Toledo Jazz Newsletter October 2021

Oct 01, 2021

Toledo Jazz Newsletter

October 2021

     This jazz piano titan Art Tatum was born in Toledo, Ohio on October 13, 1909. Tatum has become legend in America's jazz history and is considered by many to be the greatest soloist in the jazz pantheon. Johnny O'Neal, an internationally known pianist who lived in Toledo and subsequently toured with the Murphy's for a time, and who later portrayed Art Tatum in the film Ray, was born in Detroit on October 10, 1956, the same year that Tatum passed away. The late Claude Black, also a pianist, was born in Detroit on October 24, 1932. Black was an early musical director for Aretha Franklin. Black lived in Toledo for decades, performed with a who's who of jazz greats including: Sonny Stitt, Wes Montgomery, Jon Hendricks, Grady Tate, Elvin Jones, and a parade of other jazz performers. Claude Black and bassist Clifford Murphy performed together in Toledo for over 60 years. Ramona Collins, one of Toledo's most respected jazz vocalists, has a birthday on October 28. Collins has performed in the city and around the region for over 53 years. She was frequently heard at Rusty's Jazz Cafe, Murphy's Place, and at the Bird of Paradise in Ann Arbor; in recent years she has been featured at the Blue Llama (and she's there again in October), Baker's Keyboard Lounge, the Toledo Club and many other locations. Collins is one of the busiest vocalists in the area and performs at venues too numerous to list. Happy birthday to Ramona Collins!!

     The October SSJJ gig, set for Sunday Oct. 10, is going to be a grand affair. This one features a complete big band, vocalists and more. It sounds like hosts Keith and Sally are pulling out all the stops for this one. Michael Peslikis will be on the keyboard and BiG Band BG will be on tap. Full flyer for the gig is below.

   Grammy-winning vocalist Diane Schuur will perform at the Valentine Theater on October 16, 2021 at 8:00pm. The gig was arranged by a relatively new group called the Toledo Jazz Festival. They had planned a full festival in 2020-21 but had to cancel due to the pandemic; however, they are getting off the ground this year with this feature concert. Ron Kischuk, director of the Masters of Music Big Band said, "this [concert] is a reintroduction of the Toledo Jazz Festival [organization] to the community." Kischuk indicated that Schuur 's performance will contain excellent selections of music from the Grammy-winning album she did with the Count Basie orchestra and the hit album she had with Maynard Ferguson. The band will include alums from the Count Basie orchestra and Maynard Ferguson's band (Mike Williams, Dennis Wilson, Patrick Hession), Stevie Wonder's group (Dwight Adams), Woodie Herman's orchestra (Rob Smith) and Ray Charles' trombonist (Edward Gooch). Toledo vicinity-based multi-instrumentalist Gene Parker will be part of the band, as will BG bassist Jeff Halsey. Kischuk hinted there will be more events in the new year, culminating with the full Toledo Jazz Festival in summer of 2022.

     Diane Schuur, blind since birth, began playing by ear at the age of 3, the same pattern that Toledo's Art Tatum followed as a youngster. Schuur attended the Washington State School for the Blind and then studied voice at the University of Puget Sound. Her career was put into high gear with an audition for Doc Severinsen in Seattle in 1975. The same year she performed at the Monterey Jazz Festival bringing her to the attention of Stan Getz. He said, "she's like Sarah or Ella to me." This led to her performance at the White House with Dizzy Gillespie, Chick Corea, Jon Faddis, and Itzhak Perlman. The White House performance catapulted Schuur into a higher orbit in the jazz universe, a place she's remained ever since. See photo of Schuur and listing for the gig below.
Please note: masks are mandatory for this gig. Tickets are available here: https://www.etix.com/ticket/p/8417526/the-toledo-jazz-festival-presents-diane-schuur-in-concert-toledo-valentine-theatre

     Please RSVP by the 25th of October to the Toledo Jazz Orchestra for their November 8 fundraiser performance; it's a Celebrity Wait Night. See the listing below for the event. The TJO brings full big band jazz concerts and jazz ensemble (trios, quartets, etc.) series concerts to the area; it's been a vital part of the community for many years and deserves our support and praise.
Here is a link to the TJO website for ticket info: https://www.toledojazz.org/events

     September was a very busy month for jazz in Toledo. The Solheim Cup opened with a Fan Fest that had Ramona Collins performing in downtown Toledo. The crowd at Collins' gig that evening grew throughout the performance and was among the largest crowds visiting various stages that night. Many of the golfers showed up for front-row fun at the Collin's gig.

     Speaking of jazz festivals, The Great Lakes Jazz Festival, which showcased the smooth side of jazz, took place on September 11, and was a massive success by all measures. The combination of Hugh Ross as band recruiter/MC and Cheryl Catlin's organizing hit the right chord to make the festival a success. They arranged excellent sponsorship and recruited a great group of volunteers for the festival. Toledo's own Jean Holden received the 2021 Jazz Enthusiast Award during the festival and then performed for fans. Parking lots don't lie. The venue's lots were near capacity in the late afternoon, then the Toledo Hospital garage filled, later the side streets, and finally parking was opened on the grass in the park itself. The festival was a big hit with Toledo. Your author's estimate is that by late in the afternoon the audience size was triple or quadruple the size of the 2019 affair. Whatever the Great Lakes Jazz Festival organizers are doing to entice people to show up, they are on the right track.

     The September SSJJ was no small affair. At one time or another throughout the day almost every jazz vocalist in Toledo stopped in and either hung out or performed. Jean Holden stepped in and hit the attendees over their collective heads with her selections; Diane Stubblefield, the niece of late Hammond B3 expert Ike Stubblefield, sang and played the keyboard; and Dorothy Gray, Lori Lefevre, Lisa Young and James Ham also sang. Toledo Blues man Bobby G stepped up to the microphone and took the gig into the blues land for a bit. Ramona Collins stopped in for a visit. Christopher Joseph sang a few numbers, too. The band was solid. It was comprised of various members throughout the afternoon, starting with the event's host, Keith Bernhard on drums, Mike Miller on bass guitar, James Ham on trumpet, John Takle on double bass, and John Cleveland on the keyboard. Later, Lisa Holden took over the keyboard as her mother, Jean Holden, performed. Karen Tomalis, lately from Detroit, showed up and took over on drums, and Tony Diaz played the Konga. Pianist Jim Gottron performed to close out the afternoon. The weather cooperated and the gig was beautiful.

     After decamping from the SSJJ, Ramona Collins performed at Gesu Catholic Church, to a very large crowd, on the lawn. The gig has become an annual event at the church. The crowd really got into her set as she called out a mix of jazz and Motown. Collins and her group performed into the late afternoon and during the sunset.

   The usual gig listings and photos are found below.

     Happy Halloween to all!

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Thanks for reading,
Doug

Image Courtesy of the Toledo Public Library

Happy Halloween!!

Above: Halloween at Rusty's Jazz Cafe, 1980s

Photo: courtesy of the Library of Congress

Art Tatum was born in Toledo, Ohio on October 13, 1909

Above: Murphy's Place on Madison Ave., circa 1990s.
Note: Pianist Claude Black in hat above. Johnny O'Neal is near the piano. Clifford Murphy is holding the double bass.

Claude Black was born in Detroit on October 24, 1932
Johnny O'Neal was born in Detroit on October 10, 1956

***A Special Gig On November 8 Featuring The Toledo Jazz Orchestra

Here is the link to the flyer above: https://67dacf44-5b83-4f77-8a2e-9bd8bc27613d.usrfiles.com/ugd/67dacf_b0e0fbdefde34ea58b17ec996b5cbd70.pdf

Please RSVP to the the Toledo Jazz Orchestra by October 25, 2021 for the November 8 Celebrity Wait Night fundraiser for the orchestra . Please follow the link for tickets: https://www.toledojazz.org/events

Vocalist Ramona Collins' birthday is on October 28.

Courtesy of the Toledo Public Library

Lester's Play House, circa 1948 Toledo

Diane Schuur
At the Valentine -- October 16, 2021

Photo: Norman Seef

The Toledo Jazz Festival organization presents Diane Schuur at the Valentine Theater: October 16, 2021 at 8pm.
Tickets are now on sale at the Valentine Theater box office (419) 242-2787 and are available online at: https://www.etix.com/ticket/p/8417526/the-toledo-jazz-festival-presents-diane-schuur-in-concert-masks-mandatory-toledo-valentine-theatre

Recurring Gigs Fall 2021

The Tip Jar

Wednesday Nights -- The Chefs of Dixieland -- at the Tip Jar 201 Morris St. in the warehouse of Maumee Bay Brewing, every Wednesday from 8p -10p

Thursday Nights – Organic Ingredients-- Live every week at the Tip Jar at 201 Morris St, in the warehouse of Maumee Bay Brewing, every Thursday from 7p-10p.

Village Idiot

Sunday Nights – The Ministry of Jazz – The Village Idiot at 309 Conant Street, Maumee, Ohio 6p -9p.

More Gigs Listed Below

2012 Jeff Halsey and Ron Brooks at the University of Toledo Benefit for Claude Black

Gigs -- October 2021

10/01/2021 Friday Hector Mendoza Frontera
5375 Airport Hwy.
Toledo, Ohio
5:30pm -8:30pm 10/2/2021 Saturday Quick Trio
Jason Quick,
Jay Ronquillo, Zac Kreuz Crop Circle Festival
Fremont, Ohio
9:00am – 11:00am
Quick Trio is the opening group for the festival. 10/2/2021 Saturday Hector Mendoza Carlo’s Poco Loco
Downtown Toledo
6:30pm – 8:30pm 10/2/2021 Saturday Festive Band: Jason Quick, Michelle Shelton, Zac Kreuz The Que
Port Clinton, Ohio
6:00pm – 9:00pm 10/3/2021 Sunday Jim Park and Ray Heitger Basil Pizza & Wine Bar
3145 Hollister Ln.
Perrysburg, OH
11:00am – 2:00pm
10/5/2021 Tuesday Damon Cook Plat 8
4330 West Central
Toledo, Ohio
6:00pm – 9:00pm 10/5/2021 Tuesday Ramona Collins Quartet Blue Llama Jazz Club
314 S. Main Street
Ann Arbor, Michigan
7:00pm – 9:30pm
Tickets: https://www.bluellamaclub.com/
10/6/2021 Wednesday Ramona Collins & Cliff Monear Steinway Cabaret
Steinway Piano Gallery
2700 E. West Maple Rd.
Commerce, Michigan
6:30pm – 7:30pm 10/7/2021 Thursday Jason Quick Solo Manhattan’s Pub & Cheer
1516 Adams St.
Toledo, Ohio
7:00pm – 10:00pm 10/9/2021 Saturday Autumn Market
(Various bands) Jackson Arboretum Park
Robinwood & Delaware
Toledo, Ohio (Free Event)
9am -5pm 10/09/2021 Saturday Creole Jazz: Ray Heitger & Dave Kosmyna Carlos’ Poco Loco
Adams Street, Downtown Toledo
6:00pm – 9:00pm 10/10/2021 Sunday Second Sunday Jazz Jam
Featuring a full big band: BiG Band BG 1117 Independence Rd.
Toledo, Ohio
2:00pm -6:00pm 10/10/2021 Sunday Jason Quick Duo: Jason Quick and J Ronquillo Basil Pizza & Wine Bar
3145 Hollister Ln.
Perrysburg, OH
11:00am – 2:00pm
10/12/2021 Tuesday Lori Lefevre -Johnson Plat 8
4330 West Central
Toledo, Ohio
6:00pm – 9:00pm 10/14/2021 Thursday Jason Quick & Jon Hammonds Ziggy’s
Ypsilanti, Michigan
7:00pm – 8:30pm 10/16/2021 Saturday Jason Quick Solo Toledo’s Farmer’s Market
10:00am – 12:00pm 10/16/2021 Saturday Jason Quick Trio Wesley’s Bar
Downtown, Toledo
10:00pm – 1:00am 10/16/2021 Saturday Diane Schuur Valentine Theater
Toledo, Ohio
7:30pm
Tickets: https://www.etix.com/ticket/p/8417526/the-toledo-jazz-festival-presents-diane-schuur-in-concert-masks-mandatory-toledo-valentine-theatre

10/19/2021 Tuesday Zac Kreuz Trio Plat 8
4330 West Central
Toledo, Ohio
6:00pm – 9:00pm 10/22,23,24/2021
(multiday) Thursday, Friday, Saturday Cakewalkin’ Jass Band Terrace Inn
Petosky, Michigan
(Greater Detroit Jazz Society’s Fall Festival) 10/23/2021 Friday Morgen Stiegler Trio: Scott Parnell, Dylan Bretz, Jr., Morgen Stiegler Hillside Winery
Gilboa, Ohio
5:30pm – 8:30pm 10/24/2021 Sunday James Paul Park, Paul Keller, Dave Kosmyna Basil Pizza & Wine Bar
3145 Hollister Ln.
Perrysburg, Ohio
11:00am – 2:00pm 10/26/2021 Tuesday Creole Jazz:
Dave Kosmyna & Ray Heitger Plat 8
4330 West Central
Toledo, Ohio
6:00pm – 9:00pm 10/31/2021 Sunday Jason Quick Duo: Jason Quick and J. Ronquillo Basil Pizza & Wine Bar
3145 Hollister Ln.
Perrysburg, OH
11:00am – 2:00pm

Above: Jean Holden as she steps onto the stage at the Great Lakes Jazz Festival 2021 & Holden after receiving the 2021 Jazz Enthusiast Award.

Above: Lindsey Webster performing at the Great Lakes Jazz Festival

Above: Zac Kreuz and Michelle Shelton from the group Urban Sound Track after their performance at the festival.

Above: Cheryl Catlin and Hugh Ross, two of the people behind the Great Lakes Jazz Festival

Below: (top row) -- Funky Fly Project, (bottom row) -- Latin Jazz Players

Above: Bruce Corfield and Lori Lefevre at the Second Sunday Jazz Jam

Solheim Cup Fan Fest: Ramona Collins and her band. Josh Silver (keyboards), Jay Ronquillo (bass), Brandon Benson (drums)

Above: vocalists Diane Stubbliefield and Jean Holden
Band: Mike Miller (bass guitar), John Cleveland (keyboard), Lisa Holden Keyboard, Karen Tomalis (drums), Tony Diaz (Konga)

Dorothy Gray, John Cleveland (keyboard), Keith Bernhard (drums), Mike MIller (bass guitar)

Jazz On the Radio

The Saturday Morning Extravaganza with host Ragtime Rick. “Music you won’t hear anywhere else on the radio dial.” Show details: 9am –12noon on AM 1230 WCWA or FM 104.7 HD2 WIOT, or available for streaming at 1230FoxSports.com. You can make requests, call 419-213-1230 during the show and Rick will be happy to hear the request.

Saturdays -- WGTE broadcasts the Jazz Spectrum from 8pm –12am, hosted by Fritz Byers. https://www.wgte.org/jazz
Other info at: https://www.facebook.com/jazzspectrumtoledo/

Listen to WXTS Jazz 88.3 FM 8a-8p Monday-Friday or 24/7, live stream at www.wxts.org

Bright Moments: The Jonathan Turner Jazz Program Volume 2.0
WAKT Radio 106.1 FM, Sunday from 3p – 6p. http://toledoradio.org/

H-Factor Jazz Show, on the University of Toledo student radio station, 88.3fm
Hosted by Hugh Ross, Jr. http://hfactorjazzshow.com/

Mark Zaborney’s "Jazz Unlimited" on WBGU FM 88.1, Wednesdays, Thursdays & Fridays from 9:00 am to noon.