Dave Klemencic

Fought the Big Bull…

Last night I had the good fortune of checking out a free performance of Fight the Big Bull at Cous Cous. Located on the corner of Franklin and Shafer streets, Cous Cous sports a Mediterranean/Moroccan vibe and a classy atmosphere in the first floor of a large apartment building. Formerly Chuggers, Cous Cous has a large built-in bar and the band performed in the center of the room. While this may present some acoustical challenges, the sound was surprisingly bright and the room is small enough that the band is loud wherever you’re sitting.

On to the music:
Fight the Big Bull has been performing there every other week for free, as well as appearing at Ipanema and a handful of other spots in and out of town. Nine men deep, the band employs guitar, bass, drums and a full compliment of horn players including Bob Miller on trumpet, Reggie Pace and Bryan Hooten on trombones, Jason Arce on sax and two other horn players whose names escape me at this time. The band performs a wide variety of tunes, ranging from avant-garde jazz arrangments to 70s and 80s pop and rock anthems. Entirely (to my knowledge) instrumental, the breadth and familiarity of some of the tunes provides a degree of accessibility many jazz combos can only yearn for. Much of the band is sight reading from their music stands, and the guitarist/conductor keeps the lineup tight. In an ensemble of this size, performing in a space this small, the scripting of tunes is essential to maintaining a semblance of cohesion. Not that there isn’t soloing, or that improvisation isn’t enjoyable, but nine musicians plowing through a set with is worlds more enjoyable and impressive when they’re all on the same page and incorporate quick changes and measured pacing.

The music and vibe really harkens to 2002’s Devil’s Workshop performances at Bogart’s Back Room. The catalog reflected similar tastes and some of the performers have carried over from that band, but it was beyond that. The engagement of the crowd, the listeners transfixed as if something truly unique was happening before them, that’s not something you see every day for a jazz band performing in a tiny bar. Richmond could use more of this, it’s a good sign that the music scene is strong and here to stay, no coincidence that the venue is 300 yards from VCU’s music buildings. But they’ve acheived something of a Manhattan vibe here, the room, the tunes, active engagement of the crowd and a sensitivity to the roots of the music we all enjoy.

It’s been a while since I’ve gotten that feeling from a local show, part of it’s the fall weather, the new but familiar space, primarily tho it’s being able to walk down the street and into a completely unexpected, richly layered emotional experience, new and classy, fun and relaxed but organized, rehearsed. Granted, Soulive was playing downtown at Toad’s Place, Richmond’s grand new mid-to-large scale music hall, but having seen them for free in town just a few months ago, not to mention a half dozen times before in Richmond alone, it was worth a shot to get out and support some locals, catch up with old friends and the like. We were greatly rewarded for doing so.

Hope to see you there next time.
Tonight! (Sept. 20) Emilio’s! Boulevard Duo and Southside Funk Band! Can we compete? Is in-your-face organ-and-brass funky jazz and speed grooves up to the challenges and demands of the Richmond bar scene? You decide! Broad and Meadow in the fan. Bring your dancin’ shoes, fool!

Down to the Crossroads

Hope to see everyone at the Crossroads Art Center on Friday, September 21. The Boulevard Duo- Dave Decker on drums and myself on organ and piano, will be performing for the opening of this month’s shows. The gallery has a new featured artist and a group exhibition each month, as well as displays from dozens of resident artists. Plenty of hip new art, wine, snacks and funky music to keep you entertained from 6-9. Admission is free, and the gallery is located at the corner of Staples Mill Road and Broad St. in Richmond, behind the Holiday Inn.

After-party at the Side Pocket! Richmond’s seediest pool hall. It can’t get any seedier. If it does, I’m leaving.

Shark Tank Funk

Come out to Emilio’s on Thursday, September 20. We’ll be throwin’ down in grand style with the full compliment of horns thanks to Roberto Curtis and Alex Power of the Richmond Afrobeat Collective, the much fabled rhythm section of the Southside Future Squad: Josh Santamaria on drums and James Chalifoux on bass, the ever-enlightening Justin Huppman on guitar and myself on Rhodes, organ and synth. Be there.

Cafe Diem

Over the last few months, I’ve performed semi-regular gigs at Cafe Diem with a alternating cast of drummers, bassists, and welcomed a number of friends and fellow musicians to sit in, adding guitars and the occasional horn to the mix. I’m happy to announce that we’re scheduled to perform the third Wednesday of each month at least through June, July and August, with additional dates to be announced. Thus far, the lineup has included Forrest Young, Dave Decker, Joe Timberlake, Lee Allen and Lee Francis as drummers, Kai Eason on bass, Kyle Kilduff, Christian Brian, Ken (?) and Tyler Holley sitting in on guitars, Mary Francis adding vocals and sitting in on keys and Dave Brogan contributing a healthy dose of trombone to the mix.
While considerable rehearsal has preceded the shows, they often include extended improv sections and spontaneous jams and are rippled with experimental grooves. Working with such an eclectic cast has been both a learning experience and a proving ground, and the end products have been surprisingly strong and cohesive, thanks to these guys stepping up and really going the extra mile. We look forward to these upcoming shows, and the chance to hone the act into a cohesive band worthy of stepping out on the road with. Don’t miss the next show on June 20 at 9:30p.m., Cafe Diem is located at 600 N. Sheppard and admission is free.

Eymarel invades Richmond…

Last week saw two very special performances in Richmond with Wilmington, NC based duo Eymarel. Monday evening, I had the pleasure of performing with Lee Allen at Cafe Diem. Lee is an exceptional drummer, and incorporates a wide variety of electronic effects into his playing via a sampler and V-Drum pad. Mary Francis, the other half of the Eymarel duo added vocals to our rendition of the Bill Withers tune “Use Me”. The first set included several of my original tunes, some Robert Walter and MMW tracks and some open-ended improv. Mary took to the keys for the opening of the second set, performing three Eymarel originals with Lee and really blowing away everyone in the crowd. The evening wrapped up with me back on the Rhodes and organ belting out Radiohead’s “Paranoid Android”, an original track that melted into MMW’s “Bubblehouse” and closed off with a speedy turn through Eric Clapton’s “Layla”.

Wednesday evening, Dave Decker and myself performed an opening set for Eymarel at Emilio’s, running through our own material and several covers that closed off with Led Zeppelin’s “What is and what ever should be”. Eymarel then put together a dazzling performance, thoroughly impressing everyone present.

The band, with the help of their tour manager/booking partner Travis MacDaniel pulled off over 180 concerts in 2006, and is looking to keep pace with that for 2007. They are quite accomplished and bring an incredible set-up to each concert, including a Hammond organ, Rhodes, Motif piano, several synthesizers, the afformentioned samplers and a first-class drum kit. The amount of sound they generate is pretty wild, layering bass and rhythm, background synth effects and Mary’s chording and lead lines with some in-your-face drumming, they are really something worth checking out.

Last year saw the release of Eymarel’s debut CD “Groovin’ a Little Each Day”. I was fortunate to draw and design the artwork for the cd, the cover of which is seen here:

Double Header for the Boulevard Duo!

Check it out, we’ve got two big shows coming up that you won’t want to miss. Joe Timberlake and myself will be performing as the Boulevard Duo this Thursday, the 12th of April. We’ll be putting together an early opening set for the great Modern Groove Syndicate starting around 9 or so at Cary St. Cafe near the corner of Boulevard and Cary in the Fan.

Next Wednesday we’ll be playing throughout the evening at Cafe Diem, 600 N. Sheppard near Bandito’s. Kicking off around 9p.m., we’re scheduled to play till around midnight. If you haven’t heard this ensemble yet, you should definitely come check it out. Joe has played in a variety of bands throughout the years on bass and drums, and he brings a modern, subtle touch to the kit. At times break-beat, rock, funk and assorted other styles, he keeps us on our toes. You can download and print your own flyers from the gallery page to your right.

Modern Groove Syndicate has been raising the bar for the last 8 years, playing progressive instrumental jazz/funk around Richmond and the East Coast. I’ve had the honor of providing lighting and projections for their shows for the majority of their 2005-6 shows, many samples of which can also be seen in the much-lauded gallery space. The Cary St. gig will be a much-worth-it $5, Diem next Wednesday will be free. That’s right. Free. We’ll be accepting canned food donations for the “Diamond Joe Feeds the Starving College Students” Fund.

Modern Groove features Daniel Clarke on Roland A-90 synth, Roland VK-8 organ and Hohner melodica. The A-90 features excellent Rhodes and acoustic piano tones, the VK-8 is a thick and hearty B-3 organ simulator. The melodica is a wind-driven, piano based instrument not dissimilar to a harmonica. It has a piano-style keyboard generally spanning 3 octaves and provides a similar tone to a harmonica. You will occasionally see John Medeski and a number of other pianists break one out for some acoustic jamming, and it features prominently in the Modern Groove tune “Bunky Flues”, which is expected to be on their upcoming album “Miss Popular”.

Todd Herrington alternates between an Alembic bass and a Fender P-Bass, depending apparently on the flavor of the evening. He is hands-down one of the best bassists around, and plays regularly with the DJ Williams Project as well as Modern Groove.

JC Kuhl plays tenor and soprano saxophones with the band, teaches through VCU and elsewhere, and performs with John D’Earth’s band among numerous other ensembles throughout the area. Joel DeNunzio has kept the beat for the band for the past six or so years, played in the bands Buzby and Regan (I think) and keeps the cars on the road working for V-Dot.

I have great respect for these guys and have learned a lot about not only music, but the business itself and the long uphill climb that is making yourself heard throughout the region and beyond.