The Jazz Voyager
The Jazz Voyager had a blast at Cliff Bell’s last week hanging out with friends but it’s time to head South to Texas and see what’s happening at the Parker Jazz Club at 117 W 4th Street, #10, Austin 78701. I’m looking forward to what promises to be an evening of jazz classics and the Great American Songbook performed by the Ryan Davis Trio with drummer Jeremy Bruch and bassist Ben Triesch.
I’ll be masking throughout the day starting with catching an early flight into the state capital and home of those famous City Limits and I’ll be Ubering or Lyfting to do some sightseeing. My first stop being the Moody Theater where the longest running music television show is taped, then off to the Bullock Museum for a history lesson of the state, the George Washington Carver Museum, LBJ Presidential Library, a visit to the Downs~Mabson Field which was the former home of the Austin Black Senators of the Texas Negro League during the early 20th century. Don’t know if I’ll get it all done in one day because I’m grabbing some dinner before showtime. My last stop of the first day is the Congress Bridge at sunset to see the 1.5 million bats take wing.
Then it’s off to the hotel to shower and change and get ready for a great night of jazz. The doors are at 7:00pm, the one performance runs from 7:30pm ~ 9:00pm, the cover is $15~$25. Early evening for this nightowl, so I’ll be adventuring into the city for more music. For additional information, the number is 512-394-6003 or parkerjazzclub.com.
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The Jazz Voyager
The Jazz Voyager has been hanging out in the Midwest for the past week and this week was headed out to the West Coast but when I heard that two of my favorite performers will be together in Detroit for two nights, I changed all plans and rescheduled to catch the two hour flight.
Though having been to the city numerous times to hang with friends, this is a definitive first time experience for this Jazz Voyager as I make my way to Cliff Bell’s, the renowned nightspot for jazz located at 2030 Park Avenue, 48226. The club has been touted as a swanky, restored art deco club that not only serves a creative, eclectic fare of surf, turf, desserts and drinks, topped off with live jazz nightly.
Tony Hightower with the Henry Conerway Trio will be in the house on Thursday and Friday. It will be great catching up with both of them as I haven’t seen Tony in a few months and Henry for about three years. Throws are 7:30pm and 9:00pm, the cover is $25.00 and the estimated tab $$$.So come on out and enjoy an evening of good music. For additional information, the number is 313-961-2543 or cliffbells.com.
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The Jazz Voyager
Last week the Jazz Voyager was in Nashville checking out Rudy’s Jazz Room and had a great experience. This week he’s on his way and looking forward to another wonderful experience in Kansas City, Missouri at The Black Dolphin located at 1813 Grand Boulevard. Planning to catch an early set with the Tim Whitmer Quartet, I’ll be hanging around for the late hit by the Reyes Brothers Trio, both on Friday night..
Depending on which set you catch you can dine in or eat beforehand and then enjoy a full bar of cocktails, mocktails, wine and beer. The first set begins at 6:30~9:30pm followed by the second set 10:00pm ~ 1:00am. Rated $$, come and enjoy an evening of good music. For additional information, the number is 816-215-2954.
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The Jazz Voyager
The Jazz Voyager is grabbing a plane for a quick hop to Music City for some jazz. It’s my first club outing since the pandemic lockdown so I’ll be wearing my mask at all times indoors. This week’s destination is Rudy’s Jazz Room located at 809 Gleaves Street, Nashville, Tennessee.
This Saturday I will be catching a triple threat of jazz from the Joel Frahm Trio, Jody Nardone Trio and Don Aliquo with a late afternoon start at 5:30 pm and heading well into midnight and beyond. Rudy’s Jazz Room embodies the history and spirit of traditional jazz clubs, where musicians played their hearts out while people gathered to listen, dance, eat, drink and socialize in a swingin’ atmosphere.
The evening’s performances have a cover charge of $15.00, $20.00 and $10.00 at the door and I plan on giving up my $45.00 when I arrive for the first show. I like going in my pocket one time for things. Doors at 5:00pm, dinner and late night bites are available, however, for additional information, the number is 615.988.2458 and web address is rudysjazzroom.com.
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The Quarantined Jazz Voyager
As the Jazz Voyager continues to social distance and wears his mask inside stores when grocery shopping and following doctor office protocol, he is still finding time to listen to great jazz. This week coming off the shelves is an album titled Blossom Time at Ronnie Scott’s by pianist and vocalist Blossom Dearie and is a live recording at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club in Soho, London, England in 1966. This was her first live album and was released on the British record label, Fontana. The liner notes were written by Jimmy Parsons.
Her personal favorite recording, the swinging trio will intoxicate you with this set of songs just as if you were there in the intimate space listening. Her girlish, soft voice is her signature as she executes each song with style. This is the first of four albums she will record on the Fontana label.
Track List | 39:23
- On Broadway (Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil, Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller) ~ 3:55
- (Ah, the Apple Trees) When the World Was Young (Michel Philippe-Gérard, Angele Vannier, Johnny Mercer) ~ 4:20
- When in Rome (Cy Coleman, Carolyn Leigh) ~ 4:45
- The Shadow of Your Smile (Johnny Mandel, Paul Francis Webster) ~ 4:13
- Ev’rything I’ve Got (Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart) ~ 4:29
- Once Upon a Summertime (Eddie Barclay, Michel Legrand, Eddy Marnay, Johnny Mercer) ~ 3:51
- I’m Hip (Dave Frishberg, Bob Dorough) ~ 2:48
- Mad About the Boy (Noël Coward) ~ 5:05
- The Shape of Things (Sheldon Harnick) ~ 2:42
- Satin Doll” (Duke Ellington, Johnny Mercer, Billy Strayhorn) ~ 5:15
- Blossom Dearie ~ piano, vocals
- Jeff Clyne ~ double bass
- Johnny Butts ~ drums
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