‘Here’s the Skinny’ on live music for this week
I bet you haven’t heard that phrase in a while. If someone offers to give you “the skinny” on something, they’re revealing some secret information. The way I use it predates “Here is the Scoop,” as in publishing a news story before a rival newspaper, radio, television or Facebook post. So, no real secrets revealed here, just giving y’all a “heads up” on this week’s live music in our area.
I can remember Band Director Dan Lynch carrying on the tradition of having a jazz band when I was in High School (1967-70). He was skilled on the tenor saxophone. That was an exciting time in pop music with Jimi Hendrix, “The Monkees” and “Blood, Sweat and Tears” all on WLS.
Mr. Lynch would try to get us to listen to jazz musician Maynard Ferguson on his trumpet. He probably was the best in the business. We would make him listen to “Chicago Transit Authority,” but under his direction, our high school jazz band would win a top spot at contest every year.
Back then, there were not too many places where you could get the opportunity to hear jazz, much less get to play it in these parts, especially after The Starlight Ballroom and Taylor’s Inn quit having dances featuring traveling bands like Benny Goodman’s and Glenn Miller’s.
I said all that to say this. Poteau’s own Dr. Al Grzech not only helps out at the Rubin White Clinic as a skilled dentist. He is skilled on piano and keys. He has a love for classic jazz, and he has worked hard to share his passion. Back in the spring 2017 with his band “Hourglass” as the house band, Al started “The Fort Smith (Ark.) Jazz Jam” at the Movie Lounge on Rogers Avenue. It was a labor of love to gather musicians in the area to play realbook jazz. It was an opportunity for the area’s musicians to use their skills and just play for the joy of it. It also was a chance for the musicians from the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith (UAFS) to join more seasoned and experienced musicians. There was nothing else like this available for a hundred miles.
The FSJJ moved to the DoubleTree Hotel for about four years, and now it is back on stage in The Bakery District in downtown Fort Smith. The next installment will be at 6:30 p.m. Thursday. It’s a family-friendly restaurant with stages inside and out. Here’s a chance for young, upcoming musicians to get to jam with more experienced ones. It is put on by Don Bailey, director of jazz studies at UAFS and the Shane Bailey Memorial Music Society. The Society has fundraisers each year to help place instruments in the hands of beginners in rock, country and school bands in our area, so if there is a band student in the family, bring them. They will enjoy this jam. The food is great, and the jazz is hot! Make plans to be there.
“The Al Grzech Trio” also will bring music tonight to the LeFlore County Museum at Hotel Lowery in downtown Poteau. Make plans on being at the free to the public evening of jazz. Al will be joined by Dale Fraze Sr./Drums and David Hoffpauir/guitar. There will be a special guest vocalist, Niki Waters, who will bring life to these jazz and pop classics. Niki is a graduate of the UAFS school of music and was a featured vocalist in the UAFS band, “The Jazz Catz.” Don’t miss this show. David and Donna Deaton invite you and will have drinks and snack trays for intermission.
The Fort Smith Senior Activity Center is open again. After remodeling and new floors, there will be live music, starting on Friday with “The Richard Rauch Band.” The music will kicks off at 7 p.m. On Saturday, “Earl Hearon and the Sound of Country” will play the very best in country music, so get there early for a good table and bring some friends as the music will be from 7-10 p.m.
Dawn’s Diner in Red Oak will have Mychall Lee Allen singing on Thursday night beginning at 6 p.m. and “Grannie’s Nightmare” will be rocking the house on Saturday starting at 7 p.m. There will be good food and great music.
Connie and Dave Abbott of ”Make It a Double” will play for the dancers at the McAlester Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Lodge beginning at 7 p.m. Saturday.
“Oklahoma Moon” will be at Red’s Place in Alma, Ark. on Saturday, with the music starting about 7 p.m. Muldrow City Limits will have “Backroads” playing beginning at 7 p.m. There have been big crowds lately, so get there early.
That’s the whole “kit and kaboodle” for this week. Get out and support live music. Call or text message me at (918) 649-5736 or e-mail me at tj.wiles61@outlook.com if you have any questions about any live-music venues or need to let me know of any such venues taking place.