Three veteran musicians and the owner of an iconic club are among the latest to be recognized by the National Endowment for the Arts as Jazz Masters: Saxophonist Lou Donaldson, pianist-songwriter Mose Allison and Latin jazz bandleader Eddie Palmieri join the owner of New York City’s Village Vanguard, Lorraine Gordon, as the 2012 recipients of the A.B. Spellman NEA Jazz Masters Award for Jazz Advocacy.

Many people in our area may not know who some of the better jazz artists who perform locally on a regular basis. The following is my attempt to rectify this shortcoming:

Jazz Spotlight: Who is Gene Walker?

Walker, Eugene tenor sax; He got his BME at The Ohio State University. Solo performances have included many notable musicians and entertainers such as Brook Benton, Wilson Picket, Aretha Franklin, Etta Jones, Benny Green, Wild Bill Davis, Bobby Shew, Jimmy Scott, Charles Earland, Lloyd Price, Jimmy Reed, The Isley Brothers, Neil Diamond, Melba Moore, Billy Daniels, Charli Persip, Elvin Jones and Irene Reid. Jazz saxophonist, composer, bandleader, studio recording and educator Gene Walker lives in Columbus, Ohio where he currently performs with his own groups, Gene Walker’s Generations and The Cotton Club Orchestra. He began performing and touring in 1958 with such groups as Sam Cooke, Jackie Wilson, and The Chris Columbo Quintet. In 1965 he toured with the Beatles, playing in Shea Stadium along with King Curtis.

Gene was a member of the faculty of Ohio State University, held three Ohio Arts Council residencies and has taught saxophone yearly in Jamey Aebersolds’ Summer Jazz Clinics since 1998. He’s toured Italy, England, the Netherlands with the Jimmy McGriff Quartet, playing at the prestigious London Club, Ronnie Scott’s, and in 1997 Gene performed with the Hank Marr Quartet at the North Sea Jazz Festival in Holland. In addition, he has made a number of distinguished appearances, including at Carnegie Hall and Town Hall, NY; Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club, London, U.K.; North Sea Jazz Festival, The Hague, Holland; and Umbria Jazz Festival, Italy. Recently Gene Walker and jazz organist Hank Marr were honored during a ceremony at the Lincoln Theatre Walk of Fame in Columbus. The Lincoln Theatre Walk of Fame honors Columbus natives who have made outstanding contributions in their respective professional careers. You will be able to catch this outstanding jazz saxophonist on Saturday, August 1 when he performs a benefit concert at Jazz Central in Dayton for the Gabriel Foundation.

Jazz Calendar

Here are some (not all) of the upcoming jazz events for the next couple of weeks:

Wednesday, August 1 – Lizz & Rex Quartet plays their regular gig at The Dayton Event Connection as does Dave Greer’s Classic Jazz Stompers at Neal’s also in Dayton.
Thursday August 2 – is again big band night with Joe Aceto and his Orchestra at Riverscape MetroPark and the Dayton Jazz Orchestra performs at the Dayton Art Institute.

Friday August 3 – Catch the Shawn Stanley Trio at Carvers Steaks & Chops in Centerville and in London, Ohio (not too far away) there’s a Jazz & Rib Fest on Friday and Saturday (Aug 4) details at: https://www.facebook.com/LondonRibandJazzFest

Saturday August 4 – Deron Bell’s Smooth Jazz Band will be at Riverscape MetroPark, JT Fredrick’s Sax Groove will be at Gilly’s in Dayton and can catch Dave Koz with special guest BeBe Winans at the Fraze Pavilion in Kettering.

Sunday August 5 – the Hoo Doo Soul Band plays the Rumba Café in Columbus and Jazz Central’s regular Jazz Jam continues in Dayton.

Monday August 6 -Vaughn Wiester’s Famous Jazz Orchestra is at the Clintonville Woman’s Club in Columbus and the John Taylor Trio is at the Brio Tuscan Grille in Beavercreek.

Tuesday August 7 – the Part St. Tavern has a Jazz Jam and Tony Monaco Trio is at the Rumba Café in Columbus and Ed Moss & the Society Jazz Orchestra is at Schwartz’s Point in Cincinnati.

Wednesday August 8 – Blue Wisp Big Band performs at the Blue Wisp in Cincinnati, Rich Lopez is at Rigsby’s in Columbus and Dave Greer’s Classic Jazz Stompers holds fort at Neil’s Heritage House in Dayton.

Thursday August 9 – Riverscape Metro Parks presents Pam Noah and Her Big Band and the Retrospect Jazz Quartet featuring Elisabeth Hayse is at Jazz Central in Dayton.

Friday August 10 – Doc Broadnax and the Thompson House in Newport presents Ralph Peterson Fo’tet with Edwin Bayard.

Saturday August 11 – World-class jazz saxophonist Gene Walker will perform a benefit concert for the Gabriel Foundation at Jazz Central in Dayton and George Benson is at the Fraze in Kettering.

Sunday August 12 – Phil DeGreg Trio performing at Dee Felice in Covington, Ky. and Jazz Central offers its regular Jazz Jam in Dayton.

Monday August 13 – Sandy Suskind continues their long running jazz jam at the Blue Wisp in Cincinnati and Vaughn Wiester’s Famous Jazz Orchestra is at the Clintonville Woman’s Club in Columbus.

Tuesday August 14 – Derek DiCenzo Trio plays at Local Roots in Powell, OH

More info and jazz listings can be found at JazzAdvocate.com