The 1940's is my favorite era. Smoke, swank, jazz, blues, red-stained lips, marilyn monroe moles, curled hair, men smoking cigars - their face hidden by a hat and up-turned collar. Ah! So romantic and glamorous.
When I heard about the Martini Jazz Club, I had to attend. It's a 1940's theme jazz night at the House of Blues, every Tuesday night.
I arrived slightly in costume (didn't go all the way, because had come from a long day of work). We did valet parking (which I try not to do), because street spaces are sparse in the Hollywood area. We walked up to the back entrance, and took a moody, red-colored elevator into the small lounge space.
The Martini Jazz night takes place in a small room of the House of Blues located on an upper level. It's very cozy - Persian rugs on the floor, couches, stools, and a small bar. They serve appetizers and specialty drinks. Note: space was limited, and my friend and I had to park it on a small stair-case. Because of this, our view was often blocked by oblivious, dancing, drunk people.
The night comprised mostly of up and coming singers: some had some serious pipes, others were mediocre. Most sang classic jazz and musical songs, while others sang original and current ones. I preferred the older jazz. Each singer performed a repetoire of about 3-6 songs. 3 for the regulars and 6 for the newcomers. The varied nature of the show kept my interest. Most people in the audience were not in costume (sad face), which did make the night less fun, but also more casual and laid back.
The performances were introduced by Ace Michaels, the host/producer of the evening and the event, who seemed to be friends with each performer. He was extremely complimentary and supportive, as was the crowd.
Overall, I had a really fun night. The Chris Glik band, which played with each performer was excellent, the atmosphere was lively, encouraging, and warm, and the singers were passionate.
To learn more about Martini Jazz Night you can go to the yelp page here: http://www.yelp.com/events/west-hollywood-martini-jazz-show-at-house-of-blues-los-angeles
No comments:
Post a Comment