The past, present and----- and Al was, and is, there....

Submitted by Al Kanovsky 4/7/13

Arts Garage continued in its presentation of good and sometimes unusual music. Last night, they had the Texas Gypsies from the Dallas/Ft. Worth area. As their name implies they play Gypsy style JAZZ as inspired by Django Reinhardt. The quartets members are Steve Curry(guitar/vocals), Mike Sizer(clarinet/tenor sax), John Hewitt(bass/vocals) and Andy Griffith on drums. The band originally formed almost 10 years ago. The play list had ballads, jump tunes and gypsy melodies. Some were songs I remembered but they also did a few originals well. The audience at Arts, comes to listen and that's what they did. The band, much like Latin musicians can't escape clave, can't and don't try to escape their Texas roots. The Western/Swing influence is ever present.

The play list included "Avalon", written in 1929, a beautiful ballad "By My Side', "Besame Mucho" done in Espanol and others, past and present. They wanted to close the show with "Mambo Italian" but were implied for and encore. They obliged and did two more. During the finale, a young gal ( in Texas they say "thang"), jumped up on stage to shake her you know what. I don't know what her parents might have thought of her performance, but I was proud of her.   I was joined by my BJB pals, Mark and Richard and my buddy Bette. The guys brought pizza, beer and wine. I brought self-made pico de gallo and chips. Bette brought her cute self. Richard after leaving the service opened a JAZZ club in Cambridge, Mass. called the "1369 JAZZ Club. He operated it from 1976 to 1982 and featured national players as well as locals from Berklee and the Academy.

Just down the street from Arts Garage is a restaurant called "DADA". On weekend nights they have music late. sometimes JAZZ, sometimes BLUES. The guys and I needed a little "late night' and that's where we headed. The music last night was, as described by Andres Valencia(trombone/leader) as "Punk/Ska".

The band hadn't started when we sat down. The waiter looked at the 3 "older" guys and informed us that the music might be too loud for us. He didn't get it. That's what we came for. Other band members were vocalists Steve Abbott and Alex, Evan Noto(drums), Evan Kosefsky(gtr), Iiro Maki(bass) and John Boes(tenor sax). I must admit we got what we came for. Talented musicians, playing what for me was an unfamiliar style, playing it loud, playing it good and playing it late. 'twas a heck of a nite out.

Today the schedule reads, Riverfront JAZZ Brunch in Fort Lauderdale and then onto The Funky Biscuit for the finale of the Biscuit Fest and a great BLUES Jam. Be there or be blue!!!!!!   

Video clips, to inspire your attendance:

George Porter, Billy Iuso, Roosevelt Collier & Friends

Yo' Mama's Big Fat Booty Band

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