Variety is The Spice of Life
Last night was yet another smashing success, despite that nasty rain that keeps daring to show its face! There were so many different shows with very different styles, it made for an interesting evening! Even with the rain, the tent was still packed last night for LAILA BIALI and CHRISTIAN MCBRIDE and it was a wonderful show. LAILA BIALI's cover of FEIST's Mushaboom made my heart melt.
The church was really well attended for our JAZZEAST 25TH ANNIVERSARY BIG BAND free show! It was fantastic to see so many great musicians play together and even some who have been there since the first few years of the festival! I always love seeing any show at the church - the look and sound is so great every time, but this was definitely a special treat.
FRIENDLY RICH AND THE LOLLIPOP PEOPLE blew my mind at the Company House. I had been looking forward to that show for the last few weeks because I had no idea what to expect other than the unexpected, and they certainly didn't disappoint. The show was bizarre, interesting, engaging, shocking, and fun. Not to mention that the guys were also all really incredibly nice - I love it when you meet artists and they're genuinely great people.
We rushed over to the Imperial Ballroom at the Lord Nelson to catch a bit of KEREN ANN's set. Her voice was sultry and seductive and enchanting. She told the crowd about how they had lost some of their gear during their flight, being yet another awful flight story for the night, along with LAILA BIALI not being able to open for ELVIS COSTELLO (although her band was able to play without her!) and BARRY ROMBERG's delayed flight making for a genuine late night show at the Georgian Lounge! Even with the later-than-usual time, the venue was still full of jazz lovers who enjoyed the evening.
(Photo Credit: Chris Cowper-Smith. Make sure to check out the rest
of his Halifax Jazz Festival pictures on his website, QUARKVIEW)
Tonight we've got a great Friday night ahead of us! JEFF REILLY - BLACK SUN is happening at 7PM at the St. Matthew's United Church. If you had a great time dancing to FORRO IN THE DARK, tonight you'll be able to put on your dancing shoes again for LA-33 and SALSA PICANTE at the festival tent starting at 8PM. At 9PM we've got KIRK MACDONALD QUARTET at the Imperial Ballroom and GRANELLI/TRONZO/GRANELLI at 1313 Hollis, finishing with the amazing SILVIO PUPO QUARTET at the late night at the Georgian Lounge!
Don't forget - due to the rain on Tuesday, the PAUL SIMONS DUO will be playing the Whirligig TODAY at 4:30PM until 6PM followed by JOHN CHIASSON AND THE LONELY HEARTS CLUB BAND from 615-745PM. We've also got our very last GALAXIE RISING STAR contestant, GLEN STRICKEY QUARTET, playing at the daytime tent at 3:45PM!