Charting course is no longer...(...when Allen Kanovsky has his head out the window listening for the music of the Coral Gables Blues Fest!)

Submitted by Al Kanovsky 03/16/15

...a difficult task. Maps, navigators, voice directions are all available on your phone or device. You say "Al's home" --- it says "destination?" You say Fritz & Franz in Coral Gables --- turn right --- turn left --- turn right --- get on 95 south ---! We need an alternate route in order to avoid the Calle Ocho celebration. The same, flat, female voice delivers. 

We arrive at The Coral Gables Blues Festival, once again, in time to have a cuppa before the music starts. The opening act will be Stan Street & Friends. Stan Street has the best friends of anybody. Me and Jimmy Belize included.   How is this for pals?: Jimmy Daniel (drums), Chris DiAngelis (bass/vocals) and the incomparable Rachelle Coba on guitar and singing some too. Stan gets Sunday off to a great start playing harp and singing "Ain't Gonna Be Your Fool No More". Rachelle delivers a dynamite solo. Folks are starting to fill up the tables when they do "I Believe". Tunes like "Gonna Get Up In the Morning and Go Right Back To Bed" are what make people love the BLUES. Stan dons the washboard for rhythm to "Going To Take You Back To New Orleans". Ms. Coba can sing and play BLUES too. She does "BLUES Is On the Move" and "I Cried All Night Long". Believe me, she catches your attention. Nancy and Jimmy have arrived and can't help but dance to "Lawdy, Lawdy Miss Clawdy". Stan sings "I'm Always Paying For It". Rachelle pays tribute to Elvis with "Blue Suede Shoes". Stan tells about an all male band he had called the Streetwalkers mentioning a band from last night called Blair Crimmins and The Hookers. Stan says his band never made any money. Obviously, they weren't selling the right product. 

"Stand By Me", followed with Chris doing "Let the Good Times Roll" and "Talking 'bout the Way You Move". Stan and Friends end the first part of the show with "Baptized by the BLUES". 

It's a 2 block walk to the Coral Gables Museum of Art. The Miami JAZZ Co-op has Eddy Balzola and Oriente performing an early evening concert. Eddy plays the coolest guitar ever. He does vocals as well. Eddy is always surrounded by talent. Today there's Dony Felix from Haiti playing bass. William Paredes, about 2 years out of Cuba and amongst the best of young trombonists. 

If you never seen Rey Monroig play drums you are missing something! He is a Puerto Riqueno. You want to watch somebody having a blast while doing what they do, catch Rey Pena playing Congas & percussion. Rey is from Venezuela and knows how to have a good time. Oriente is a Latin JAZZ group. The emphasis is on JAZZ. The added salt & pepper is the Latinized rhythms. Tunes like Monty Alexanders version of "Exodus" and Joco Pastorius' "The Chicken" are part of the program. Eddy's guitar intro to "Exodus" and "Softly As In the Morning Sunrise" were exceptional. Soft. Full of meaning and emotion. It touches this old bird where my heart is. They played a Balzola original, titled "Overtown Redemption" in memory of what used to be back in the day. Rey Pena likes William's solo. John Coltrane is in Eddy's very being. He reveres his music and memory. He always plays the tune he wrote in the 'Tranes memory. Part of the story is Peace, Love, Music and Magic------for all of us!.

My buddy Bill Rutan has his 'short' (car) with him, so I avoid the 2 block return walk to the festival plaza. He is on curfew and a food shopping run(daily events) so he drops me off into the collective laps of Piano Bob's 88s set with Lou Abbott, Big Al Ferrara, Piano Bob, Bonefish Johnny, Rockin' Jake and George Caldwell. You like to Boogie? You want to hear real good music? Here it was. Lou (drums), Big Al (Tenor & Bari sax), Piano Bob ( u know what), Bonefish (guitar/vocals), Rocking Jake (harp/vocals/washboard) and George booming the stand-up bass. 

"I'll Hold Up My Hand" is the first song I hear and Big Al is blowing bari. I mean blowing BARI. Bonefish catches the groove and he delivers. Piano Bob keeps it rockin' and it is a good time in Coral Gables tonight. You wanna "Shake Rattle & Roll"? You'll have to make it next year. Bob and Big Al, now on tenor make every note count. A l'il N'Awlins second line "Every Night" Bob does some barrell house licks. George contributes and Lou is driving them all. The next tune was "The Things He Used To Say To Me" --- BLUES! BLUES! BLUES! and it wasn't over yet. "Hit the Highway" ended the set and left us all wanting more. --- we would get it! 

The last outdoor set started with "Your Cash Ain't Nothing But Trash" . Amy Arlo and Stan Street have stepped on stage and an all-out Jam is on. Jake straps it on----the washboard, I mean, and we are in Zydeco country. "Don't Mess With My Tutu", "Jambaly, Crawfish Pie", "Saints" and "Down By the Riverside" have us all on our feet. Shakin' clappin, tappin' and singing along. 

The program reads "Piano Bob's 88s and South Florida All Stars. It's no lie. Do you think Piano Bob is on stage and you ain't gonna hear some Boogie Woogie? I don't have any stupid friends (except those who still smoke --- there is no cure for --- stupidity).

Probably the most famous of all B-W tunes is "Beat Me Daddy, 8 To the Bar". Turn Bob loose and he will definitely transmit the boogie-woogie germ. I grew up to that tune. The band was the Will Bradley Orchestra (The House of Blue Lights). Amy and Bonefish start off the final tune, a rocking "Sea Cruise". Nobody walks away until the last note fades into the moonlit night. Did we have a good time?? Answer is YYYYESSSS! 

p.s. Harald, check spelling of artist's names before printing T-shirts. Thank you for being so devoted to bringing great music to us all. The thank you comes from the hundreds and hundreds of fans who enjoyed it all at Fritz & Franz Bierhaus. 

Festival Photos, Commentary & Video Links:

150312 Coral Gables Blues Fest Day One Photo Album

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10204698859806133.1073742000.1075458403&type=1&l=39df7abca7

Allen Kanovsky's Coral Gables Blues Fest  Day One Blog

http://jazz-bluesflorida.blogspot.com/2015/03/sometimes-its-worthwell-isnt-everything.html

150313 Coral Gables Blues Festival Day 2 Photo Album

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10204704870716402.1073742001.1075458403&type=1&l=ec7e300888

Allen Kanovsky's Coral Gables Blues Fest  Day Two Blog
http://jazz-bluesflorida.blogspot.com/2015/03/when-its-party-time-at-coral-gable.html

150314 Coral Gables Blues Festival Day 3 Photo Album
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10204711618645096.1073742002.1075458403&type=1&l=ca33604da2

Allen Kanovsky's Coral Gables Blues Fest  Day Three Blog
http://jazz-bluesflorida.blogspot.com/2015/03/better-late-thanthan-hour-early-to.html

150314 Coral Gables Blues Festival Day Four Photo Album
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10204716630010377.1073742004.1075458403&type=1&l=10349de99c

Allen Kanovsky's Coral Gables Blues Fest  Day Four Blog
http://jazz-bluesflorida.blogspot.com/2015/03/charting-courses-is-no-longerwhen-allen.html
Youtube Video Playlist for Coral Gables Blues Festival

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzC1Yxuw0r4FCJZl1tdSKYKlE_rujEdgH

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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