If You’re Reading This, Thank YOU
For Another Year of Jazz
By Miguel Juarez
And just like that, we’re halfway through the decade. There’s a saying that goes, “The days are long, but the years are short,” and 2025 came lighting fast. Thanks to all of you who are reading this and who are supporting live music and the arts, the Columbus Jazz Society made it another year and is able to continue advocating for our unique culture. We have been so fortunate to partner with some of the most gracious earthmovers in our community who continue to open doors not just for our musicians and artists, but for all our patrons and art lovers.
The Goetchius House, who celebrated their 1-year anniversary this past month, opened their doors to live jazz from day one and have been home base to the CJS ever since. Owners Renata and Matthew are a breath of fresh air straight from the beach. They have done a magnificent job reconnecting the city with its own identity and culture through collaborations with local businesses and organizations.
Everything Musical is our city’s biggest music supplier and hosted the first CJS Thanksgiving this past November, where we held a concert from CSU’s Schwob Jazz Saxophone Quartet led by Max Diaz, a guitar masterclass by maestro Kevin Dillard, a jam session featuring Rocket Power, a food drive for Feeding The Valley, and giveaways including strings from D’Addario and an electric guitar and amplifier set from yours truly. Everything Musical has been around for as long as I remember. They are our city’s premier music store and are a one-stop shop for all your musical needs including sales, repairs, lessons, and networking. Manager Gary Johnston along with Jacob Hyder and Cody Davis are experts at getting you exactly what you need, sometimes even if you can’t explain the problem in words.
The Loft has been a staple for live music since opening in the early 90s and hosted the first CJS Guitar Celebration this past October. Owner Buddy Nelms is one of the city’s biggest patrons of music and his impact on the Columbus music scene cannot be overstated. They will be hosting the upcoming Annual CJS Soirée 2025 on January 11th (Saturday) 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. Honorees Jan Hyatt, David Morgan, and James Evans will be presented with the prestigious Jazz Legends Awards. Tickets include entrance to the gala, dinner from The Loft, and raffle prizes which include donated artwork by Gary Pound, LaKendra Huckaby, and Rob Judkins. Limited tickets are available at the Facebook event page, GetLocalTix.com, and our website.
Finally, I can say without a doubt that we would not be here without the generosity and constant encouragement of Monica Jones and all the staff at The Local. Besides allowing us a platform to connect with audiences and document jazz in our community, she is also always physically there. If there’s an event where we need help, Monica is first to volunteer. If she believes that it’s good for the people living here, she will get it done. She is truly a godsend to our local music and art scene, and we in the CJS cannot thank her enough for putting up with our growing pains and artistic inconsistencies. Hey, it’s jazz!
In this past year, we have truly proven that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Together, we are ensuring that our children and future generations can enjoy the beauty of Columbus jazz. As we build more bridges within our community, we allow music, arts, and their patrons to flourish and grow with each other. Artists and audiences depend on each other to be able to perform their best every day. Since I was elected president of the CJS, my first concerns were to get artists paid for their work and make sure audiences came home knowing there’s more to life than the daily grind. Now we are able to go further by doing community work with our local charities and schools, as well as providing scholarships again. This is all thanks to the hard work and dedication of our artists, musicians, partners, members, and audiences.
As we bring in the new year, please don’t forget to renew your annual CJS memberships. This can be done directly on our website or during our monthly meetings every second Sunday 4 p.m. at The Goetchius House. Application forms for The CJS Scholarships for 2025 are also available to download from our website. $1,500 will be awarded to a college student, and $750 will be awarded to two (2) high school students during the Fountain City Jazz Festival to be held on April 12th (Saturday) at Jordan High School. Finally, we look forward to seeing you all at The Annual CJS Soirée 2025 on January 11th (Saturday) 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. at The Loft Greenroom.
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Musician of The Month: Max Diaz
CJS: What got you into jazz/blues music?
MD: I was looking to expand my knowledge in music when a friend suggested that I dive into jazz theory. I did and I haven’t been able to jump out since
CJS: What makes you excited about playing jazz/blues in Columbus?
MD: For me it’s really interesting to see how jazz impacts and works in different communities, it’s different in every country. Also, the possibility of playing with awesome new musicians is always exciting and so appreciated.
CJS: Where can people hear you play?
MD: Goetchius House’s Thursday jam sessions! And in the Schwob School of Music events.
CJS: Three jazz/blues artists you’d recommend for beginner, intermediate, and advanced listeners.
MD: Gerry Lopez, Cory Henry, Patrick Bartley
CJS: Favorite local musician and why? (Doesn’t need to be jazz)
MD: I would say it’s Albert Mora. A tremendous bassist, he’s respectful, dedicated, humble and some kind of demon emerges from his instrument when he’s soloing.
CJS: Advice for aspiring musicians?
MD: Embrace failure, it’s a compass which shows you what needs to be improved.
CJS: Favorite quote or saying:
MD: Music can change the world because it can change people.