Monday, April 2, 2012

Joe Krown Trio, Pittsburgh, PA

4/1/12
Joe Krown is a New Orleans fixture specializing in the stride style piano technique along with more recent adventures on the B3 organ. Joining Krown on this tour is Walter "Wolfman" Washington and Russell Batiste, Jr. recreating a trio that has been playing the Maple Leaf  Bar on Frenchman Street for the last few years.
This video clip from their show at the Thunderbird Cafe gives you an example of some excellent B3 organ playing in the Richard "Groove" Holmes tradition.





Before I checked out Joe Krown I stopped by the James Street Gastropub and Speakeasy and saw some early evening jazz from The Curtis Johnson Quartet. Surprisingly, the Speakeasy was packed.  Perhaps Pittsburgh will be able to keep its jazz tradition alive after all.


Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Joe Barth Jazz Band, Slippery Rock, PA

I have been off the music blogging trail for awhile but I thought Fat Tuesday deserved at least a little attention. I couldn't be in NOLA for Fat Tuesday so the best alternative I could find locally was at North Country Brewery in Slippery Rock, PA. I got there early to get a seat and eat some horrible gumbo (I should learn never to eat cajun food prepared in PA). The band on this night was the Joe Barth band and they did a nice job performing some Dixieland jazz. It wasn't NOLA but it was alright.

The Joe Barth band at North Country Brewery. 
By the way, would it kill them to buy some flats so the bands that play there are elevated a little bit.

The people of Slippery Rock did their best to dress up for Fat Tuesday.

Joe Harry and Mark Tarcy have a deep and meaningful discussion while drinking beer.

 The bar at North Country Brewing.

The excitement never ends on Fat Tuesday.