Wow! What a blast we had at the Columbia Jazz Winterfest! ALL, and I mean ALL, of artist were great! The Township Auditorium is a wonderful venue. Everything was absolutely wonderful!
Terence Young got things off to a rousing start Friday evening. That brotha can play the guitar. He was followed by Down to the Bone. I was a little skeptical about them at first as I saw them once before and they weren't that good. However, in Columbia they were very good.
I can't say enough about the Jazz All Stars? Maysa, Brian Simpson, Marion Meadows, Nick Colionne, and the incomparable Phil Perry brought the house down. Phil Perry has not lost a thing. That brother has a range that is out of this world! Brian Simpson was playing the keyboard so hard he played the white off the keys. Maysa sang with a swagger that only she can do, and Nick Colionne got to be the coolest guitarist on the planet. I also attended the Sunday brunch where Kim Waters was his smooth, sultry and frisky self. He was great--and the food was good too! I loved the intimate setting, lights could have been a little dimmer though.
This was my first time attending this Columbia Winter Jazz Fest but it certainly won't be my last. If future Jazz Fest lineups are as good as this one, I'll keep my seat warm for life!