SPOTLIGHT ON JAMES!

– by Jennifer Barone and Ingrid Keir

How does he do it? Every week, James, our trombone player, is wearing a huge smile and making Tuesday night live and energetic like he is!

We decided to shed some light on this very hot, very exciting, very lovable jazz musician. Check out our interview below and learn somethings you may or may not have known about James. We certainly did! Then, come down to Club Deluxe on Tuesday nights and experience him, LIVE!


Q: Tuesday's at Deluxe wouldn't be the same without you. How do you have so much energy week after week? Is it ginseng? Caffeine? Just pure love?
A: You know the answer to that - my air kisses from Jennifer and Ingrid, they always help! All I need are air kisses! I am a simple man, kisses baby.

Q: How did you get into jazz and what inspires you to take up the trombone?
A: I started when I was 8. Mr.Theuis in Kaiserlautern, Germany got me started. I wanted to play sax because my Dad played it. Or trumpet because trumpet players seem so cool – like Miles Davis and Terence Blanchard.
Now, I’m bringing the coolness to the trombone!

Q: Who are some of your favorite musicians and what song makes you totally lose your shit?
A: Any song by Mingus Big Band. You want to see me go crazy? Play any song by Charles Mingus and I will go APE!

Q: Do you call your instrument a “bone?” Daniel says you do...and exactly how long is the "bone" when it’s fully extended?
A: Trombone players can play in 6 different positions! THAT’S RIGHT LADIES, SIX!

Q: Do you have anything exciting that you carry in your case (besides your bone, of course)?
A: I have a special token for every country I have played in - Scotland, Germany, London, Toronto. I keep a little reminder how small the world is and how all people can appreciate music and poetry. Now, I want to play in Paris and Tokyo, maybe I’ll get a one way ticket!

Q: What do you think about the marriage of poetry and jazz?
A: All too natural, whatever happens on a given night can never be duplicated or reproduced. Each night is a new opportunity for something magical. The energy and love transcends religion, race, gender roles and sexual orientation!

Q: Do you have any favorite poets?
A: Jimmy (Deep seated passion)
Jessie (Every word has definition)
Pablo (Billie Dee)
Tatiana (Panamanian sister)
T. (Mr. Orgasmic)
all the newbees

Q: You've been such a consistent energy on Tuesdays, what were some of your favorite memories at Club Deluxe?
A: Dan's Birthday, Jennifer's Birthday and the one year anniversary.

Q: Now, the $1 million question:
who's hotter — Ingrid, Jennifer or Katarina?
A: Ok, this is hard question. Ingrid is so hot and has a sexy behind. Our air kisses could kill! Jennifer is so hot, sexy behind, and she’s Italian. Bella! Katarina is so hot, she’s a tall goddess with piercing eyes.

My last day on earth would include a threesome with all three! Now that is heaven. Sorry Dan, Kyle, Colin, Thatcher, Andy and Carl. You guys could only watch!

Q: Anything else you would like to share about the night?
A: I think we should have theme nights:
Hawaii Night, 1920 nights, College nights, Toga or Roman nights
80s, 60s, 70s, Maybe a 90s but NOT Britney Spears and No Futurist night.

The WordParty Awards 2006

On July 18th, 2006 we celebrated our first anniversary at Club Deluxe and in honor the artists that made our year inspirational, fun, energetic and so many other adjectives, we handed out the first WordParty Awards, including an audience elected "People's Choice" award.

Tuesday nights at Club Deluxe would not be what it is without the following people:

People’s Choice Awards:
Best Poet – Tie between The Poet J.C. and Jesse Whiley
Best Musician – Thatcher

Poetry:
Charlie Getter – Poet Who Doesn't Need a Mic
E.K. Keith – Favorite Local Open Mic Host
Pablo Rosales – The Billie Dee Williams Award for Best Poetic Lover
The Poet J.C. – Favorite Musical Rebel Rouser
Avotcha – The Poet Who Moves Us
Jesse Whiley– Wordsmith of the Year
Philip T. Nails – Mr. Lewd Behavior We Love 2006
Bambi Lake – Miss Lewd Behavior We Love 2006
William Taylor Jr. – WordParty Poet Laureate
Steven Gray – Best Rhyme & Rhythm
Trdmrc – Favorite Lottery Winner who Made Us Proud
Cara Vida – Best Bedazzled Performance
Tatiana Molinar – Most Soulful
Jimmy Mankind – Best Use of an Alias
Nicole Henares – Best Usage of “Hokey Pokey”
Bear – Best Growl
Ledbetter – Best Set of Pipes
Mattie – Best Poet to Get on the List After The List has Closed
Brandon – Best Poet Who Comes Late That We Love
Mark Schwartz & Diamond Dave Whitaker – Favorite Local Poet Icons
Felice Ana – Fresh New Poet
Ramu Aki – Most Colorful
Wiseproof – Best Freestyle
Rashna – Favorite Thatcher Tantalizer

Music:
James – Loudest Stand-on-Chair Enthusiast
Thatcher – Favorite Poetic Accompaniment
Carl – Fresh New Musician
Ross Steiner – Best Comeback
Andy Marchetti – Best Facial Expressions
Chad Oswalt – Best Fingering
Shane – Best Usage of a Hat
Colin – Favorite Toe-Tapper

OTHER: 
Katarina Fabic – Hot Cocktail Queen
Jay Johnson – Our Favorite Crooner / Club Owner 

WHO IS THAT BAD ASS ON THE BASS? An interview with Colin

– by Jennifer Barone, featuring some questions from the audience from Tuesday Nights at Club Deluxe!

We've decided to turn the spotlight on one of our favorite and frequent musicians at Club Deluxe–Colin Williams! Not only does he love to play with our poets, he does it well and has been known to sing the blues too. Is there anything this man can't do? Yes, he truly is a "Bad Ass on the Bass." Read our little interview and find out some interesting facts on the man behind the bassline.

Q: What jazz tune makes you totally lose your shit when
you play it and why?
A: I like any and all blues. You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To, because no one ever plays it. I also like all the New Orleans Tunes, like Down By the Riverside. So Nasty. As a club owner once told me, "girls with clean panties are nice, but girls with dirty panties are even nicer, heh heh heh." Man, I miss New Orleans.

Q: Compare and contrast: Charles Mingus and Shakespeare:
A: Shakespeare put the ancient world into English. If you read Lucan's account of the witches of Thessaly, you'll see where Shakespeare gets his ideas for the witches in MacBeth. If you read Seneca's Thyestes, you'll see where Shakespeare got his ideas for Titus Andronicus. Shakespeare is the link between the ancient world and the modern.

Likewise, Mingus is the missing link between crazy modern jazz and swing. Mingus was Duke Ellington's bass player until he chopped up a trombone player's chair with an ax. Mingus understood swing, but he went and tweaked it. Most of the crazy modern cats got their start in Mingus' band. Like Shakespeare, he's the link between the elder statesmen and the young turks.

Q: How did you first get into jazz and what song did it for you?
A: David Friesen's Early Morning Rising ! He plucked the strings below the fingerboard, recorded it, and looped it back over and over again. Then he took the bow and rapped it against the fingerboard like a drum, recorded that and played it back so that it was perfectly locked in with what he had down. Then he bowed a melody on top of all that. Took my sixteen-year-old breath away!

Q: Is the marriage of jazz and poetry a happy marriage or a rocky one?
A: It's a Happy One at Deluxe, but I've seen it get ugly at other clubs. Everyone respects each other here.

Q: Any recommendations as to what instructions you'd like to hear when poets ask for your accompaniment?
A: They're actually really clear.

Q: You sometimes take off your shoes when you play. Is it for comfort or because the band makes you?
A: The P.A. System feeds back because I stomp so hard. Sorry.

Q: If you had to ex-communicate one poet and choose one to listen to all night who would they be?
A: Yeah, I'll take the fifth on that one. What question could possibly be more awkward than that?

Q: Who's hotter Jennifer, Ingrid or Katarina?
A:You know, Aphrodite, Athena, and Hera asked Paris the same question. But I think Paris had an easier time of it. It would be easier to find some blemish on any of them, some defect of carriage, some gaffe in any of those goddesses than in any that frequent Deluxe. Suffice to say they have all made my bass skip a beat.

Q: Any favorite musicians on Tuesdays you love jamming with?
A: Shane really impresses me. I love James' energy. Stacy's tone is flawless. We've got a good crowd.

Q: What was the most moving and/or shocking Club Deluxe moment so far?
A: That woman who did a Margaret Cho routine invaded my comfort zone. Man, where did that come from?

Q: What jazz artist and album do you recommend to listen to while between the sheets with a special lady?
A: Oooh, the last track on Joshua Redman's Timeless Tales for Changing
Times is perfect. So is all of Kind of Blue. Don't even try Bill Evans' trio, though; the girl will hate it.

Q: Do you have a favorite poet or poem?
A: Yes! Catullus!

You will feast well with me, my Fabullus, in a few days, if the gods
favour you, provided you bring here with you a good and great feast,
not forgetting a radiant girl and wine and wit and all kinds of
laughter. Provided, I say, you bring them here, our charming friend,
you will feast well: for your Catullus' purse is full with cobwebs.
But in return you will receive a pure love, or what is sweeter or more
elegant: for I will give you an unguent which the Venuses and Cupids
gave to my girl, which, when you smell it, you will entreat the gods
to make you, Fabullus, all Nose!

Q: What's your favorite Katarina Club Deluxe cocktail?
A: I always get wine.

Q: If your upright bass was a woman, what would her name, nationality and appearance be like?
A: My bass is a woman, and she is Romanian, elegant, petulant and
impatient, like all great beauties.

Q: Club Deluxe has seen you tear it up on the bass and sing the blues, will we ever see the day Colin reads a poem?
A: Only time will tell.