After the insane early morning rush of Black Friday, what better way to spend a relaxing evening than with beer and free music? At Fountain Square Brewing Co., Jeff DeHerdt will be throwing a CD release party along with a free performance. Joining him, will be special guests Coolidge and Charlie Ballantine.
Jeff DeHerdt
Jeff DeHerdt is a pop and jazz artist and composer from Indianapolis. According to his website, the Jeff DeHerdt Group is a quintet that “features Jeff DeHerdt on piano and vocals, Michael Stricklin and Tom Clark on Sax, Jack Helsley on Bass and Harry Goodloe, Jr. on Drums”. The group came together in 2000, and has since played Indy Jazz Fest, and opened for acts like Herbie Hancock and Michael Brecker.
“Ghost Museum” is the third album release of Jeff DeHerdt. While his concentration is in jazz and pop, there’s some funk thrown in the album as well. In songs like, “Time Won’t Tell”, there’s a strong bass line coupled with a syncopated, funk guitar, as well as an electronic, Daft Punk-esque vocal part. It’s tracks like these that pique my interest more, where DeHerdt explores genres outside his own style. For a limited time, you can download the track and pay whatever price you’d like by visiting his website here.
Coolidge
Another local act, the Indianapolis-based rock band Coolidge will also be performing at Jeff DeHerdt’s Release Party. For a good idea of their sound, take the ska, punk, and pop genres and smash them together between your ears. The five members that make up Coolidge are Chris Smail (guitar/lead vocals), Matt Beaumont (drums), Matt Wilson (bass/backing vocals), Charlie Krone (trombone/backing vocals), and Joshua Silbert (tenor saxophone).
To find out more about Coolidge, you can visit their Facebook page. You can also listen to Coolidge on Bandcamp.
Charlie Ballantine
Charlie Ballantine is a local Indianapolis musician and professional guitarist who performs regularly across the Midwest. In 2015 and 2016, NUVO Magazine named Ballantine as Indianapolis’ “Best Jazz Musician”. He has performed at Indianapolis Jazz Festival, The Fountain Square Music Festival, Bloomington Jazz Fest, and more. Ballantine’s most recent album, “Where Is My Mind” released in July this past year.
For more information on Charlie Ballantine, you can visit his website or Facebook.
You’ll be able to purchase CD’s from each one of these great acts before or after the show next Friday. Once again, there’s no cover charge to get in, but since it’s at a bar, 21 and over only. The Release Party kicks off at 7:00 pm.
