Photos by David Spira and Susan Gatschet Reese
The Scene: On Sunday night Baur’s Listening Lounge was full of fans and music professionals who hung on every amazing riff and phrase offered up by these excellent players. Most of the on-air staff of KUVO was there and Ms. Susan Garschet Reese who hosts the show “Take Note” from 1-4pm weekdays introduced Ms. Catherine Russell and her band. [Editor’s Note: To hear an interview Ms. Reese conducted with Catherine Russell last week on KUVO click here.]
The Baur’s building has a heritage of fine dining and hospitality and is experiencing a resurgence stimulated by the sounds of fine, authentic and acoustic music. The room has a feeling of relaxed elegance. With theater seating as well as tables for dining, excellent acoustics and attention to detail with the sound system, quiet service and gorgeous historic decor – all add to the enjoyment of the best music being played today anywhere.
Catherine Russell: From the first note Ms. Russell cast a spell upon the crowded room with a voice sometimes reminiscent of Ella Fitzgerald and sometimes Ma Rainey. She serenaded and teased the audience with a sense of humor and authenticity often missing in popular music today. None of her songs are “standards;” Ms. Russell has lovingly and thoughtfully combed through recordings from the golden age of Jazz and Blues to put together a catalog from sources as diverse as Dinah Washington, Fats Waller and Mary Lou Williams which she and her band interpret with grace and zeal. This is not a nostalgia show however: with pure virtuosity she and her band make music that sounds as fresh as ever. Matt Munisteri, playing a guitar as old as the inspired music – the same model 1930s Gibson ES150 Charlie Christian played – displayed a relaxed, breezy brilliance, absolutely stunning the audience with his jazzy solos and solid accompaniment. Steinway artist Matt Shane – also an amazing artist in his own right – is a master of Jazz and Blues and Baur’s piano sounded amazing as his fingers found all the right notes. Playing stand up bass, the youngest member of the band, Tal Ronen kept the fire burning and pumped out beautiful bass lines on the gorgeous 50’s 3/4 double bass for every song.
As one attendee remarked, “this show took me back to a different time and place, I can’t wait to go back – what a treat!”
One highlight of the set, among many, was a track from her new album Bring It Back released on Jazz Village records, a subsidiary of Harmonia Mundi called “Lucille.” Penned by her father, this is a fine example of the caring and thoughtful way Ms. Russell and her band curate their material from her own rich history, extensive knowledge of music, and deliver it lovingly and artistically.
The set ended with a swinging encore of Duke Ellington’s “I’m Checkin’ Out, Goombye” from her 2012 record Strictly Romancin’ and then Ms. Russell generously visited with fans and signed copies of her CDs. Those in attendance witnessed not only this fine performance but another milestone in the emergence of a new and soulful Denver venue.
Visit www.baursmagic.com for the schedule and to get tickets and learn about becoming a member of Music Appreciation Society, the non-profit that is programming an incredible line-up of Blues, Jazz, Folk, Latin and Classical music in the coming months.
Energy: A
Sound: A
Musicianship: A+
Stage Presence: A
Set/Light Show: B
Overall: A
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