Submitted by Al Kanovsky 03/30/15
Al's Disclaimer:
...provided
the closing to an incredible weekend of listening to the BLUES played by some
of the best musicians in the world. Saturday afternoon Mess O' BLUES in Pompano
Beach, Saturday night at Q Bar in Ft. Lauderdale and last night at The FunkyBiscuit in Boca Raton. Biscuit Fest is an annual event and features artists
local and imported. They announced "Doors Open at 3PM". The doors to
the Biscuit were open but the live music was outdoors on the patio and provided
by the "Bad Apple Brass Band", namely Andres Abreu (drums), Kevin
Muncy (sax), Dan Palace (trumpet) and providing the foundation Branden
Stair (sousaphone). Their selections were straight out of Louisiana---some
Dixieland. A little second line. The taste of the bayou. Piano Bob was already
there. Nancy and Jimmy Belize showed up. Then as promised, Rockin' Jake
introduced me to his Mom,(Rockin' Mom) Eileen. We sat around enjoying the music
and some adult beverages. Mark Telesca and his beautiful wife joined the party
as well as Graham Drout and RoseAnne. The songs played included "Ain't
Nothin' But A Party", "Down By the Riverside"."Hopin' You
Come Back to Me", Iko-Iko" "Voodoo Groove" and of course
"Saints Go Marchin' In". They marched us in to the Funky Biscuit a
little after 5PM and a night of unforgettable music and fun. On stage were
Rockin' Jake (harp) Mark Telesca (bass), John Ginty (B3), Ron Holloway(sax)
Billy Iuso (guitar), Drew Preston (guitar) and Kenny Ginty (drums), Billy
opened singing "Tell Me When I Can Come Home". Drew doesn't wait long
to deliver one of his 5* solos. When was the last time you heard a live BLUES
band play "Hand Jive"? They had fun with it and so did the full house
audience. We would hear a lot of outstanding B3 all night and John kicked it
off using all of what that instrument could provide. Ron on sax wasn't far
behind. Next, Drew took the mic to sing "I Thought I Had A Chance". I
think he wrote it. He continued to impress with his instrumental work. Rockin'
Jake took a turn with "Hootchie Kootchie Man" and Ron Hollaway
brought back memories of Illinois Jacquet, way back in yesteryear. If you think
Billy is gonna' be on stage and let someone else steal the spotlight, fuggedda
bout it! Billy polished every string all the way up and down. Then Kenny almost
beat the skins off the drum kit. "Why'd You Wait So Long" gave Mark
the chance to show off and he did. Drew and Billy traded solo sections to close
their portion of the show. I see a familiar face taking the stage. It's Albert
Castiglia( you say Ka steel yuh, I say Kuh stig lee a). John is going to stay
at the B3. Billy will stay aboard. Matt Schuler will take over the bass duties
and Bob Amsel (he's a pretty good lawyer too) will use the sticks. Albert
intros the tune using his left hand only and then a slide to do "Tall
Walkin' Blues". Albert, Billy and John have a swinging 'thang' going with
the BLUES version f "C-Jam".
I
don't whether its "showmanship" or "showing-off" when
albert uses only his left hand to pay wile sipping a beer right handed. Graham
is in the audience and Albert gives him all the respect due when he does his
composition "Searching the Desert For he Blues". The lyric to
"Have You No Shame" are right out of the 50's but the melody itself
is pure unadulterated BLUES. "Put Some Stank On It" has Albert and
John trading upbeat solos. "Bad Avenue"---Albert sings, Billy kills
on guitar, John has me out of my seat and then Ron Holloway blows the walls
down. Did I leave out Matt and Bob---hey they keep this whole thing together.
John Schofield joins the band for "Let The Big Dog Eat"--John was not
born or raised in the U.S. but he sure can play the music. Billy intro'd a
Buddy Guy tune from way back and each of the guitars on stage met standing
applause at the end of their solos. Next up was Southern Hospitality. Victor Wainwright
on the B3, Damon Fowler(guitar/vocals), Chris Peet (drums) and Matt
Walker(bass)----and making all of us happy J.P. Soars is on stage------A young
Nick Black would help with the vocals and play a little guitar. I have 6 pages
of hand scribbled notes about what happened next. I would need a dictionary, a
thesaurus and another 2 years of English lessons to describe the music I heard.
Damon sung his heart out with "Angels Gonna Sing My Name". J.P.
brought Stevie Ray Vaughan back to life. They had us all clappin' n' tappin' with "Don't Boogie Woogie When
You Say Your Prayers Tonight". That tune is a plain old happy song. Smile
on my face all the way through. "Easy Living", "Neck Bones &
Home Fries" and "Catch Me When I Fall"(It may be called Wine,
Wine and Whiskey Again) are on the play list. Albert gets back up to sing
"My Baby Got A Black Cat Bone". Ain't nobody in the house sitting
down. Victor almost tears the keys off the B3. J.P.s solo, pure and simple (just
the way I like it) Young Nick Black starts out feeling his way and builds into
a rip-roaring BLUES solo-----oooooweeee!. You ain't heard the BLUES 'til you
hear these guys do "Don't Feel Like Going There Today"---Damon sings
the lyric and Victor tells the story in dramatic B3 melodic lines. Victor gets
a chance at vocalizing with "When The Rain Turned The Whole World
Blue". I still have 5 pages of notes but I grow weary of the task----skip to
the jam----It seems like there are a hundred BLUES musicians on stage including
Terrence Grayson on bass and Billy Dean playing drums. Piano Bob squeezes his
way to the keyboard. If you know how to close a show, then you know that
"Shake Your Money Maker" will send everyone home glad that they came.
Ray is the Sound Engineer at the Biscuit. Every musician who plays the joint
owes him a great big "Thanks". I owe the same thanks to all the
musicians who make my life such a joy to live. When it comes to club-owners or
operators, I generally don't have nice things to say, but in this case I
sincerely say Thank You to Albert Poliak for his support of the BLUES.
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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