Blues and JazzView
by Eric Benson
If you like live music you’re gonna love this
I’m away on vacation at Family Coop Camp for the week with family and friends, where the pot holes are not only in the roads, but for swimming as well. Plenty of time to mull over the year while sitting under a shady tree with my six-string and a good book. It’s plenty hot and with rationing water, it’s a jump in the swimming hole to cool down. The daily ritual is coffee time around the deck with Peet’s coffee, off for a hike, mid-afternoon nap, happy hour with hors d’oeuvres and cool beverages, and then on to folk dancing in the Rec Hall. I hope your summer is treating you well, and try and come out for some music and the arts in the downtown when you can.
Blue Monday Party continues its second Monday tradition with Ultra Lounge Band playing the Barkin’ Dog Grill Monday, July 13th. The special guest is returning Ross McGinnis, virtuoso Caribbean steel drum and percussionist. House band features: Tim Allen on bass and vocals, Johnny Valdes on guitar, Dave Hawks on drums, Jamie Dubberley trombonist and arranger, Andrew Rosenblum on sax and trumpet, Pat Governor and myself on keys. This time around in addition to playing Jazz, Rhythm and Blues, Funk and Rock, we’ll do some of Ross’s Caribbean, Reggae, and Latin arrangements. The invitational Jam Session goes from 7 to 10 PM with best seating through reservations. So come on down and do the Limbo. Call the Barkin’ Dog for reservations.
DEWZ Wine Bar continues music Friday and Saturday nights from 7 to 10 PM in their intimate environment. I book the room and try and feature the best local musicians playing Jazz and Pop, with an acoustic volume that suits the room. For July 3rd, we have Jazz pianist Kent Gripenstraw; the 4th with no music; the 10th will feature John King & Robin Montgomery as a Jazz guitar duo; the 11th will have singer songwriter Joe Barreta on guitar and vocals; the 17th and 25th Tim Allen will be on piano and vocals doing Elton, Billy Joel, and popular music; the 18th Nick Campos is on guitar and vocals, and the 31st will be announced. Again call for reservations for best seating.
Come out for the third Thursday Art Walk in the downtown Modesto area. Dave Dow, Jazz pianist, will host the Jazz Jam session every Thursday night from 7 to 10 PM at the Barkin’ Dog Grill and the Art Walk. The other jam in town is at the Queen Bean on Sunday afternoons; it’s fun whether you want to hang out, jam, or just listen.
That’s all I got for the month. Got to get back to camp; the bell rang, and if you get there late, you may not get fed and it’s a warm and heat for you a half an hour drive into town.
All the best, Eric Benson, questions give me a jingle (209) 918-7033. Peace out!
