Published in the Aug. 19 – Sept. 1, 2015 issue of Morgan Hill Life
By Mark Fenichel
Mark Fenichel
A brand-new blues jam has just begun at 7 p.m. every Monday at GVA Cafe. It’s called the Stormy Monday Blues Jam. I stopped by just to see how the first one is going and had a great time playing with hosts Pat and Patty Curtis. Pat has assembled a back-up band made up of quality local musicians. Everyone who wants to play the blues is invited to join the back-up band and sit in or front the band.
GVA has a sound system in place and you are encouraged to bring your musical friends to play with you. If you have a band you can come down and play a few tunes.
Stop in and check it out. I know where I will be on my free Monday nights.
I had the opportunity to explore the wonderful San Jose Jazz Summer Fest 2015 in downtown San Jose. It was a weekend filled with an excellent variety of live music including jazz, blues, big band, roots, Latin, salsa and just about everything you can think of in live music.
Besides many outside stages placed throughout downtown, there were many indoor venues including Cafe Stritch, Gordon Biersch, and the California Theater.
Saturday night inside the Fairmont Hotel lobby, I discovered a band that included members and former members of Santana and Tower of Power. I have never seen so many people in that place. Don’t tell the local fire marshal but I think it was one of the hottest musical events of the annual three-day festival.
Our Friday Night Music Series will be ending Aug. 28 and the last two Fridays will feature Sage Aug. 21 and The Houserockers Aug. 28.
I am looking forward to performing as the opening acoustic act with my musical partner Nancy Wenstrom on the final night, and maybe even sitting in on a few tunes with The Houserockers.
As of this writing, The Granada Theater still has tickets available for what is likely their final major concert in the old theater as we have always known it prior to the complete renovation that will be starting up in the very near future.
This is a must see show at 8 p.m. Sept.17 featuring Graham Parker and Brinsley Schwarz in an up-close and personal concert experience.
Tickets can be purchased online at www.morganhillgranada.com. You better hurry because they are going fast!
• • •
On another note:
If you have not yet been to the summer patio music series at Mama Mia’s on a Thursday evening, you really owe it to yourself to take advantage of this wonderful relaxed setting with fantastic Italian Mediterranean food and a variety of live music. The music starts at 6 p.m., admission is always free and children are welcome.
Got a music tip? Send it to [email protected].
