Oregon Hill neighbor/leader Todd Woodson also sets the tempo as percussionist with the Central Virginia Jazz Orchestra. They have a fabulous new CD, appropriately entitled, “James River Jazz.”

The new CD recently received a rave review in the Richmond Times Dispatch:

“The Central Virginia Jazz Orchestra reminds cultural outliers of what the late poet Philip Larkin called the ‘excitement of jazz’ and the possibilities the genre represents. The ensemble does not need ‘special effects’ to make music … special. It performs in various venues throughout the region. Its members excel as soloists and as participants in a collaborative endeavor. They have embarked on a mission to make music matter — and they succeed.”

The Central Virgina Jazz Orchestra will be performing at the Jazz at Maymont series this August: http://www.jazzatmaymont.com/artistlineup.html