We were on the run last night. Somehow we got to five venues and had time for dinner on Main Street. We met friends from lines on previous nights and previous years. We also met Mary and Tom who have Club Passes for the first time. We get together with them in Rochester and in Phoenix as we travel. The night started with Kat Edmonson at Montage, Kat has a unique voice that some find a bit irritating, but I really enjoy. The club was packed and there was very little traffic during the performance, a sign that most of the people were happy with her voice and performance. Our next stop was Christ Church for Trio Red. They sound like a good group, but we were sitting in the back and the sound was so muddy from the very live acoustics and the drum that it was hard to hear and we left after one number to move on to Squeezers for Blue Highway. When we got there the place was full and there was a line to get in and the show wasn’t even scheduled to start for 15 minutes. We moved on.
XRIJF Day 5 Review of Day 4
We decided to stop on Main St for “dinner” and soon had lots of friends, old and new while I enjoyed my Louisiana blackened chicken plate and Carol her salad. The conversation was mostly “who have you heard and where next?” We were drawn into the Big Tent where Soul Rebels were blowing the walls out with great funk. We stayed for a couple of numbers, as long as our ears could stand, and then moved on to Xerox for Such Sweet Thunder an ensemble of musicians including a string quartet with flute substituting for first violin and the Bob Sneider Trio and others. We stayed through a couple of numbers and moved on more because we really wanted to hear Jane Bunnet and Maqueque at Max. The street talk was very good. Four of the women that make up the group never made it over the border from Canada due to the idiots at US State Department who are blocking everyone needing a visa because their antique computer system is down worldwide! Somehow Jane found four substitutes with work papers who were beyond marvelous. We had thought of leaving mid performance to hear some Joe Locke at Kilbourn but 11 PM came and went without our noticing.
Whew! five performances bringing our running total to 18 and tonight may be another 5 or possibly 6. We plan to start at Lyric Theater to hear Kenny Werner then George Collgan at Hatch (two solo pianos in a row!) on to Julia Hulsmann at Lutheran Church and a breakaway to Squeezers for Rob & Trey. If we have the energy, Harry Allen Quartet at Xerox and wrapping the evening at Max again for Aaron Diehl.
Last night we made it to the jam session and heard some great saxophone playing before deciding that the short break at 12:30 was our cue to go home and to bed. We may try to get there tonight as well.
See you on Jazz Street! someplace!