July 4, 2012

55 Bar

Fay Victor’s ExPosed Blues Band with Anders Nilsson

After a lovely 4th of July BBQ at Peter Matthew’s in Brooklyn I wended my way back to Manhattan to hear Fay and Anders. This hot weather has changed my plans some as I am a San Diego wimp when it comes to 97 degree heat.  I have gone to some air-conditioned movies instead of hot, humid clubs.  But the 55 Bar has a good fan so braved it.  I am glad I did.  Fay sang many great blues songs and Anders played his ass off, if I may be so crude.  She sang “Alone from Mother Earth;” “Creep,” Radiohead tune; a great “If You Don’t Give Me Just What I Want”, a jump blues piece that is on their CD. I didn’t get the name of some of the songs but loved an Eddie Harris classic, “Jazz Dance Freedom” and Monk’s “Blue Monk.” Some of the words from that hit home (paraphrased): “Being alone life is your own - sometimes the cost is deep. Trial and error, loss and gain. Finding your own place in the sun doesn’t come easy. It takes some doing measured by the dues you pay.”  Sigh.  Anders tore it up during Curtis Mayfield’s “Check Out Your Mind.” He and Ken Filiano will be performing in my Fresh Sound music series in San Diego on Oct. 2nd.  That’s very good news.