Final Jazz on the Porch concert for 2016 was a Blues treat
The September 25th Jazz on the Porch Series performance at Talon Winery, sponsored by O’Donnell Family Dentistry, and hosted by The Jazz Arts Foundation, Inc., was a huge success.
Backbeat was the featured group for the afternoon and I am going to start this blog by giving you my first impression. I pulled into an up front and close to the stage parking spot (like all parking at Talon Winery) opened the door of my vehicle and was immediately taken aback by the most rich soulful guitar sounds filled with the heat of the day and the hearts of the players.
Backbeat is made up of four talented, local KY musicians: Casper Reed-lead guitar and vocalist, Paul Meece-second guitar & backup vocals, Jon Hunt-bass guitar & backup vocals, and Fred Roberts-drummer & backup vocals. The group plays many tunes with a Chicago Blues sound. Second guitar player, Paul Meece, said that their desire to bring this sound to KY arose from their love for Blues and the lack of venues that bring it to this area. Tee Dee’s Blues Bar in Lexington, KY being the best (if not only) of the blues bars in Lexington, KY. Every arrangement they played had their own style infused and intertwined throughout the piece. These four men sounded like a symphony that blended and fused instruments into joy even though the blues eked out of every note.
I had the pleasure of meeting two women who drove in from Cincinnati and farther North just to attend this wonderful afternoon of free jazz played on the porch of an old house converted into a wine tasting bar and shop with wine and gifts at The Talon Winery. Mary and Lana were gracious and allowed me to join them in conversation and sipping wine. Maria Masmanian, originally from Armenia, in from MA, following the quilt trail, came out with friends from Lexington.
Many patrons of the Jazz: Live at The Library! Series, sponsored by Jamey Abersold Jazz, hosted by The Jazz Arts Foundation, came out for this event, too. It was great to see familiar faces. An added bonus to the Jazz on the Porch Series@ Talon Winery is there is room to dance and dance a few of us did. Backbeat played an afternoon of booty shaking and foot tapping music.
by Catherine Perkins
