Red Holloway at the Crown Plaza!
by jazzcat on Aug.16, 2004, under News
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Well, if you plan to motor west, just west of the Westin LAX hotel that is, then you can get your kicks right down the road at the Crown Plaza Hotel. Red Holloway is on the microphone tonight talkin’, jokin, singing and spreading the Tenor love all through the wonderful, cozy and intimate Brasserie at the <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 />Crown Plaza. Intimate yes, but what a great crowd! The room is packed and once again Merle Kreiback, over at In-House Music, does a fantastic job promoting jazz music and getting everyone to come out on a Thursday night and have a good time. The response tonight is outstanding!
I dropped in on set number three and it is all about The Blues. The Blues; a mixture hard times, injustice, unity and sex! Of course the Blues has many other elements but, the sex comes into play because, even though you have the Blues, you still want to feel good! This feeling of makin’ whoopee is the characteristic most evidently expressed when you hear the music. Especially when Red plays the Blues.
Red is a funny cat. He and his audience are one. It is not even like a gig, it is more like a party in Red’s living room. Smiles are all through out the place and everyone here is familiar with Red and his humorous repertoire of music. Usually there is a free cover at the Crown but, tonight the price is $10 and that is no deterrent for great jazz music.
This is a band that is loved not only for the music but, for the good nature of the musicians as well. The incredible Art Hilary on Piano, Richard Reid on Bass and Paul Humphries on Drums. These guys have the most fun on stage. It is just like these cats have grown up together as brothers. Well, all musicians are brothers in some form or fashion.
Red says he wants to pull out the instrument that he really wants to play with. No not that one, his piccolo! I hear people in the audience saying, “That boy’s crazy!” Well, Red has a lot of fun and with such great music, it makes for a very entertaining and personal set of music. You go home with the feeling likeRed is you best friend.
LeRoy Downs
