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ESCONDIDO: Jazzed about downtown
Free concert added to monthly Art Walk in Escondido
By GARY WARTH - Staff Writer | ∞
ESCONDIDO ---- In what may become a monthly summer event next year, musicians will perform for art lovers this Saturday in Escondido's first jazz-themed Art Walk.
The concert will go from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Saturday on Kalmia Street at Grand Avenue ---- adding music to the existing Second Saturday Art Walk that runs monthly.
"It's always been just an Art Walk, but we wanted to tie in jazz," said Debra Rosen, head of the Downtown Business Association, which runs the event.
Rosen said she got the idea for the free concert after doing an Internet search about Art Walks in other cities and finding that many found jazz and art a good mix. She said a jazz concert will be held as part of another Art Walk in October, adding that the two events will serve as a test about whether to make the concerts a monthly event during the warm season.
Saturday's Art Walk will last until 9 p.m. and feature more than 25 artists, galleries and museums hosting receptions and demonstrations.
People are asked to bring lawn chairs to listen to the band, which will set up on a stage facing south on Kalmia Street. Guitarists Jack Brooks and Ray Fernandez, trumpeter Nathan Mills, clarinet player Benny Jackson, bassist Bruce Grafrath and percussionist Kenny Powell are scheduled to perform in the ensemble.
Brooks said the group will perform standards such as "All of Me," "Satin Doll" and "Autumn Leaves," and also some contemporary music and Django Reinhardt's "Nuages."
"We don't want to get into the real outside stuff nobody can understand," he said. "We want to stay melodic."
Brooks said when he made some calls to his musician friends to put together the ensemble, Mills responded, "I live in Escondido, and it'd be nice to be able to play in Escondido."
The city does not have much of a jazz scene now, but Brooks said there is an audience for the music. He used to play weekly at the restaurant 150 Grand and for five years he played each Thursday night with the Grateful Dads at A Taste of Florence, another Grand Avenue restaurant.
"These are all guys who are local and who love to play jazz," he said about the ensemble. "I'm trying to keep a community of jazz people around Escondido. I've been fortunate to get some of these guys who were available for the day."
Mills is formerly of Big Time Operator and used to write the band's charts, Jackson leads the Benny Jackson Trio, and Brooks runs the Music Place on Grand Avenue.
Contact staff writer Gary Warth at (760) 740-5410 or gwarth@nctimes.com.
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EscoWatchDog wrote on Aug 6, 2008 8:45 PM:I am a patron of the arts...I love this idea! Keep them coming...
escoman wrote on Aug 6, 2008 10:29 PM:Government subsidized art and music displays in civic areas = HUGE BOONDOGGLE!
januaryM wrote on Aug 7, 2008 3:00 AM:Sounds great! But who will pay if police are needed to control traffic etc.? Please keep Waldron,Abed & Gallo out of the planning.They screw everything up for us all.Referrence stories on Christmas Parade ,Cruisin Grand and 4th of July events.Or stories on "gift" of $18 million taxpayer dollars to wealthy hotel developer ,unfinished Police Station,$9 million city deficit,under staffed Fire Stations,aging neglected Wohlford Dam,$1million taxpayer dollars on graffiti & shopping carts retrival.$50 thousand dollars to the consultant to study parking problem which the consulting firm deemed there is no problem...wasted wasted wasted taxpayer dollars. We arent to far from over use of the sewer system.a FEW more developments and we will be at capacity.Sooo while we still can lets FLUSH them down the drain!
VOTE Nov. 2008
Local wrote on Aug 7, 2008 3:27 AM:Will it be real jazz or 'smooth jazz'? Give us something good and we'll come back and bring friends. It's up to you. I'll be there!
joseph wrote on Aug 7, 2008 6:08 AM:Who is this promotion aimed at? Another half baked scheme in the works.
Wonderful idea wrote on Aug 7, 2008 6:31 AM:Thank you, DBA. It is nice to read that Art Walk will feature more than just visual art. We should be embracing all the arts - art, music, theatre and dance - at this event. There are many local groups that could be featured, both youth and adult, professional or not. Perhaps the DBA can encourage folks to the west of us to take the Sprinter, have lunch downtown, enjoy Art Walk and make a day of it.
Whos paying wrote on Aug 7, 2008 7:00 AM:the cops to sit and eat donuts while watching over these hooligans? Someone better be!
Now we will have wrote on Aug 7, 2008 9:32 AM:to invite our urban artists! Graffiti all over downtown! One mans art another mans trash.
tk wrote on Aug 7, 2008 9:38 AM:To jazz - a mariachi band? I f that's what you want, go to the nearest margarita serving, pseudo-Mexican restaurant.
januaryM wrote on Aug 7, 2008 11:46 AM:TO: Whos paying.
I dont see EPD eating donuts. The ones I see are young ,healthy & have nice tight looking six packs.And I dont mean beer.The fat cop eating donuts is so five minutes ago.
Dont blame EPD for Escondido's mismanaged finances.Police dont control the money in this town the Council does.Thats why we have a negative balance of $9 million dollars.
We can change this by VOTING Nov 08
to remove the real donut eaters from office.
januaryM
Jim wrote on Aug 7, 2008 12:28 PM:No comment trashing the Arts Center? Are you people asleep? Oh, well. Perhaps next article.
to Jaque wrote on Aug 7, 2008 12:31 PM:I'll join you, lets put on our leathers and have a few at Pounder's first
to Jim wrote on Aug 7, 2008 12:51 PM:well, I just got out of bed so havne't had a chance to post earlier....so you're in luck! If the City of Escondido would just sell the damn white elephant, known to most as the 'Arts Center', we would be able to afford all of the community events that are being cancelled due to lack of funding!
for January M wrote on Aug 7, 2008 12:53 PM:Listen, buster, take your political campaign elsewhere. I'm sick and tired of reading your politically charged campaign posts that are not even relevant to the article at hand. Get a life!
reply to januaryM wrote on Aug 7, 2008 1:17 PM:Is there any way that we could convince you to start using proper grammar? Commas, periods and spaces all exist for a reason! Please use them, not abuse them. But perhaps you want your comments to appear on these blogs as a jumbled mess...similar to your train of thought.
Horn Blower wrote on Aug 7, 2008 1:29 PM:I'm about as "Jazzed Bbout Downtown" as I am about having a root canal.
PiÃata wrote on Aug 7, 2008 1:33 PM:I loved the Mariachi band idea ...for a Piñata Festival sponsored by Planned Parenhood.
I used to be a patron wrote on Aug 7, 2008 1:33 PM:of downtown Escondio, but the problem is, there isn't too much left in downtown Escondido. I've already started shopping and dining elsewhere. Who wants to go out for a nice evening and walk around a bunch of deserted buildings with "For Rent" signs displayed in the store fronts?? It's sort of an eerie feeling. I prefer somewhere more vibrant, and somewhere the shops don't close at 5pm!
Dirty Sanchez wrote on Aug 7, 2008 2:17 PM:Two problems with this idea: jazz and walking. Jazz is boring and walking isn't much better.
januaryM wrote on Aug 7, 2008 2:54 PM:WOW! I've never been called buster.My birth certificate says female.I've always lived as a female and enjoyed it.So I won't be changing for you.Don't ya just love it when you've hit a nerve? Must a Sam or Ed reading these boards.If my opinion bothers you, too bad.Freedom of speech sound familiar? This is a blog.Why are your panties in a wad over blogging? My life is wonderful hope yours is too. ;)
Well, if I was getting kicked out of office I might be upset too.Unless of course I had earned it!
VOTE Nov 08.......we need new blood.
to Jaque wrote on Aug 7, 2008 4:29 PM:The Pennys building had leaks in the roof when I used to buy my new undies for school, back in the early 60's! lol
Deanna wrote on Aug 7, 2008 5:00 PM:This is a wonderful idea! I hope Escondido will start a weekly summer concert next year and bring some life to this city.
For those who moan and complain about jazz, broaden your life a little and appreciate great classical music from "other cultures."
One shouldn't live on rice and beans your entire life without experiencing fine wine and great food, the same goes for great music.
Youre kidding... wrote on Aug 7, 2008 5:14 PM:You have got to be kidding...."Jazzed About Downtown"?!? Jazzed about WHAT?? Downtown crime, Downtown DBA-inspired divisiveness, Downtown grafitti, Downtown vandalism, Downtown vacancies, Downtown incompetent CEO's....we're sick of it. "Downtown" is going "DOWN" that's for sure!! Thanks, DBA, for contributing to the DOWNward spiral of Downtown Escondido! Hope you're proud of what you've accomplished.
Jackie Oh wrote on Aug 7, 2008 5:41 PM:My dear January M, you are exhibiting a most repulsive rapport on this blog, why must you be so vulgar and aggressive? It's quite unattractive behavior for a young, proper lady. But maybe you are not a "lady." Good manners are everything this day. Didn't your mother teach you that?
to januaryM wrote on Aug 7, 2008 5:57 PM:You commented "WOW! I've never been called buster"...Don't ya just love it when you've a nerve? :-)
januaryMs true identity wrote on Aug 7, 2008 6:05 PM:starts with an "o" ends with a "NO!" Dear God, please don't let her in City Hall.
to Man Club wrote on Aug 7, 2008 6:19 PM:Have no fear, Kenny G is in rehab. But I've heard that Boy George has been released from prison and will be taking center stage with his toe tapping flute solo. Then we're all meeting over at the Blue Mug for a spot of tea. Join us, mate?
januaryM wrote on Aug 7, 2008 10:11 PM:You are all so wrong.
my exact comment was,
"Don't ya just love it when you've hit a nerve?" My "nerve" wasnt hit.Calling me buster... was hilarious to me.So I took it that I hit your nerve.
Jackie Oh..I am not being nasty or vulgar.I assure you I am 100 % a lady.My Mother was a wonderful lady too.
January starts with a J not an O.You must have attended one of the schools here.Poor you :( ohhh maybe it was when you went to school in another country.
YOU just dont like that I have kept tabs on this council for years and have recall of your mismanagement.I am here to remind others that we can change all this by VOTING Nov.2008 there are plenty of contenders to pick from.
YOU just cant stand it that with the internet blogs ,we the people can remind others what you have done to our city .So you attempt to make personal attacks on me.That wont work on me.Go ahead. I am not the one responsible for the mess this city is in.
YOUR COUNCIL IS !
VOTE THEM OUT Nov.2008
ahhhh that feels so good. :)
to januaryM wrote on Aug 8, 2008 3:18 AM:Please tell me that you are not representative of your entire group. It looks like November will be a toss-up between the devils we know and the devils we don't know. Heaven help us if this is the best we have to offer. :^(.
jerrylen wrote on Aug 8, 2008 9:24 AM:Why doesn't sombbody answer intelligently januaryM's questions about the $900,000,000 deficit, ongoing $2,500,000 annual loss in Arts Ctr, $1,000,000 grafitti, $18,000,000 gift to ONE developer, pothole streets,
grafitti, empty stores, etc, etc, instead of getting personal?
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