The 2013-2014 Columbus Jazz Orchestra’s 41st concert season showcased some of the finest talent.  If that wasn’t enough, we continued to draw from diverse genres and musical disciplines while sneaking in delightful musical surprises at every turn in the season series!

Season Sponsors: Ohio Arts Council, Greater Columbus Arts Council

Series Sponsor: US Bank

Media Sponsor: The Columbus Dispatch, WOSU,  and 920 WMNI

WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS NOW: BACHARACH, BRUBECK & BEYOND

Featuring John Clayton, David Pruyn & Bobby Floyd
Swingin’ at the Southern Series
October 24-27, 2013 | Southern Theatre

From The Look of Love to Take Five, the Columbus Jazz Orchestra celebrated the timeless works of these songwriting masters and purveyors of cool! Combining elements of jazz, pop, Brazilian music and rock, Bacharach created a unique new sound that was as contemporary as it was popular. The Columbus Jazz Orchestra welcomed back Grammy Award-winning bassist/composer/arranger John Clayton to lead the orchestra in a number of classics from the legendary hitmaker with help from trumpeter/vocalist David Pruyn. The incredible talents of Bobby Floyd were also on display including a tribute to the late great Dave Brubeck, considered to be one of the foremost exponents of cool jazz. Selections included: Travelin’ Blues, Walk on By, Summer Song, What the World Needs Now Is Love, Take Five, In Your Own Sweet Way, Liza, If You Could See Me Now, My Sweetie Went Away, Raindrops Keep Falling on my Head, Autumn in our Town, The Windows of the World, and Alfie.

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

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS

Featuring Debbie Gravitte
Swingin’ at the Southern Series
December 5-8, 2013 | Southern Theatre

Concert Sponsor: Grange Insurance
Human Services Partner: The Salvation Army of Central Ohio
The sounds of the season were celebrated at our annual holiday spectacular! Broadway vocal sensation, Debbie Gravitte, joined Byron Stripling for a sleigh ride of holiday favorites done Columbus Jazz Orchestra-style. Debbie had previously lit up the stage at the Southern Theatre with the Columbus Jazz Orchestra’s “Big Band on Broadway” concert. Each year promises a special yuletide surprise, and this year was no exception! Selections included: Deck the Halls, What Child Is This?, White Christmas, It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year, Chanukah, Oh Chanukah; The Dreydl Song, Baby, It’s Cold Outside; Santa Claus Is Coming to Town, Jingle Bells, Cool Yule, Christmas Time Is Here, Blue Christmas, Hey Santa, The Twelve Days of Christmas, and Joy to the World.

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 | Derek DiCenzo – Guitar

A CONCERT TO END HOMELESSNESS

Featuring Jonathan Elliott and Talisha Holmes
Special Event
January 17-18, 2014 | Capitol Theatre

Partnering with the Community Shelter Board (CSB), this unforgettable, inspiring evening of big band jazz, song, and dance raised awareness and funds for the homeless in central Ohio. This event highlighted the new shelter (opened Spring 2014) and a portion of each ticket sold was donated to the CSB and their efforts in Columbus. Selections included: I Hope in Time a Change Will Come, Smile, Petite Fleur, Cold, It’s a Wonderful World, When We All Get to Heaven, The Maids of Cadiz, Beautiful, Far Away From Home, Minuano, Reach Out and Touch (Somebody’s Hand), and Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You).

 

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
Matt Anklan, Bob Everhart, Jim Powell, Rob Parton

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

DON’T YOU FORGET ABOUT ME: MOLLY RINGWALD SINGS THE GREAT AMERICAN SONGBOOK

Featuring Molly Ringwald
Swingin’ at the Southern Series
February 6-9, 2014 | Southern Theatre

Everyone’s favorite former teenager joined the Columbus Jazz Orchestra in a salute to the Great American Songbook! From the big screen to the stage, Molly Ringwald has done it all. Making a name for herself as one of the greatest teen stars of all time in John Hughes’ classics like Sixteen Candles, Pretty in Pink, and The Breakfast Club, Molly has now made her imprint in the jazz world releasing her new album, “Except…Sometimes. An homage to the Great American Songbook,” Ringwald crafted a carefully chosen selection of jazz standards which she capped off with her take on The Breakfast Club classic, Don’t You (Forget About Me). Selections included: Day by Day, JA-DA, Blue Bossa, Blues March, I Believe in You, Where Is Love?, Don’t You (Forget About Me), Sooner or Later, Mean to Me, My Old Flame, It Never Entered My Mind, If I Were a Bell, and I Feel Pretty.

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

BRAVO BENNY!: THE FAMOUS 1938 CARNEGIE HALL JAZZ CONCERT

Featuring Ken Peplowski & Bria Skonberg
Swingin’ at the Southern Series
March 13-16, 2014 | Southern Theatre

The Columbus Jazz Orchestra paid tribute to the “King of Swing” and his famous 1938 concert on its 75th anniversary! On January 16, 1938, Benny Goodman brought his swing orchestra to America’s venerated home of European classical music, Carnegie Hall. The resulting concert – widely considered one of the most significant events in American music history – helped to usher jazz and swing music into the American cultural mainstream.  Byron Stripling and the Columbus Jazz Orchestra recreated this landmark concert and recording with the help of clarinetist/saxophonist Ken Peplowski in the role of Goodman, and rising young jazz trumpeter/vocalist Bria Skonberg. Selections included: And the Angels Sing, Don’t Be That Way, One O’Clock Jump, Shine, Honeysuckle Rose, I Got Rhythm, Blue Skies, Stompin’ at the Savoy, Sing Sing Sing, Big John’s Special 2011, Life Goes to a Party 2011, Sometimes I’m Happy 2011, So Is the Day, and Love Me or Leave Me.

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

TRUMPET SUMMIT

Featuring Sean Jones
Swingin’ at the Southern Series
April 10-13, 2014 | Southern Theatre

Concert Sponsor: Plante Moran

The bright and vivacious sound of the trumpet has long been featured in the art of jazz. From Louis Armstrong to Dizzy Gillespie as well as Herb Alpert, our very own trumpet virtuoso Byron Stripling led the Columbus Jazz Orchestra in an assortment of works embellishing this classic instrument. The stage was joined by trumpeter, composer, educator and Cleveland Jazz Orchestra artistic director, Sean Jones, with his own interpretation of the legacy of the great trumpeter Miles Davis. All songs were announced from the stage. Selections included: Someday My Prince Will Come, There Will Never Be Another You, Secret Love, Quietude, Solar, Gone, The Buzzard Song, A Night in Tunisia, Tutu, You Made Me Love You, Sunny, and Duet.

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, Rob Parton

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