galaxy at bourbon bayou - EU Jacksonville 7/19/07

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galaxy at bourbon bayou

by rick grant    rickgrant01@comcast.net

      The brand new restaurant, Bourbon Bayou at the Landing, was the scene of some tight jazz fused with Motown performed live by a group called Galaxy. This band was performing its third weekend at the new venue. The restaurant is located at the front entrance of the Landing and offers an outside deck and inside seating with a full bar. The menu is authentic New Orleans Cajun specialties. On Friday and Saturday nights the Bourbon Bayou features live jazz from 8:30 pm to midnight.

      Galaxy is a group of experienced musicians who have a secret weapon–former Temptations’ member, Pretty Tony on lead vocals. At the gig, Tony told me he was with the Temptations in the early 70s during the group’s Phoenix Rising period. The other Galaxy members include Pierre Kendrick on saxophone, Steve (no last name given) on guitar, Robert Berry on keys, and Leon White on drums.

      The band plays modern jazz for twenty minutes then they bring up Tony for a paradigm shift in musical genre to Motown. Yes, Tony is a real crowd pleaser, recruiting audience members to be his impromptu Temptations backup singers.

      Fortuitously, Leon White put together the band for a wedding reception. Then by word of mouth, the group started to get gigs. The band then played the landing courtyard, which led to other gigs. The notion of these “day labor” bands that get gigs before they have really learned each other as musicians often present music that is sub-par. Leon argued that the players he gets are veterans and know the material, so they don’t even have to rehearse.

      Regardless of how or how well they came together, it was a hit at Bourbon Bayou, which is a classy place that gets crowded with patrons on Friday nights. Most people came in to eat and got an extra treat with the band’s popular Motown repertoire and audience interaction.

      At Bourbon Bayou, Galaxy played improvisational music based on standards that anyone would know. Then, when they called up Pretty Tony on vocals, the band shifted gears and became a Motown soul band. Creating an interesting fusion between jazz and Motown with the celebrity twist of Pretty Tony. Bourbon Bayou is another great reason to rediscover downtown, for food, atmosphere and music.

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