Flanfire

Sophie Fest was, according to organizer Bryce Clifford, a rousing success -- maybe not the BIG fundraiser that took place up in Toronto a month earlier, but everyone had a blast and got to hear some special music. Biggest surprise of the evening was the amazing set from Clint Myers of Youngmond Grand -- who JUST HAS to do more solo shows. Another special treat was Erin Ivey, whom I later in the week saw with her jazz duo, Grand Hotel (see below). Nicolette Manglos is a pianist whom we know through B. Sterling Archer of Faultline for Now (BTW, FFN is playing the Troubadour on October 11th), and Graham Weber is such a cool guy. Slowtrain and Bryce Clifford and his band rounded out the bill -- and, yes, Ihave left out two or three others who graced the fair Sophie with their talents. Also in the house -- just visiting -- were Kat Edmonson and her piano player, Kevin Lovejoy.

So naturally, I took the cue and went over later in the week to Club One 15 to see Grand Hotel -- and Erin (who had been casually dressed for the Scoot Inn Sophie show) was all decked out in this BLUE DRESS and singing these torch songs and being sultry and sweet all at the same time. Pianist Rolh Ordahl was as advertised -- SMOKIN! Gotta see more of this stuff. Songs included "This Sporting Life," "Am I Blue?," and "Summertime" -- and I had to leave early!

Later that same evening (yes, the same one during which I saw the Daze!), it was over to the Elephant Room (where I got a seat up front thanks to my great pals Doc and KK who had to leave early and later shared a table with Jane Bond and Chad Tracy) to see Kat and her jazz quintet (herself included). The aforesaid Kevin Lovejoy was on piano and a little more, plus Chris Maresh (one of Austin's best sidemen, sez the Austin American-Statesman this week) on bass, Rob Kasonell (who hails from Montreal) on drums, Sydney, Australia's Sam Lipman on saxophone, and of course Miss Kat herself on vocals -- and what vocals. Songs ranged from "Bye Bye Blues" to the Beatles' "Michelle (My Belle)" to the great Peggy Lee standard "Fever" -- but my personal favorite was the Henry Mancini standard, "Charade," which Kat just KILLED!