John D’earth at Offbeat Roadhouse
By WTJU
Date: 05/22/2026
Time: 8:00 pm - 9:00 pm
John D’earth will pull into Offbeat Roadhouse Friday night, May 22, for a concert which will also be broadcast on WTJU. A consummate jazz artist, composer, and gifted educator, he draws inspiration from collaborators on the bandstand, from students, and from nature.
This is a free event, open to all. You can also listen to Offbeat Roadhouse on the radio (91.1 FM) or on our web player, and even video stream it at WTJU’s YouTube channel. But concerts always sound better with you as part of the studio audience. WTJU is located at 2244 Ivy Rd in Charlottesville, right next door to Vivace. There is plenty of parking, both in our lot as well as the Sentara lot next door. Do please note that you should not park in the lower lot by Shenandoah Joe and Pico Wraps as they enforce towing. You can check out the Offbeat Roadhouse schedule to see concerts past, present, and future.
Offbeat Roadhouse is supported by Plan 9 Music, now in their new expanded location at 188 Zan Road, in Charlottesville’s Seminole Square Shopping Center, and in Carytown, Richmond, or online at plan9music.com. Plan 9 – supporting the independent music community for over 40 years.
John D’earth came to Charlottesville in 1981 from New York City where his band Cosmology had cut an eponymously titled record for Vanguard co-produced by Collin Walcott (1977). He settled into a weekly residency at Miller’s Downtown where he mentored a young bartender named, Dave Matthews and played with several players including LeRoi Moore and Carter Beauford who became central to the Dave Matthews Band. He’s maintained that weekly gig now for well over 40 years.
Decades ago, John was asked by University of Virginia students to lead their student-organized UVa Jazz Ensemble, now a for-credit University effort (graduates of that program include pianist/composer Kait Dunton and bassist/composer Lisa Mezzacappa). For more than 25 years, John was also a member of the UVa faculty Free Bridge Quintet. Concerts produced under the auspices of those units hosted international jazz talents of a range from John Abercrombie to Joe Henderson, Terence Blanchard and Nicole Mitchell.
John routinely contributes his time and talents to causes in the region and is frequently found on the bandstand if there is money to be raised for a progressive cause. In demand as a teacher, he is as known for his deep musical knowledge as he is for his encouragement and support of young players. He has composed for regional groups such as the Charlottesville Symphony and the Youth Orchestras of Charlottesville and Albemarle, employing musical chops matched with his limitless support of other players and his easy smile.
