WBGO Blog

  • Members Night a Success

    April 27, 2009. Posted by Grey Johnson.

    Add new comment | Filed under: Jazz Alive, Jazz Community, Members, Michel Camilo; Rhonda Hamilton; WBGO; jazz88; Blue Note; Blue Note Jazz Club; WBGO Members; Charles Flores; Clilff Almond, WBGO Community Events

    michel-and-rhonda1Nearly 100 WBGO Members piled into the Blue Note jazz club in New York City, Wednesday evening, April 22, for a set by the fiery Dominican jazz pianist, Michel Camilo and his trio. Midday Jazz host Rhonda Hamilton mingled and led the foot-stomping to Camilo’s incredible sound, and then jumped up onstage to interview the still-sweating pianist. Michel expressed his love for WBGO and talked about his non-stop touring schedule—Japan, Europe, the Canary Islands. Rhonda took questions from the audience. “Will Camilo have a big band album out?” “Soon,” said the pianist. “The band plays so tightly; how long have they been together?” “The bassist, Charles Flores, has been with me for 6 or 8 years, and the drummer, Cliff Almond, since 1989.” “Will you play just one more tune!?” “Yes,” and Camilo launched into an incredible solo that somehow combined all the melody, all the passion and all the syncopation shifts of the evening. Though you sometimes couldn’t actually SEE Michel’s hands on the piano, they were moving so fast, we could all FEEL what came out.

    Thanks to the Blue Note Staff who were so gracious and made it all seem easy, to WBGO staff—Assistant General Manager Amy Niles who got the deal rolling, Program Director Thurston Briscoe who made the Camilo connection, down to helping organize autograph seekers in Michel’s dressing room, to our Membership staff David Rosenak and Rita Keith without whom we simply would not be able to accomplish a Members Night. And thank you members for all of your support and for joining the fun on this night. More Members Nights ahead. Stay tuned.

    See Photo Gallery of Members Night

    © 2009 WBGO