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Photo By Jon Hughes/photopresse.com
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Cal Collins
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Cal Collins, 1933-2001
The local Jazz scene lost one of its giants on Aug. 26, when guitarist Cal Collins died from liver failure at the age of 68.
Collins started off playing Country and Bluegrass, but moved on to Jazz, remarkably (given his talent) with no training. Influenced by artists like Django Rheinhardt and Oscar Moore, Collins became a fixture on the local Jazz scene when he settled in Cincinnati in the '50s. He also had worldwide acclaim, having toured with Benny Goodman and recorded for the Concord and Mopro labels. Most recently, Collins continued to perform at the Blue Wisp and was featured on the J Curve Records release S'us Four, with Kenny Poole, Michael Moore and Jimmy Madison.
The Shams Take Off
Esteemed Indie label Orange Recordings released the debut full-length from local Garage Rock quartet The Shams on Aug. 21.
Take Off is a thoroughly well put-together album, full of blazing stompers, soulful asides and psychedelic energy. While much of the album is highly energized, the record shows off some of the band's diversity with cuts like the R&B; gem "Me No More," the swaggering "In the City" and a creepy hidden bonus track at the end that is sure to leave heads swirling. The band does an expert job of translating the Nuggets-era sound and infusing it with a healthy dose of their own personality. Cool songs, great playing and singer Zach Gabbard's peel-the-paint-off-the-wall vocals (the man has some great Rock & Roll pipes) make Take Off a welcome installment in the Garage pantheon.
You can catch The Shams live on Friday as they open for the Brian Jonestown Massacre at the Southgate House. For more on the band, check the-shams.com.
Rumors, Lies and General Misunderstandings
· Veteran Punk band SS-20 have regrouped and will perform a free show on Thursday at the BarrelHouse. The group features original members Pete Sturdevant (guitar), Marty O'Connor (bass) and singer Robert "Jughead" Sturdevant, plus guitarist Pedro Dux (who joined the band in '87) and newcomer Eric Davis on drums.
· Ricky Nye and the Red Hots will record a live CD on Friday at one of their regular haunts, Mansion Hill Tavern. Nye's co-hort, guitarist Chris Carero, is leaving the Red Hots to push his own self-titled trio full time. "We had plans to get into the studio and do an actual project," Nye says, "but with (Carero) leaving, we thought it would be a good time to document the band in its home."
· Middletown's Swim will return from some road dates to play a hometown show at the Manchester Inn on Friday. They plan on announcing a not-too-drastic name change at the show. The band is also set to begin work on their next album, which will be their debut for MCA Records. For more on the band, check swimband.com.
· On Thursday, the Southgate House will be the site for "Stripped: Cincinnati Fashion and Music." The show will feature original fashions from 15 young designers for UC's DAAP program, as well as music by Mallory, Ruby Vileos, Post-Haste and Zussa. The 9 p.m. event is a benefit for the AIDS Volunteers of Cincinnati (AVOC).
· Local band Youngfellow will have a CD release party for their new album, We Crack Me Up, on Friday at Top Cat's. Opening the show will be Hip Hop crew Animal Crackers. You can find more info on Youngfellow at, of all places, www.youngfellow.com.
· The local chapter of the Green Party will host a benefit show on Friday at The Comet. Music will be provided by local bands New Age Insomniacs, Maya and From Within. The event begins at 8 p.m.
