Blues & JazzView What’s New with Jazz and Blues? By Eric Benson More bright moments in store for the month. The “seasons they go round and round and painted ponies go up and down,….on the carousel of life.” The seasons are upon us again and the summer’s bounty is brought in and the land is laying fallow. Ah but the earth is to begin again and the renewal is under way and seeds are sown. In time the fall crop will be rising from the ground to perpetuate the next go round in the circle game.
The State Theatre continues with quality musical offerings. In November Modesto’s own hardest workin’ vocal harmony group Home Grown plays Nov 3rd, Tommy Castro comes through for his annual gig Dec 7th. Tommy sells out early so get em while they’re hot. Check out www.thestate.org<http://www.thestate.org/>
The MAMA Winning Gallo Center continues with some quality shows on the Jazz side with: Jim Brickman, “on a winter’s night”, and Jazz you can dance to with Big Bad voodoo daddy Holiday party. Voodoo daddy has a following now since booking at the Fat Cat over the years and has a horn heavy groove that aims to please. And Turlock community Theatre has another Christmas pleaser with Aaron Neville of the Neville Brothers on the New Orleans side of things.
Reg Evans of Central Valley Music group is continues to promote a showcase of local bands at the Clarion Hotel Saturday nights for listening and dancing. Tuesday offers Salsa with DJ, Wednesdays with Dixieland with the Creole Jazz kings at 6:00 PM.
On the clubbing thing: Highlights for T’s on Ninth St: Nov 9th guitar slinger Jeremy Norris & the Dangerous Mood, 10th: Big Earl & Cryin Shame, 17th: The MAMA Winning Josh Rosenblum Band. If you haven’t heard Josh could be the next Johnny Valdez of Motown, great singer, guitar player and songwriter.
On the family friendly side: all age venue, the Barkin’ Dog Grill in downtown Modesto serves up some good food with a big side of music. The Dog’s highlights for November: 9th with Big Earl & the Cryin Shame, 10th with former Blue Monday alumni, the teen rockers High voltage, 12th Big Earl & Friends, 24th Ernie Bucio Big Little Band, and the 30th Faux Gitant Gypsy Band. The 18th: hosts Art Walk with David Dow running the Jazz Jam. Google the: http://www.barkindoggrill.org<http://www.barkindoggrill.org/> for the lineup. And the Jazz Vespers backed by Brubeck Institute Jazz Quartet do their thing Nov 4th at United Methodist church, 850, 16th street in Modesto.
More music on the local scene: Deva Café hosts the MAMA Winning Thursday Night Ramble, celebrating one year of the band Big Earl & Poorhouse Millionaires. It’s become the Thursday night hang for the younger set in the downtown. Big Earl & Poorhouse Millionaires is also doing a Sunday morning gig at Deva’s so come down 10-12 noon.
On the garden party circuit: Modesto’s Sound had a fun-raiser Oct 20th at a private residence on Wycliffe drive. The venue was gorgeous with a large Tike hut, pool, catered food and the best in talent under the stars: Stop MotionPoetry, Josh Rosenblum Band, and others. Hope to see more of these in our near future!
Need to get me, Hit me at: mbenson@fire2wire.com, or give me a holler at (209) 918-7033. Peace out Eric Benson
