by erin thursby scopes1925@msn.com
On Thursday nights at Layla’s in San Marco, you can experience the sweet sounds of cool jazz. Filling in for Dot Wilder, was Peggie Black. “I’m the music teacher at Our Lady Star of the Sea,” says Black “I teach about 176 students from ages 3 to 6, so during the day I’m Miss Peggie…It’s a nice balance because I get to do that with the little guys…and then [I] get to come and play for the big kids in the evenings.”
Playing back-up for Miss Peggie Black was Barry Greene on guitar and Lawrence Buckner on the bass violin. Black was a consummate live performer with a smooth, pleasurable voice made for Jazz. She hit most of her vocal marks, but mainly projects a vivacity and vitality that makes you happy to be alive and listening to her. Her interpretations of classics like ‘Let’s Do It’ and ‘You Give Me Fever’ are far more appealing and unique than most jazz vocalists you’ll hear at clubs.
Greene instructed Black while she was in school for Jazz at UNF. Jokingly, Greene refused to be interviewed until Peggie Black was in his lap. Greene first picked up a guitar at age ten because of “the Beatles and to get girls.” He was shy. It’s been over thirty years since he first started playing and his experience showed on stage. His hands flew up and down the neck of his guitar in some amazing string stylings.
Lawrence Buckner coaxed out the low, low voice of his vintage bass violin. He went to school for pre-med (where they didn’t teach him to play the bass) and started out in music playing drums in the Army Band, and switched over, he says, “because it was a cool instrument.” He plays a 1930 five string bass, a huge instrument that he doesn’t take with him when he travels out of town for gigs. Instead, the promoters rent bass instruments which he says is “Musically, a bunch of one night stands…I hope my pastor doesn’t read this thing.”
Later in the set they were joined by Von Barlow, a genius with the snare drum. His entrance inspired an improv jazz riff off of ‘Little Drummer Boy’ by Greene on his guitar. Barlow was dressed in a dragon embroidered jacket and a fedora, radiating an all-encompassing affection for the world, even passing out a coupon to me good for one hug.
Guest vocalist, Brenda Kelly, took the stage for a sultry ‘Summertime.’ She was an unexpected addition to the evening and a pleasure to listen to. She’s just starting out on the Jacksonville scene, but I think she’ll be a performer to watch. She’ll be appearing at the Brick on March 17th.
Out on the patio at Layla’s you could still hear the jazz, filtered by the window. A large group of college-aged kids sat and shared a hookah. Indoors, under Middle Eastern arches, women in evening wear and expensive jewelry got up to dance with corporate-looking men. Bohemian couples enjoyed the jazz, tucked away in various corners, against the pillowed benches as they sipped wine. A few, lone singles quietly sat and took in the jazz, there not for the company of another but simply for the music and a drink or two. Somehow the music seemed to be part of the sensuously red-walled décor.
|
