Day: October 29, 2012

Local artist, musician and President of Rocky Neck Art Colony, Karen Ristuben attended the Berklee in Gloucester show at The Gloucester House on Thursday (10/25).  Here’s what she had to say about it:

Jazz as much needed medicine, my table-mates and I agreed.  On Thursday Oct. 25, The Jim Odgren Quintet energized the Gloucester House with two fabulous jazz sets.  On smoking alto sax, Odgren led the band through a tasty array of be-bop, ballads and straight-aheads from Evans to Coltrane.  Young guitarist Lucian Gray defied finger speed records as he sailed over the fret-board  relaxed, cross-legged, confident, superb.  On keys, Davis Whitfields’ understated, elegant renderings and his composed countenance belied his young age.  And rhythm section, student Roberto Giaquinto on drums and Berklee professor and bassist Dave Santoro were unflappable and inspired.

It was an evening all too rare in Gloucester these days, with the Latitude 43 jazz nights gone and no other Cape Ann jazz venue in sight apart from the Franklin Cape Ann’s excellent regulars.

This Berklee series, a worthy benefit for young Gloucester music students, gives us great players, a listening room where you can actually listen, and the welcome chance to get inside the healing relief of live  jazz.

NOTE: After the storm we’ll announce the next show.  You won’t want to miss it.  There’s some cool Halloween entertainment happening this week.  Check out the live music schedule for Gloucester and Cape Ann here.