art music: Hot Jazz at the Gorilla Theatre

Sunday night, it wasn't just the jazz that was hot at the Gorilla Theatre. LaRue Nickelson and his handpicked quintet kept bringing the music despite inadequate air conditioning, as the small venue on North Hubert Avenue played host to around fifty jazz fans excited to hear some of Tampa's greatest.

Nickelson was joined by some of the finest jazz musicians anywhere for an excellent evening of originals with a lone standard in the penultimate spot. USF jazz department colleagues Mark Neuenschwander (b) and Steve Davis (d) joined Jeremy Powell (ts,cl) and electric bass phenom Patrick Bettison on keys and chromatic harmonica.

That the musicians were genuinely enjoying themselves was apparent, especially when Bettison's ebullient reaction to the twists and turns of a Powell solo got the rhythm section grinning ear to ear. Nickelson's compositions (to my ear) were a modern take on jazz-meets-americana (think Bill Frisell), ranging from loping, rootsy grooves to up-tempo broken swing. The guitar duties were all covered by Nickelson's semi-hollow G&L tele, with nary a hollowbody in sight.

Aside from the overwhelming heat (which prompted Nickelson to ask the audience, "hot enough in here?" The house offered free bottled water at intermission), the night was well worth attending (even from Lakeland). The bass and piano were lost in the mix the first set, but were plenty present for the second. It is disappointing to know that the Tampa Jazz Club does not consistently sell out the tiny hall (approximately 60 seats) every show. They would be well served by initiating an e-newsletter (Jazz Club board member Bob Seymour does send out information via email, which reached me via Dwayne White) and having, at the very least, a MySpace.

Enjoy the pictures and come out to the next show.