JazzView
by Eric Benson
If you luv music you’re gonna love this
As John Lee Hooker said in song “nobody gets out of these Blues alive.” Aretha Franklin the Queen of Soul has passed. There are milestones and memories and everyone has where they first heard something that changed their lives. I was in 6thgrade playing basketball listening to the Beatles on a boom box and James Sollomen came over and put in a cassette of James Brown “Get on the Good Foot.” And that same year I, and a childhood friend were listening to his older brother’s record collection, Temptations meet the Supremes, Jimmie Hendrix, and then he put on Aretha pounding out some Gospel tune and wailing over the refrain. That was my introduction to Aretha and have listened to and have most of her things on vinyl that I still play. Do I have a favorite tune, No there are too many to choose from? From her early Gospel gems to the hits she played the gamut of Soul music from ballads to Blues.
And as when any great artist dies we want to pay tribute, Shelly Streeter, Sensations and Patty Castillo and others are putting together a tribute coming to a Blue Monday in October. RIP Aretha Franklin Queen of Soul, you will be missed.
Blue Monday Party returns to the Barkin’ dog September 10th to the Barkin’ Dog Grill with special guest Barry Finnerty Jazz guitarist. Barry has played with Miles Davis, TOP, Brecker Brothers, the Jazz Crusaders, Jaco Pastorius to name a few. We will be playing everything from Jazz, R & B, Latin to Barry’s arrangements of the Doors, Stones, Tower of Power, and a lot of other popular tunes. Hosting the jam is House band Ultra Lounge, Johnny Valdes guitar, Tim Allen bass, vocals, Dave Hawks on drums, horns by Kevin Marin, and Marty Martinez and John Burt on Sax, Dave Dow and yours truly Eric Benson on keys and Pat Governor on organ. We will play music for listening and dancing. 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 the Barkin’ Dog Grill, one of my favorite family friendly venues continues with some live music coming at you for September; 10th Blue Monday Party with special guest Barry Finnerty, 15th Bourbon St. Blues Band, 19th Valley Jazz Collective, 22nd Dave Dow & Friends, 28th Taillights, and 29th Gary Gervasse Blues Band. And every single Thursday Dave Dow pianist Extraordinaire hosts a Thursday Jazz Jam session.
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>.
