Sophie Faught is shown at a past performance. She kicks off the Jazz at Helen’s fall series on Oct. 11.
Jazz is in a sweet groove in Columbus.
The recent Columbus Indiana Philharmonic Jazz at Helen’s summer series sold out its 96-seats-each shows at Helen Haddad Hall at 315 Franklin St. downtown. Series producer Warren Ward cannot be certain what the secret sauce might be.
But, like a good jazz fan, he’s willing to just flow with the feeling.
“I don’t know exactly if, post-COVID, people are just getting out more, or if maybe more people are downtown more in general and are thinking more about all this, or if maybe it’s just the fact that a previous jazz need is finally getting met.”
Whatever the reason, the fall series is here as follows:
- 7:30 p.m. Oct. 11: Tenor sax player Sophie Faught, “an improviser, composer, and bandleader whose music is rooted in tradition but brimming with creativity and soul,” according to her promotional material. Sophie has performed in venues across the country and world, including Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City and the North Sea Jazz Festival in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. She has headlined at the nationally recognized Portland Jazz Festival, leading her own group in original compositions and jazz standards.
- 7:30 p.m. Nov. 15: Seven-piece Butler-Fasig Band. This show is meant for people to experience reimagined, jazz versions of school fight songs. From “Hail Purdue” to “Rocky Top,” critics say that “this performance is a must-see for college sports and jazz fans alike.” Last year in Bloomington, the group recorded an album of such tunes, “Across the Field: College Fight Songs Reimagined.”
- 7:30 p.m. Dec. 20: Vocalist Wendy Reed Christmas Show. Attendees can celebrate the season with Reed, who sold out her previous Jazz at Helen’s concert last fall. She also has regularly sold out this show annually at Indianapolis’ Meridian Hills Country Club. Because of her serious chops, many may be unaware that she was a part of the comic Bob and Tom All-Star Band that toured nationally, and her music was once featured on radio’s “Dr. Demento” Show.
Information and tickets: thecip.com.
