Monday, January 28, 2013

Danny Hull: Musically This Week Vol XV, No 19


Hello friends.  A night of swing and surprise awaits...

Tuesday, 1/29 at the Iris Restaurant     7:30 - 10:30
Rocio Gosende, vocals    Bobby Jones, piano     Wayne Moose, bass     your host, drum set     
This Tuesday we offer a debut at the Iris that leaves me searching for words.  It goes without saying that my mission via this promotion is to encourage you to come out and join us.  But I’m a bit gun shy this week for fear of sacrilege.  When we invoke legend in the description of our fellow musicians, we invite suspicion.  Exaggerated praise serves neither the musician nor the art form.  And those advancing the exaggeration are viewed less and less as reliable reporters.  But there’s no point in dishonesty either.  Here’s where I'm going with this:  Back in October, Bruce Johnstone brought his Fredonia Jazz Strings to the Iris.  Along for the fun were some rather spirited saxophonists, a trumpet player (if I remember correctly), and a surprise vocalist - "surprise” being an understatement.  As I accompanied Rocio Gosende in an impromptu performance, two singular legends came to mind: the one and only Ella Fitzgerald and the celebrated Anita O'Day.  Why Ella?  And why Anita O'Day?  And how dare I make such a comparison?  In a word, phrasing.  Pitch, certainly, or no such parallel would dare be whispered.  But from her first chorus, Rocio sang like a child of the 40's, with a deep sense of swing and a turn of phrase that would have made Anita O'Day herself take notice.  And from where did that old-school sense of swing emerge?  Queens, as it turns out, and the Frank Sinatra School for the Arts High School.  And by way of another surprise, Rocio is an alumni of the Jazz Standard Youth Orchestra where she was a featured trombonist!  She has performed with Claudio Roditi, Sheila Jordan, and Kevin Mahogany, and she has done workshops at the Jazz Standard where she teaches vocal technique and how to share the stage with an instrumentalist.  This week, she shares the stage at the Iris with the remarkable Bobby Jones.  We do hope you can make it.  The Iris - in the plaza at the intersection of Maple & Sweet Home Roads in Amherst.  831-3271.  Good music, good food, good people, chilled spirits, a few surprises, and a great hang.

next Tuesday, 2/5 at the Iris Restaurant     7:30 - 10:30
3 Brothers & a Distant Cousin
Phil Sims, trombone & arrangements     Andy Weinzler, Russ D'Alba & Kelly Bucheger, tenor saxophones   George Caldwell, piano     Paul Zapalowski, bass     your host, drum set  

upcoming at the Iris Restaurant...
Tuesday, 2/19 Doug Stone
Tuesday, 3/5 Dave Schiavone
Tuesday, 4/2 Rick Strauss
Tuesday, 5/14 Laurie Bordonaro
Tuesday, 6/4 Western New York Jazz Orchestra

links...

Indeed...
Art must take reality by surprise.
 - Francoise Sagan

Health,
Hope,
Dialogue,
Respect,
Tolerance,
and Friendships.
dan

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