2010-0502 Dave Torkanowsky, Germaine Bazzle and more

2010-0502 Dave Torkanowsky & more-143
Originally uploaded by NoVARon

After the end of JazzFest, Dave Torkanowsky was leading his group at Irvin Mayfield's Jazz Playhouse at the Royal Sonesta HOtel on Bourbon Street. Torkanowsky's Sunday gig includes the great drummer, June Gardner and tonight he had Chris Thomas on bass (Thomas had been part of Brian Blade's group at JazzFest), clarinetist-saxophonist Evan Christopher, and special guest, Jason Marsalis on vibraphones. Of course, the Sunday evening shows spotlight the great New Orleans vocalist Germaine Bazzle. It was a special performance with the highpoint being Duke Ellington's "Mood Indigo," on which Bazzle scatted the growling trumpet part (conjuring up Bubber Miley and Cootie Williams) to Christopher's evocation of Barney Bigard on clarinet. It was an incredible performance. Germaine Bazzle is a New Orleans treasure and Torkanowsky is a superb pianist and organist (as he showed at JazzFest).