...even if you've gotten old and gray. Last night provided that
for any lover of JAZZ & BLUES. 33d St. In Ft. Lauderdale is becoming
the present day 52 St. of fame back in the day. Live music every night of the
week. A JAZZ joint and a BLUES joint on the same thoroughfare. Ample parking (although
metered 'til midnight) and good menus in both. Back to the music. I walked into
BJB's to the sound of a great voice , delighting the crowded room. Miss
Nicole Kidd had the mic in hand and was just plain-out singing. It was part of
Anthony Corrado's Sunday Afternoon Jam. I had been fortunate to catch her on
stage. Next up was a 'kid' who I refer to as "Little JAZZ' with no
disrespect to Roy Eldridge. This 'kid' will celebrate his 12th birthday
Wednesday but plays his Selmer Balance Action alto sax like a seasoned pro.
Never mind the tune. Never mind the key. Ian Munoz can BLOW. Creative,
imaginative, cute as a button, quick to smile and mild mannered not to mention
extremely talented. They do "Billie's Bounce" and follow with Ian's
interpretation of "There Will Never Be Another You" and the audience
is gape-jawed in amazement at Master Munoz's artistry. Vocalist Connie Draha is
invited up to do "At Last" and Ian remains on stage to display his
BLUES chops as well. Jams are part of what makes dreams come true. "You'll
never know just how much" you've missed if you weren't there.
Ian plays often at The Fish House in Kendall at their Wednesday Nite JAZZ
Jam. Now I run (not exactly) across the street to the place where the blues is happening to meet up with
Jimmy Belize and Nancy. Why here you query? How about J.P. Soars, a cigar
box guitar and some BLUES? Just in time to catch the last number of his first
set. With J.P. are Steve Laudicino (guitar), Don 'the Cougar' Gottlieb (bass),
Chris Pete (drums) and sitting in Billy Burns (harp). Thanks to Jerry Blum for
knowing all the band members names. Jimmy, Nancy and I partake of a hearty
platter of 'fish 'n chips' and Tania (she had been on the Havana JAZZ
tour) comes in followed by Piano Bob. They open the 2d set with Guitar Slim's
shuffle, "I Want To Be With You" followed by the original
"All Night Long" with Steve doing a sensational up-tempo solo. There
used to be a BLUES joint called 'Back Room BLUES' where local and national
musicians came to play and Jam. I shouldn't call it a joint 'cause it was a
dump. But a friendly and music-wise dump. And always great music. I miss the
joi--- dump. J.P. has a tune dedicated to the place on his
latest CD.
Gals are up shakin' their Bs and Bs and that's always part of
my dream. Martine and Jacques my, wonderful to watch dancing, friends
arrive. Heads are bobbing in time, all over the house. "Let Your Hair Down
Baby" in shuffle time has Piano Bob and Tania up doing the 'Lindy' and
very nicely, to say the least. Funk takes over and J.P. has a regular guitar in
hand. The floor is crowded with gals doing what gals do and my blood pressure
is rising along with other things. It's a hop, skip and jump (if you hop, skip
and jump) back to BJB's in time to catch another 'kid' on stage. I shouldn't
say kid because Haven Star Ross is a young lady who CAN sing the BLUES.
Style, emotion and voice all embodied in a little girl. She is doing
"Turtle Blues" and has the audience firmly in her grasp. It's Rita
Wilbern's night at Blue Jeans and she has Jeff Prine on guitar with Mitch
Goldstein on B3 and Danny Burger at the kit.
I look around the room and of
course Babette is there and also Ron Anonymous and Beautiful Brenda. Mike and
Lucy have returned from cruising the Bahamas on their 'cat' which was struck by
lightning causing damage to all the electronics on board. My dance partner
Denise is there along with buddy Bill and the other Denise.
Nicole
Kidd is still in the house and she joins Rita to do "Sitting On The
Dock". The trio does an instrumental "boogie' and Rita returns to do
"Fever" followed by "Love My Man". When she intones
"At Last", Rita invites the most lovely Pruchelle Revell up to
interpret the song in dance. To use a hackneyed phrase ---poetry in motion---.
Now taking advantage of all the talent in the house, Rita invites Nicole and
Haven back up and they all do "Georgia", "Unchain My Heart"
and "Loving You Forever and Ever". Rita sings
"Superstition" and "The Thrill Is Gone" which provided the
opportunity for Rita and I to trip the light fantastic. The last set opens with
the guys doing an instrumental and Danny 'blows 'em up' which enables him to
play different chromatic tones on the tom-toms. Rita invites Haven's dad Troy,
up to sing and play harp on "Baby What You Want Me To Do". The apple
didn't fall far from the tree. Rita closes with an emotional "Since I Fell
For You". Danny is encouraging me to dance with Rita again --- "last
dance" he says. I hope not!!
Time to hit the sack and "Dream, Dream,
Dream".
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