I normally do not use this space to advertise/promote/highlight things that I personally am involved with. Seems kinda unfair so it’s my own type of self censureship. Normally I try to highlight good things in the city as well as complaining about things that I feel might not be for the overall goodness of our fair city.
Well, this weekend I will be involved with 3 events that are soooo kick@$$ that not even my own crappy sense of fairness can stop it. Yes people, I now give to you (drum roll) THE BEST WEEKEND EVER!!!
Friday, May 29 • 8:00pm / Jovan Alexandre @ The Studio
Since January, I’ve been programming evening events for The Studio @ Billings Forge in Frog Hollow. Friday, we have one of the young guns heralding the next generation of Hartford area jazz giants. I can cut n paste this young man’s bio but I would suggest going to his website for that along with some nice samples.
Jovan jamming at Integrity Music
The first time I met this young man was at La Paloma when we had a commemorative Jazz Jam in honor of Jackie McLean exactly one week after his passing. We had over 45 musicians come that evening to play and raised over $500 which went to the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving to support The Artists Collective, which was co-founded by Jackie and his wife, Dollie.
Young Javon came with a group of Artists Collective students who had just played at the Wadsworth and were shuttled over by awesome Sax man Obie Gerreau to La Paloma. He was a tall, lanky kid with a big tenor sax and a humongous afro that made him look like one of those funky, bushy haired pencils one sports in high school. He seemed totally giddy being around so many sax peeps. He solo’d right after fiery Mixashawn and just killed it. It was his official introduction to the Greater Hartford Jazz scene and he has picked it up since then becoming a well known name in the area.
This kid rocks and you should come see him…period! Accompanying him that evening is an incredible lineup of incredibly talented youngsters who have reawakened a Jazz Renaissance in Hartford. They are: Josh Evans on Trumpet, Chad Selph on Piano, Seth Lewis on Bass, and Jonathan Barber on Drums.
Saturday, May 30 • 11:00am / 5k Walk/Run/Bike @ Keney Park
Keney Park has been in the news lately for some planned development. Most of the proponents of said development pointed to “nothign happening in Keney Park.” as appropriate rationale. Well, even though the statement is NOT true in any way shape or form, my office (basically my aide-de-camp and I) decided to try and have a 5k road race within the southern portion of Keney Park (where the pool is located). We weren’t able to put our whole marketing efforts into it so, 2 registrants later, we have decided to just make it a close the park and come chill day. The Department of Public Works will close the park to traffic and we can all walk/run/bike however many K’s we want. Twice around the loop is roughly 5k (or 3+ miles) So, pack a picnic, bring some water, bring a boom box, a frisbee, some sun screen and whatever else your heart desires and lets chill in one of the most beautiful parks in the region.
Saturday, May 30 • 8:00pm / Fernandito Ferrer @ The Studio
To finish up the Best Weekend Ever, we bring you an incredible performer from the island of Puerto Rico. Four years ago a friend of mine told me about this young man and we brought him to La Paloma where he left everyone with mouths agape. Singing in a traditional troubadore style, Fernandito infuses some kick @$$ percussive techniques as well as incorporating samples from Spanish and English alike. In the spirit of Silvio, DiFranco, Milanes, Dilan, Baez, etc… he truly contemporizes the genre with his fiery performances.
There you have it folks…The Best Weekend EVER!!! Any questions, post it in comments and I’ll get back to ya…