“MAKE WEIRD SOUNDS,” or ROCKING THE BLUES SOUTH OF FOURTEENTH STREET: MARA KAYE, ERNIE VEGA, CONAL FOWKES, KEVIN DORN, JON-ERIK KELLSO (Cafe Bohemia, December 5, 2019)

We know nothing about “Pigmeat Terry,” probably “Terrio,” who may be accompanying himself on piano, but he left us this song, recorded in Chicago, 1935:

Almost eighty-five years later, a group of artists I admire deeply were rocking (or rockin’) the blues south of Fourteenth Street, at Cafe Bohemia, 15 Barrow Street.

Leading the pack in these dark rollicking blues was Mara Kaye, our very own:

She was joined and encouraged in this farmyard ecstasy by Ernie Vega, guitar; Conal Fowkes, string bass; Kevin Dorn, drums; Jon-Erik Kellso, trumpet:

Terry’s recording is available on YouTube for those who might say, “But I can’t understand the lyrics . . . ”   Feeling counts more than BBC diction.

Remember — when in doubt, make weird sounds.  Rabbi Kaye has spoken.

May your happiness increase!

SHORT YET SOARING: “WEARY BLUES,” BENT PERSSON and GORAN ERIKSSON

The received wisdom is that long-playing records (and then CDs) allowed jazz musicians “room to stretch out,” and in many cases that is a boon.  But I admire those musicians of all styles who can “get it done” in two choruses, smile, and step back.

Here’s a wonderful example: Bent Persson, cornet, and Goran Eriksson, banjo and stop-time percussive effects, romping through WEARY BLUES in the finest Louis Armstrong-Johnny St.Cyr manner, a performance that feels like the most rewarding dinner on a plate the size of a saucer: compressed, heated, expert:

It’s supposed to rain and be gray for the next three days . . . but in my heart the Louis-sun is blazing bright.

May your happiness increase!