There was a great turnout last night. The club was full and the music was hot. John Webber put together an impressive quartet with himself on bass, Mike LeDonne on piano, Mike DiRubbo on alto sax, and Jason Brown on drums. John's fingers were flying during a fast, intense version of "The End of a Love Affair." And Mike DiRubbo was inspired. He has studied the tradition and history of African-American music, performed as a leader and sideman all over New York City and abroad, and he has an extensive discography. Check him out at www.mikedirubbo.com. Dmitry Baevsky, alto sax, stopped by and sat in on the second set. Dmitry, a young musician, came to NYC from Russia at the age of fifteen and has made his way into the established jazz world and performed with the some of the greats. Learn more about his music at www.dmitrybaevsky.com.
I have lived in Riverdale for eleven years and have craved an artistic life here that has been missing. Well, it's starting . . . . Every Thursday at Ibiza the room is full of musicians who are immersed in their work and want to share it. Aside from the people we love, art is the only thing, the only thing that can honestly reflect back to us the meaning of our lives. The music enters my brain, rolls around in my thoughts and then moves deeper to where I feel alive and whole and present in the moment. Joe Farnsworth and Eric Alexander will be at Ibiza next week, June 3rd, and who knows what stories they will have to tell and whom they will bring back from their travels. I look forward to it.
