Showing posts with label frank abraham. Show all posts
Showing posts with label frank abraham. Show all posts

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Adrian Hibbs & Company : Sarah Reich Taps Out!!

Adrian Hibbs brings it. He's got a sound that reminds me of some of the 70s biggest like Pablo Cruise, Boz Scaggs and Steely Dan and he's similar in vocal tone to British soul star Jamiroquai. All the notes are within his reach and he's as smooth as butter.  He plays the keyboards with equal ease and his originals are radio friendly slices of nice-ness. Kasi Jones has the strongest voice I've heard in sometime, and with her confident nonchalance and on-point delivery she plays a nice foil to Hibbs' sly, slick and wicked master of ceremonies.  
Sarah Reich is a professional tap dancer, who, at the very young age of 22 is at the forefront of the modern reinvention of the art form. Her mix of salsa with traditional tap in her group Tap Con Sabor, has in-effect, created a new school of tap dancing and with it, a renewed interest worldwide in this style of dance. Her performances around town with Magnolia Memoir, at The Floor, The Libertine, with Big Willie's Burlesque and tonight with Adrian Hibbs, cause audible audience expressions of joy and disbelief at the stamina and artistry of Miss Reich. The "in-demand" dancer - who's been dancing since age 5 - travels the world teaching tap in places as far off as China and Costa Rica. 

Tonight she's laying it down (see video below) as only she can!


Rounding out the band were oft-seen Harvelle's musicians Frank Abraham (The Endangered, Abbot Kinney) on bass and Vince Foster (Just Dave, Payote) on drums, along with the very funky Angie Swan (The Toledo Show, Nicole Scherzinger) on guitar.


Here's the incredible tapping of Miss Sarah Reich::

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Brenna Whitaker : Vintage Trouble?


While Vintage Trouble conquer Europe, we here back in Santa Monica still lament the end of what we called "Trouble Tuesday".

This past Friday night über-cool lounge singer Brenna Whitaker - a mid-west native now living in Los Angeles - was the headliner. Brenna has been officially VT-approved, which apparently is enough to spark a little of that old flame, as a couple of my fave VT fans (aka 'Troublemakers') showed their faces. Cheers to Anna and Horacio. Great seeing you both tonight!!

Brenna isn't bad, she's just drawn that way. She works a little "blue", likes to reference hip-hop lyrics and often shares her whimsical thoughts with the audience in-between songs. Her prescence is without pretense and she can sing whatever she wants, as she possess one helluva instrument. She grabs notes and bounces 'em around - adding or subtracting - letting go or holding on until she's good and ready to let it go. This is obviously what she was born to do.

The band included Tommy King (keys), Stacey Lamont Sydnor (drums) Frank Abraham (bass), Wes Smith (sax), Adam Lasher (guitar) and William Artope (trumpet).

Friday, August 6, 2010

Jessie Payo LIVE!! : Breakin' Her Fast

Jessie Payo recently announced on Facebook that she was taking a month off from singing. That time frame now over with, here she was at Harvelle's - looking great - but it was those in attendance who truly reaped the benefit of her respite. Sounding as great (or better) than she looked, Jessie quickly warmed the room with her soulful originals that she generously shares.
Jessie's performance tonight was part of the Koffeehouse Sessions, held at Harvelle's every 1st Thursday of the month, and her band included Johnny Stachela on guitar (above) and Frank Abraham on bass.

TOMORROW: TGIF Blues with Zac Harmon!!



Thanks to David & Cevin.
Special thanks to the Harvelle's staff : Candise, Mika, Guy, Samantha, Joseph, and Ernesto
Thumbs up to J., Kim Koury, Anastasia Roark and West 4th/Jane.
Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)
pix taken live from Harvelle's using the Hipstamatic app for the iPhone.