By Paul Clark – Overnight Jazz90.1 Host
Big Jay, owner of The Sprit Room, wrapped me up in a bear hug, yelling “thanks for coming to our birthday party!” That was my welcome to The Spirit Room ‘s seventh birthday celebration.
The Spirt Room is a funky dive bar on State Street, downtown Rochester. Your Grandma’s parlor if your Grandma was a psychic hoarder with a skeleton in every closet. It’s like sneaking in through the propped-open back door of a speakeasy. Dark and spooky, oddly inviting.
Denizens of the Spirit Room are celebrating all the time, Halloween or not. The usual funky, fun crowd was on hand Friday night; vampires, ghouls, and as an extra, added attraction, belly dancers. Yeah, I said it, belly dancers!
Tracy Eckstrand (vocals) and Reverend Kingfish (guitar), life partners and musical collaborators, recently debuted their jazz standards septet, ”The Biltmore Commandos”.Think “My Blue Heaven”, “All of Me”, “Sheik of Araby”, “ Stompin’ At The Savoy” and for the big finish, “Cherokee”.
Two of the busiest players in town, promoting rockabilly with band “Bootleg Hooch” and the western swing thing with “Sugar Moon”. Tracy’s solo project “Tracy and The Cats” showcases her original tunes.
The Commandos got fingers poppin’, toes tappin’; dancers jivin’ and folks singin’ along. Tracy’s’ smooth, husky voice led the capable jazz cats while Reverend Kingish channeled Charlie Christian.
Brian Williams is a first call upright bass player, and Melanie Moralez joined Rev for a two-guitar attack, with Tracy focusing on vocals. Drummer Tony Morena got some. Banjo-meister Gavin Rice filled in for the Commandos trumpet player, Andre Duran, executing hot, jazzy duels with the Rev.
When you need a vintage jazz fix, check out The Biltmore Commandos. These cats are the real deal!