Underscoring what jazz is...

Every once in a while, it is good to get a healthy reminder of what jazz is. Some people think it is a repertoire of classic material, be it beloved jazz standards or pages from the Great American Songbook. 

Dave Potter

But jazz is not specific material, though we all have favorites we like to hear now and then. It is the way a band plays a song. Any song. Originating in any genre.

The reminder that jazz is a process - and an intense form of communication between the musicians on stage shared with the listeners privileged to be there - was on full display Thursday, September 22 at The Grill at 1951 in Port Charlotte FL. 

Drummer Dave Potter's Retro Groove quartet put their hard-swinging stamp on a wide range of material, two-thirds of it from sources far from the standard repertoire. Potter's band mates included pianist Austin Johnson, bassist Terrell Montgomery and tenor saxophonist Miguel Alvarado. 

In addition to his own projects and teaching, Atlanta-based Potter is the drummer in vibes player Jason Marsalis's touring band.

To get into the audience's comfort zone, Retro Groove opened with a few jazz classics: "Have You Met Miss Jones?," Thelonious Monk's infrequently heard "Shuffle Boil" and Antonio Carlos Jobim's bossa nova "Wave" before shifting to the 1979 Deniece Williams R&B hit "Why Can't We Fall in Love?" They closed out the first set with Ornette Coleman's "When Will the Blues Leave?"

The Deniece Williams hit was just a hint of what was to come. Potter's choices in the second and third sets were all extended instrumental versions of beloved songs from more popular repertoires - including pop, hard rock, R&B and in one instance, movie music. Most came from his newest recording, Retro Groove, which was released in March on Square Biz Records.

Johnson, Alvarado

Their take on the Chaka Khan hit "Through the Fire" preceded Steve Winwood's "Higher Love," on which Nashville-based Alvarado unleashed an extended solo reminiscent of Sonny Rollins' stream-of-consciousness journeys into a song's possibilities. His approach was consistent throughout the night.

Then came the Whitney Houston hit "Saving All My Love For You," composer Jon Williams' "The Flying Sequence" from the 1978 Superman movie starring Christopher Reeve. Living Colour's "Cult of Personality was a spotlight for Johnson's keyboard chops.

Retro Groove closed the night with Potter's arrangements of three more gems: the Michael Jackson hit "I Can't Help It," The Isley Brothers' "For the Love of You" (later covered by Houston and many others), and Peter Gabriel's "In Your Eyes." 

In each case, extended solos delved into the music's possibilities. Potter's swinging groove and imagination were at the heart of it all.

Austin Johnson, Miguel Alvarado, Terrell Montgomery, Dave Potter

Looking ahead: Southwest Florida jazz preview (updated)

Here is a rundown of noteworthy jazz events, principally in the Sarasota to Naples territory, from now through November. Keep in mind the reality of COVID-19 protocols, expect possible cancellations, and mask up to keep yourself and others safe.

September

Bobby van Deusen

• Thursday, September 29 – Pianist Bobby van Deusen opens the Charlotte County Jazz Society’s 2022-23 matinee music series. The Grill at 1951, Port Charlotte. 1:30 p.m. WEATHER CANCELLATION
  
• Friday, September 30 – Pianist Bobby van Deusen opens South County Jazz With Morrie’s 2022-23 series. Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Venice, 2 p.m.  WEATHER CANCELLATION

October

• Monday, October 10 – The Jeff Rupert Quartet opens the Charlotte County Jazz Society’s 2022-23 Artist Series evening concert season. Gulf Theater, Punta Gorda. 7 p.m. CANCELED



Jimmy Greene


• Wednesday, October 12 – Tenor saxophonist Jimmy Greene is special guest with the Naples Philharmonic Jazz Orchestra as the sextet opens its 2022-23 season. Artis Naples’ Daniels Pavilion, Naples. 6 and 8:30 p.m.
• Friday, October 14 to Sunday, October 16 -- The hardly-any-jazz Clearwater Jazz Holiday's 43rd annual festival. Trombone Shorty is the only jazz-tinged headliner on the three-day lineup, which includes Charlie Wilson and Waren Haynes' Gov't Mule band. BayCare Ballpark.
• Monday, October 17 – Paul Gavin and The Writers Corner perform in the Jazz Club of Sarasota's Monday Night Jazz Cabaret series at the John C Court Cabaret at Florida Studio Theatre. Sarasota. 7:30 p.m.
• Friday, October 21 – The Manhattan Transfer 50^th anniversary concert opens the Jazz Club of Sarasota's 43^rd season as part of their farewell tour. Pianist Liston Gregory III opens the show. Sailor Circus Arena, Sarasota. 7 p.m.

November

• Wednesday, November 9 – Alto saxophonist Charles McPherson is special guest with the Naples Philharmonic Jazz Orchestra. Artis Naples’ Daniels Pavilion, Naples. 6 and 8:30 p.m.

• 

  Jason Marsalis
  

  Monday, November 14 – Ronnie Leigh performs in the Charlotte County Jazz Society’s 2022-23 Artist Series evening concert season. Gulf Theater, Punta Gorda. 7 p.m.
• Friday to Sunday, November 18-20 – Suncoast Jazz Festival. This year's headliners include Adrian Cunningham, Kermit Ruffins, Judy Carmichael and Jason Marsalis. Sand Key, Clearwater.
• Saturday, November 26 – Saxophone smoothie Dav Koz and Friends, 25^th anniversary tour, with Rick Braun, Rebecca Jade, Keiko Matsui and Peter White. Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, Sarasota. 8 p.m.

Several venues offer jazz steadily. They include The Grill at 1951 (formerly J.D.’s Bistro) in Port Charlotte; Amore, and Cafe L'Europe in Sarasota; Scarpino’s in Bradenton; and The Roadhouse and The Barrel Room at Twisted Vine Bistro in Fort Myers. Jazz at Two Friday matinee concerts sponsored by the Jazz Club of Sarasota , the Charlotte County Jazz Society’s matinee series, and Morrie Trumble's South County Jazz With Morrie series in Venice also keep things swinging for jazz lovers.

A Misty Night

 Musician friends, family and friends, and students from near and far packed The Barrel Room at Twisted Vine Bistro in downtown Fort Myers on Thursday night, September 1, for a jazz night unlike any other the venue has seen.

Del Gatto, Vigilante, Dowling, Robertson

They were all there, standing room only through the first set, to celebrate the musical legacy of trumpeter and educator Dan Miller, who died unexpectedly on August 19 at age 53.

The Barrel Room has been the Thursday night home for the past six and one-half years of the Dan Miller-Lew Del Gatto quartet, that also included bassist Brandon Robertson and drummer Tony Vigilante. The venue's Thursday night jazz will carry on, led by Robertson.

Bill Dowling

David Miller

On this night, longtime friend Bill Dowling was on trumpet. The quartet brought up a succession of guest musicians, beginning with Dan's younger brother, David Miller, on trombone.

Del Gatto, who'd worked frequently with Dan for 15 years, said the tribute would feature tunes that his dear friend loved to play. And so it did, with spirited and poignant versions of Duke Ellington's "In a Mellow Tone," Thelonious Monk's "Bright Mississippi," "Green Dolphin Street," "Perdido," Miles Davis' "Blues By Five" (the band's traditional first-set closer), Tadd Dameron's "On a Misty Night," the Gershwin Brothers' burner "Soon" and Eddie Durham's Basie band staple "Topsy.”

Tony Vigilante

Two ballads were requested by or dedicated to Dan's longtime sweetheart, Judi Woods: "These Foolish Things Remind Me of You" and later, "Tenderly." Both were beautiful features for Dowling's trumpet artistry.

Herb Bruce, Gerald Augustin

The musicians sitting in at various points included drummer Paul Gavin, tenor saxophonist Gerald Augustin, trombonist Herb Bruce, bassist Kevin Mauldin (a band mate of Dan and Lew's in the Naples Philharmonic Jazz Orchestra sextet), and drummer John Gonzalez, who is one of Robertson's students in the Gulf Coast University jazz studies program.

Robertson noted at one point that while he graduated from Florida State University with a master's degree in music, "Dan gave me a doctorate in life."

Tenors anyone?

Kevin Mauldin

Judi Woods announced that this informal tribute was just a warmup for a bigger celebration that will be held in a larger venue when details and logistics can be worked out. 

She is setting up a 501(c)(3) nonprofit called the Dan Miller Jazz Master Memorial Scholarship Fund to carry on Dan's legacy of paying it forward. It will be used to provide funds for instruments, jazz camp tuition, lessons and perhaps scholarships for young jazz students who need financial help.

Del Gatto told the crowd that the tip jar that evening wouldn't go to the musicians, but would be set aside for the fund. By night's end, the large glass bowl was nearly full.