Submitted by Al Kanovsky 10/29/14
…in
my soul.” It lives there with my love of BLUES, JAZZ, LATIN, Opera, Ballet,
Symphonic and BOOKS.
That same gypsy lives in the soul of JP Soars. It was planted there by Django Rheinhardt a famed guitarist dating back to the 1930's. J.P. has 2 bands. The Gypsy Blue Revue and The Red Hots. Some members cross bands and play in both.
Last
night at The Funky Biscuit there was
Steve Laudicino (guitar), Scott Ankrom (reeds), Chaim Rubinoff (trumpet), Chris
Peet (drums) and Noah Hall on bass. They all wore jackets ala bands of the
30's. They played mostly Django hits with wonderful solos by all the band
members. The BLUES are never far away from J.P.s guitar including his
composition "The Viper". Scott's clarinet and tenor sax solos reflected
both the Gypsy mode and the JAZZ Era Swing. Chaim brings along every trumpet
mute known to mankind and uses them to perfection. His range takes you both
high above and below the scale. J.P.s affection for Django has infected Steve
as well. His gypsy technique grows with every performance. Included with
Rheinhart’s compositions were American tunes done in Gypsy style. "Sweet
Georgia Brown", "See You In My Dreams" and "It Don't Mean A
Thing" were a few of the JAZZ numbers with Gypsy intonation. J.P. has a
unique voice. He ain't Frank or Perry. He ain't Dean or even Bing. He's J.P.
and when he does Muddy Waters "Deep Down In Florida" and Rev. Gary
Davis' "Cocaine" there is something special about it.
They
played Willy Bobo's "Fried Neck Bones and Home Fries" to a bolero beat.
Scott really digs in with his sax solo and it inspires Chaim to play trills and
quotes from Latin hits and reminiscent of some Paquito Rivera. Now to a rhumba
rhythm they do "Call My Baby, Tell Her I'm Not Coming Home".
Piano Bob is sitting at the bar with my
Cuban fellow traveler Tania Haftel, her friend Tina(pronounced TYNA) and Jeff
who is new in town. The beat catches me and I ask Tina to dance. She is
agreeable and does know how to dance. Again, really nice solos all around and
it morphs to the BLUES and "Got To Let You Go". Part of the
lyric is "Got nothin' in your head, 'cept stage, screen and radio. Do any
of you remember Louis Jordan and the Tympani Five? How about a tune titled
"Caldonia"? I'm sure every iving 'jitterbug' remembers it. J.P.
sings it. Scott and Chaim just plain blow their natural tops. Man oh Man oh
Man!!!!!!! The audience demands one more and they conclude with "You Used
To Be My Girl".
I
must mention that the Funky Biscuit's famous $5 Hamburger Special is available
on both Monday & Tuesday nights at the Funky Biscuit. There is no
better deal anywhere in the entire world. A bun-sized burger, lettuce, tomato,
slice of onion and French fries. I have yet to finish the whole plate. Al
Poliak (proprietor) is brought to tears every time one is ordered. It
definitely takes a bite out of the corporate earnings.
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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Nice!
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