insurance

The Columbus Jazz Orchestra’s annual holiday fanfare delighted us all as Byron and the band take a different spin on the traditional music of the season.  Helping to raise your holiday spirits will be “musical angel” Nia Allen and guitar and steel drum practitioner Derek DiCenzo.  As always, a holiday surprise delighted us all! Program selections were announced from the stage.

Performers:
Artistic Director – Byron Stripling

Saxophones
Byron Rooker, Hal Melia, Michael Cox, Pete Mills, Steve Genteline

Trombones
Linda Landis, Ryan Hamilton, Jim Masters, Pat Lewis

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

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

MOTOWN & THE BIRTH OF SOUL

Featuring Kirk Whalum
The Great American Songbook Series
January 16-17, 2009 | Southern Theatre

Concert Sponsor: US Bank

With the assistance of award-winning saxophonist Kirk Whalum, the Columbus Jazz Orchestra relived the birth of soul and its many children, including Stevie Wonder and Diana Ross.  They called it the “Motown” sound, and the music of “The House That Soul Built” and filled the Southern Theatre with a luscious soul food treat for your ears. Selections included: Please Mr. Postman, My Guy, Supremes Medley: Where Did Our Lives Go?/Someday We’ll Be Together/Stop! In the Name of Love, What’d I Say, Mess Around, Tutti Fruitti/Shout, Stevie Wonder Medley:  Isn’t She Lovely/Superstition/You Are the Sunshine of My Life, Four Tops Medley:  It’s The Same Old Song/Reach Out I’ll Be There, What’s Going On, Reach Out and Touch (Somebody’s Hand), Ain’t No Mountain High Enough, and Motown Overture.

Performers:
Artistic Director – Byron Stripling

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

Trombones
Linda Landis, Ryan Hamilton, Jim Masters, Pat Lewis

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

Rhythm Section
Larry Cook – Bass | Bob Breithaupt – Drums | Bobby Floyd – Piano

JAZZ MOVES TAKE 2

Featuring BalletMet and the Columbus Jazz Orchestra
Swingin’ at the Southern Series
February 5-8 and 11-14, 2009| Capitol Theatre – Riffe Center

Production Co-Sponsors: Huntington and Univar

The Columbus Jazz Orchestra and BalletMet joined forces to celebrate both the history and future of jazz for a second exciting show.  The original Jazz Moves in 2006 won the Greater Columbus Arts Council’s “Artistic Excellence Award” and was the talk of the town for months.  The Columbus Dispatch called the inaugural Jazz Moves “groundbreaking” and “a brilliant match that adds depth to the artistry of both groups.”

BalletMet Performers/Artistic Contributors:

Artistic Director – Gerard Charles
Executive Director – Cheri Mitchell
Ballet Mistress – Rebecca Rodriguez-Hodory
Ballet Master – Hisham Omardien

BalletMet Chroeographers
Ron De Jesús, Randy Duncan, Maurice Hines, Stella Hiatt Kane, Harrison McEldowney, Margo Sappington, David Covey, Christine Joly

Dancers
Adrienne Benz, Jessica Brown, Olivia Clark, Jamie Brianne Dee, Jeffrey Diehl, Ellie Escosa, Lynorris Evans, Austin M.G. Finley, Emily Gotschall, Adam Hundt, Dustin James, Bryan Jenkins, Jaime Kotrba, Samantha Lewis, Annie Mallonee,Christine Mangia, Bethany Manley, Emma Misner, Andrew Notarile, Jimmy Orrante, Amanda Philips-Bosshart, Emily Ramirez, Jackson Prescott Sarver, Gabriel Gaffney Smith, David Tlaiye, Carrie West, Jeff Wolfe, Hitomi Yamada

CJO Performers:
Artistic Director – Byron Stripling

Saxophones
Byron Rooker, Hal Melia, Michael Cox, Pete Mils, Steve Genteline

Trombones
Linda Landis, Ryan Hamilton, Jim Masters, Pat Lewis

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

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

RHAPSODY IN BLUE: THE MUSIC OF GEORGE GERSHWIN

Featuring Bobby Floyd and Kelly Crum Delaveris
Swingin’ at the Southern Series
March 25-29, 2009 | Southern Theatre

Concert Sponsor: AEP OHIO

Electrifying and charismatic piano master Bobby Floyd took center stage as the featured soloist on Gershwin’s timeless hit concerto “Rhapsody in Blue.”  And, to further move you,  a frequent guest artist and audience favorite Kelly Crum Delaveris joined the Columbus Jazz Orchestra once again to revisit the beloved tunes that made Gershwin an American original. Program selections were announced from the stage.

 

Performers:
Artistic Director – Byron Stripling

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

Trombones
Linda Landis, Ryan Hamilton, Jim Masters, Pat Lewis

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

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

THE BIG BAND SOUND: PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE

Featuring Slide Hampton
Swingin’ at the Southern Series
April 22-26, 2009 | Southern Theatre

From Duke Ellington, Stan Kenton and Count Basie to Woody Herman, Benny Goodman and Harry James, the Columbus Jazz Orchestra celebrated the rich history of the big band sound, aided by Grammy® winning composer and NEA Jazz Master Slide Hampton.  Highlights included a familiar collection of big band classics and a newly commissioned work by Mr. Hampton. Program selections were announced from the stage.

 

Performers:
Artistic Director – Byron Stripling

Saxophones
Byron Rooker, Hal Melia, Michael Cox, Pete Mills, Steve Genteline

Trombones
Linda Landis, Ryan Hamilton, Jim Masters, Pat Lewis

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

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

ONE SOPHISTICATED LADY

Featuring Leslie Uggams
The Great American Songbook Series
May 15-16, 2009 | Southern Theatre

Concert Sponsor: The Columbus Dispatch

It’s very likely that you’ve heard Leslie Uggams sing; she was a staple on 1960s and ‘70s television and had her own variety TV show.  In addition, she was a notable presence on the Broadway stage.  All this added up to a wonderful night of song for the Columbus Jazz Orchestra audience from a woman who was no stranger to the stage or the vast catalog of excellent popular songs from the past century. Selections included:  It’s A Wonderful World, The Quintessence, Peanut Vendor, Here’s That Rainy Day, A Taste Of Honey, One Mint Julip, Shell Game, and Malaguena and delivered another crowd-pleasing performance!

Performers:
Artistic Director – Byron Stripling

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

Trombones
Linda Landis, Ryan Hamilton, Jim Masters, Pat Lewis

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

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

THESE THREE TENORS PLAY THE BLUES

Featuring Red Holloway, Houston Person, and Rickey Woodard
Swingin’ at the Southern Series
June 10-14, 2009 | Southern Theatre

Honkin’, shoutin’, and moanin’ – these three legendary sax men played the blues like no other trio can.  From the chicken shacks of Memphis to the barbecue joints of Kansas City, these three tenors served up a 10-course meal of blues guaranteed to make you “shake that thang!” Program selections were announced from the stage.

 

Performers:
Artistic Director – Byron Stripling

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

Trombones Linda Landis, Ryan Hamilton, Jim Masters, Pat Lewis

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

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