Well, I am not sure if you noticed or not, but I haven’t updated the station since last Sunday. Reason being, I spent the last five days at Myrtle Beach in South Carolina. That Drifters song, “I’ve Got Sand In My Shoes” kept repeating itself over and over in my head over the past week.  No matter what people may say, the best time to go to the beach is a week or two after Labor Day. The crowds and tourists are gone. The shore is empty. All you have is cool ocean breezes, the geriatric crowd and plenty of space and time to make memories. All you need is a blanket, a bottle of wine and your love, and nature will provide the rest. Skies dappled with starlight. The sound of the ocean rushing up and crashing upon the shore. Lock it away, that memory. Because another one just as good may be a long time in coming. The greatest thing about a vacation is that it reminds you that life is not all cubicles and flourescent lighting. There is beauty out there.

Oh, the boardwalk’s deserted
There’s nobody down by the sho-o-o-o-ore
And the ferris wheel ride isn’t turning around any m-o-ore-ore-ore
The heat wave and the crowds are just old new-ooh-ews
But I’ve still got some sand in my shoes

So Claire and I skipped out of work early today so we could catch a matinee showing of “The Notorious Bettie Page”. Admittedly, I didn’t know much about her except for the fact that she was a pin-up queen during the 50’s. It was a really good film. The music was excellent, by the way — Artie Shaw, Miles Davis, Paul Desmond…. The one thing that struck me about the movie, though, was how lascivious men can be. Claire used to model when she was younger, so I figured she would know how low men would try to go to try to get…well, you know. After the film I felt compelled to ask her if men are really that bad. She said, “Yeah, men can get pretty sleazy sometimes.” Made me a bit ashamed of my gender. In the film, Ms. Page comes off as both strong and independent and naive as well. Sometimes you feel sympathy for her and at other times you tend to wonder what she was thinking. Still, thumbs up from me. Anything that veers away from the conventional will always appeal to me and NBP definitely does that.

By the way, there was also some Patsy Cline played during the movie. As a jazz fan, I often wonder what Patsy Cline would have sounded like singing “Embraceable You” or “My Funny Valentine”. One of the greatest voices ever. In a way, she and Jo Stafford kind of favor in that there is a certain pristine clarity to their voices. Unmuddled, undiluted — just pure and strong. Sarah Vaughan had that too. Have you ever heard “Three Cigarettes in An Ashtray” by Patsy Cline? Man, I could listen to that song over and over. That’s a “slow dance by the light of the jukebox” kind of song. Love it. She was an original for sure.

This weekend I took my girlfriend to the beautiful Falls Creek Falls State Park here in Tennessee. It was her birthday and she had never been there and always wanted to go. It was the perfect weekend to go. Temperatures in the 70’s, plenty of sunshine with cozy thunderstorms arriving during the late afternoons and night. We had a great time. There’s nothing quite a nice as walking a quiet, lush nature trail during a late afternoon rainstorm. All you can hear are the pitter patter of raindrops on the leaves and the sound of the rushing waterfalls nearby. 

The picture below is probably my favorite. Standing here made me feel quite peaceful, and for a few moments all thoughts of jobs and stress and unhappiness dissipated.

If you like to hike and you want a nice weekend getaway here in Tennessee, Falls Creek Falls is not a bad place to start.

So I went to this jazz concert tonight at the Belcourt Theatre here in town. Let me give you a little background info on the Belcourt before I continue. It was opened back in the 20’s and served as a movie house for silent films. The Grand Ole Opry was there during the 30’s. It later became a venue for both live stage performances as well as films. In the 60’s it went back to its original use as a movie theater. I didn’t get pictures tonight because I was with a friend and wasn’t sure she would appreciate me being “the photog” this evening. But you can see pictures and find out more about the theater here: www.belcourt.org. The Belcourt holds a special place in my heart because back in the old days (the 90’s and before), the Belcourt was the only movie theater that would show independent films. Back then independent films didn’t make big profits, so the multiplexes weren’t interested in showing them. Nowadays, over half the best picture nominees would have been considered independent films. But the Belcourt showed them even when they knew the audience would be virtually nonexistent. They even showed revival films. The first time I ever saw “Taxi Driver” on the big screen, it was at the Belcourt. Same goes for “Midnight Cowboy”, “The Maltese Falcon” and “Casablanca”. It’s a special place. What makes it even more special is the fact that it was almost shut down for good in the 90’s and people banned together and saved it. Hopefully, it will be around for years to come.

Well, tonight was a special evening at the Belcourt. Not only was there a jazz concert, but my eyes were opened as well. There can be great jazz in Nashville. And it doesn’t have to be Smooth Jazz. Forgive me Smooth Jazz fans, but I consider Smooth Jazz to be a mental laxative. My dentist plays Smooth Jazz in his office. Whenever I get a cavity filled, I tell him to hold the novocaine. My whole body was numb the minute I walked in. Anyway, enough with the vitriol. How about a few names? How about Ed Thigpen (the great Oscar Peterson trio drummer) How about Houston Person (the tenor saxophonist who caresses a ballad like a man gently running his fingers along the bare shoulder of his lover. If it wasn’t so enticing, you’d almost be ashamed for being there. Almost like you were intruding on a man and his horn.)? These two titans were kind enough to grace our fair city and leave a few hundred people sighing in the night. There was an altoist there as well named James Aebersold. I’d never heard of him, but he was quite competent on his horn and when he played Body & Soul, well, I was down for the count. Rounding out the rhythm section were Lori Mechem on Piano, Roger Spencer on Bass, and Marcus Finnie on Drums. All new names to me, but they were all impressive in their playing. Most of the tunes played were standards, and there were more than a handful of ballads (which filled me with a sense of quiet elan). “Tenderly”, “I’m Glad There Is You”,”Since I Fell For You”. Phew! And when we thought it was all over, Person came back with one more tune, “What A Wonderful World”. What a warm, inviting tone this man has. I’m so grateful to have had a chance to hear him.

Tonight was a great night of music. Jazz is alive and well in Music City.

Located in the historic Printer’s Alley in Nashville, the Bourbon Street Blues and Boogie Bar is probably the best Blues club you’ll find in the city.  Smoky, sometimes dank and claustrophobic, the less than comfortable confines are usually ignored because of what is going on onstage. The house band is Stacy Mitchhart and Blues U Can Use, and they usually tear up the stage.

  

 

Being a Tuesday night, the crowd was rather thin. However, the music was hot as Shantelle and Juke Joint played their butts off for the people. Shantelle sings more contemporary songs, a lot of funk and pop and R&B. Every now and then she will slip into a nice blues tune. But with her rapid fire moves and Tina Turner like legs, she definitely keeps all eyes on the stage.

Talented, beautiful and friendly. Always a nice combination. If you ever come to Nashville and want to hear good blues music or good music overall, make sure you check out Bourbon Street Blues and Boogie Bar. You won’t be disappointed.