Jazz & Rib Fest Returns to Downtown Riverfront After Two Year Hiatus
(Columbus, Ohio) – After two summers impacted by the pandemic, Columbus Recreation and Parks Department is
excited to present the 41st annual Jazz & Rib Fest from Friday, July 22, to Sunday, July 24, on the Downtown Riverfront.
“We could not be more thrilled to get back to business and put on the Jazz & Rib Fest, and to fill the streets adjacent to the Scioto River with live music, food vendors and people enjoying themselves,” said Bernita Reese, Columbus Recreation and Parks Department Director. “It has been a Columbus staple for more than 40 years, and a major highlight of the summer. With our tremendous line-up of artists, and of course the top-notch barbecue, we are anticipating a great event that’s fun for everyone.”
Additionally, BBQ Week – the week leading up to Jazz & Rib Fest (July 18-24) – will return. This popular Restaurant Week-style event was introduced last year as a way to support local restaurants during the pandemic. Restaurants, food trucks and other dining establishments around central Ohio will be serving up barbecue-inspired specials.
Hours for the 41st annual Jazz & Rib Fest are Friday, July 22, and Saturday, July 23, 11 a.m.–11 p.m. and Sunday, July 24, 11 a.m.–8:30 p.m.
Throughout the day and into the evening, the Jazz & Rib Fest will offer a diverse line-up of artists ranging from hip-hop and Latin-inspired jazz to big band belters to the home-town sounds of the Columbus Jazz Orchestra. Headlining performances include:
Robert Glasper – Friday, July 22, 6:30-8 p.m.: Singer/pianist/producer Robert Glasper is one of the founders of a new sound that has changed the face of a genre. His award-winning career straddles the worlds of hip-hop, jazz and neo-soul. Reminiscent of jazz legends like Miles Davis and Herbie Hancock, with a twist of hip-hop, R&B and rock.
Lalah Hathaway – Friday, July 22, 9-10:30 p.m.: The daughter of the late soul legend Donny Hathaway, Lalah Hathaway has forged her own way in music, using a lovely contralto to pursue various styles that mix R&B, jazz and pop. She's also a pianist who won three Grammys in three years: best R&B performance for “Something” with Snarky Puppy in 2014 best traditional R&B performance for “Jesus Children” with Robert Glasper in 2015; and best traditional R&B performance for “Little Ghetto Boy” in 2016.
Spanish Harlem Orchestra – Saturday, July 23, 6:30-8 p.m.: Spanish Harlem Orchestra, the three-time Grammy winning salsa and Latin jazz band, sets the gold standard for excellence in authentic, New York style, hard core salsa. Whether in a concert hall or at an outdoor jazz festival, there is no easing you in -- they come at you full force, from start to finish. Their energy on stage and their rich sound and musical precision leave audiences mesmerized until the last note is played. With an unwavering respect for the music’s storied history, the ensemble’s 13 world-class musicians and vocalists come together to create an unparalleled musical experience.
Boney James – Saturday, July 23, 9-10:30 p.m.: One of the most successful instrumental artists of our time, multiplatinum R&B/jazz saxophonist, songwriter and producer Boney James is a four-time Grammy nominee with four Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) Gold records and career sales topping three million units who continues to defy musical genres; a two-time NAACP Award nominee, a Soul Train Award winner and named one of the Top 3 Billboard Contemporary Jazz Artists of the Decade.
Kirk Whalum – Sunday, July 24, 4-5:30 p.m.: Best-known as the saxophone soloist on the Whitney Houston hit "I Will Always Love You," Kirk Whalum began playing in his father's church in Memphis. Raised on gospel music, R&B and Memphis blues, Whalum ultimately turned to jazz, receiving a scholarship from Texas Southern in Houston. After forming his own band and opening for pianist Bob James, he signed his first record contract and, several albums later, was nominated for a Grammy. A seasoned studio veteran, his trademark saxophone stylings have been heard on over 100 recordings, in which he has collaborated with a virtual "Who's Who" of jazz, pop, R&B and gospel musicians.
Dee Dee Bridgewater with Columbus Jazz Orchestra – Sunday, July 24, 6:30-8 p.m.: Over the course of a multifaceted career spanning four decades, Grammy and Tony Award-winning Jazz giant Dee Dee Bridgewater has ascended to the upper echelon of vocalists, putting her unique spin on standards, as well as taking intrepid leaps of faith in re-envisioning jazz classics. Accompanied by hometown favorites, the Columbus Jazz Orchestra with its big band jazz sound, the two come together to create a unique experience exclusively for Jazz & Rib Fest!
For more information, visit www.hotribscooljazz.org.
Calendar Information – 2022 Jazz & Rib Fest
Date and Time: Friday, July 22, 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.
Saturday, July 23, 11 a.m.–11 p.m.
Sunday, July 24, 11 a.m.–8:30 p.m.
Location: Bicentennial and West Bank Parks on the Scioto Mile
Information: hotribscooljazz.org
Jazz & Rib Fest is presented by Columbus Recreation and Parks Department and made possible through the generous
support of ABC 6 WSYX, FOX 28 WTTE, CW Columbus, Able Roof, Cavalier Distributing, G&J Pepsi, Jackie O’s Brewery,
Reser’s Fine Foods, U.S. Army Recruiting, Universal Windows Direct and Wright-Patt Credit Union.