Jazz&Blues View
by Eric Benson
“If you luv music you’re gonna love this”
May is upon us with Cinco De Mayo celebrations going on all week and hopefully all month long. Now’s the time, don’t dally to turn your dirt over, plant your spring veggies, pray for rain, and empty standing water around the house so as not to encourage our blood sucking friends the mosquitoes. Plenty of opportunity to partake of some music here in the downtown.
Blue Monday Party & invitational jam returns to the Barkin’ Dog Grill the second Monday May 11th, with special guest classically trained virtuoso Jazz pianist Gustavo Ramirez up from LA. Gustavo is coming through for some dates and will also be featured Thursday May 7th at Café Urbano with an all-star cast of musicians for a Cinco De Mayo celebration with Salsa, Cha Cha and plenty of Latin music and Jazz to dance to. On Blue Monday, the house band Ultra Lounge will accompany Gustavo featuring: Johnny Valdes guitar, Tim Allen bass, vocals, Dave Hawks on drums, Eric Benson, Pat Governor on Keys, Jamey Dubberly on Trombone. The jam this month will features 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. Blue Monday Party features in June Barry Finerty acid Jazz guitarist rocks the house with hopefully Dave Mathews on keys. If you play, come on down and sit in with the best musicians in the area.
The Gallo Center for the Arts continues with their diverse booking, field trip to Buddy Guy who is still smoking, and Lila Downs who played world music with amazing band. More to come: in May: Midtown Men 7th, Forbidden Broadway (adult themed) 8th, Mariachi Vargas de Trecalitlan 10th, Big Daddy Weave 11th, Chanticleer 13th, MSO series 15 & 16th, Clay Walker, 22nd, Mr. Boz Scaggs on the 24th coming back to bring you the dirty lowdown. And coming up also is Bonnie Raitt, and Peter Frampton, I’m having Day on the Green flashbacks right now!
The State Theatre brings in May for the States 80th birthday Celebration Lavay Smith and her Red Hot Skillet Lickers. The sultry vocals of Lavay Smith tunes in the styling of Lady Day, Ella and vocals from the swing era.
And off the beaten track Newman, the West Side Theatre in restored theatre environment brings in May 2nd Red Dog Ash and Thunernation as part of their Bluegrass series. The band is smoking with fine pickin and grinning music with vocal harmony. Call for the lowdown on the how down: 862-4490/
Live music in DEWZ Wine Bar in April booked by myself Eric Benson continues live music on Friday and Saturday nights 7 to 10:00 PM, incorporating the best local musicians playing in the intimate wine bar environment. What I have booked for all you music lovers in May is: Frid 1st Larry Stewart Jazz guitar duo, Sat 2nd and Frid 22nd Andrew Rosenblum Jazz guitarist, Friday 8th & 9th Cuban Jazz pianist Gustavo Ramirez, Frid 15th Pat Durr & Friends (of Homegrown Band), Sat 16th, and 23rd John King & Robin Montgomery Jazz guitar duo, May 29th John Albano Jazz guitarist and vocals, and Sat May 30th Eric Benson’s Ultrlounge & friends. The room is small so best to call for a table if you know you’re coming if you want a seat.
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 venue’s 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.
