night. They played at Memorial Park in Nyack. I'd seen them back in
2005 at the Hopper House and once before then at the Nyack Center
either in 2003 or 2004.
I was disappointed. They played the almost all of the same repertoire
that I heard back at the Hopper House. Why don't they change it? They
opened with the same two tunes, St Louis Blues and The Boy In The
Boat. St Louis Blues was done reggae style which at least was a new
twist. Darling Nikki, which is one of my favorite SB/MTO tunes, a
Prince cover tune actually, was not as well played as was at the
Hopper House. (I think they also played that at the Nyack Center too
but I can't be sure.)
Some of the players were different from the last time I'd seen them.
Matt Munisteri, who's played with them for awhile but wasn't at the
Hopper House gig, played nicely but I don't see what makes him so
special. His other gigs and CDs are probably more interesting. Peter
Apfelbaum played sax tonight but I was more impressed with Michael
Blake at the Hopper House gig. Ben Perowksy was truly inspired at the
Hopper House gig. Not last night.
Charley Burnham wasn't that amazing as he has been. He was incredible
at the Hopper House gig and when I saw them at the Nyack Center.
Absolutely amazing. Here he didn't quite get all his notes in when
featured. I'll let him slide. He still is a hero of mine so one night
won't lower him in my eyes.
I was hoping the score Steven created for the Laurel and Hardy movies
would be truly amazing. It wasn't. (Only "Sugar Daddies" was played.)
I didn't really get it but will hear it again as I had taped it.
Maybe it will make more sense then. I hope the rest of it works
better at the other gigs.
