Tasty Tuesday By Selbe Dittman
Jazz is something you don’t hear very often unless you actively seek it out. But one Jacksonville based band is on a mission to bring jazz into the St. Augustine music community. “I think jazz challenges you not only as a musician but also as a listener,” says Kyra Livingston, vocalist for Tasty Tuesday. Being able to bring a unique form of music to St. Augustine will not only expand their experience, but deepen the variety of music forms St. Augustine has to offer. Tasty Tuesday is a unique band. With ages ranging from 19 to 28, their love for jazz has brought them together. It started out with Marissa Alvarez and Luis Ocasio talking about the possibility of starting a jazz combo a little over a year ago. From there, it grew with Austin Caico (alto sax) and Dave Koenig (trumpet) then Kizzy Graves (trombone) and Royce Turner (piano) who were quickly added. “They just had so much talent to add and they vibed so well with all of us, we just had to have them,” says Alvarez about Graves and Turner. Like most bands, getting started is the hardest but most rewarding part. Members of Tasty Tuesday now include Ocasio (drums), Alvarez (bass), Livingston (vocals), Graves (trombone), Koenig (trumpet), Caico (sax), Turner (piano), and Louis (tenor sax). Because there are so many members, they are always learning each other’s ten- dencies and growing as a band. Each member of Tasty Tuesday is studying music in some way in school right now, but their dreams go beyond the classroom.
Ocasio says his future will most definitely be music-based and that he hopes to play professionally while also being involved in other aspects of music. For Alvarez, she hopes to bring music to kids in schools through band programs. “Playing music professionally is definitely my dream,” says Caico, sax player. And of course, like any musician, their style is constantly evolving with experience. Through their practices and live shows, the members can see how their style has evolved. “When we started, we just played jazz standards straight down, and now, with a little experience, we’re adding some pop and R&B tunes, originals, and making arrangements specific to our band,” says Caico. “We are always growing. Everyone in this band is so open to learning and we hope to be able to share our ideas with more people in Jacksonville and St. Augustine,” says bass player Alvarez. They first came to the St. Augustine music scene by jumping into the line up at the Colonial Oak Music Park and from there, the want to play in St. Augustine more often grew. Keep an eye out for this one, for we are sure this is only the beginning for Tasty Tuesday.
10