Blues&JazzView
by Eric Benson
What’s new with Jazz and the Blues News?
Hope you all survived the Holidaze and Nappy New Years; I stayed home and waited for the ball to drop. I found out in the morning that it had dropped after I fell asleep. Okay on to the New Year with resolutions and keeping things rolling, I am excited about another venue complete with live music in the downtown. Café’ Urbano in the location behind Gallo Center formerly of Clayton’s Restaurant has their Cabaret license so is ready to roll with live music! I did Blue Monday Party in the intimate nightclub setting for 7 years every Monday and I would like to invite those that attended and newcomers to come back for some great music. We will be doing Blue Monday Party Feb 8th at Barkin Dog to help get the word out to come out Friday Feb 12th for a grand opening with live music at Café’ Urbano, hosting from 7 to 10:00 PM will be some of the musicians from Ultra lounge with some special guest playing Jazz, R & B, Latin and dance music from the downbeat. Urbano has a nice menu from appetizers to full entrées with full bar in a nice setting.
Blue Monday Party & invitational jam returns to the Barkin’ Dog Grill this Feb 8th with special guest Conrad Johnson bass player, songwriter and vocalist front man from B4 Dawn band, If you’ve come down before you will recognize Conrad one of the funkiest bass players in the valley. Conrad can play anything from Jazz standards to Funk, R & B, rock. The second Monday will be hosted by house band, the Blue Monday Ultra Lounge Band with lead vocalist, guitar and bass player Dave Souza, Johnny Valdes guitar, Tim Allen bass, vocals, Dave Hawks on drums, Eric Benson, Andrew Rosenblum, Jamie Dubberly on horn section and myself Eric Benson on keys. The band will play Jazz, R & B, Funk, Latin and a little of everything else with special guests sitting in for listening and dancing. Show from 7 to 10:00 PM with food and drink available in all age venue. Call the Dog for reservations: 572-2341. If you play come on down and sit in with the best musicians in the area, it’s gonna be smoking.
The Gallo Center for the Arts brings in Feb: 14th tribute to blue eyes Frank Sinatra, 17th the best in Blues Charlie MusselWhite with North Mississippi All-stars, 26th Little River Band. Critic’s choice, that’s me, go see Charlie Musselwhite seasoned Blue’s man with smoking band.
On the down low, I am bringing back John Stowell, virtuoso Jazz guitarist for a house party Monday Feb 22nd with local guitar slinger Johnny Valdes, if you want to come down for some appetizers, Jazz and nice folks email me or call me on my cell for the info: Mbenson@fire2wire.com<mailto:Mbenson@fire2wire.com>,
Lowdown on the jam session in the downtown: Barkin’ Dog Thursday night jazz jams with Dave Dow, Queen Bean Sundays open mike night also in an all age environment.
Remember please support our local live venues for live music and the arts. So take some time out to hear some live music and the arts of our own town as well this month, think globally and act locally.
All the best, peace out! Eric Benson, cell 209, 918-7033.
