Ibiza Jazz Nights - Eric and Joe

Eric and Joe were back in full force this week. John Webber was there on bass and Mike DiRubbo on sax. Once a month Frankie, the owner, has a comedy night with 3 or 4 comics doing stand up on Thursdays so the crowd was an eclectic mix of jazz lovers and comedy fans. The place was full and the energy was high when the band started playing. Eric and Joe began their set with a song they wrote for Frankie's new baby girl. And then they played "Misty," the 1954 standard by Erroll Garner. Eric's playing rode that fine line of tension between letting go and staying in control - contained sensuality. It is that mix of intelligence and passion that I love. Joe played one of his signature drum solos; signature in that you never know where they are going to go -- volatile, powerful, fascinating. Every time I watch him I wait for the moment when he takes off and does his thing. (And I found out on Thursday night that in addition to John Webber being a great bass player he is a fantastic dancer. He spun me around, dipped me and had me back up on my feet before I knew what happened.) Mike DiRubbo brought his inventive, rich, soulful sound to the mix. David Croce, a bass player who has played at Ibiza, showed up and we had a conversation about the elastic boundaries of jazz, where the artistry lies, and how a musician can move "outside" the song taking the audience with them and then bringing them back. At the end of the night Jose Fernando, a singer who was in the house, got up and sang a gorgeous version of "Besame Mucho," written in 1940 by Consuelo Velazquez. Don't forget Jazz Nights starts at 6:00 p.m. with an open bar for an hour and the music is at 8:00 and 10:00. Hope to see you there this Thursday.