Performing straight ahead classic jazz, swing tunes, show tunes and other standards, Centerpiece Jazz plays all of your favorites. From Miles & Monk, Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong & Ella to Antonio Carlos Jobim, Coltrane & Cole Porter. 


Playing a variety of venues and occasions CENTERPIECE JAZZ will modify the band line up to form a duo, trio, quartet or quintet to accommodate any event or budget. 




 I've had the pleasure of performing with the help of some wonderful musicians forming the Jazz group: "CENTERPIECE". With a very dance-able beat playing Swing tunes, Show tunes and other Jazz standards, CENTERPIECE is sure to please the most sophisticated listener and will inspire and encourage dancers that know all of the classic moves!




I usually play rhythm guitar and sing lead vocals but will sometimes fill in on up-right bass. Often joining me is: Dick Hull - a seasoned veteran on guitar; On Up-right bass is either Ben McPherron, Brandon Miller, or Jim Clark - all three are excellent players; Dave Reep - Jazz Trumpter extraordinaire; Robert George and, on occasion, Patrick Brown - both credentialed saxophonists with smooth, impeccable style;  Bob Kogut - jazz fiddler and renowned violin maker; We've used several top-notch drummers over the years including: Mike Barlowe: LA Freeman; Wes Powers; Rick Dilling; Rick Cline and Matt Decker - all help round out the classic sound that typifies "CENTERPIECE JAZZ". 


I came up with the concept of "Centerpiece Jazz" back in 1995. It was an off-shoot of a jazz duo I had with Dana Little - a great gal and a fine jazz vocalist. We called ourselves "Deep Greens and Blues". It was kind of a poor man's version of "Tuck and Patty" (A very poor man... though Dana was a better Patty, than I was a Tuck Andress).

That dissolved in 1994, but I kept doing solo gigs at local Country Clubs and private parties. I moved to Charlotte in 1995 and set out looking for like minded jazz musicians. I found Adam Sztyber - a phenomenal jazz guitarist from Poland that had moved to Charlotte via New Orleans. We did some gigs in Charlotte. After moving to Valdese, I did a few duo gigs with Brad Hubbard on Bari Sax; then Bill Ernest on guitar; Dick Hull on guitar and Robert George on alto Sax and so on...

Just for the heck of it, I made a list of all the folks that have performed for Centerpiece Jazz gigs over the years, and thought I'd share that... The criteria included the fact that the player(s) had to have performed at least 2 or more gigs.

All told, there have been 20 musicians - not counting myself - to do 2 or more gigs with me. Several gigs were done simply as "The Centerpiece Jazz Duo" or "Trio". Some other gigs we didn't have a particular billing, but we did the Centerpiece Jazz repertoire. The largest ensemble to date (I think) was at the Grind when we had a sextet upstairs. We may have had a six-piece outfit at one of the Patton High School Jazz fests or at the Library "Book Ball" but I may be wrong...

If I've left anyone out, I apologize in advance.  Anyway, here's the line up - in no particular order:

Guitar: Adam Sztyber; Greg McLaughlin; Bill Ernest; Dick Hull; Chet Palmer;
& Patrick Crouch (who also played a little mandolin on a couple of gigs)
Bass: Brandon Miller; Ben McPherron; Jim Clark; Zack Page; Danny Iannucci 
Drums: Wes Powers; Mike Barlowe; LA Freeman; Rick Dilling; Rick Cline; Matt Decker
Horns: Brad Hubbard; Robert George; Patrick Brown; Dave Reep
Vocals: Elizabeth Glynn
Violin: Nathan Leath; Bob Kogut

Honorable Mention:
Sitting in on one gig each: Randy Ingold; Reggie Harris

On my CD recording projects (one which was titled "Centerpiece"):
Reggie Harris; Marcus Kearns; Aaron Ramsey; Greg McLaughlin; Dick Hull; Wes Powers; Bob Kogut; Patrick Brown


Counting myself, that's 30 musicians/vocalists all told...

No wonder I can't remember who's doing what gig, when and where! It's all good, and I'm just tickled to be able to do a gig with such great players.

Thanks to John Payne for photos!

New Year's Eve Gig 2010

Trio gig  in the Grind's Window

Centerpiece Jazz Sextet at The Upper Wine Room

The Art Of Chocolate 2011
Photo by J. Payne

Centerpiece Jazz
 The Sound Check
Photo by John Payne  
Photo by John Payne)

Live at the Grind's Upper Wine Room

Dave - Trumpet
Dick - Guitar
Joseph - Bass

 Centerpiece Jazz
Pictured L to R:
Mike Barlowe (Drums); Patrick Brown (Sax); Joseph Hasty (Guitar); Ben McPherron (bass)

Dick Hull

Robert George - Sax
 (photo by J. Payne)

Dave Reep

Ben McPherron

Jim Clark

Mike Barlowe

Patrick Brown - Sax

Brandon Miller- Bass

Rick Dilling

Joseph

Ben

Dave

Joseph Hasty

Geoff Clapp - Geoff plays regularly in New Orleans with Branford Marsalis

Patrick - Sax; Joseph- guitar; Ben on Bass

Joseph Hasty
& Robert George
(photo by J. Payne)

Dick

Dave Reep - Trumpet
(Photo by J. Payne)

Jim Clark - Bass
(photo by J. Payne)

Mike Barlowe - Drums

Robert George - Sax

Dick Hull
"The Professor"

Ben McPherron 
 Bass

Dave Reep - Trumpet

Joseph Hasty
Rhythm Guitar & Vocals

Bob Kogut - Violin

Dick & his Gibson 175

Joseph on Bass

Joseph & Brandon