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    GCAC Presents: It’s the Season for Jazz at the Wex

    The debate on the relative merits (or lack thereof) of pumpkin spice lattes and pumpkin beer is chugging along in full force; trees’ leaves are turning from bright greens to warm reds, oranges, and yellows; and Christmas decorations are hitting the store shelves—in other words, fall is here.

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    With autumn comes the start of another great season of jazz at the Wexner Center for the Arts, where you can see and hear some of the genre’s best musicians in the best room for jazz in town—the Wex’s Performance Space, set up cabaret-style with seats that get you up close and personal with performers, include beer and wine service, and, as always, ensure you experience terrific sound and lighting to round out the experience.

    This year, the Wexner Center is doing something new to kick off this season of fabulous sounds—Monday, September 28, Natalie’s Coal Fired Pizza will open its doors for a Jazz Series Preview Party, providing a first look at the Wex’s stellar array of jazz performances this fall season. Admission is free for the evening, which will include jazz-themed food and drink specials, ticket giveaways, prizes for new and existing members, and incentives to become a new member. Plus, a live performance with Bobby Floyd at the piano, Derek DiCenzo on bass, and Jim Rupp on drums makes this evening one not to be missed.

    Then, on Saturday, October 3, the new season will kick off in earnest with Linda Oh Sun Pictures. Wex jazz fans first heard bassist Oh when she performed with Dave Douglas and Joe Lovano’s in Sound Prints band in fall 2013, when she more than held her own in an all-star lineup. Now she’s back with her own quartet, Sun Pictures, featuring Ben Wendel on sax (who returns later in the season with Kneedelus), top talent Matt Stevens on guitar, and Adam Cruz on drums. Oh, who alternates between acoustic and electric bass, drives her original tunes with crowd-winning energy improvisational verve.

    The Bad Plus Joshua Redman. Photo by David Jacobs.
    The Bad Plus Joshua Redman. Photo by David Jacobs.

    The remainder of fall 2015 sees more shining stars of jazz:

    • Tuesday, October 20 – Outstanding jazz ensemble The Bad Plus, almost exclusively a trio in its 20-plus years, joins with tenor sax star Joshua Redman for a performance that’s even greater than its decidedly excellent parts. The foursome known as The Bad Plus Joshua Redman will perform two killer sets in this evening of distinctive sound.
    • Friday, November 6 – Saxophonist Wendel returns with the adventuresome jazz quartet Kneebody, who with solo artist Daedelus have formed Kneedelus: A Live Collaboration between Kneebody + Daedelus; together they will thrill music fans who delight in discovering the shape of things to come.
    • Wednesday, November 18 – Young jazz guitar virtuoso Julian Lage draws on the influence of the classic jazz guitar trio tradition with Julian Lage Trio. Lage’s years of collaboration with the likes of jazz vibes master Gary Burton, fiddler Mark O’Connor, Chris Eldridge of the Punch Brothers, and Nels Cline of Wilco have also informed his rich and vast musical vocabulary.

    Of course, there’s even more great jazz in store for 2016. Keep up with what’s happening at the Wex by liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter and Instagram, or by signing up for one of our newsletters! And, of course, our website is always a great reference for all things Wex—you can find it at wexarts.org.

    Tickets remain for Linda Oh Sun Pictures at 8 p.m. Saturday, October 3, at the Wexner Center for the Arts, 1871. N. High St., on the Ohio State University campus. For more information, visit wexarts.org or call 614-292-3535.

    GCAC Presents is a bi-weekly column brought to you by the Greater Columbus Arts Council – supporting art and advancing culture in Columbus – in partnership with the Columbus Arts Marketing Association, a professional development and networking association of arts marketers. Each column will be written by a different local arts organization to give you an insiders look at the arts in Columbus.

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    Jennifer Wray
    Jennifer Wrayhttps://www.ccad.edu
    Jennifer Wray is a Columbus native and a writer for Columbus College of Art & Design. She lives in Clintonville with her husband, Kyle, and their son, Sam.
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