Blues&JazzView
by Eric Benson
What’s new with Jazz and the Blues News?
If you luv music you’re gonna love this
Well, fall is upon us and there are changes in weather, temperature and political climate, I feel a chill! But whether you vote Blue, Red or Sepia Brown, if you believe in change just Vote. After all the drama on social media picking sides and naming names we all need to go out and vote, but please vote, this is how things get done and this is how we the people effect a change. And thanks all that came out to Blue Monday Party in October, aside from some great music by the band and Raul Slaps was the featured artist which was a fundraiser to replace his stolen Trombone. We raised a good chunk of change to help with his new bone. On to the business at hand, if you were at the Mama Awards you know we have some great musicians here in the Valley that we need to continue to support by any means possible. This means being creative about venues, promoting the arts and making it happen. New on the horizon this year a new venue is the “Shire” that won a Mama that is creating a new scene for the music and arts so check them out!
Blue Monday Party invitational jam returns on Monday November 12 with special guest Jazz guitarist John Albano. John is a classically trained guitarist as well as Jazz guitar and teaches as well as performs at UC Merced. The Barkin’ Dog Grill House Band the Blue Monday Band will feature this time around: John Albano guitar, Tim Allen Bass and vocals, Dave Hawkes’s drums, Pat Governor on organ, Dave Dow and Eric Benson on Keys and on horn section John Burt -alto Sax, Marti Martinez -tenor sax and Kevin Marin -trumpet. Call the Dog for reservations: 572-2341. If you play, come on down and sit in with the best musicians in the area, or to listen and dance, it’s gonna’ be smoking!
And speaking of smokin’, the Burn’t ends Barbecue is open for your business! Attended lunch recently and the food was great, Trip Tip, biscuit, ribs with some sides. Located down on 9th street is now open lunch and dinner so go down and get ready to be struttin’ with some barbecue.
And the Barkin’ Dog Grill, one of my favorite family friendly venues continues with some live music coming at you for November; 2nd Hot Club Faux Gitane /Gypsy Jazz, 10th Tony & the tough times/Blues, 12th Blue Monday Party with Eric Benson Presents, 16th Alley Jazz Company/ smoking straight ahead Jazz, 17th Red Dog Ash/ foot stompin’ Blue Grass, and the 30th the Tail Lights/Americana. And every single Thursday Dave Dow pianist extraordinaire hosts a Thursday Jazz Jam session for people to sit in and play some music.
Come back out for Third Thursday Art Walk 5 to 9:00 PM for some great art and music in the downtown! Lowdown on the jam session in the downtown: Queen Bean Sundays open mike night also in an all age environment. 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, email; Mbenson@fire2wire.com<mailto:Mbenson@fire2wire.com>.
