Text 7339, 76 rader
Skriven 2008-05-19 05:34:00 av MICHAEL LOO (1:123/140)
Ärende: beyond tijuana 332 (2)
==============================
Herb Alpert and Lani Hall with Bill Cantos, Hussain Jeffrey, and Tom
at Scullers Jazz Club, Doubletree Hotel.

Over the years, Scullers has evolved into one of the premier jazz
venues in the city: back in its early days, one got in for $5 or
so and heard struggling young musicians, including friends of mine
(occasionally backed up by the likes of me); now, it gets headliners
like Brubeck and this guy, and one pays $40 and earns the privilege
of buying supermarket wine for about that much a bottle.

It's a cozy space that seats a couple hundred only, and of course
it was way sold out. We had comps, so no worries there, especially
as it was unlikely we'd have been inclined to go if we didn't know
someone in the band. I can't see how the total house would even pay
for the plane for these guys. I'm guessing that Herb is taking a
deduction on his expenses while giving his wife (who by the was is
excellent, so it's not a vanity thing, exactly) lots of exposure
and perhaps publicizing some forthcoming album or another.

The venue does make a few bucks, I'm sure, as the markup on the wine
is to between 4x and 5x of normal retail! and the food offerings,
sort of lackluster in execution as I recall, are generic but costly
(fried squid appetizer for 11 bucks, burgers more than that).

As our tickets were from someone who has been described as the best
drummer in the world, we were deferentially genuflected into some
of the worst seats in the house, with a pillar obstructing the view
of the stage: this didn't bother me actually, as I'm not that visual
and actually welcomed a barrier between the music and me, especially
when the drums or trumpet were playing, which was most of the time.

It was, I'm surprised to say, a memorable concert. Herb's sound
is still creamily distinctive, his wife has a sultry but agile voice,
and they're both surprisingly fine musicians. Plus they put together
behind them the best band money can buy (as opposed to the groups I
play in, which are, as Jay Daly says, "the best in our price range.")

The program was mostly Brazilian jazz along with some standard
American love songs and a few snippets of the old Tijuana Brass
standards, for nostalgia's sake. A particularly touching moment
when Herb sang "I've Grown Accustomed to Your Face" to Lani, who
seemed to be feeling real emotion, though he sings the song
probably at every gig.

The setting is cabaret, with waiters running up and down all the
time, taking orders in a slightly too loud voice. A lot of glass
clinking and other cocktail sounds. Not too much conversation
from the audience, though, as (as Ellen pointed out) we brought
the average age of the patronage down to around 60 or 65.

Sara was hungry and had some dessert that I couldn't see in the
dark across the table; the more adult among us avoided the grossly
overpriced food menu in favor of the grossly overpriced bar menu.
We ordered the Danzante Pinot Grigio, no bargain at $42 a bottle,
but it was out. So we asked for the Nobilo Sauvignon Blanc at
30-something, plus a Smuttynose Porter for me, but the waiter said
that he'd just sold the last bottle. Ended up with the slightly
too sweet, slightly too light, and not acid enough Chateau Ste.
Michelle Johannisberg Riesling 06, which had nice apples and pears
and a touch of spice, but not much character and not much staying
power. I think it was $34. The Smuttynose did come after a lengthy
delay, and it was pleasant, rather hoppy but with chocolate and
coffee characteristics and a good round malty finish.

Afterward we hung around with the band (minus Herb and Lani, who
were dealing with autograph seekers and assorted star-struck types),
trading musical war stories and drinking no-name Pinot Grigio and
Remy Martin VSOP at hotel prices.

By the way, I got an offer for more comps for the group's sold-out
concerts at Jazz Alley in Seattle, but certain persons who shall
remain nameless weren't thrilled with the idea, so too bad.

___ Blue Wave/386 v2.30
--- Platinum Xpress/Win/WINServer v3.0pr5
 * Origin: Doc's Place BBS Fido Since 1991 docsplace.tzo.com (1:123/140)