Jazz at Jaspers
As my closest friends know, Friday is my favourite day of the week. Due to this fact, I tend to start the weekend on Thursday nights. This time, I rang in the weekend with a visit to Jaspers on Mt. Lookout Square. My first time there, I was intrigued with the openess of this former theater. Bruce Menefield was performing with his ensemble - Mike Sharfe on Bass, Anthony "T" Lee on Drums, and of course, Bruce on Tenor and Alto. These guys "took it to the house" with such standards as "In a Sentimental Mood" and Herbie Hancock's "Cantaloup". In my first experience seeing Bruce perform, I sat there with my glass of water kicking myself for forgetting my camera to share a few pics with everyone. But that, of course, doesn't keep me from sharing what I have observed.
Throughout the month of October, Jaspers will feature performances on alternate Thursdays between Bruce Menefield and jazz pianist Steve Schmidt. And you know something? I am here to tell you - Jaspers is an extraordinary venue for attending Jazz events. The high, curved ceilings lend itself to dynamic acoustics. The openess & layout of the inside invites comfort for everyone who walks through the entrance. This includes unobstructed views of the stage from literally ANY perspective, thanks to preserving the traditional, Theater-Style slanted floor, leading down to the stage, at the foot of what used to be the cinema screen.
Jaspers is a place with a lot of character. The inside reminds me of a venue from the 1930's or 40's that could easily accommodate a Count Basie or Duke Ellington's Orchestra. So my recommendation for Thursday night jazz in October is to take a short drive to Jaspers, 3187 Linwood Ave. What better way to start the weekend early? For more information on Jaspers, visit http://www.jaspersmtlookout.com/. Cheers!
- jh
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