The Jazz Arts Group of Columbus (JAG) is pleased to return to the Lincoln Theatre for the 2010-2011 season of the Jazz Academy’s PBJ & Jazz concert series presented by Bob Evans Farms. The season kicks off on Saturday, November 13 with the gypsy jazz of SpeakEasy featuring Tom Carroll and Andy Carlson.

Tom Carroll has served on Denison University Music faculty since 1980 as the instructor of guitar and coordinator of Jazz Studies since 2000. Besides leading his own trio, Carroll has performed with Louis Bellson, Jack McDuff, Rusty Bryant, Hank Marr, Bobby Pierce, Jimmy Heath, Ernie Watts, Frank Foster, Cal Collins, Gene Bertoncini and Howard Alden. Tom now can be heard around Columbus playing with Andy Carlson in his rockabilly band Lay-Z-Boy and the Recliners. He is also an affiliate of the Jazz Arts Group.

Andy Carlson is currently on faculty at Denison University where he teaches classical violin and bluegrass while leading the Bluegrass Ensemble and the University Orchestra. With the Georgia State Fiddling Championship and the Ohio Grand Fiddler Champion titles under his belt, Andy was also the recipient of the Iowa Performance Fellowship and the Pelzer Competition Fellowship. As a studio musician and string arranger he has recorded for Warner Bros., Atlantic, Elektra and Polydor. He plays a wide range of music, including traditional old-time Appalachian, bluegrass, swing, blues, “new” grass, classical and contemporary acoustic.

Other PBJ & Jazz series highlights include master blues guitarist Sean Carney (January 8, 2011), Columbus vocal treasure Mary McClendon & Friends (February 12, 2011), the jazz-hop of Liquid Crystal Project (March 12, 2011) and Cleveland jazz pianist Joe Hunter (April 9, 2011).

PBJ & Jazz concerts are 1-hour long interactive concerts designed to introduce jazz and American music to young children and their families. Featuring some of Columbus’ finest musicians and ensembles, PBJ & Jazz concerts are hosted by former Columbus Music Hall owner and retired music educator Rebecca Ogden and are a great introduction to live music for the youngest audience member.

“It has been so much fun over the years to work with great musicians playing real live jazz for kids and their families,” states Ogden. “Every concert is a treat. I am delighted that PBJ & Jazz has a life after the Columbus Music Hall in its new home at the Lincoln!”

PBJ & Jazz concerts are $5 per person at the door with a family maximum of $20. Children receive a peanut butter & jelly sandwich, juice and a cookie (provided by Girl Scouts of Ohio’s Heartland). The 2010-11 concerts will be held in the ballroom in the Lincoln Theatre complex, 769 E. Long Street, Columbus, OH 43203. All concerts begin promptly at 11:00 a.m. Call 614-294-5200 or visit http://www.jazzartsgroup.org for more information.

The PBJ & Jazz series is presented by Bob Evans Farms with ongoing support from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Ohio Arts Council, the Greater Columbus Arts Council, and the Columbus Foundation. Exclusive media support is provided by WCBE 90.5 FM.