Published in the June 22 – July 5, 2016 issue of Morgan Hill Life
By Mark Fenichel
Photo courtesy Tony Johns
Tony Johns hosts the Thursday jam at downtown’s The Hill Bar and Grill.
Mark Fenichel
For quite some time now, the GVA Cafe has been the home of the “Stormy Monday” Blues jam featuring local musicians hosted by Pat and Patty Curtis. It has always been an entertaining all-electric jam of varying blues styles with all levels of musicians dropping in to sing, play drums, guitar, bass and harmonica. It was a good place to go to check out live spontaneous music, have a beer or glass of wine and some gelato or coffee. It was a good way musically to start off the week.
Well as they say, when one door closes another opens. An announcement was made that GVA Cafe would be discontinuing their “Stormy Monday” blues jam and closing early Mondays.
The same week they made that announcement public, a new blues popped up on Thursday nights at The Hill just down the block. This blues jam is hosted by veteran blues and soul musician and recording artist Tony Johns who is very well-known in the San Jose blues scene. Tony works as a Realtor by day and after hours he is a singer, keyboardist, bandleader, recording artist and producer/recording engineer. Tony moved to Morgan Hill from Sunnyvale two years ago and set up a recording studio in his home. Going back to his childhood, Tony started to play a Hammond organ while growing up in the soulful churches of Chicago. He calls his style of music jazzy funky bluesy… It’s music you can dance to, or just listen to.
Always expect the cream of the crop musicians making up his band, Big Funk Fat! Tony says, “I like to perform on weekdays, there’s a different feel with the people on weekdays. I have met so many people from just jamming, and have been running various jams for the last 10 years now, and have really met some incredible talent that I enjoy myself. Yes, I like performing with strangers… cats, I have never met before, we just take the music, and let it do what it do!”
The timing seemed right. I just happened to learn in advance from a post on Tony’s facebook page that he had been retained by The Hill Bar and Grill to lead a full on music jam and make it a musically exciting experience for the jammers and for those who just want to hang out, dance, drink and enjoy the vibe. Tony appears to be the perfect person to take on this task. He is not only very well connected in the South Bay music scene but you never know who may drop in or who he may bring in to be part of his house band.
I went there at about 10:30 p.m. The first night just to check it out and was pleasantly surprised to see a room full of people dancing, drinking and enjoying good music and a good time. Tony’s jam is opened to all jammers but if you are not quite a pro player, you better be on your game. The music that night was over the top as every player on stage was of professional quality. I was most impressed with the bass player who had an eight string bass with a widest neck I have ever seen. It was the size of a Major League Baseball bat! He went into a solo and played the bass like an electric guitar with all the technique of a virtuoso guitarist.
It really did not feel like a Thursday night as I saw many familiar faces hanging out way past their bed time. Tony didn’t hesitate to bring me up right away and had me play the last four or five songs. At the end of the last song everyone was smiling and happy that the evening was a real success. If you are looking for something to do on a Thursday night stop by The Hill from 7 to 11 p.m. between Second and Third streets.
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On another note, summer music is popping up everywhere. In addition to their busy weekly live music schedule, GVA Cafe is beginning a new live jam every Friday with a variety of local musicians. The wineries are exploding with live music including Guglielmo’s Vines & Vibes Wednesday Summer Music Series, Clos LaChance weekends on the patio, and Mama Mia’s beautiful patio every Thursday in Morgan Hill. Don’t forget, too, the Friday Night Music Series at the Downtown Amphitheater throughout the summer. Get out and enjoy the free live music.
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