[HAM] Tony Monaco in Edinburgh Scotland last weekend. YouTube video upped

[Vintage Hammond Hire (Scotland)]

Hello list

Last weekend saw Tony Monaco take Edinburgh by storm with two gigs at the
Jazz Bar in Chambers Street.

Here's a link to a YouTube slideshow so that you can sample the vibe:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EF92jAnUjB8

Please be kind with any comments you may leave...I was shooting in almost
pitch dark!

The whole thing seemed as though it was going to be a disaster right on the
first day. Tony and Kathy's plane was 6 hours late coming in from Berlin due
to bad weather.

The organ was supposed to be loaded into the club at 6.00pm for a 9.30pm
gig. At 8.15pm...I was still sitting in my hotel room biting my finger nails
waiting on a call.

It looked as though none of this was going to happen...

But at last the call came...and we loaded the organ into the club at 8.30pm.

Tony walked into the club, shook hands with me and we set up the organ and
Leslies as per his needs. We had little time to speak with each other...but
the smiles between us were enough to go on with. We had mailed, telephoned
and Skype called each other many times on the weeks leading up to these
gigs...we both knew there would be time to hang later...for now it was
getting on with the business.

Tony then turned to the two guys that would be playing with him for the two
dates...two guys he had never met before...never rehearsed with before...and
had only sent them each one email to touch base and even that email was sent
as forwarded attachment through the promoter. They shook hands but had no
real time for any warm exchange.

Two minutes later...he counted in....and BOOM!...there was a seasoned organ
trio that sounded as though they had been touring all of the seedy gin
joints of the Mid West for the last 20 years.

Tony played two sets on the first night, and three sets on the second night.
At no time during any of these long sets did any of them make a mistake,
make a bad choice, or be indecisive on the arrangements, comps or solo's. It
was breathtaking the talent we witnessed on stage on both these nights in
Edinburgh.         

Bill Kyle from the Jazz Bar can take full credit for putting these cats
together. Joining Tony on his Scottish debut were Ross Milligan on guitar
from Moffat, Scotland and on drums from NYC, Adam Sorenson.

If you are reading this having already seen Tony Monaco live...you will know
the meaning of the word "dynamics". He is without doubt the most dynamic
player on the circuit.

I sat for most of the time on these sets just grinning...watching as he gave
my B3 a lesson. The lesson?..."How to be a B3"

Talking of "lessons" Tony held a clinic on the Monday evening at the Jazz
Bar. Many of the players there were in absolute awe of Tony...but he put
them at all ease with his kind manner.  He even coaxed half a dozen of them
to get up and play B3 for him...he gave critique, but was supportive of
their playing throughout. Most of the guys were piano players, but within 30
seconds of being on the bench...he had them trying "Phud" on the pedals. It
was a sheer joy to see their faces light up...as that little missing
"something" hit their ear. One clinic for these guys wasn't enough...but if
nothing else, Tony, in one session, had them all wanting to learn pedals.

Tony Monaco is a master of the Hammond B3 organ. He was offered return dates
for next year after only playing one gig in Scotland.  We have high hopes
that he will return next year and grace us with his presence at one of the
Jazz Festivals as well.

Tony can work an audience like no other Jazz Artist I have come across.  A
big plus over and above his talent is the fact that he and his wife are
lovely people that are quite down to earth.

Kathy, Tony, Bill Kyle and I went for a Italian meal after the first show.
Even though it was 2.30 am, and both of them had gone through hell to get to
Edinburgh...they wanted to soak up the good time with us in Edinburgh.

It all came and passed too quickly...but here in Scotland...we have next
year to look forward to.

So...if you know Tony Monaco is going to be in your hometown...don't be a
fool and let his gig pass by.

I will add a review of the gig here from the newspaper "The Herald"

-----
Music
Tony Monaco, The Jazz Bar, Edinburgh
Rob Adams
FOUR STARS 

IT seems fair to say that, before he arrived at The Jazz Bar on Sunday, Tony
Monaco¹s wasn¹t a name readily familiar to the Edinburgh jazz audience.
There were certainly no queues round the block in anticipation. There might
be next time the Hammond organist from Columbus, Ohio appears, though.

Monaco is the kind of musician who makes things happen straight from the
count-in. He only met his band for this two-night stopover, guitarist Ross
Milligan and drummer Adam Sorensen, minutes before taking the stage. Yet
within a couple of choruses of the opening number, they were sounding like a
seasoned touring unit.

Sitting centre-stage, Monaco encouraged and gave only the briefest of
directions as he opened up the mighty Hammond B3¹s full range of sounds.
This included the slightly schmaltzy tones, too, but these were soon
superseded by the filthy, nasty, biting rush associated with his idol, Jimmy
Smith, and on Tenderly, a veritable canyon-wide chordal swell.

Monaco has the fingering techniques to go with the tonal nous and an ability
to build solos, layer upon exciting, variety-filled layer. His improvisation
on another favourite, Don Patterson¹s S¹bout Time, followed a superbly
articulate burst from Milligan in exploring the chord changes with a fierce
invention.

He can work an audience as adeptly as the organ¹s bass pedals, cajoling a
chanted refrain to Jimmy Smith¹s Midnight Special, and he could have a
singing career, too, judging from his smooth but earnest reading of The Way
You Look Tonight. Mostly, though, he likes to play the blues and he does so
with both a massive attack and the subtlest, most bewitching of touches.


Mark Trayner, Vintage Hammond Hire (Scotland)
Tel: +44(0)1333 422600 Fax: +44(0)1592 713618 mobile: +44(0)7976 908 039
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