Submitted by Al Kanovsky 07/10/14
...be difficult to make. Wednesday nite delivered one of those
dillemas. Two choices. Neither of them bad. Ira Sullivan at The Fish House in
Kendall. Debbie Orta with Nicky and Mike at BJB. The Stockers had
offered me a ride to Kendall so I can't use gas prices as an excuse. It
was the thought of seeing Luz (Mike's girl friend) and dancing with Denise were
the deciding factors. BJB's was the choice.
The evening started with finding Bill
working on his 2d or 3d martini. It was 6:30. He would have another before
the end of happy hour. Glenda Grainger entertains on alternate Wednesdays
during the happy hour. She sings 'cabaret' but in defference to my likes she
will sing JAZZ when I'm in the house. It's not necessary. Her renditions of
American songbook tunes are a delight. She is accompanied by Gary Lawrence who
knows ten thousand tunes in any key you choose.
From the ballad "This Is My Life" to
"Tampico". "Love Me Or Leave Me" to a JAZZy "There I
Go Again". When Glenda sang "Funny Valentine" I persuaded Denise
to dance with me. I don't want to brag but we had the audience gaping. Close,
slow and sensual.-----was that me?------.
The joint was now filled with the
usual suspects. Stan, Isabel, Babette, Bill and me. Yeah there were other
people there as well. It was Danielle Browns and Barbara Vann's birthdays
and they were there to celebrate. Linc Lackey (bass) and his wife arrived with a
cake for Barbara. Mike Ota at the piano, Nicky on bass, Danny Burger at
the trap set and Debbie Orta at the mic, doing the vocals. Debbie opens with a
song not often heard, "Peel Me A Grape". Talk about the feminine
movement. The lyric tells it all. "The Look of Love" done to a
tasty rhumba beat sets the tone for the rest of the evening. A jumpy
"Comes A Rainstorm" has me and Denise doing a little swing dancing. A
little salsa gives Luz and I a chance at showing off some salsa steps. When
Debbie sings "Angel Eyes" I get a breather and a chance to enjoy the
music by sitting and listening. A young couple of swing dancers do it to
Debbie's singing of "It's A Lovely Day". Debbie loves singing a lyric
in Portuges and she does it beautifully with the 'bossa nova'
"Pasionado". They end the set with a slow version of "I've Got A
Right To Sing the BLUES". I do not pass up the opportunity to do 'the
Fish' with Denise.
During the break a tenor sax player had come in. His name is
Orlando Sanchez and he had performed at one of the concerts I had attended
while at the Havana JAZZ Festival in December. Debbie starts the set with doing
a lyric to "Yardbird Suite". It is Bill's all-time favorite tune and
it is the first time I have heard the lyrical version. It included a 5* Danny
Burger solo. "Days of Wine and Roses" done to a salsa beat had me on
the floor with Luz. All this dancing was to work off the home-made Philly
Cheesesteak sandwich I had for lunch. The band swings "Devil
Moon" with Debbie contributing a very nice scat chorus. They invite
Orlando to the stage and they play "I Remember April". I don't
remember any April like this. Orlando is bop-city all the way. Triplets beyond
belief. Long, intricate phrases. The groove permeates the room and Mike
responds. Nicky's solo is at break-neck speed. During the closing chorus, Orlando
concentrates on the upper register of tenor sax and finishes with an Illinois
Jacquet style "horse whistle". They follow with "Billie's
Bounce" to continue in the be-bop mode. Debbie is back up doing
"Din-dong the Witch Is Dead". It is a fun song and so I have fun
dancing with Denise and Luz, simaltaneously. Talk about fantasies. I may have
another cheese-steak sandwich again today. "Speak Low" is done to a samba
beatand then they swing "Skylark" so I can dance with Denise before
she departs. "Dancing Cheek To Cheek" is done up-tempo and Nicky does
not miss a beat with his solo. They take a break before the last set. Lindsay
Blair (guitar), Jerry Mascaro (bass/piano) and Fred Jacobs (trumpet) are all here
to listen to Debbie. When Debbie sings "That's All" I notice that
Danny is now employing 1 stick and 1 brush.
On "LOve Me Or Leave Me" it is all brushes. Danny
is the 'Brushmaster". "World On A String" gets a jam session
started with Fred and Orlando playing their respective horns. Orlando is
totally within his element when they continue with "Groovin' High".
Debbie is really wailin' with her scatting.
They slow it down a bit when Debbie again takes center stage
to do "You've Changed". They give me another chance to dance with the
lovely, Luz, when the play a salsified "Let's Fall In Love".
I fall into my seat having lost at least 7 ounces from all
the activity. The jump "East of the Sun". I would but I can't find
the strength to dance another step. I mae it to my car and Luz gifts me with a
ripe mango. I had it for breakfast this morning. It was as delicious and sweet
as my dance partners --- seeya!
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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