Submitted by Al Kanovsky 02/27/14
...get me out of bed early,
schedule a JAZZ performance at noon. Additionally, if you want me to get there
early, make it Latin JAZZ. Rick Katz and the Miami JAZZ Co-op did just that
yesterday at the Coral Gables Museum. The FIU Latin JAZZ Ensemble was on the
bill. The band is directed by master drummer Rudolfo Zuniga, standing in for
Mike Orta who is on medical leave. The band is made up of all-star students and
staff including Aldo Salvent (tenor), Chris Castro (alto), Sam Savage (trombone),
Ms. Kelly Gonzalez (trumpet), Danny Echazaba l(trumpet), Hal Roland (piano), Marcel
Roscaro (guitar), Javier Arquella (bass), Kalil Bahhanou (drums), Kendall
Berrocal (congas) and on timbales Ms. Mariana Restrepo. She is much prettier than
most percussionists. The program covered all the Latin rhythms from son to
salsa, samba to guaguancoa. Each and every one of these musicians had an
opportunity to be featured and performed beautifully. The first tune was titled
"Golpe De Cimadeo" and had Kelly taking the first solo of the afternoon, with
Aldo right after. The rhythm changes for "Bad Guy". Kelly is featured with
Chris, Marcello Sam and Hal taking turns in the spotlight. "Se El Soubresso" is
a slow samba and Sam takes the lead solo. "Birds of a Feather" is Latin bop with
Aldo in front. The percussion gets its chance with Kalil, Kendall and Mariana
each taking chorus long solos. Javier plays the intro to "Delta". The rhythm is
guaguancoa which is, pokpok--pokpokpok. This is native Cuban and expresses the
freedom of spirit, music and dance. Aldo, Roland and Danny add to that notion.
The American JAZZ standard "Body and Soul" has Kelly and Aldo standing side by
side with only the rhythm section on the stand. I first heard Kelly about 3
years ago. The young lady has studied hard and matured
musically.
"Justo Train
Ride" features Aldo and Kendall to the rhythm of 'son'. Which goes pok--pok
pokpokpok. Great show, great crowd, great weather-----now for that nap. But
first a little lunch to fortify myself for the coming night at the
Hard Rock's Council Oak
Room. The occasion. A group of fans and friends are going to meet Maria Rivas
who is now on the road to recovery, with G-ds help. My tablemates include pals
Michael, Joseph, Bill, dance partners Denise and Jackie, Maria's long time fan,
dating back to her stardom in Venezuela, Ken, and of course Maria herself. On
stage Dale Powers (keys/vocals/guitar), Johnny Massolo (trumpet/vocals), Lou
Abbot (drums/vocals) and Tom Roberts (bass). They do not allow Tom to sing. Johnny
played with the Tommy Dorsey band for a number of years. --- yeah, yeah, he is
not a young man, but the cat can play ----and sing. They open with tommy's theme
"Getting Sentimental Over You". Johnny sings "I Thought About You" and I do a
few steps with Denise. They change genres to a bit of Rock 'n Roll with Lou
singing "Dream Lover". Taking turns and changing modes. Dale does Elvis' "Treat
Me Right", and Johnny does Sinatra's "Angel Eyes", Lou sings "On the Bayou" and
Dale follows with a Louis impression on "Do You Know What It Means". A Beatles
tune, a Greek song with Denise doing the traditional dance steps, solo, but only
for a while. A Greek gentleman in the audience joins her and shouts of "Opa"
fill the room. We can't leave Louis Prima out and so Johnny does "World On A
String" which gives me the perfect chance to dance with Jackie. After Lou sings
"Save the Last Dance For Me" they invite Maria to the microphone. Maria hasn't
performed for the public in over a year. With confidence, she takes the mic in
hand and goes on to knock the audience out with a dynamite "Rte 66". She trades
scat/trumpet 4's with Johnny. Dale closes the first set by picking up a guitar
and doing elvis' "Come Back Baby". For the 2d set we travel to Brazil opening
with Joabim's "Stone Flower" which is a musical showpiece. They follow with an
unusual interpretation of "Girl From Ipanema" during which Dale quotes "A
Train". Johnny sings Sinatra again with "I Hear Music". I can't sit still and
ask Denise up to dance. Rockin' and Rollin' they play "Runaround Sue" and a
bunch of gals at an adjacent table are up shaking the B's and B's. "Good Love"
has Denise on the floor showing us all how they did it in 'Philly' back in the
day. Dale is proud of his two children who are both in the U.S.arine Corps. They
swing the "Marine Hymn" during which Johnny does a great upper register solo.
Several years ago, Dale
wrote, "Hollywood F L A" which should be the song the use in those
Hollywood Beach commercials on TV. Jackie and I 'swing it' and follow with 'the
fish' when Johnny sings "That's Life". It was 10 years ago that Johnny Cash
passed. The dedicated a couple of tunes to his memory---"Ring of Fire" and
"Folsom Prison". Maria closed the set with "Our Love Is Here To Stay". The 3d
set had Maria singing "Summertime" with an outstanding scat
portion.
Dale does the
guitar/Elvis bit again with "Blue Suede Shoes" and they switch to Latin with
"Quando, Quando" and back again to "Brown Eyed Girl". I pay my tab, say "Thanks"
to the band and kiss the girls 'good night'. I tried to kiss Johnny Amoroso but
he would have none of it. I got home and kept thinking of what a wonderful
evening I had and especially Maria's performance. I pray G-d lights her way to
the future...
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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