Submitted by Al Kanovsky 02/16/15
Our Friday, for Charlie Boyer & I, starts early with ED Bell's(WLRN) Friday live show, South Florida Arts Beat. This week it is Brenda Alford. Brenda was born and bred in Baltimore and there is something special about female vocalists from that town. Soul, verve or maybe a taste for life itself. Brenda is a wise and educated woman who surrounded herself with outstanding musicians for this performance. Jesse Jones Jr (sax), James Cotmon (drums) and Antonino Mora playing piano. Brenda opened with "My Funny Valentine" during which she displayed her exquisite range. Jesse's solo was the perfect accompaniment. Brenda followed with a swinging version of "Misty". Her timing is perfect and Jesse makes the tune fun. Next is "Besame Mucho" en Espanol. Jesse plays some growling alto. Sr. Mora plays a technically perfect, melodic solo in cumbia rhythm. Brenda apologizes for her Spanish. No need. They 'jump' "Too Close For Comfort" and each of them get a chance to show their 'chops'. Solos in turn, the exchanges, then 4's and a rousing finish. They don't stop there continuing with "You Go To My Head". Like most singers of Brenda's heritage her upbringing ha s a lot do do with the Church and her Faith. A Gospel tune "Love the Lord" is done as a 'straight ahead' JAZZ tune with Brenda adding a scat portion of her own. The program is concluded with a song Brenda wrote. It's title is "Every Child". This is a song every one in the world should hear. If it doesn't touch you, you are not a human being. It is an enlightenment and shows where Brenda's heart is at. The opening line states, "Somewhere a child is hungry". I was fortunate. My children and grand-children as well. None of us went hungry, but somewhere there is a child who is..
Al's Disclaimer:
Our Friday, for Charlie Boyer & I, starts early with ED Bell's(WLRN) Friday live show, South Florida Arts Beat. This week it is Brenda Alford. Brenda was born and bred in Baltimore and there is something special about female vocalists from that town. Soul, verve or maybe a taste for life itself. Brenda is a wise and educated woman who surrounded herself with outstanding musicians for this performance. Jesse Jones Jr (sax), James Cotmon (drums) and Antonino Mora playing piano. Brenda opened with "My Funny Valentine" during which she displayed her exquisite range. Jesse's solo was the perfect accompaniment. Brenda followed with a swinging version of "Misty". Her timing is perfect and Jesse makes the tune fun. Next is "Besame Mucho" en Espanol. Jesse plays some growling alto. Sr. Mora plays a technically perfect, melodic solo in cumbia rhythm. Brenda apologizes for her Spanish. No need. They 'jump' "Too Close For Comfort" and each of them get a chance to show their 'chops'. Solos in turn, the exchanges, then 4's and a rousing finish. They don't stop there continuing with "You Go To My Head". Like most singers of Brenda's heritage her upbringing ha s a lot do do with the Church and her Faith. A Gospel tune "Love the Lord" is done as a 'straight ahead' JAZZ tune with Brenda adding a scat portion of her own. The program is concluded with a song Brenda wrote. It's title is "Every Child". This is a song every one in the world should hear. If it doesn't touch you, you are not a human being. It is an enlightenment and shows where Brenda's heart is at. The opening line states, "Somewhere a child is hungry". I was fortunate. My children and grand-children as well. None of us went hungry, but somewhere there is a child who is..
Lunch at the station was supplied by Pollo Tropical and all my
music loving buddies and buddesses enjoyed it. A much younger and
certainly better looking woman approached me. "Do you remember me?"
Uh-oh!!!!Talk about senior moments. It took a second and
there it was. Last year. Brenda Alford at Joe's Stone Crab. We danced. A
couple of times. She wouldn't give her name then and wouldn't this time either.
I guess dancing with a guy like me could get a girl a "reputation".
The day was only starting. A short nap and then off to Cafe Vico. Clarence
Palmer (B3/piano) Danny Burger (drums) and Julie Alli (vocals) Clarence started the
show with a couple of Valentine tunes including "Falling In Love With
Love", "It's Wonderful", "the Very Thought of
You" and "Tea For Two" There are things about Clarence that are
a bit strange. In the middle of all the love songs he did "C.C.
Rider". I wonder if he smokes anything besides his favorite cigars. Julie
and Danny join him and romance is in the air. Cupid is shooting arrows straight
at hearts and Julie sings "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" ,"Almost
Like Being In Love", "Misty" and "Autumn Leaves". She
sings "My Sweet Embraceable You" and changes moods with a funky
"Billie Jo". We return to Love with "Saving All My Love",
"Ipanema" and "For Once In My Life". Clarence and
Danny close the set with "Caravan".
Charlie and I head back south to
the Downtowner and Joey Gilmore's CD release party and opening of
Don Cohen's Riverwalk Blues Festival - Total mob scene. Terrible sound system. Good
music and good folks just the same. Joey playing and singing. Raul Hernandez at
the kit. They do a Joey original. Betty Rosenthal is boopin' it as only Betty
can do. The play list includes, "Whiskey, Beer and Wine",
"Cheaper to Keep Her" , "Somebody Have Mercy", and
"Can't Let Go". During one of those songs I asked a really pretty
woman to dance. Her name is Geri. She can dance. My father (RIP) would
occasionally call me a 'schmuck". He was right. I failed to ask for
her number-----or did she escape in the nick of time?
Off to the Q Bar and Rachelle Coba, Jimmy Daniel on drums
and I didn't get the guitar mans name. We got there just in time for
"Blind Girl". Rachelle is a young thing but her voice is reflective
of a gal who has been around------and for a while. She has listened to them all
and has learned her lessons well. Her influences are exhibited in her style.
"Bring It Home To Me" has a little of Janis, a little of Etta and even
some Big Moma Thornton. We enjoy the music but an old saying comes in to play.
"Sufficient unto the day, the evils thereof". In other words, Go to
bed, fool"!!!!
The break of dawn (11:00A.M.) Saturday finds Charlie, me and
our buddy Frank Papitto at Riverwalk in Ft. Lauderdale. We will be treated and
absolutely amazed by 2 days of BLUES that just won't quit. It is the 25th
Annual Riverwalk BLUES & Music Festival. This annual event is held in memory of Don
Cohen. Don passed in 2007. He was the founder of the Music Exchange and held
the first festival in the parking lot of that business. The opener was
J.P. Soars and the Red Hots on the Don Cohen Memorial Stage. At noon Piano Bob
and Bonefish Johnny entertained from the Sunday BLUES Stage. I usually do the
play list and musicians but it would be beyond my life expectancy to
include it all. Let it suffice that it would be 2 days of music that many folks
will be talking about for a long time to come. Hey, you want to have fun. It's
spelled Otis Cadillac and the Eldorados. Throw in the Seville Sisters and now
it is a partaaaay! Niles (Red Beans)Blaize plays trumpet, harp & 'cordeen'.
He also can produce some really deep vocal bass. Otis
clowns around. The Seville Sisters(including Katt Riggins) sing and bounce
around. You're in N'Awlins one minute and Memphis in the next. Take a few steps
and here's Guy Davis. Mr. Davis is world renowned and for good reason. Want to
listen to the BLUES? Listen to Guy. 100% Pure, unfiltered, unadulterated
BLUES. Like they play along the Delta. Like you'll hear at the
Crossroads. Like they played it then. Stories that can only be
told by a guitar player who has endured all the pleasures and pain that
come with life. Turn around and hear the BLUES as it is done in 'modern' times.
Josh Rowland and the Pitbull of the BLUES Band. His Dad Denny handles the
bass. I dance with "Toni", a gal I had met before. She
remembered me. But not as me. She thought I was somebody else. A guy she really
"liked". Oh, well. We were hungry and she joined us for a "happy
hour" bite & beverage. We caught a bit of J.P. and his Gypsy JAZZ group. Talk about an audience paying attention... Riveted!
We missed the rest of the show because we were off to Arts Garage and
the Vanessa Collier Band. This group is made up of Berklee graduates and they PLAY
the BLUES. Band members include Vanessa (vocals/alto sax),
Noe Socha (guitar/harp), Jordan Rose (drums) Justin Schornstein (bass) and Eric
Finland (keys/piano). They did a 2 set show to an audience whose members had
grandchildren older than these band members. The audience sat transfixed throughout both sets. Rising only to applaud. They did some classic BLUES tunes,
some original compositions and a few that were new to me. Noe Socha had me
leaning forward several times with guitar or harp solos. sometimes doing it simultaneously.
Eric Finland knows where the BLUES come from and I mean deep inside. He showed
the understanding necessary. Vanessa herself, left me with jaws agape.
First her voice. Powerful yet under control. A feeling for the BLUES and when
she puts the horn to her lips and BLOWS, man o man o man. Justin and Jordan
both had opportunities to show off and did not disappoint. It is wonderful that
young musicians have taken up the torch of the genre. If you closed your eyes
you would have thought some of them had grey hair. I hope I get the chance to
hear them "live" again somewhere.
Charlie & I are
relentless and tireless in our pursuit of good music. Now we are inside at
the "Poorhouse" for the Famous Frank All Star Jam. The
establishment is not for the faint of heart. Noisy, crowded, a barely adequate
sound system and an unswept (possibly in years) floor. The saving grace----the
BLUES. We stayed for about an hour and headed back to my pad.(Do they still say
that?) A good nights sleep, a hearty breakfast of bacon, scrambled eggs,
english muffins and a blend of Cafe Bustelo/Dunkin Donuts coffee prepared us
for the continuation of this fantastic BLUES festival.
J.L. Fulks, an up and
coming BLUES phenom opened at the BLUES Stage. Charlie & I opened with a
Bloody Mary. Guy Davis would do a 1 and a half hour set on the Main Stage.
Listening to Guy was time very well spent. He tells the truth in every song he
does. J.L. did a couple of more sets at the BLUES Stage. Now hold on
to your hats and hitch your jeans up. Jeff Prine, with Matt (incredible) Schofield
on guitars------and now how about Juanita Dixon, Kat Riggins and Miss Reeeta
Wilburn on vocals. Mitch Goldstein on his modern B3 and drummer Kristar
Landivar. The set would last over 1 1/2 hours and would include a 20 minute
version of "Mustang Sally". If this was not taped it is a
sin. Everyone around me and it was quite a crowd, were going
"Wow" and applauding on their feet. Charlie looked at me and
stated that was the best "Mustang Sally" ever. I did not disagree
and believe me, Charlie and I have heard plenty of that tune.
Rachelle Coba
took over the BLUES stage for the rest of the sets that would be done there. On
the main stage we were treated to Famous Frank Ward and the Nucklebusters
followed by Graham Wood Drout and the Albert Castiglia. If you want to get
folks to stay at an outdoor show, with temps are dropping by the second, put
these 2 bands and they will still be there when the last note sounds.The 2
hippest, most happening guys in town have their asses dragging the ground.
Anthony's for a glass of wine, a couple of meatballs a lunch size pizza with
sausage and you know what happens next. If you are thinking girls you don't
know s--t about being tired.
Tonight? Open Stage in Coral Gables for Miami Jazz Co-op's weekly Jazz Rent Monday w/ a very special evening of Sound of Vision at 8pm, with Sammy Figueroa and His Latin Jazz Explosion presenting the first, and possibly only, album preview of his upcoming release. See you there!
Tomorrow? Jeff Jensen at Blue Tuesday at Boston's on the Beach? Charlie says he is going to be there, even if we have to split forces for the night!
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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