Submitted by Al Kanovsky 04/22/14
...The Funky Biscuit's $5
hamburger special danced in my head. A healthy sized burger with and ample side
of freshmade french fries, pickle, lettuce, onion and tomato. Top it off with a
dyn-o-mite BLUES jam and a couple of musical surprises and you know why I headed
to the Biscuit last night. First I called the like-wise chromosome damaged Jimmy
Belize to invite him along. Dave Shelley (guitar/vocals) leads the house band on
Monday nights. With Dave are BLUES stars Charlie Gaspar on bass, Randy Ridenouer
at the drums and Jimmy Powers V playing guitar. The music started with "Too Far
Gone". The vibe is set as the joint starts to fill with folks who love the
BLUES. The standard "Born Under A Bad Sign" is next and then a real shuffle,
"Dream About You Baby". The band does "War Party" and all have a chance to show
off. Dave introduces a new song "Blood From A Stone". The lyric line reads 'I'd
rather live life alone than try to get love from a stone'. How chrooo. Raul
Hernandez (drums) is in the house and is invited up to the stage when they
do "Are You Ready For Me". I've known Raul since I first came to S. FL. in '06.
He steps up on stage carrying a shiny alto sax. SURPRISE!!!!. He tells me later
on that it's his retirement 'gig'. When he is too old to shlep the drum kit
around. Bigger surprise is that he can really play the darn thing. Jimmy (the
fifth) impresses, as always, with his solo. Al Poliak joins in on the B3 and the
very pretty Emma Torntello sits down at the keyboard for a jumping "Soul Shine".
Emma and Al switch places and Emma sings "Long Time Ago". Emma is a sophomore at
UM and is a very talented player and vocalist. I was surprised to find out that
she is not a music major. Her future is in medicine. I asked her whether healing
bodies would be more satisfying than healing spirits. She follows with "Long Way
Home". The audience sits in respectful silence. You don't get to hear music
played like this every day. Emma stays at the B3 when the band goes full out
'funk' with "Going 'Round in Circles". Al returns to the B3 and sings "Feels
Like Rain". Before the 'jam set' starts a young lady, Olivia, to play acoustic
guitar and sing 2 folk style songs.
The jam gets underway with Jay
Stollman (harp/vocals), Dave Bertok (drums), Emma (B3), Sandy ??(bass) and an
unkown young man on keys. They open with "I Just Want To Make Love To You". I
had never seen Jay before and the guy had me sitting up and paying attention. He
inspires the rest of the band and the 'joint is jumping'. Jay doesn't let the
fire die as they do "Went Down To the Crossroads" and then "Bring It On Home To
Me".Dave returns to the stage with Drew Preston(guitar) and Al sings one at the
B3 with Emma moving to the keyboard. When they continue Jay takes a turn at the
keyboards. Raul is back on alto, Jay playing harp and Dave takes a solo turn on
"I Don't Know". Rockin' Jake (harp/vocals) and Maurice Dukes (drums) are on stage
with Emma (B3) and Drew (guitar). Dave lets the band know they are going to do a
1-4-5 BLUES in G. It turns out to be a Rockin' Jake tour-de-force, "Shake That
Boobie" *Editor's note* - Not sure if that is what Al meant to write, but we are going to let it stand. Jake does the vocal and Drew takes the first solo. Emma's B3
portion makes everyone listen. Raul continues to amaze me with his soulful alto
solos. Jake puts a glass on the harp to create a trumpet-like wha-wha effect.
Down to N'awlins with a 2d line "Hey Bok Away". Niles 'Red Beans'
Blaize (harp/vocals) joins Kat Riggins (vocals) with Raul moving to the drum set
to do "Worries and Troubles Just Won't Let Me Be". Dave and Drew are in a BLUES
groove. Niles joins Kat at the mic to sing "My Baby". Dave and Drew do their
thing and Niles brings it way down with a soft melodic line to close the tune.
Kat returns to the BLUES with "I Worked 5 Hard Years For That Man, He Had the
Nerve To Put Me Out".
With that the crew at the Biscuit put us out. Not really.
The staff at the Funky Biscuit is courteous, attentive and efficient. They
deserve a round of applause as well. Finally had a chance to talk with Jimmy. It
went something like this----"Wow-----uh huh----no s--t---then what---wow----uh
hu-----no s--t----then what////////"On and On, On and On, On and
On".
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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