News
Times They Are a Changin’
Readers who have been with the TJN since the outset will notice many changes to this edition, including its general appearance and the format in which gigs are listed, among others. Due to challenges with the previous system used to produce the newsletter and limitations placed on the size of the audience, the TJN has been moved to Substack. The reader now has two choices to view the gigs — one can either download a PDF file or click on the gig listing and a web-browsable version will open in a tab. On some technologies the list will be usable as is, without opening a tab. Throughout the TJN, most of the old formatting is gone and there are some new looks to different sections. There are still plenty of photos, historical ads, and historical content and the listings for radio shows and recurring gigs appear as usual. Hopefully, there will be few, if any, hiccups; please be patient as we work through doing something new. Extreme production delays, from the new configuration, for example, caused the newsletter to go out quite late on May 1.
Things That Are Not Changing
One thing hasn’t changed: There are a ton of gigs around Toledo, so get out and support live jazz. Jean Holden is booked at Lucille’s Jazz Lounge in early May. Ramona Collins is also booked at Lucille’s later in the month, as is an out-of-town player of great talent, Bill Heid. Monday nights Brad Billmaier and friends play at the Golden Road. Tuesday night gigs at Lucille’s Jazz Lounge require no ticket; just walk in and have a great time with Gene Parker and Damen Cook and their special guest of the week. The Tip Jar gig happens Wednesday with the band Organic Ingredients laying down the groove, and the Jazz Collective gigs at Peacock on Thursday nights feature fine jazz. Lucille’s is offering a new gig — they have a Jazz Lunch Series from 11:00am until 2:00pm on Fridays. No ticket required. Various restaurants and venues around the area offer regular jazz gigs with singles, duos and trios aplenty. Check out the gig listing sections below for a sampling.
Toledo’s Jazz Legacy
My book, Toledo’s Jazz Legacy, is completed and is comprised of 20 chapters that walk the reader from the ragtime era to the modern era. Ohio State University has expressed interest in the book, but has asked for subvention, i.e. for the author to contribute/raise money to cover the cost of production and printing, freight, etc. My book is larger than their usual target and it will be expensive to produce. The goal is to raise $20,000. Last month, money raised and pledges outstanding total approximately $5,000. The Toledo Alliance for the Performing Arts has agreed to be a funding agent and is handling the donations, so all donations are tax-deductible. If you haven’t already helped out, please consider a donation of any size at: TAPA's Web Page for Donations in Support of Toledo's Jazz Legacy
Future fundraising does include at least one benefit concert for the book project. Several local musicians and vocalists have already volunteered to be part of the concert. More on that the topic will be forthcoming. If any vocalist or musician wishes to be part of the gig, please contact me directly. The date is not yet set, but the hope is for late summer or early fall as a target time frame.
David’s Honey
Special thanks go out to David and Janet Veith! David’s Honey contributed a case of excellent tasting, local honey to help support the book’s publication. The honey sold out in just a few hours. Thanks to Janet, David, and everyone who helped out with a purchase!!
May 1932
In and around Toledo May 1932 was quite an exciting month. Summer was nearly upon the city and venues were ramping up for summer crowds and good times. Read below and see for yourself in the article titled May 1932. The article is created from research notes for the forthcoming Toledo’s Jazz Legacy.
Ellie Martin
Ellie is a jazz vocalist, teacher, scholar…oh, and she sang with Jon Hendricks in Toledo while she was his graduate assistant. She even wrote her master’s thesis and dissertation about Jon Hendricks, so she’s an expert on his vocalese stylings and she lives here in Toledo. Ellie has a new CD, titled Morning Glories, coming out on May 11, 2025. You can get a digital copy, order a CD, or be extra-hip and get an LP, and here’s a link:
Birthdays
Happy birthday wishes go out to Michelle Kerby, née Finch, Larry Twitchell, Rick Grafing, Sheila Fleming, Wes Leinenkugel and all the other jazz entertainers with May birthdays who aren’t on our list.
Bill Heid is at Lucille’s Jazz Lounge on May 23, 2024.
Bill Heid is a jazz pianist and organist of great talent. He learned jazz in Pittsburgh’s Hill District jazz joints sitting in with an array of legendary talent. He’s played with many of the biggest names in jazz and he’s a Rusty’s Jazz Café alumnus. Heid toured with Jimmy Witherspoon, Koko Taylor, Alberta Adams and a host of other talent. He knows how to swing. Here is a link to tickets for Bill’s gig at Lucille’s: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bill-heid-group-tickets-1322819281079?aff=oddtdtcreator
Looking Ahead: Fuller Set to Play in June
Larry Fuller, one of America’s noted jazzmen and a pianist of rare talent, is headed to Lucille’s Jazz Lounge on June 20, 2025. Fuller has played and recorded with titans. He has roots in Toledo, as he grew up in the city, fished in the Maumee River and learned jazz with Floyd “Candy” Johnson in Toledo’s public schools. He then was heard on the piano at Rusty’s Jazz Café and was the pianist with the Murphys before he was on stage at Carnegie Hall. Fuller has worked with a veritable who’s who of jazz greats, including Ernestine Anderson, Ray Brown, John Pizzarelli, Jeff Hamilton, Harry “Sweets” Edison, Houston Person, Anita O’Day and a raft of other legends. Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/larry-fuller-trio-tickets-1270006897819?aff=oddtdtcreator
Jazz in the Garden is set to heat up Toledo this summer. Save the dates. https://metroparkstoledo.com/jazz
In June, the Old West End Festival happens on June 7 & 8. Toledo’s own Ramona Collins is set to be the Grand Marshal for the big parade that kicks things off.
Oh, there are several jazz festivals coming up. There will be more coverage of those dates starting next month.
Another exhaustive search happened in April, but no statues of Jon Hendricks could be found in the city. Hope springs eternal.
Musicians and Vocalists: Please send gig dates by the end of month before the performance date (preferable not the very last day of the month). The TJN goes out on the first of each month.
Thanks for reading the Toledo Jazz Newsletter
Mark Kieswetter
Mark Kieswetter, who grew up in Adrian, Michigan and who learned jazz in Toledo, recently died. His passing was felt by many in the jazz worlds of the United States and Canada. You can read about Mark here: https://toledojazz.substack.com/p/18166013_toledo-jazz-newsletter-speical-update-mark-keiswetter
Please Note: Some email providers like Gmail will truncate messages exceeding 102KB.
Below are some special gigs; continue reading for even more cool gig listings, photos, and for a look at May 1932.
Lucille’s Jazz Lounge — Now Offering Jazz On Friday Afternoons. No Ticket Required.
May 1932
The Great Depression was in full force in 1932, work was hard to find, and banks were in trouble. Musicians sometimes had difficulties finding long-term gigs and the musicians’ union was set to put on a show comprised of a 70-piece orchestra at Jesup W. Scott High School to help raise money to support those who had fallen on hard times. The times were indeed hard; Toledo University, as it was known then, announced that it would be unable to meet salaries for professors while budget shortfalls were addressed. The history books at Sherman school came alive when the kids received a visit from veterans of the Civil War. The visit and the stories told were likely something the kids would never forget.
At the national level, the Prohibition era was nearing its end and Al Capone, having run out of appeals, was finally headed to prison. The Licavoli gang was operating various illegal enterprises in Toledo. Liquor raids by the authorities were commonplace and could happen anyplace, anytime, including in the middle of the Cherry Street bridge, where nearly a thousand caseloads of beer were confiscated from bootlegger trucks one day in May. Any club worth its salt served the good stuff, and the Paramount Club, the Showboat, and Chicken Charlies were at least temporarily padlocked for serving the peoples’ medicine in May 1932. The padlocking lasted a scant time, and soon the clubs were back offering jazz, booze, gambling and other distractions.
The Great Depression was hard, but throughout the ordeal people wanted to drink alcohol, hear live jazz, and dance. The Waiters and Bellman’s Club was not afflicted with raids during May 1932 or most other months during Prohibition; imbibing and jazz were uninhibited in that locale. The place had jazz almost every evening, and multiple floor shows were common. A thin, young kid by the name of Jon Hendricks had moved to Toledo and could be heard singing at the Waiters and Bellman’s Club and other venues around the city. Lifting America’s spirits in May, Amelia Earhart piloted her Lockheed monoplane across the Atlantic Ocean in a grueling 15-hour flight and landed, with a failing engine, on an Irish farm field, becoming the first woman to accomplish the arduous task. In Toledo, Willow Beach and the Willow Beach Ballroom (Cullen Park) were set to begin a new season in May. The opening group was Jan Carlson and his recording orchestra. The typical cost of entry was a quarter, while burgers and coffee were five cents. The joint had enough parking to accommodate 3000 cars, and every space would be needed in June. That month, a blockbuster headliner showed up named Noble Sissle. When his orchestra played thousands were on hand.
Seventeen miles north of the city, Toledo Beach, located in Michigan, was set to open for the summer season. Among its attractions was a 6000-watt light that illuminated the beach as swimmers frolicked until 10pm. Music was always a part of the scene and a new dance hall was under construction as the season began. Bands from the area had been heard there since the 1920s. Heading farther north, Luna Pier, also located in Michigan, opened in May; dancing and music were intrinsic parts of the operation. The site was known for hosting excellent dance bands. Heading east from Toledo, along the shores of Lake Erie, the La Tabernilla restaurant offered jazz, dining, and gambling for at least a decade. During May 1932, Milton Senior’s orchestra was on hand, featuring a new pianist, Todd Rhoades, formerly of the famous McKinney’s Cotton Pickers. Rhoades was in a tough spot; the crowd had grown used to Art Tatum, whose shoes were impossible to fill, even for an accomplished keyboardist. A few miles west of Toledo, the Chateau La France was operational, a venue where one could also hear Art Tatum performing until he left for NYC and fame. Thereafter, Teddy Wilson held the piano seat in the house band until he moved to Chicago. To the southwest, just outside of Waterville, Ohio, Indianola Park was set to open for the 1932 season, with multiple orchestras on hand to entertain revelers.
Toledo was at the center of a vast entertainment district at one time. My forthcoming book, Toledo’s Jazz Legacy, looks at many of the places and people that were popular in the era before and after May 1932.
Recurring Gigs 2025
Monday Nights – Golden Road Jazz Night. 3560 Dorr Street, Toledo, Ohio, 7:00pm – 10:00pm.
Tuesday Nights – Sessions at Lucille’s Jazz Lounge – Gene Parker and Damen Cook with special guest each week. 1447 N. Summit Street, Toledo, Ohio. Gig runs 7:00pm – 10:00pm. Cover $5, two drink minimum, drink can be water or soft drinks.
Wednesday Nights – Organic Ingredients—Bob Manley, Tim Tiderman, John Johnson, and Clark Brooks with guests, are live every week at, the Oliver House, in the former Mutz Bar space, every Wednesday from 7p-10p.
Wednesday Nights – BGSU Jazz Ensemble at Arlyn’s Good Beer.
520 Hankey Avenue, Bowling Green, Ohio. 7:00pm – 10:00pm
Thursday Thru Saturday – Solo jazz piano at the Chop House, 300 N. Summit Street, downtown Toledo. Solo jazz piano in the evening.
Thursday Night – Jazz Collective at the Peacock Café. Each week the Jazz Collective features a different guest. 2007 Monroe Street, Toledo, Ohio, 7:00pm -10:00pm.
Friday Lunch – Lucille’s Jazz Lounge: Jazz Lunch Series 1447 N. Summit Street, Toledo, Ohio. Gig runs from 11:00am – 2:00pm
Friday & Saturday Nights – Jazz Collective at the Peacock Café will feature a jazz artist or group. 2007 Monroe Street, Toledo, Ohio, 7:15pm – 11:00pm
Sunday Nights – The Ministry of Jazz – The Village Idiot at 309 Conant Street, Maumee, Ohio 6:00pm -9:00pm.
Gigs May 2025
Click on listing below and it will open in a browser window. Note: in the top, right area, above Location, a button that reads Page 1 of 2 is present. Hit the arrow to go to the next page.
Jazz On the Radio & Streaming
The Sunday Morning Extravaganza with host Ragtime Rick. “Music you won’t hear anywhere else on the radio dial.” Show details: 6am –9am FM 100.7 The Ticket, or available for streaming on the internet at 1007TheTicket.com.
Friday: then Saturday overnights -- WGTE broadcasts the Jazz Spectrum -- Friday 8pm – 12am, Saturday 8pm – 12am, then Jazz Spectrum Overnights Saturday from 12am – 4am, 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 rdo.to/wxts
Deep Mix: Music & More with DJ Amjad: Radio show distilled & curated from 50 years knowledge & experience of people’s music & culture. Drawing on a wide spectrum of genres & styles. Broadcasts Sat. 8 PM & Wed. 4 PM EST on WAKT 106.1 FM, streaming on www.toledoradio.org and the WAKT 106.1 app
*Shows feature a mix of musical styles, with jazz showing up frequently.
H-Factor Jazz Show, 24hr/day Jazz:
Hosted by Hugh Ross, Jr.
http://hfactorjazzshow.com/
Mark Zaborney’s "Jazz Unlimited" on WBGU FM 88.1 and via bgfalconmedia.com Monday, Tuesday, Wednesdays, Thursdays & Fridays from 9:00 am to noon. Note: Live in studio 9am - 12:00pm on Wednesdays. Every Friday Mark posts a new, hip jazz playlist on Spotify, too.
Thursdays, you can watch jazz broadcast live from the Peacock Café on BCAN, Watch BCAN on channel 109 (sd) or 609 (hd) or on Stream TV 26, or you can login with your Buckeye Broadband account here: https://www.bcanarts.com/watch/
Pics From Select April Gigs
Below: It’s rare to hear John Pizzarelli with a full orchestra. His evening with the Toledo Jazz Orchestra in April 2025 was a full-scale guitar-orchestra display of musical pyrotechnics.
Below: Toledo School for the Arts Student Performances at Lucille’s Jazz Lounge — April 2025
That’s Ryan Erard on the keyboard, anchoring the April SSJJ.
Jim Siebold (d), Ramona Collins (v), Norm Damschroder (b), and Ryan Erard (kbd)
Five Pianist Walk Into a Room — This gig happened at the new HQ digs of the Toledo Alliance for the Performing Arts. The new TAPA HQ is amazing, the building is full of vast potential! The gig was sponsored by the American Federation of Musicians, specifically from the union’s Music Performance Trust Fund.
