betterer & betterer...and Al isn't stuttering!

Submitted by Al Kanovsky 1/31/13

Wednesday!! The middle day of the work week. In a BLUES song the lyric reads "Wednesday is worse". Not any longer. Wednesdays are getting betterer and betterer if you love JAZZ and BLUES. You can start your afternoon, sitting at a table under an umbrella at the Coral Gables Museum and listening to JAZZ as presented by the Miami JAZZ Co-op. This week it was the "youth corps". A quartet of students from the FIU JAZZ program under the direction of Mr. Gary Campbell. Out front was Sam Savage(trombone) with Ken Jiminez(drums), Osvaldo Vargas(drums), Ryan Hecker(bass), and Luis Urbina(keys). They presented a program of original compositions by Sam Savage.

The courtyard held a good crowd(about 100 JAZZophiles) enjoying the music and an al fresco lunch. The music starts at 12:15 and concludes around 2. There is an added program this coming Fri. nite at 8P.M. A word about the youth movement in JAZZ. To every aspiring JAZZ musician--Congratulation!!! Keepin' it alive".

Need to listen to BLUES??? Try Big Dawgs where Niles "Redbean" Blaize hosts a Jam where you can listen to established stars as well as those to come.

More JAZZ?? Blue Jeans Blues and Danny Burger's star filled Wednesdays. I usually get there in time to take advantage of the "happy hour" specials and to listen to Glenda do the Great American Songbook. This night she concluded her show with "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" She asked a friend, Gwenda Artiaga, to accompany her by "signing" the lyric. Ms. Artiaga's accompaniment was as beautiful to watch as a well choreographed ballet segment. It was so filled with emotion that it brought tears to the eyes of this self-styled "tough guy". I sincerely hope I get the chance to watch her "sign" again.

The return of Maria Rivas was the feature of Danny's presentation. The usual suspects completed the trio. Jamie Ousley(Dr.) on bass and Brian (two brain) Murphy at the piano. Maria, a native of Venezuela, continues to excite American JAZZophiles with her interpretations of the JAZZ classics. From "How High the Moon" to "Night In Tunisia", from "Besame Mucho" to "One Note Samba" she does them all and does them well. Marias scat vocals are scattered with the rhythmic patterns of native Venezuelans. Some of my snowbird friends have become Maria fans. Michael, Joseph and Eddy like sitting up front, close and personal and the staff at BJB's was kind enough to reserve an almost on stage table. Stayed up late again 'cause the music was just too good to leave behind.

  

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