The Columbus Jazz Orchestra premiered the 36th season in 2009-2010 with music from Duke Ellington and Ella Fitzgerald to George Gershwin and the Columbus Gay Men’s Chorus. The season featured guest artists including Dwight Lenox, Lew Tabackin, Helen Welch, Lew  Soloff, Lou Marini, and more!

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

DUKE’S PLACE

Featuring Dwight Lenox and Lew Tabackin
Swingin’ at the Southern Series
October 28, 2009 | Southern Theatre

Kicking off the Swingin’ at the Southern series, the Columbus Jazz Orchestra took the audience through Duke Ellington swing in this unforgettable performance. The featured artists, Dwight Lenox and Lew Tabackin, joined the Columbus Jazz Orchestra to bring the astounding music of Ellington’s classic band to life. Selections included: C Jam Blues, It Don’t Mean A Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing), Satin Doll, Selections from Such Sweet Thunder, Hello Little Girl, Something To Live For, Poor Butterfly, Lush Life, love You Madly, Do Nothing ‘Til You Hear From Me, Cotton Tail, In A Sentimental Mood, and Caravan.

Performers:
Artistic Director – Byron Stripling

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

Trombones
Linda Landis, Pat Lewis, Jim Masters, Vaughn Wiester

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

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

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS

Featuring Helen Welch
Swingin’ at the Southern Series
December 2-6, 2009 | Southern Theatre

Concert Sponsor: Grange Insurance

 

The Jazz Arts Group’s 2009-2010 Swingin’ at the Southern series continued with Home for the Holidays, featuring UK vocal sensation Helen Welch in six performances with the Columbus Jazz Orchestra. This Columbus tradition guarantees to put its audience in the holiday spirit year after year. Ms. Welch had previously lit up the stage and captivated audiences at both the Southern Theatre and the Columbus Jazz Orchestra’s summer JazZoo series. Selections included: Christmas Night In Columbus, Joy To The World, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, O Holy Night, selections from The Nutcracker Suite, Blue Christmas, Winter Wonderland, Merry Christmas Darling, Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree, Santa Claus Is Coming To Town, My Favorite Things, and Boogie Woogie Santa Claus.

Performers:
Artistic Director – Byron Stripling

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

Trombones
Linda Landis, Pat Lewis, Jim Masters, Vaughn Wiester

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

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

SPINNING WHEEL

Featuring Lew Soloff, “Blue” Lou Marini, and Bruce Wermuth
Great American Songbook Series
January 22-23, 2010 | Southern Theatre

The Columbus Jazz Orchestra kicked off the new decade with a tribute to the music of Blood, Sweat & Tears, Chicago, and the ‘70s featuring Lew Soloff, “Blue” Lou Marini and vocalist Bruce Wermuth. Selections included: Spinning Wheel, You Are The Sunshine Of My Life, Us, Pieces Of Dreams, God Bless The Child, You’ve Made Me So Very Happy, Will It Go Round In Circles, 25 or 6 to 4, If You Leave Me Now, Bridge Over Troubled Water, I Want You Back, Colour My World, Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?, and Saturday In The Park.

 

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
Dennis Hodges – Guitar | Larry Cook – Bass | Bob Breithaupt – Drums | Bobby Floyd – Piano

LOUIS, ELLA & FRIENDS

Featuring Carmen Bradford and Dave Powers
Swingin’ at the Southern Series
February 24-28, 2010 | Southern Theatre

With a contagious smile and captivating charm, Byron Stripling was chosen to portray Louis Armstrong on Broadway in the musical Satchmo. Combine Byron’s infectious style with Carmen Bradford, who sang in front of the Count Basie Orchestra for nine years, and add in local keyboard wiz Dave Powers, and you’ve got one very special tribute to Armstrong and Fitzgerald. Selections included: Struttin’ With Some Barbecue, (I’m) Confessin’ (That I Love You), Potato Head Blues, What A Wonderful World, On The Sunny side Of The Street, Hello Dolly!, Now You Has Jazz, Papa Loves Mambo, The Birth Of The Blues, When The Saints Go Marching In, The Very Thought Of You, A Tisket A Tasket, All Of Me, I Love Being Here With You, Gee Baby Ain’t I Good To You, Love Is Here To Stay, and Won’t You Come Home Bill Bailey?

Performers:
Artistic Director – Byron Stripling

Saxophones
Byron Rooker, Michael Cox, Chad Eby, 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

I LOVES YOU PORGY

Featuring Michael McElroy and Capathia Jenkins
Swingin’ at the Southern Series
March 24-28, 2010 | Southern Theatre

Celebrating Porgy and Bess, the Columbus Jazz Orchestra featured music from Gershwin’s only opera performed CJO-style with a swingin’ beat and hot rhythms. Joining the Columbus Jazz Orchestra was 2004 Tony Award nominee Michael McElroy and Capathia Jenkins, who has toured nationally with Dreamgirls, making for a spectacular show. Selections included: Overture, Summertime, A Woman Is A Sometime Thing, It Ain’t Necessarily So, I Got Plenty O’ Nuttin’, Oh, I Can’t Sit Down, I Loves You Porgy, Strawberry Woman, Bess You Is My Woman Now, Buzzard Song, There’s A Boat Dat’s Leavin’ Soon For New York, and Oh Lawd I’m On My Way.

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

COLE & COLE

Featuring Keith David
Swingin’ at the Southern Series
April 21-25, 2010 | Southern Theatre

Concert Sponsor: US Bank

This performance capped off the Swingin’ at the Southern series as a witty and sublime homage to Cole Porter and the “unforgettable” Nat “King” Cole. Joining the Columbus Jazz Orchestra was singer, movie actor, and narrator Keith David. Selections included:  You’d Be So Nice To Come Home To, The Physical, I Love You, Don’t Fence Me In, Love For Sale, Day In Day Out, Ballerina, Just One Of Those Things, Welcome To The Club, Mona Lisa, Nature Boy, Around the World Medley, Fly Me To The Moon, Caravan, Route 66, and Unforgettable.

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

A NIGHT IN VEGAS

Featuring the Columbus Gay Men’s Chorus
Great American Songbook Series
May 21-22, 2010 | Capitol Theatre – Riffe Center

Concert Sponsor: Tansky Sawmill Toyota

The Jazz Arts Group’s 2009-2010 Great American Songbook series concluded with this first-time collaboration between the Columbus Jazz Orchestra and the Columbus Gay Men’s Chorus. These two Columbus treasures shared the stage to feature the music of jazz greats and Vegas show-stoppers who made the city a center for unforgettable performances. Selections included: Luck Be A Lady, This Could Be The Start Of Something Big, The Nearness of You, Fly Me To The Moon, Come Fly With Me, Moritat Vom Mackie Messer (Mack The Knife), The Boy From Ipanema, Mr. Bojangles, Elvis Presley Medley, My Funny Valentine, Bye Bye Blackbird, When I Fall In Love, Danke Schoen, The Candy Man, It’s Not Unusual, Can’t Help Falling In Love With You/Always On My Mind, My Way, and Viva Las Vegas.

Performers:
Artistic Director (CJO) – Byron Stripling
Artistic Director (CGMC) – David Monseur

Tenor 1
Patrick Anderson, Ric Brandel, Clay Evans, Jason Guthrie, Cory Hinkle, John Luidhardt, Dwayne Price, Eligio (Tito) Ramirez III, Phil Riedinger, Tim Sarsany

Tenor 2
Jeffery A Ayers, Chrsit Casey, Rob Ellis, Chriss Ferguson, Robery Kay, Christopher Lasater, Rob Leutz, Bryen Ian Mannly, Bill Mast, Mitch Mathis, Maz Moore, James Svargerko, Brandon Titschinger

Baritone
Lee Balser, Mike Bierschenk, Jason Bockis, Mark Cooke, Neal Coryell, Tim Denis, Daniel Erwin, Mark Eversole, Bob Gordon, Don Knoblauch, Matthew Miller, Ryan Poirier, Scott Ramset, Marty Savolskis, Richard Wheeler, Dr. Mark Yerman, Kevin Zimmerman

Bass
Jerry Corner, Mike Crandall, Michael Deighton, Bob Feiertag, Brett Gambill, Harry J. Grimm, David D. Hayes, Lowell Headley, Mark Lankford, Warren MacPherson, Jeff Schrecengost, Rick Urban, Jarod Wilson

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

Trombones
Linda Landis, Vaughn Wiester, Jim Masters, Pat Lewis

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

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