Highlights Include Appearances by Broadway’s Maurice Hines, “Blond Ambition” Tour Veteran Vocalist Niki Haris, Rising Stars Benny Benack III and Lena Seikaly, Windy City Blues Singer & Harmonicist Omar Coleman, NEA Jazz Master Vibraphonist/Drummer Jason Marsalis, Jazz-Funksters The Huntertones, Musical Celebrations Honoring Saxophone Greats from the Capital City, the 100th Anniversary of the Harlem Renaissance, A Collaboration with Opera Columbus and Our Annual Gala Celebration “One Night Only”

Highlights Include Appearances by Broadway’s Maurice Hines, “Blond Ambition” Tour Veteran Vocalist Niki Haris, Rising Stars Benny Benack III and Lena Seikaly, Windy City Blues Singer & Harmonicist Omar Coleman, NEA Jazz Master Vibraphonist/Drummer Jason Marsalis, Jazz-Funksters The Huntertones, Musical Celebrations Honoring Saxophone Greats from the Capital City, the 100th Anniversary of the Harlem Renaissance, A Collaboration with Opera Columbus and Our Annual Gala Celebration “One Night Only”

The Jazz Arts Group is pleased to present the 8th summer season of its free PBJ & Jazz Concert Series, hour-long interactive concerts for kids and families, at the Topiary Park (480 E Town Street) and the main branch of the Columbus Metropolitan Library (96 South Grant Avenue) in downtown Columbus.

This summer, the Columbus Jazz Orchestra (CJO) takes jazz to a wilder place with its outdoor concert series, JazZoo!, at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. JazZoo! is presented by the Jazz Arts Group in collaboration with the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, and is presented by Cardinal Health. The four-concert series returns to the Water’s Edge Events Park at the Columbus Zoo (4850 West Powell Road, Powell) providing a beautiful waterfront setting along the O’Shaughnessy Reservoir.

World Premiere Performances October 22-25 are part of “Redefining Tradition: Ellington, Basie & Beyond,” Columbus Jazz Orchestra Season Opener at the Southern Theatre. Program Also Features the Music of Big Band Giants Duke Ellington and Count Basie with Guest Soloists Jazz Violinist Christian Howes, Pianist Dave Powers and Saxophonist Shawn “Thunder” Wallace.

JAZZ ARTS GROUP’S 2015-2016 SEASON TRUMPETS THE MUSIC OF DUKE ELLINGTON, COUNT BASIE, STING, STEELY DAN, JOHN LENNON AND SONGS MADE FAMOUS BY THE ‘RAT PACK’