Dover Gailey Project @ Ivories - January 19th

Our monthly JSO members night was at Ivories last Thursday.  Hey, guys and gals, you are missing some good gigs!  The feature band of the evening was the Dover Gailey Project led by John Dover on trumpet and featuring Matthew Gailey on vocals.  The DG Project presented a tribute to Chet Baker's music.  They did it well.  John plays a very solid trumpet and I was impressed with Matthew's vocal efforts.  It is very satisfying to see a vocalist truly feel the song.  His emotional effort on "The Thrill is Gone" was my favorite tune of the evening.  I am sorry I did not get the names of the bass and guitar players; they provided excellent support for the leads by John and Matthew.

The service is good at Ivories; I particularly enjoyed my bread pudding dessert!!!

The opening set was an energetic piano solo by Kerry Politzer.  Would love to hear her as part of an ensemble.

Midnight Serenaders @ Tony Starlights Supperclub and Lounge January 14th

The Midnight Serenaders show can be summed up simply as FUN!!!!!   These folks are excellent musicians who play 20's and 30's style jazz and pop.  This is the second time I've heard them and thoroughly enjoyed both shows.  Tunes vary from catchy, up tempo numbers such as "Can't Dance, I've Got Ants in My Pants to bluesy numbers like "Handyman", sung with naughty intent by the always entertaining Dee Settlemeier.  She and Doug Sammons pair effectively on vocals, voices blending and/or contrasting as needed.
Doug and Dee are supported by a quartet of excellent musicians; David Evans on sax/clarinet, Doc Stein on Hawaiian steel guitar, and Pete Lampe on bass, and Garner Pruitt playing a muted trumpet that gives so much of the traditional flavor to this music.
It wasn't surprising that Tony Starlights was sold out last Saturday.  This music was great and, as I said earlier, these guys are FUN!  Their next show is:
Saturday, February 4 (2 - 3 pm)

(Ledding Library First Saturday Music Series)
10660 SE 21st Ave., Milwaukee, OR
tele: 503.786.7580

Next up for Senor Music Man - Ivories on the 19th.

Dee and Doug

You gonna be my "Handyman?"

Garner taking the lead.

New Years Eve at Jimmy Maks with Soul Vaccination

Don't know where I've been hiding for the past 10 years but this was my first exposure to Soul Vaccination.  Wow, these guys cook with gas!  This is a full musical ensemble cranking out some of the best funky soul this side of Tower of Power.  Jeff, ol' buddy, you missed a good one!
Patti and I spend every New Year's Eve with our good friends Sam and Amy Miller at Jimmy Mak's.  I was concerned over investing a New Year's Eve with a band I never heard of but I have learned to trust the folks at Jimmy Mak's.  They didn't let me down. Soul Vax opened with a hot rendition of "Pick up the pieces" and then really poured it on. Their full horn section (with baritone sax!) was complemented nicely by 3 very capable vocalists.  The Tower of Power influenced set was over in a flash and left me wanting much, much  more.  I'll see them again and will still be "diggin' on James Brown". They will be returning to Jimmy Mak's on January 28th - don't miss this band!

See you on the 14th at Tony Starlights for the Midnight Serenaders - one of Senor Music Man's favorites.  There is a lot of good music happening in our city throughout the month. Check out the jazz calendar on the Jazz Society of Oregon website; better yet, join and we'll send it to you!

Soul Vaccination - smokin'!