Post by Exildo Wonsetler Briggs III on Jun 24, 2007 21:45:31 GMT -6
A few days ago I was listening to our local Smooth Jazz radio station and they advertised a concert with Dan Siegel and Michael Paulo playing together at Dino's Jazz Piano Bar down in St. Petersburg. We have never been to Dino's and I figured any Jazz Bar that was hosting these two guys can't be all bad!! I immediately got "online" and purchased two tickets at a table right up front.
I have known Dan Siegel's music for 15 years or so and he is one of my favorite Jazz keyboardists. Michael Paulo was someone I knew, but didn't know it!!
To experience these two, in an intimate atmosphere just a few feet from the stage, was amazing! Dan Siegel has chosen to not pursue the "main stage" personna, simply letting his music do his talking. After the first set, I went to the bar to get a round of drinks and he was standing right beside me. I asked him if a certain song Rhapsody was "in the cue" for later and he laughed. The song Rhapsody was from a CD from 1987 and he mentioned someone else asked about another song off that same CD. Alas, he said they rarely play those anymore.
Shortly after beginning set two, he said, "a couple of folks asked about these older songs we used to do" and he proceeded to play a bit of both. No one else in the band was prepared for these, so he just "winged" it for a bit on both. Outstanding!!
There is one thing about *really* good musicians that is hard to put into words. We've all been in bars with bands playing, but there is something that once heard, you will never forget. It's "presence," and I can't define it, but know it when I hear it. It's that sound that you hear when a really professional group of musicians hit the stage, along with a great sound system, and you just *know* what is coming up is going to be good.
These guys had *presence* tonight and I'm thankful we had the chance to hear, up close and personal, a world class concert of jazz musicians that was truly outstanding!
Michael Paulo stole the show, as he is clearly the "act." He leaped off stage, took his Sax into the crowd, up onto the bar, onto tables and generally had the time of his life while giving us a night to remember!
A wonderful night it was!
................Bob
I have known Dan Siegel's music for 15 years or so and he is one of my favorite Jazz keyboardists. Michael Paulo was someone I knew, but didn't know it!!
To experience these two, in an intimate atmosphere just a few feet from the stage, was amazing! Dan Siegel has chosen to not pursue the "main stage" personna, simply letting his music do his talking. After the first set, I went to the bar to get a round of drinks and he was standing right beside me. I asked him if a certain song Rhapsody was "in the cue" for later and he laughed. The song Rhapsody was from a CD from 1987 and he mentioned someone else asked about another song off that same CD. Alas, he said they rarely play those anymore.
Shortly after beginning set two, he said, "a couple of folks asked about these older songs we used to do" and he proceeded to play a bit of both. No one else in the band was prepared for these, so he just "winged" it for a bit on both. Outstanding!!
There is one thing about *really* good musicians that is hard to put into words. We've all been in bars with bands playing, but there is something that once heard, you will never forget. It's "presence," and I can't define it, but know it when I hear it. It's that sound that you hear when a really professional group of musicians hit the stage, along with a great sound system, and you just *know* what is coming up is going to be good.
These guys had *presence* tonight and I'm thankful we had the chance to hear, up close and personal, a world class concert of jazz musicians that was truly outstanding!
Michael Paulo stole the show, as he is clearly the "act." He leaped off stage, took his Sax into the crowd, up onto the bar, onto tables and generally had the time of his life while giving us a night to remember!
A wonderful night it was!
................Bob