It's always fun to get out and about for an adventure, particularly when it includes music!
The Bob James Quartet live at Jazz Alley in Seattle.
Friend and fellow Westminster owner, Leo, and I were in Seattle yesterday for a brief visit and stopped in at Jazz Alley to catch the Bob James Quartet's performance, and it was awesome!
You might remember that multi-Grammy winning piano legend Bob James for Angela, which became the theme for the television show Taxi. They closed their first set of the night with Angela, with huge applause and a standing ovation from the attendees.
Billy Kilson was on drums, and he was amazing! Just when I'm thinking my hi-fi is sounding pretty amazing too (and it is), I hear Billy on drums live from our seats about 30 feet away, and get blown away by the visceral impact of big hits on his drums during solos, as well as his subtleties on cymbals & snares during accompaniment, and I realize how far hi-fi has to go to produce the explosive live presence of a full drum kit. Were still a ways off, friends.
Michael Palazzolo, a young fella' from France, was playing acoustic bass, and he was phenomenal. I've never seen & heard a bass player with Michael's level of talent ... ever. He and Billy wowed the crowd time and again with their interplay!
Bob James on piano & keyboards was brilliant, as was Perry Hughes on guitar, and it gives me hope that humanity can transcend these difficult populist times in the evolution of civilizations, when I see what people are capable of doing when working together at their best.
Bob James signed his LP's (!) after the Quartet's set at Jazz Alley - way cool!
They're at Jazz Alley through the weekend, so if you're nearby be sure to stop in and catch a performance, you won't be sorry!
Bob James actually had LP's available after the concert for sale! LP's! The sweet part about it was that Bob was signing them for folks after the sets, so it really made for a memorable experience. Many thanks to Leo who braved the crowd and bought us both an LP to take home with us as a memento of a great performance - thanks, Leo!
I'm listening to this three LP set while I'm writing today's post - good stuff!
Jeff in the Captain's chair of the Star Trek exhibit - "Engage!"
Before the Bob James Quartet's performance we stopped in at the Museum of Pop Culture, which was a blast as well!
A lot of the props from the original Start Trek TV show were on display, and that's me hamming it up in the original Captain's chair from the deck of the Enterprise.
Stairway "to heaven" into the Star Trek exhibit at MoPOP.
Star Trek exhibit at MoPOP - fun!
Star Trek exhibit room at MoPOP.
Star Trek exhibit at MoPOP - Captain Picard!
Star Trek exhibit at MoPOP - Next Generation Enterprise!
There's so many cool pop history exhibits at MoPOP it's impossible to describe them all, but in addition to the Star Trek exhibit I really enjoyed seeing ...
Wicked Witch of the West hat from 'Wizard of Oz' movie.
... the hat of the Wicked Witch of the West and the Cowardly Lion costume ...
Cowardly Lion costume from the Wizard of Oz.
.. costumes from Princess Bride ...
Costumes from the Princess Bride, "My name is Inigo Montoya".
One of the great draws at MoPOP is the pop music culture exhibits ...
MoPOP guitars!
... the guitar exhibit was awesome!
Eric Clapton's 'Brownie' Strat!
Woody Guthrie's Martin!
"This Machine Kills Fascists" is a message that Woody Guthrie placed on his guitar in 1941, which is a message worth remembering today.
Music and thoughtful non-violent activism can help remind us of the political sins of the past & present, and perhaps stimulate the conscience of those whose hearts that have become hardened with hope for the future.
The 'Air Guitar'!
Here's a guitar we can all play with enthusiasm - the air guitar!
Kurt Cobain, Nirvana.
Kurt Cobain, Seattle's native son.
Kudos to Paul Allen for funding such an amazing Museum of Pop Culture, it's a treasure!
Ok, that's all for now, gotta run, lot's to catch up on this weekend!
As always, thanks for stopping by, and may the tone be with you!
