OH70 is a local band comprised of seven community members who have a passion for music. They dub their style as cool jazz and take great pride in bringing this type of style back – or preserving it.
Cool jazz took off as a reaction to the bebop movement of the mid-forties in the United States. The style is recognized for a lighter tone and relaxed tempos. The lighter tone the music stems from the varying chord extensions made popular by American jazz artist Myles Davis.
OH70 has only been around since early 2014. Three of the group’s members teach music at the Richland Academy in Mansfield. The band’s members include Damian Boyd (trombone), Chesley Talissé (clarinet), Britt Reed (acoustic/electric guitars), Dane Noe (keys/piano), Lew Friend (trumpet), Wil Bogantz (upright bass), and Tyrone Smith (percussion). The group plays in venues in and around Mansfield.
According to OH70, the jazz scene in Mansfield is sporadic. They would like to change that by offering a unique sound. Their leading sound comes from the clarinet, which is not typical for cool jazz. This desire to produce different sounds stems from a deep appreciation for the art.
“I just love to play. And I like to learn to play different styles. I’ve always loved this style and I think it’s a great opportunity. It’s not everyday you just find a group of musicians that are this hard working and dedicated to music,” said Talissé.
Reed, the guitarist, wants to preserve this lost art form. “I do it for the love of the art … to preserve the art. Jazz amongst the younger generation is becoming more and more of a thing of the past,” shared Reed.
The three believe that their involvement with teaching youth at the academy will inspire the younger generation to have an appreciation for jazz.
The band’s name plays on the group’s locality and sentiment to reviving the jazz scene in the area. OH stands for Ohio, while 70 refers to Richland County’s number. On a deeper level, however, the band’s formation is a sort of homage to the mentors who inspired them, like locals like Dr. Thomas H. Croghan and Dick Johnson. According to the group, these two were instrumental in inspiring the community’s love for jazz.
Damian Boyd, the band’s trombonist, noted that this group’s formation is a special thing. He does most of the group’s arrangements, so he quickly noticed the group’s unique sound.
“Our sound is unique because it’s not typical. You don’t typically find a clarinet as the lead instrument,” said Boyd. He’s the band’s “resident maestro,” said Reed. Along with the group’s input, Boyd chooses songs from the Great American Song Book – a canon of the most influential and popular songs of American history – for the band to play.
A sample of OH70 music can be found in the audio player below. To follow the band, or to book them at a local venue, individuals are referred to the band’s Facebook page.
