Submitted by Al Kanovsky 01/14/14
...Call Noreena Downey. A
bunch of folks had a good time with Noreena last night and they didn't have to
call. Ms. Downey was on stage in Ft. Lauderdale accompanied by Jaui
Schneider(piano), George Mazzeo(drums) and Jeff Carswell(bass). Noreena is a
JAZZ singer. In The Apple you would be paying a $35 cover(per set) to listen to
her at the Blue Note or Metropolitan Room. Her interpretations and rhythmic
sense makes for an exceptional listening experience. Management had requested
that Ms. Downey do "dance" numbers. The first set had a mix of standards and
'Top 40'. As anyone who has been in a joint with me knows I like to dance.
Fortunately, or vice versa, I don't own a white, vested suit. Also I bear no
resemblance to John Travolta in any way. And I find 40 anything, except females,
boring. Noreena and the band start the set with "I'm So In Love With You". I
almost fell asleep. I come back to full awareness when they follow with "You'd
Be So Nice To Come Home To". There are 4 star solos all around. The dreaded "40"
returns with Al Jarreau's "We're In This Together". My yawn is stifled when they
count off and play "No Moon At All". "I'll Be There" has me in a quandary, part
JAZZ, part disco. She redeems herself by a scat intro to "All Or Nothing At All"
with a Latin beat. No one in the joint has gotten up to dance so Noreena and I
break the shut-out. It's a moonlit night but Noreena's "Stormy Weather" brings
the BLUES to town. Jaui's solo has a lot of "after hours". A guy who also has no
resemblance to the movie star, requests Steely Dan's "BackTrack". She accepts
the request but she does it 'her way'. Then swing into "Kansas City". Jaui plays
a little boogie and they give George a chance to show off. And he does. The 2d
set started with the rhythm section playing a kind of funky bossa, if
there is such a thing. A real easy tempo as Noreena sings "Look For A Silver
Lining". From 'Porgy and Bess', Noreena chooses "Summertime", but this ain't
your Grandmas song. This is 'Summa'time'. A solid funky beat and after a chorus,
Noreena scats her way into a 'solid' JAZZ mode. In my opinion "You Don't Know
What Love Is" may be her best song. She breaks Bill's heart and it's his curfew
time. Ain't nobody who don't like "Bye Bye Blackbird" even the band. Jaui wants
to play "Bebe" to show his chops. Noreena does some unison work and then he is
off on his own. "Have You Met Miss Jones" finally has couples up and dancing
including Noreena and I and I and Carmen ci'ta. Carmen was at one time the
vocalist with the Tito Puente band. Her fiancée is Jose Emilio Valenzuela who
plays drums. He is also a better dancer than me. An emotional "Use Me Up" ends
the set.
Mike Murk and
Lucy have returned from an Australian boat buying trip and join Babette at the
bar. Mark has just picked up his Dad at the airport and are enjoying the music
as well. The last set has all the remaining customers up and dancing to an
instrumental salsa tune. "Besame Mucho", "God Bless the Child", "How Long Has
This Been Going On", "Mean To Me", "Mascarena", and "On The Street Where You
Live" keeps us all on the dance floor. Noreena is singing and I'm trying to
figure it out. Hmmmm. The tune is vaguely familiar but------rhythm
different----melody restructured-----"Smooth
Operator"------
only
Noreena coulda done it. Mike and Lucy show me the pictures from Australia and
photos of the "BOAT". I have been officially hired on as 'cook', pot washer and
deck swabber.
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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