Happy January 2nd! American jazz singer Arthur Prysock, best known for his live shows and his baritone influenced by Billy Eckstine was born on this day in 1929.

What is a Jazz Jam?

In simple terms a jam session is a musical act where musicians play by improvising without extensive preparation or predefined arrangements. A regular jazz jam is usually sponsored by a venue where this is a predefined core group of paid regulars and any and all musicians who care to come and join in are welcome. The guest musicians or vocalist would need to check or sign in with the event MC to maintain a good performing balance.

There are regular ongoing jams in Dayton, Cincinnati and Columbus, which are known well enough to draw guest performers both local and many times from out of town. Like I tell everyone, every chance I get, “Many times, depending upon who shows up, you get some of the very best jazz at jams!” Last Sunday at Jazz Central proved to be the case when the Slaughter Brothers, Clarence (saxophone) and William (trumpet) showed up to jam. Over the years many young jazz players have cut their teeth on Jazz Central’s stage, which has been home to Dayton’s longest running jazz jam.

The Slaughter brothers, who have been doing big things in South Carolina and New Orleans, are home for the holidays and we were treated to a rare performance. In addition to the Slaughters we had Kenny Baccus on organ, John Hampton Wagner as MC as well as trumpet and vocals and Greg Webster on drums, Clifford Darrett and Ahmed Abdullah on congas, and Ron Appleberry on bass as the basic jam core group. Additional guest performers included David Jenkins on saxophone and Darren Witherspoon on drums, two young Stivers School of the Arts students who were new to the jam sessions. Rounding out the evening were vocalist Jeff Ward and Always Triple, trombonist Mushandi Pillow, saxophonist Grant Koeller and drummers Henry Preston and Ismail Muhammad as well as Jack Hart on organ and Jerry Cox on flute. If I haven’t missed anyone (hopefully I’m correct on the spellings) there were eighteen on stage during the evening; what entertainment for a mere $2.00 cover charge.

Clarence started playing on the Jazz Central stage at age 12, was one of the Serious Young Musicians that played Showtime at the Apollo and has performed with some of today’s biggest names in New Orleans. Younger brother William Patrick who also grew up at the club is currently based in the South and comes back to us as a professional player of unbelievable skill. It’s my understanding that the brothers will be with us trough next Sunday’s jam and Clarence is scheduled to be part to Saturday’s “Secret! Kept?” show at the club, which you can check out at: http://www.jazzcentraldayton.com/#15

Jazz Calendar

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

Tonight Wednesday, January 2 – Jazz Central opens a new Blue Wednesday series with Jack & Joe Waters and Swing Dance with Lizz & Rex Review is at the Dayton Event Connection.

Thursday January 3 – Tony Monaco is at Giammarco’s Pizza in Westerville, OH.

Friday January 4 – the Marc Fields Quintet is at the Blue Wisp in Cincinnati and the Eddie Brookshire Quintet is at the Thompson House in Newport, Ky.

Saturday January 5 – James and Moore are performing at the C’est Tout Bistro in Oakwood and an allstar cast is doing Secret! Kept? at Jazz Central.

Sunday January 6 – the Slaughter Brothers return for the Jazz Jam Session w/ Kenny Baccus at Jazz Central in Dayton and a Live Jazz Party produced by Gene Walker is at the Hunan Gourmet Restaurant in Whitehall, OH.

Monday January 7 – the John Taylor Trio is at the Brio Tuscan Grille in Beavercreek and a Jazz Jam hosted by Sandy Suskind at the Blue Wisp in Cincinnati.

Tuesday January 8 – Matt Ellis and “Standard Time” is at the McConnell Arts Center in Worthington, OH.

Wednesday January 9 – the Blue Wisp Big Band performs at the Wisp in Cincinnati and Jack & Joe Waters is at Jazz Central in Dayton.

Thursday January 10 – the Rick Brunetto Big Band is at the 94th Aero Squadron Restaurant in Columbus.

Friday January 11 – Shawn Stanley Trio is at Carvers Steaks & Chops in Centerville, OH and Deep Blue Organ Trio is at the Thompson House in Newport, Ky

Saturday January 12 – Richard Lopez is at Hyde Park in Arlington in Columbus and the Rachel Sepulveda Trio is at the Worthington Inn both in Worthington, OH.

Sunday January 13 – the Jazz Jam Session w/ Kenny Baccus is at Jazz Central in Dayton and Hoo Doo Soul Band is at the Rumba Café in Columbus.

Monday January 14 – Vaughn Wiester’s Famous Jazz Orchestra is at the Clintonville Woman’s Club in Columbus.

Tuesday January 15 – Trumpeter Scott Belck and CCM Jazz Orchestras is at the Blue Wisp in Cincinnati.

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