The Jazz Arts Group of Columbus (JAG) blew the roof off the joint during the 2010-2011 season. This 38th season featured both the Great American Songbook and the Swingin’ at the Southern music series. The Columbus Jazz Orchestra traveled from Broadway to New Orleans, celebrated Count Basie and Henry Mancini, and paid tribute to the guitar and the Apollo Theatre.

Season Sponsors: National Endowment for the Arts, Ohio Arts Council, Greater Columbus Arts Council, The Columbus Foundation, and The Westin Columbus

Media Sponsors: The Columbus Dispatch

GUITAR SUMMIT

Featuring Vernon Reid, Dan Faehnle, and Sheryl Bailey
Great American Songbook Series
September 24-25, 2010 | Southern Theatre

Concert Sponsor: Plante Moran

From Johnny B. Goode to Jimi Hendrix, this performance explored the impact of the guitar on American music and culture. Featured artists included Vernon Reid, a grammy award-winning English-born American guitarist who was named by Rolling Stone as number 66 on the list of top 100 greatest guitarists of all time. Sheryl Bailey, a Jazz ambassador for the U.S. State Department, also shared the stage and is said to be “one of the top players in an emerging generation of jazz guitarists.” Alongside these two was Dan Faehnle, Ohio native and regular member of the band Pink Martini. Selections included: Guitar Medley, My Foolish Heart, How High The Moon, Miekanniemi, A New Promise, Satisfaction, Accapella Solo, How Blue Can You Get, Bonanza Theme, You And The Night And The Music, Mind Of My Mind, Burning Of The Midnight lamp, Cult of Personality, and Johnny B. Goode.

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, Rob Parton, Jim Powell, Dwight Adams

Rhythm Section
Andy Woodson – Bass | Bob Breithaupt – Drums | Bobby Floyd – Piano

NEW ORLEANS ON PARADE

Featuring Allen Toussaint
Swingin’ at the Southern Series
October 27-31, 2010 | Southern Theatre

Allen Toussaint joined the Columbus Jazz Orchestra during this performance for a Mardi Gras celebration. Prior to this performance Toussaint had produced, written for, arranged, had his songs covered by, and performed with music giants The Judds, Paul McCartney, Paul Simon, Elvis Costello, Patti LaBelle, Mac “Dr. John” Rebannac, Aaron and Art Neville, Joe Cocker, The (original) Meters, Glen Campbell, The Band, Little Feat, The Rolling Stones, Devo, Ernie K-Doe, Lee Dorsey, Irma Thomas, Etta James, Ramsey Lewis, Eric Gale and countless others. The CJO was proud to welcome the Grammy nominated performer to the stage in this unforgettable performance. Selections included: Petite fleur, Southern Nights, Sneeakin’ Sally Through the Alley, Yes We Can Can, South Rampart Street Parade, I Found a New Baby, Singin’ the Blues, Egyptian Fantasy, Back Home Again in Indiana, Bright Mississippi, Down By the Riverside, Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child, and Rockin’ Chair.

Performers:
Artistic Director – Byron Stripling

Saxophones
Byron Rooker, Jay Miglia, 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 | Steve Schmidt – Piano

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS

Featuring Carmen Bradford
Swingin’ at the Southern Series
December 1-5, 2010 | Southern Theatre

By popular demand, Carmen Bradford returned to the stage of the Southern Theatre with the Columbus Jazz Orchestra in the annual Columbus tradition, Home for the Holidays concert. She has performed and/or recorded with: Wynton Marsalis, Shelly Berg, John Clayton along with the Clayton Hamilton Orchestra, Nancy Wilson, Doc Severinsen, Tony Bennett, James Brown, Patti Austin, Byron Stripling, Dori Caymmi, George Benson, Lena Horne, Frank Sinatra, Joe Williams, DIVA Jazz Orchestra, the National Symphony, Rochester Philharmonic, the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra and countless artists around the world. Bradford joined in the festivities for a sleigh ride of holiday favorites done CJO-style. Program selections were announced from the stage.

Performers:
Artistic Director – Byron Stripling

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

Trombones
Linda Landis, 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 AT THE MOVIES

Featuring the music of Henry Mancini and Dave Grusin
Great American Songbook Series
January 14-15, 2011 | Southern Theatre

From Mancini favorites The Pink Panther Theme and Baby Elephant Walk to movie classics like Somewhere Over the Rainbow and As Time Goes By, “A Night at the Movies” revisited some of the most memorable movie music ever written. Among Mancini’s great friends and admirers was Dave Grusin, who drew upon the early Mancini influence to carve out his own Oscar-winning niche as one of the premier movie music writers of the past thirty years, as well as a prolific career as a contemporary jazz pianist. Selections included: Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend, As Time Goes By, The Entertainer, Moon River, Over the Rainbow, If I Only Had a Brain, I Just Can’t Wait to Be King, Beauty and the Beast, Jack’s Theme, It Might Be You, Memphis Stomp, Stella By Starlight, Theme from Peter Gunn, Baby Elephant Walk, Prologue, Something’s coming, Jet Song, and Cool.

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

BROADWAY: FROM OKLAHOMA! TO WEST SIDE STORY

Featuring Bill Charlap and Bethany Moore
Swingin’ at the Southern Series
February 16-20, 2011 | Southern Theatre

The classic hits of Broadway come to life through the magic of the Columbus Jazz Orchestra in a spectacular evening of music from the Great White Way featuring pianist Bill Charlap and vocalist Bethany Moore. Mr. Charlap received the pianist of the year Jazz Award in 2003 from the Jazz Journalists Association and was named outstanding jazz soloist by Manhattan’s Night Life Awards in 2003 and 2004. In 2004, he and his mother received the top jazz duo Bistro Award for their engagement at the Algonquin in New York. Selections included: Strike Up the Band, One, Cabaret, What I Did for Love, Bewitched Bothered and Bewildered, When You Got It Flaunt It, West Side Story Suite, I Dreamed a Dream, Don’t Rain On My Parade, Cool, Lonely Town, Who Cares?, If I Were a Bell, How Long Has This Been Going On?, Just One of Those Things, and ‘S Wonderful.

 

Performers:
Artistic Director – Byron Stripling

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

Trombones
Linda Landis, Sarah Morrow, Jim Masters, Pat Lewis

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

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

BASIE, BUDDY & BENNY

Featuring Butch Miles and Ken Peplowski
Swingin’ at the Southern Series
March 16-20, 2011 | Southern Theatre

Concert Sponsor: US Bank

Jazz royalty took center stage as the Columbus Jazz Orchestra celebrated Count Basie, Buddy Rich, and the “King of Swing,” Benny Goodman. This performance featured Butch Miles who was the drummer for the world-famous Count Basie Orchestra (1975-1979 and 1997-2007).  Miles quickly became renowned for his swinging big band style and techniques. Also featured was Ken Peplowski, an outstanding clarinetist and saxophone player as well as a charismatic entertainer who has been delighting audiences for over 30 years. Selections included: Time Check, Groovin’ Hard, Wind Machine, Norwegian Wood, Clarinade, Flying Home, Sing Sing Sing, Basie Power, Cute, Lil’ Darlin’, I Wish I Knew, Battle Royal, One O’clock Jump, Jumpin’ at the Woodside, Stealin’ Apples, and King Porter Stomp.

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, Rob Parton

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

A NIGHT AT THE APOLLO

Featuring Marva Hicks
Swingin’ at the Southern Series
April 13-17, 2011 | Southern Theatre

Concert Sponsor: Plante Moran

Closing out the Swingin’ at the Southern series was this performance, paying tribute to the soul of American culture, the Apollo Theater, and the music greats whose careers were launched by this legendary finishing school. Vocalist and actress Marva Hicks joined the Columbus Jazz Orchestra to celebrate music greats like Dinah Washington, Ella Fitzgerald, Gladys Knight, James Brown, Otis Redding, Sam Cooke and many others. Selections included: Hey! Ba-Ba-Re-Bop, Harlem Congo, Flying Home, How High the Moon, Stormy Weather, Somebody Bigger Than You and I, When We All Get to Heaven, Shake Rattle and Roll, Night Train, My Guy, Stop! In the Name of Love, Dr. Feelgood, You’re the Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me, Motown Medley, and Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.

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 | Milton Ruffin – Bass | Bob Breithaupt – Drums | Bobby Floyd – Piano

CJO BY REQUEST

Featuring Maria Jacobs
Great American Songbook Series
May 20-21, 2011 | Southern Theatre

Throughout the season, the audiences had a chance to have their voices heard and give their suggestions and requests which were compiled into this performance of fan favorites. Featured guest vocalist Maria Jacobs joined the Columbus Jazz Orchestra on the stage with eleven years of experience as a vocalist in Los Angeles, appearing in local jazz clubs. Selections included: Summertime, It Ain’t Necessarily So, Ain’t Misbehavin, Peanut Vendor, Maleguena, I’ll Be Glad When You’re Dead You Rascal You, Moon River, God Bless the Child, Georgia on My Mind, What a Wonderful World, At Last, Super Sax, (Won’t You Come Home) Bill Bailey, A Night in Tunisia, Minnie the Moocher, ‘S wonderful, I Can’t Get Started, New York New York, My Funny Valentine, Here’s That Rainy Day, When the Saints go Marching In, Misty, I Thought About You, The Way You Look Tonight, and Jailhouse Rock.

Performers:
Artistic Director – Byron Stripling

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

Trombones
Linda Landis, Jim Masters, Pat Lewis

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

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