Submitted by Al Kanovsky 08/28/14
...far and few between. Picture this---- late night on 33rd Street, Maria
Rivas on stage with Danny Burger (drums), Brian Murphy (piano) and Jaimie Ousley
on bass. Maria is singing a Joabim Bossa. There are a few couples up and
dancing. All of a sudden, a young man, drops to one knee offering a ring box to
a young lady. She is Kelly from Wisconsin. He is Francisco from Peru. Kelly
stands shock still for a moment and then bends to hug Francisco, still down on
one knee. I'll take that as a YES! Mix that with the emotional performance, on
every level, by Maria and it turns out to be an exceptional night for all.
My
pal, Dr. Jules had met a young couple, Adiam & Koshai at the Aventura Mall
and invited them to listen to Maria. They were born in Germay but their
parents are from Eritrea. The couple loves JAZZ. Maria opens the evening
with "As Time Goes By". Her South American accent adds charm to the
lyric. The tempo picks up and Maria breaks out into a full-scale, dynamic scat
vocal. This will set the tone for the rest of the night. Jimmy & Nancy,
Isabel and brother Jim, Stan, Bill & James and my favorite dance partners
Jackie and Denise are in the house anxious to hear Maria and her new found
vocal strength. "How High the Moon" continues with smooth scat lines
and a Danny Burger solo. A little more bop with Dizzy's "Night
In Tunisia". Along with the scat portion, the lyric sung in Espanol. I am
pleasantly surprised when Mari dedicates the next tune to me and herself,
"Lush Life". The last line of the song "and there I'll rot with
the rest of those whose lives are lonely too". Hey, I may rot in some
small dive, but, I'll never be lonely thanks to all my warm, wonderful
friends--and JAZZ, BLUES & BOOKS. Maria takes a break and the trio does an
instrumental "Woody & You". Maria returns with a lively Joabim
Samba. Jackie and Denise dance together showing off a lot of --- shaking. I
swallow a blood pressure pill. The count off is rat-tat-tat-tat and Maria
sings a rapid paced "I Got Rhythm" which included a 5* scat solo.
Denise is up dancing some Charleston steps which Maria follows on stage. Danny
steps up and, man o' man, you've never heard drumming like that. Martine &
Jacques (the DANCE couple) arrive in time for the start of the 2d set. Maria
opens with her very own version of "Besame Mucho" and the latin
rhythm has me dancing with Denise , holding her real close at times. (what am I
thinking?) "Bei Mir Bist Du Schain" with a Latinas accent has me and
Jackie doing a little "Lindy". We are joined on the floor by
Martine & Jacques.
Maria invites a countrywoman to the stage. Her name is
Elisa Rego. Elisa is tall, blond and very attractive. Additinally she can SING.
They do "Summertime", slowly to start but picking up and into a scat
fest. It is a visual(Maria 5'2 and Elisa 6'--A Latina and a Scandinavian) and
audible delight. Martine & Jacques show off some of their unique dance
steps. A romantic ballad in Spanish has Denise & I doing it again. Closer
& tighter. Things get hotter(the music I mean) when Maria does "It
Don't Mean a Thing". Up-tempo, swinging and jiving. Danny's solo is
amazing. Stan Jackson would say "It knocked my sox off". I put it
simply as WOW!!!. An instrumental version of "Emily" gives a chance
to cool off or cool down. Lucy & Mike Murk come in in time to hear Maria
sing "We'll Be Together Again". Once more the accent adds charm.
"My Funny Valentine" and "Beginning To See the Light" and
then the Bossa Nova during which Francisco proposed to Kelly. Hannah & her
husband are in the house. They are not here to play but to listen and enjoy..
The last set and Maria sings "Swing Con Song" which has Paul
Shewchuck up and dancing almost as if he knew what he is doing. The gal he was
dancing with knew what she was doing, laughing all the way. A beautifully
sung "Skylark" and the an improvised "Salsa" number ends
the evening. While saying goodnight, Maria tells me that she and Elisa may do a
project together. I think it's a wonderful idea. Hannah's husband has given her
some home-grown fruits. Maria hands me a tiny nut-like fruit and demonstrates
how to eat it. It is a 'manon' and very tasty. She explains that the word
'manon' is used in every way from expletive to explicit love. Heck of a fruit
if you ask me. As they say South of the Border----Hasta Manana"
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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