You could call it truth in advertising.
Because veteran musician Bogdan Minut can tell you that when Hot Horns performs, the tunes are, well, what else if not sizzling? So much so that the group returns by popular demand Saturday to the St. Bartholomew Concert Series, an offering that features a mix of secular and sacred music.
Minut is the church organist and the organizer of the free series supported by donations. Yet, even with no formal budget, Minut still has managed to attract international talent, including the Real Group and the King Singers in recent years.
Hot Horns, known as “a New Orleans-inspired horn band,” according to leader Glen Johnson, last performed at the church in May 2017, which attracted about 200 people. The upcoming concert has been labeled “Christmas Passion,” in keeping with the concert season theme of “Passion.”
Johnson likes to tell people that the group, now based in Indianapolis after a period on the East coast, performs Bach to rock. But this weekend’s program will feature familiar arrangements of Christmas standards and a few sing-along numbers.
“I believe people will enjoy the warmth of those standards, but also the novelty of their instrumentation,” Minut said, referring to woodwinds, clarinets and percussion as part of their mix.
Group members generally refer to an eclectic blend of classical music mixed with jazz, Dixieland, swing and rock. And the ensemble’s style definitely has attracted its share of attention nationwide.
The band “exemplifies the range of wonderful music performance available and when played by first-rate, skilled musicians with great chops,” said trumpeter Mark Silver of the River City Brass Band in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Minut mentioned that he is grateful to be able to bring top-notch artists to the series because of people’s financial donations. Local and area artists also have been spotlighted the past several years.
“I think it’s amazing to find this kind of support in a small town like Columbus,” Minut said. “But I always have appreciated Columbus as having a strong, cosmopolitan sense — and the city’s great diversity brings a musical knowledge and background that give people the desire to really experience the arts.”
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Who: Hot Horns in concert as part of the St. Bartholomew Concert Series.
When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday
Where: At the church, 1306 27th St. in Columbus.
Admission: Free but donations are accepted.
Information: 812-379-9353.
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