Editor Comments:
     Rosemary and I go to many jazz events and would like to share some pictures from our travels and encourage you to take in some live jazz.  You'll be surprised at the fun and friendships that will come from your travels.
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Dateline 09/07/2008 (Greg Abate at Blind Bob's)

    The Greg Abate quartet pulled a crowd that nicely filled Blind Bob’s bar on their grand opening night in the Oregon District.  Rosemary and I found their newly renovated tavern to be the perfect setting for a jazz venue with good acoustics, great bar food at reasonable prices.  The highest priced items on their menu is $6.95.  They will be offering a variety of music aside from jazz and most likely it will depend upon attendance.  I know I'll try to be there to support the jazz when they have it. - Ron Gable
     Comments from Jim Woodford - it is no secret that I frequent the Jazz Central Jazz Jam on Sunday nights at Jazz Central out on East Third. The Jam starts around 8:30 and goes until midnight. The longest running jazz jam in the Dayton area.
     Sunday night, 9-7-08, I had the distinct pleasure of experiencing a new
jazz venue on a Sunday night.  The grand opening of Blind Bob's in The Oregon District with Greg Abate backed by the Lee McKinney Trio consisting of Randy Villars on keyboard, Phil Bowden on bass and Lee McKinney on drums.  I caught the first set and it even exceeded my expectations.  I catch Greg Abate every chance I get and once again he did not disappoint.  He played a Charlie Parker
tune, a Thelonious Monk tune and On Green Dolphin Street, among others.  But Greg always brings his own compositions into the mix as well which usually spices things up and he played one entitled Take the Cole Trane - all I can say is Wow!  Great saxophone work with his usual long rich quote filled performance and Lee McKinney not only rose to the occasion but knocked everybody out with his drum solo. The last song in the set was a rousing jazz piece played over the chord changes of Take the A Train (beginning to see a trend here?) - it was highly enjoyable.  I then traveled out to my usual Sunday night venue at Jazz Central and even though the usual players were not [John Hampton Wagner on vacation, Larry Smith was out, Amahad Mahamad was out and William Patrick Slaughter was absent], Kenny Baccus on the B3 Organ with Cliff Darrett on Latin percussions and Greg Wood on drums were joined by Beverly Jackson on vocals and special guest artist Mike Techenbrock on trumpet.  All combined to make it an enjoyable evening.  So even when the usual players are not, Jazz Central still makes it interesting.  Blind Bob's and Jazz Central, two Sunday Night Dayton Gems!!

Dateline 08/18/2008 (Rick Evans at Barleycorn's)
     Rosemary and I checked this out and found it to be a wonderful experience.  Of course the music was outstanding with Eddie Brookshire (bass), Jim Smith (guitar), Brenda Flowers (vocals) & Rick Evans (vocals).  The food and drinks excellent and affordable.  Our host (and owner) Rick Heil was gracious, the ambiance was relaxing and the fact the weather was flat out perfect didn't hurt.  (Go to their website here!)

Dateline 07/31/2008: (Jerry Steinke at Elton's Restaurant in Springfield, Ohio)
     Jerry Steinke was telling me how pleased he was to get a gig in his hometown of Springfield.  Somehow our conversation turned to talking about good food at reasonable prices.  One thing led to another and Jerry ended up inviting Rosemary and I to dinner on him.  So we went to Elton's Restaurant at 1802 E. Main St to take in some easy listening jazz and good eats.  Turns out Jerry was right about the quality and cost of the food at Elton's being worth the trip and the easy listening jazz that he and Phil Bobay was top notch.  They'll be there again on August 28, 29 and 30 from 5 to 8 p.m. - the odds are great that Rosemary will be there again on one of those dates.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

11/18/2008

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