ANDY PAGE Photo by Ashley Warren, Natural Craft Photography
and…
All That Jazz!
SHANE CHALKE performs at Chef’s Table in Banner Elk
By Steve York
J
AZZ! It can be cool. It can be warm. And it can most definitely be hot! Yet, somehow, it’s always cool. It can be Big Band, quartet, trio, or simply solo. Born in the deep South, “creoled” in New Orleans, “bootlegged” to Chicago and “citified” in New York, jazz, in all its forms, rose to become a distinctively American musical and cultural global export. And all that jazz is just as much at home here in the High Country as it is anywhere. Although the local jazz scene is at its liveliest between spring and fall, the cold winter months are kept just a little bit warmer by several hot musicians who perform here at both public and private settings, as well as for special holiday events. One of those is local jazz piano icon, Charlie Ellis. He’s been keeping the music smooth at the Green Park Inn in Blowing Rock for years. His most recent Charlie Ellis Jazz Trio—featuring Ellis, Mike Barlowe on drums, and Rick Stapleton on bass—have performed together for over 15 years. Charlie started his affair with the long 88’s at age eight in his hometown near Fayetteville. After eventually settling in the High Country, he spent several years playing at the Hound Ears Country Club. But it was his own legendary Jazz Parlor in Blowing Rock’s Martin House from 1972 to 1982 where Charlie, his bandmates, and a host of guest musicians really began to juice up the local jazz scene. After the Jazz Parlor, Charlie could be heard at Blowing Rock’s former P.B. Scott’s, where he’d played with the likes of jazz greats such as Ramsey Lewis, Herbie Mann and others. Then came his current musical residency at the Green Park Inn.
His last Trio performance there was actually recorded live and entitled the Charlie Ellis Trio Finale. Prior to that, Charlie had produced two more recordings called A Consoling Christmas and Above the Hills, the latter featuring both Charlie and several studio musicians. Not surprisingly, Charlie is much beloved at the Green Park Inn by both patrons and staff. “He’s always a gentleman, a class act and a big draw,” noted the Inn’s management. And that’s where you’ll find him year-round and throughout the winter from 6 to 9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. He’s joined most weekends by renowned guitarist, Dave Braun, as a regular duo. But you never know when another special guest musician or singer may appear and add to the show. Shane Chalke is another name synonymous with High Country jazz. His “BE Jazz” group—so named for his Banner Elk seasonal setting—is on the musical menu every Wednesday night from spring to late fall at The Chef ’s Table within the town’s Village of Banner Elk dining and entertainment attraction. Picking up the trumpet at age 10, Shane has played in a variety of funk bands, swing bands, and jazz groups over the years before founding his own trio. His most recent and locally inspired albums include “Jazz in Thin Air” and “Jazz on the River.” Shane’s Trio, in its eleventh season at Chef ’s Table, includes Shane on Trumpet, Jim Fleri on keyboard, Ben McPherron on electric bass and, occasionally, local guitarist, Andy Page. As the Village’s developer, Angelo Accetturo, puts it, “Downtown Banner Elk has never been so alive. And Shane Chalke’s ‘BE Jazz’ is a big reason why.”
Other than Chef ’s Table in Banner Elk, Shane’s typical High Country seasonal venues include Alpen Inn on Beech Mountain, Chetola in Blowing Rock and Eagles Nest amphitheater on Beech Mountain. His last two High Country gigs for 2021 take place at Chetola on December 17 and at the Chef ’s Table Christmas Jazz event on December 23. Jim Fleri, who is also a regular with Shane Chalke’s BE Jazz group, is equally well known as leader of his six-piece jazz ensemble called the Lucky Strikes Orchestra. This very popular regional band, which he founded over a decade ago, offers a rich variety of musical genres, from Swing and jazz standards to Motown, Beach and Classic Rock from the 1950s through the 1970s, all with a full jazz band sound. After initially playing various woodwind instruments, Jim began his professional career as a drummer. Since his dad was a professional jazz pianist, being a drummer gave Jim a chance to play along with his father and mentor. But, after his dad’s passing, Jim turned back to his piano roots with his specialty being keyboard bass. The Lucky Strikes Orchestra runs a busy spring through fall schedule that includes Grandfather Vineyard, Linville Falls Winery, Beech Alpen Inn, Valle Crucis Park, Inn at Ragged Gardens, Todd Community Park, West Jefferson’s Christmas in July and Backstreet Concerts, Lost Province, and the Blue Ridge Theater. And, in the winter, Jim’s The Lucky Strikes Quartet performs regularly at Timberlake’s Restaurant in the Chetola Resort every Thursday from 6 to 9 p.m.
music!
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