A Fall Filled With Great Jazz

celebrating the fall jazz series at wholly grounds

What a season it has been! Jazz Forward Dayton’s Fall Jazz Series at Wholly Grounds brought together outstanding musicians, exciting sounds, and an enthusiastic audience for three memorable evenings of live jazz. From Cincinnati to Columbus to Indianapolis, each group brought its own personality and musical flavor to the stage, making this series a wonderful celebration of the diversity and spirit of jazz.

"It was truly a delightful experience. Thank you Jazz Forward Dayton!" Gwen Gideon

We kicked things off with Organized Gentlemen, traveling from Cincinnati, featuring George Simon on guitar, Brian Batchelor-Glader on organ, and Jeff Mellott on drums. Their infectious grooves, soulful playing, and tight musical chemistry set the tone for a great series. It was a fantastic way to open the season and remind everyone why live jazz is such a special experience.

For our second performance, we welcomed Clave Sonic from Columbus. Led by keyboardist Dean Marcellana, the group brought a vibrant Latin jazz influence and plenty of energy to the room. One of the evening's highlights was vocalist Laura Camara, whose performance was simply divine. Her voice added another dimension to the music, captivating the audience and making the evening especially memorable.

We saved a great finish for the final night with the Brandon Meeks Trio, featuring Brandon Meeks on bass, Kendall Carter on piano, and Greg Artry on drums. The room was packed, the energy was wonderful, and the musicians delivered an outstanding performance. The chemistry between these three musicians made for an exciting evening of improvisation, musical conversation, and pure jazz. It was the perfect way to close out the Fall Jazz Series!

Wholly Grounds: The Perfect Place for Jazz

One thing that made this series especially enjoyable was the setting. Wholly Grounds continues to prove itself as a wonderful room for live jazz. There's something about the atmosphere that just works. Whether you're enjoying a cup of coffee, a cocktail, a pastry, or one of their light bites, the experience feels relaxed, welcoming, and connected to the music.

The vibe is always right, and that's exactly what we want jazz to feel like: accessible, inviting, and full of life.

Keeping Jazz Moving Forward

At Jazz Forward Dayton, our goal is to create more opportunities for musicians to perform, connect, and share their artistry while introducing new audiences to the richness of jazz. This Fall Jazz Series was another step in that direction. We were able to bring musicians from neighboring cities into Dayton, showcase different styles and approaches to the music, and give our community three evenings worth celebrating.

A heartfelt thank-you to Wholly Grounds for being such a wonderful partner, to the musicians who shared their talents, and to everyone who came out to support live jazz.

This is what happens when great musicians, a welcoming space, and a community that loves music come together.

The music keeps moving forward, and we're just getting started!

Stay connected with Jazz Forward Dayton for upcoming performances, jams, and educational opportunities. We look forward to seeing you at the next show!