Submitted by Al Kanovsky 8/19/13
I love live music. No matter the
genre, live is life at the moment. An added pleasure is getting to know
something of the performers themselves. If you are fortunate to hear them early
on in their careers you can hear them grow. That is the added dimension of live.
Stage presence, technique, musical acumen, experience all add to the growth of
the artist. As it happens I had listened to Lourdes Valentin in an early
appearance at Blue Jeans BLUES. She was singing with Anthony Corrado,
accompanied by a "track". Why, I don't know. Anthony plays every instrument on
earth, Lourdes plays guitar also. In a conversation that day, I told them that
tracks would lead them nowhere. I truly believed that it was good advice. The
next time I heard them, several months later, they had added a rhythm section.
Piano, bass and drums. An added dimension. A while later, Lourdes struck out on
her own. "JAZZ Meets Broadway" became her theme. For a while Ms. Valentin was
tentative in her approach to JAZZ. Last night there was a whole new 'girl' in
town. She has embraced JAZZ like a new lover. Taking chances even in the first
chorus. Scatting lines that are impressive and best of all singing with a bold
new confidence in herself. Brava y ole`. Now, the band that helped Lourdes get
'there' last night. Mike Orta---again?---(piano), Orlando Machado of Sound of
Vision at the drums, and professor Ranses colon on bass. The band opened the set
with "How About You" with introductory solos by each. Lourdes takes the stage
and opens with a rhumba rhythmed "Put On A Happy Face". Denise(a favored dance
partner) has returned and we proceed to shake our hips
together.
A little about my dance partners
for last night. They included Luz Salazar, Jackie(American Airlines), Doug's
wife Ms. Anonymous (stingy brim sans hat), Yolanda Sher and the aforementioned
Denise. I really needed to have a cardiologist close by, not only for the
activity, but, the sheer beauty of each and everyone of these ladies is
breathtaking. I continue to be one of the luckiest guys in the world. Mike is
too. After "Happy" Lourdes chooses Billiie Holiday's "What a Little Moonlight
Can Do" and she does it, swinging I mean. this is the growing Lourdes Valentin.
Mike and Orlando show off a little also. She continued with "Night and Day",
"Summertime", with a solid solo by Ranses, Juan Pizo's "Perdido" with another
solo by Ranses, this time with a be-bop flavor. Lourdes now chooses to show her
Puerto Rican (via THE BRONX) roots and sings the beautiful ballad "Cara Me"(Love
Me) en espanol. The spiritual "Wade In the Water" , then from Broadway "Oh, What
A Beautiful Morning" followed by "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" and returns to
pure JAZZ, Mongo Santamaria's "Afro-Blue" to end the set. I couldn't help but
notice a gorgeous woman seated in a booth
with a man. Being as stupid as I can be I approached them and told the lady 'You
are absolutely stunning" and then to the man "The only thing that saves you is
the hat". He chuckled but in a menacing way. I ran for my life.
What better way to start a 2d
set than with "On A Clear Day". She selected a seldom
heard HaroldArlen/ E.Y
Harburg title "The Eagle and Me". "Just Too Marvelous", rhumba rhythm and I am
up and dancing. Sunrise,Sunset" done in waltz time. I don't 'waltz' too fat for
delicate work. When Lourdes does "Close Your Eyes" I have three partners on the
floor. Luz, Jackie and Yolanda--"Hello, Nurse Nancy?" I sit down, breathing
heavily and hoping for the best. Ms. Valentin, thankfully slows it down with
"Sentimental Reasons" and the an original composition titled "You Are". "The Way
You Look Tonight" and then 'acapello' does "Isn't It A Lovely Day"--- and isn't
it a lovely voice? Alto saxophonists, Alvin Paul joins them on stage for a
be-bop tune. They invite Luz up and she sings a 'boler muy romantico' called
"Contigo en la Distancia" .(With You Far Away) the lyric touches my heart strings.
Lourdes' version of "If I Only Had A Brain" is fun to listen to and it
concluded the set. The final set is only one song long. "When You Wish Upon A
Star". the lyric says "makes no difference where you are", I say try to make it
at a place where there is live music in the background.
Final few words. At Anthony's
jam, earlier in the afternoon, I bunked into Ricky Williams. He was one of the
first musicians I had heard when I came to FL in '06. He sat in the jam playing
some 'hot' piano. Then surprisingly he sat down at the drum set. He is bigger
than the drum set and piano combined. He is also sight impaired. He is also very
talented. Hannah(alto sax) and Neil Kogin(drums) sat in as well. The regular
members of Anthony's band are Shea Eishen(drums) and Paul Banman(piano). Some
day when there is time ask me about me, Ricky and the LOAN. Hey, during the jam
set, Denise and I danced The Fish. It is a step from an age gone by----we
laughed all the way through---tonight-undecided-depending on nap
time!
Al's Disclaimer:
A short note: The reason I write this is because I love music and words. I do not book acts. I do not promote acts. I do not accept invitations to review artists. I go to venues of my own choice. When and where is not influenced by anything other than who I would like to hear that night or day. If I don't like what I hear, I won't write about it. When I like it I let you all know. I never mention a name without asking permission. "Pardon me, Miss. Would you like to dance?"
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