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The organization held an event at The Samsung Experience, sort of like a Bang & Olufsen, but colder, and only featuring Samsung-brand goods. There's a stage at the back and the Victor Goines Quintet was up there cookin'.
Coincidentally, one of the musicians is from my hometown and had taken lessons from my music teacher. I'd heard about him years ago, but I'd never seen or heard him play until last night.
Jazz has always fascinated me, though I don't know how it happened. I grew up in a household where there were only three kinds of music: folk, classical, and Elvis. But at some point I started listening to big band swing, and eventually, I learned to play. From then on, I was hooked.
Last night's performance was mostly songs from the East Coast-oriented Duke Ellington songbook: "Perdido," "Caravan," "Prelude to a Kiss" — all songs that I've played, heard or danced to at one time or another.
But the band threw in a rendition of a piece from New Orleans that I wasn't expecting — the 2001 arrangement of an Ellis Marsalis' classic, "Swingin' at the Haven."
I've never heard the piece live, but within the first three chords, a flood of memories came back: the initial discovery of this arrangement, my own half-baked attempts to figure out the chart, the commutes back and forth in the car when I'd listen to the piece over and over, trying to get in my ears.
Unfortunately, I couldn't find a clip online, however, the All For One Foundation has another version available, and it's the featured music on this post.
Last night, I was ready for wherever the boys were headed. And I realized how much I missed playing myself.
Gotta get a gig, man.