Submitted by Al Kanovsky 7/15/13
Allow me to preface this with
the thought that what will follow is a love story. Two families that sincerely
love each other, my love of music and the love others feel when listening to
music. It will cover fourteen hours of Sunday, July 14, 2013. It starts with me
leaving home to go to the Sunday JAZZ brunch at the All That JAZZ Café in
Sunrise. The brunch is a once a month event and this will be my first time try.
This ambitious endeavor is the work of the Kolber family. Two brothers, Michael
and David, Mike's wife Lydia, their 3 children Andre, Avery and Adrian, along
with their Mom, Esther. The driving force is their love for one another and
JAZZ. Every one works hard. Mike in the kitchen and on the bandstand. David
managing the overall operation. Lydia is the hostess. Andre and Avery are the
busboys with Andre doubling on drums. Adrian is too young for any real work and
is hidden in the kitchen. I suspect they are trying to get him to wash dishes.
Esther does what all Mom's do. Loving everybody and seeing to it that it's all
done right. Upon arriving I am pleasantly surprised to see a dual piano set-up.
Also a drums set and an upright bass which is laying restfully on its side. The
band is on a break. Mike the bassist/cook is back in the kitchen preparing more
food for the buffet brunch. When the band returns we have Jimmy Petullo and Phil
Hinton at the pianos, Mike playing bass and 15 year old Andre on the drums. They
open with the ballad "A Foggy Day' and follow with a JAZZ standard "C Jam BLUES"
with Jimmy and Andre trading 12s and then 8s. Phil does a piano solo, "Look At
Me". Jimmy follows with a couple. "Sophisticated Lady" and "You Came to Me From
Out of Nowhere". All perfect melodies for a pleasant Sunday brunch. Phil and
Jimmy have a duel with Duke's "A Train" with Mike and Andre joining in for the
third chorus. The band does a familiar tune and I can't quite remember the title
or lyric. Jimmy supplies the answer---"Squatty Roo"--- Bob Benedict, retired
from an Assistant Police Chief job, sits in on drums and does a great job on the
samba rhythm "Wave". Jimmy came to JAZZ while studying classical piano. After
midnight, on channel 9 in New York, there was a show called "Just JAZZ". He
loved the music and the freedom it allowed---hence the change in studies. Jimmy
also teaches at the All That JAZZ Studios along with Mike. The restaurant is
only open for dinner and live JAZZ on Friday and Saturdays with a once a month
brunch. The brunch is from 10 until 2. It was past 2:30 when the boys in the
band decided to shut it down after Mike's bass solo on "Autumn Leaves" and doing
a request (mine) "Do Nothing
'Til You Hear From Me". Guitars, photos and lithos serve as decor for the
Café. The Beatles, B.B. King, Ella, The Duke, Ol' Blue Eyes, Billie, Miles,
Coletrane and the Bird are all on the wall.
It is Barbara Vann's birthday
which will be celebrated at Blue Jeans Blues at 8PM. Time enough to buy a gift a
card and make it to the Sunday Jam at BJB's at 4. Barbara has a penchant for
fine brandy. I have a pocket for not necessarily the finest cognac. Somewhere in
the middle the two come together and are put into a Happy Birthday gift bag.
Addendum to the previous sentence. My pal Bill and I are partners in the gift.
I know Barb is reading this but the truth must be told. I get to my
destination to find that Anthony Corrado is MIA. Leading the Jam in his stead is
Gino Lanzetta with Shay Eischen on drums, Paul Banman at the piano and Steve
Kornicks on Latin percussion. The band is doing a really good job on JAZZ
standards and though Anthony is missed he's not MISSED. The second set has
Nestor Zurita(alto sax) and Max Boiko(trumpet) on stage. To write the review of
what followed is the easiest thing I've ever done. It is encompassed in the one
word superlative:
WOW!!!
The group does "Caravan". Max a
be-bop solo, Gino straight-ahead, Nestor a Moorish bop(huh?), Shay and Steve
wail. A couple nearby is enjoying the music as much as Bill and I. She is Mia
Quintero. He is Dennis Whiteman. She is from Denver, CO. and claims she was not
the only Latina in her high school. Additionally she has been married to 3
musicians. Some gals never learn. The final set brings happiness to my heart.
Be-bop all the way through to the closing with Donna Lee. Nestor plays long
intricate phrases that define be-bop. Max also has the ear for that genre and
displays it well. When I asked Shay what brought him to JAZZ he also expressed
the idea of freedom of expression. His inspirations were
Elvin Jones and Buddy Rich. Elvin
puzzled him and Buddy provided the answers.
Next was Barbara's
birthday celebration. The band was Debbie Orta & family plus Mike Harvey at
the traps. Again a family affair built on love and trust. The trust that JAZZ
musicians must have in one another in order to do what they do. Mike Orta plays
piano, Nicky Orta plays bass, Debbie sings and Mike does what I said he does.
The love is a family tradition. The relationships in the Orta family are strong
and warm. Accompanying Mike and seated next to me was my adopted baby sister and
dance partner, Luz. Mike is a little jealous but I don't care. although I keep
one eye on him whenever Luz and I are on the dance floor. You know Latin men and
that thing called----er---er---machoism? Noooo. Machismo, that's it. Machismo.
It is rooted in the barnyard and comes from roosters having to be the "Cock of
the Walk" and fighting any other male that threatens their domain. Piano Bob is
here, Hannah(sax) is here, Capt. Bob and Davis Murphy(sculptor) are here, Mari
Bell is here, Rich, Turk's pal is here, Ron Nistico Palamara and Sandy Rosar are
here, Valerio(Sound of Vision) is here, Linc and Beverly Lackey are here and
lucky for me, seated right behind is Dr. Donald Graziano and Elisa Jayne. Dr.
Donald is a chiropractor and I have a painful pinched nerve. The good doctor
provide me with much needed relief. There's someone missing-----Babette is not
here. Her throne(at the bar) is empty. She has been in the hospital but has now
returned home. Her friend Dianne makes a call and all of us shout a "Be Back
Soon" to Babette. Debbie does a variety of tunes including "I'll Remember
April", "Crazy in Love With You", "Taking a Chance on Love", "Have You Met Miss
Jones", a samba rhythmed "When You Speak Love" and the ballad "I'm Through With
Love" which transitioned into a super up-tempo "I'm In Love" ,with Mike, Nicky
and Mike taking super solos.
Did you notice how
many song titles had the word "Love". That it is why it is called the "Great"
American songbook. Oh! I
forgot "You Don't Know What Love Is". Debbie let the band show-off a little when
they did "You Stepped Out of a Dream". Debbie returned to the stage with an old
song, "You're Mine, You" which has a tender, loving lyric and haunting melody.
Barbara sang "I've Grown Accustomed to Your Smile" and "How Deep Is the Ocean".
Luz came up to sing in bolero rhythm and en Espanol "It's Impossible" and with
Rio in mind "'s Wonderful". When Debbie sang "Love For Sale" during the 2d set
the rhythm transitioned from Latin to straight 4 and back to Latin, flawlessly.
I danced with Luz, ever mindful of the eye daggers that Mike O was hurling at
me. Debbie got a little funky with a bluesy "Make Me Change My Mind". Debbie
concluded her show with "Midnight Sun" evoking memories of June Christie and the
Stan Kenton band. Barbara ended the evening with her traditional "Amazing Grace"
dedicated to the 13 brave Marines who died, in the service to their country, in
Afghanistan last week. I have never heard her sing it
better.
Happy Birthday,
Barbara and thanks to all the musicians who filled my day with the music I
love.
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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