Submitted
by Al Kanovsky 05/30/15
...is lit by an almost full moon. Soft breezes make palm leaves
sway. You are sitting in a fold up chair with an ice cold beer in hand. The site
is a park named for one of Florida's most acclaimed JAZZ musicians, Jaco
Pastorius. Music is in the air. It's BLUES. And I mean BLUES. Momma BLUES is on stage along with
songstress Rita Wilburn. The musicians. Jeff Prine (guitar), Mitch Goldstein (B3)
and young Kerster Landoval on drums. The tune they use for the sound check is
"C-Jam Blues".
There's something a little different about Jeff's
playing. I seem to detect some JAZZ licks. Later on he will tell me he has
started to take JAZZ lessons. BLUES is the mother. JAZZ is the child with the
Masters Degree. Rita is first with "Gimme One Reason To Stay". Jeff and
Mitch solo and we are in BLUEStown. Kerster serves up a nice tempo shuffle for
"My Baby Just Cares For Me". Rita slows it down a bit with an
emotional "Since I Fell For You" . Jeff's solo has Rita humming
along. Lovely!. Juanita Dixon takes the stage and mic for "The Meanest Man
I Ever Seen".
Momma BLUES evokes memories of all the BLUEs ladies of
yesteryear. Juanita can belt them out. She does "Come To Momma" and
then remembering B.B. King, who we will miss, she does "I Love To Live The
Life That I Sing About" changing the lyric to "I like to love the
LOVE that I sing about". She concluded that portion with
"Somebody". Rita comes back with "Everyday". She's got it
rockin' when Mitch gets the feeling and Jeff catches the kick. She moves us to
N'awlins with a little back-beat with "Baby, Come On Home To Me".
Rita also remembered B.B. with "The Thrill Is Gone". Jeff welcomes
young David Julian(guitar) to join the band. It's Juanita's turn again and
"Unchain My Heart" followed by "You Make Me Feel Brand
New". Rita gets to do Gladys Knight's "Who Will Be The First To Say
Goodbye". A showcase for her vocal dynamism. Juanita does "You Made
Your Move Too Soon". If there were walls Rita would have blown them down
with her rendition of "Summertime". If anyone knows how to bring down
the curtain it's Momma BLUES. How about "At Last" and "For Your
Love". OOOOOOWeeeee baby!!!!!!. One of the couples that danced do a
"sit on my knee" step that is kind of unique.
It was Rita's birthday
on April 25th. I have written poems for her for the past 5 birthdays. If you
would like a copy of the latest one and I might put it up on Facebook.
It was
early and so I headed for Q-Bar. I arrived listened for a moment and decided to
take a pass. Had a burrito at Zona Fresca instead.
Went to bed thinking of Juanita & Rita and all the
wonderful music I heard.
Also wondering if I was gonna make any 'black bean' music
myself.
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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