Jazz Scene 071707

By Don Henke

Last week: The Randy Villars Trio opened the newly expanded Pacchia Prima Friday night with their trademark hard-driving jazz. With Villars manning the new piano (not keyboard) in the club and bassist Tony Whack and drummer John Taylor doing what they do best, it was a splendid night of jazz. The new setup has a railing separating the listening area from the fine dining, which is a boon to those who come to listen. The trio played some Herbie Hancock (“Dolphin Dance”; “Butterfly” “Chan’s Song), some Duke Ellington (“It Don’t Mean a Thing”; “Caravan”), Ivan Lins’ “The Island” and several standards and originals by Villars and Taylor.

This week in Dayton: The Johnny Mack Super Big Band will be at North Park in Springboro tonight (Tuesday) from 7 to 9. The Hal Harris Big Band will play on Riverscape Thursday from 7:30 to 9:30. The Dayton Jazz Orchestra plays at Jazz Central Thursday.

The Lizz and Rex Club Combo begins a Wednesday happy hour gig at the 88 Club this week. They play from 4 to 6. The Mario Abney Quintet is there Thursday from 9 to 12. Vocalist Shakera Jones brings her quartet into the club Saturday from 8 to 12.

The Ian Ross Duo is at Pacchia Prima Thursday from 8 to 12. The Ron Jones Trio plays there Friday from 9 to 1. Vocalist Patricia Berg and pianist Brian Cashwell are at Café Boulevard Friday from 8:30 to 12:30. The John Wagner Duo will be on the Boulevard Saturday.

Teresa Hunt sings at Gregory’s Piano Bar Saturday from 9 to 12. Rick Evans and friends will be at the Cannery Art and Design Center Saturday at 6:30. This is a benefit for the Boy Scouts and their Learning Through Life program. Admission s $40 and all proceeds go to The Scouts. Tonya Baker and Shirley Murdock are featured at Oak and Ivy Park in the Wright-Dunbar neighborhood Friday at 7.

North of town, the Smart Set with vocalist Jimmy Kays are at Chin’s Ginger Grill Friday from 7:30 to 10:30. Slightly northeast, flutist Gail Keen and keyboardist Larry Halpern are at the Coffee Emporium in Springfield. Veterans Park Amphitheater has a mini-festival this weekend. Columbus’ Urban Jazz Coalition is there Friday at 9:00 and Warren Hill Saturday at 9. Opening act on Saturday is Puzzle of Light, who play from 7:30 to 8:30.

East of town The Greene in Beavercreek features the Deron Bell Band Wednesday from 5:30 to 9:30 and Puzzle of Light from 1 to 4 Sunday. Trombonist G. Scott Jones and his Freedom Ensemble will be at the Emporium in Yellow Springs Monday from 8 to 9.

In the south ‘burbs, guitarist Tim Berens and vocalist are at Yankee Trace Golf Club in Centerville Wednesday from 7 to 9:30. Guitarist Andrew Hartman and vocalist Jessica Agler play at Cena Brazilian Steak House in Miami Twp. Friday from 6 to 10. Kassaba will bring their quirky style of jazz to Stubbs Park in Centerville Sunday from 7 to 9.

In the Cincinnati area: Pianist Dan Karlsberg will have a CD release party at the Blue Wisp Jazz Club Thursday from 8:30 to 11:30. The Ian Ross Trio will be there Friday and Saturday. Of course, the big band will be playing Wednesday, as usual.

The Mario Abney Quintet will open the new Jardin Night Club Wednesday at 8. Doc B’s other jazz Venue, the Hyatt Regency Hotel, is still going strong and will feature Stephen Wood’s group Postal, which has some of the best musicians from the Columbus area, Friday night at 8. Michael Eldridge finishes his stint at the Federal Reserve Lounge Wednesday through Saturday. Vibraphonist Rusty Burge and bassist Michael Sharfe play at the Washington Platform Oyster House Friday from 5:30 to 8:30.

The Kim Kelly Orchestra will be in Winton Woods from 7 to 9 Wednesday. Bone Voyage is at the Cactus Pear in Blue Ash Thursday at 7:00. Ricky Nye and Bekah Williams are together at Chez Nora in Covington Wednesday from 8:30 to 12:30.

In Columbus and other points north: Pianist Richard Lopez and bassist Roger Hines are at Rigsby’s Wednesday from 7 to 10. Lopez’s trio will be at the Worthington Inn Friday, also from 7 to 10. The Lenox Avenue Express plays at the Lancaster Festival Friday from 8 to 10. The Express also steams into the Alum Creek Amphitheater in Westerville Sunday from 6:30 to 8:00.

Columbus Music Hall features Novu Madragada Friday at 8:30, the Pete Mills-Erik Augis Quartet Saturday at 10:00 (after the festival) and the Columbus Youth Jazz Orchestra Sunday at 8:30. Admission varies at the Hall. Sorry but we didn’t get any information on the Jazz and Ribs Festival, so there’s nothing to report.

Out of town: The Ron Jones Trio plays at the Coach Lamp Restaurant in Louisville Friday from 7 to 10. The Blue Wisp Big Band will be at Elk Creek Winery in Owenton, Ky., Saturday from 6 to 9. There is an admission charge. South African trumpeter Hugh Masakela is at Night Town in Cleveland for two shows at 7 and 9 Tuesday.