Off To A Great Start The year has begun as a momentous one for culture, arts, and of course jazz in our city.The Annual CJS Soiree 2024 was a huge success as we were joined by our community in celebrating our often overlooked “Giants of Jazz.” The Cavaliers Orchestra, Columbus’ premier 17-piece jazz group led by Maestro Jim Evans, made a spectacular display of force with their thundering horns and tightly orchestrated harmonies.Hosts Jimmy “Swan”…
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Josiah Levon Fiveash likes the game Jackbox. “The game Jackbox is where you try to tell if what someone says is the truth or a lie, so the goal is to be as elusive as possible,” explains Fiveash – who goes by Joe, with Sire as a nickname, and SiBL as his stage name. “So I say, ‘I sing because I’m happy,’ then ‘I sing because I’m sad.’ It’s hard to know. I’ve always used…
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The notion of standing on the shoulders of giants feels especially true when discussing music and the arts. In jazz, as Louis led to Dizzy, and from Dizzy we got Miles, we can often directly attribute our successes to our mentors and heroes. From my father, my first guitar teacher Crisanto Bautista, my jazz teacher Paulo Siqueira, to David Morgan and through Dr. David Banks who invited me to the Columbus Jazz Society in the…
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“My dad was a bluegrass guitar player and loved traditional country, bluegrass, and gospel,” Charlie Starr says when asked what music he heard as a child. “My mom liked the Stones, the Beatles, and Bob Dylan. And my sister liked Rock 103.” Speaking by phone two days before Christmas from his Atlanta-area home, Starr – a Chattahoochee Valley native, having bounced across the river a few times growing up between Chambers County, Alabama and Troup…
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Light pours through the windows of Songbird Art Gallery, located off of 2nd Avenue, next to the beautiful old school building in the Historic District. The space is filled with pieces of delicate and intricate art, inviting one to slow down a little and notice every detail. Tales of exotic lands are whispered in exquisite embroidery, artisan pottery, and beaded jewelry. Songbird Art Gallery is an elegant treasure trove of both international and local art,…
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The Story Continues . . . Every once in a while someone comes into your life and completely changes your heart. When Renata Martoni and Matthew Lapides came to Columbus for their son’s military graduation years ago, they fell in love with the small but mighty city – so much so that they decided to make it their forever home.. And we are so grateful for it. It’s because of their love, an abundance of…
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Christmas is a season of magic and wonder, a time to slow down and pause to create memories with loved ones and lean into the camaraderie of celebration. Christmas light displays have long been a favorite way to enjoy the season, inviting onlookers to experience the thrill of bright colors and familiar scenes. And if you’ve been around the Chattahoochee Valley for long, you probably know one of the best spots to find breathtaking lights…
Read MoreThere’s a lot going on in the world of film. The industry took a beating this year, from the impact of the writer’s strike to a significant decrease in theater attendance. The canceling and rescheduling of movies added an air of uncertainty, leaving fans eagerly anticipating the release dates of their favorite films (looking at you, Dune 2). Amidst all this chaos, and juggling a heavy work and traveling schedule, I was still able to…
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Music, sweet music, filled the air in downtown Columbus on a warm Wednesday evening in November. The streets were alive and abuzz as middle-aged rock and rollers poured out of restaurants and bars on Broadway, giddy to see classic rock favorites “Foreigner” on their farewell tour stop at the RiverCenter. Meanwhile, the sweet sound of live music wafted from the Loft’s balcony onto the street below and baptized believers and non-believers alike. Such a vibrant…
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Columbus has a rich jazz history which can often be overlooked. Ma Rainey, who is widely considered the “Mother of The Blues,” was born here and is a Columbus icon. Jazz has been a staple in our city over the decades through venues such as The Liberty Theater, which was part of the legendary “Chitlin Circuit,” and The Loft, which has been a patron of jazz since opening its doors in the 90s. Even as…
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