Sep. 27, 2006 9:53 am
   

If I had a buck for every time I’ve heard people talk about
how much they would appreciate a nice piano bar around here I would… well, I
would have a pocket full of dollars. Last night I went to Bistro Bethem to hear
The John Vreeland Jazz Quartet and folks, it was happening there. I’m here to
tell you that this group is the group to follow if you want great jazz in a dinner
atmosphere and in the bargain, you could have even heard what your dinner partner was saying.


The volume, the quality of the music, the sequencing of the numbers from a
light jazzy dining-friendly feel at the beginning to the upbeat energy of the
first song after the break and the whole second set , it was all just as I felt it should be. There was
even some musical humor thrown in such as when John sneaked a little “Chopsticks” into
their rendition of “Up The Lazy River”.

I mentioned this event briefly yesterday on The Fredericksblog and had I known
what an outstanding experience it was going to be I would have flogged it a lot
harder. And to all those people who I told face to face and who still didn’t make
it, shame on you, you missed a lot. If you allow this to happen again an entry will be made in your
permanent record.

Next up for the Jon Vreeland Jazz Quartet is at Chord’s,
8:00 PM on October 6^th (First Friday) and they’ll be at Chord’s on
First Friday in November and December as well. Unfortunately they don’t have a
website so I’ll be at John’s mercy on keeping you informed of their scheduled appearances
but I’ll keep digging for the info. You need to see and hear this group.