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Music for Cool People
hot
spots
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local jazz
Bum. Bum. Ba na na na na. Recorded in 1957, Blue Train’s renowned refrain still stops jazz lovers in their tracks. The indoctrinated know the searching, soul-tugging notes of John Coltrane’s opening solo are seconds away. The music of Louie Armstrong and Miles Davis is as American as rock ‘n’ roll and as cosmopolitan as a London pub. Still, the local jazz scene has long been overshadowed by the area’s colorful rock and roll history. Rock artists with ties to the Gainesville/Ocala area include Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Steven Stills, and both Don Felder and Bernie Leadon of The Eagles. Despite that, the area’s jazz scene remains a vibrant one. “The music scene is the reason—well, one of the reasons—we still live here,” said longtime Gainesville resident Steve Ware as he and his wife took in a recent Wednesday night jazz performance at Emiliano’s in downtown Gainesville. “On any given night, you can catch great music. And without a cover charge.” That Wednesday, a piano and upright bass duo tore through an instrumental version of the Sinatra standard “Summer Wind” while patrons bobbed their heads and ordered half-priced bottles of Spanish wine. If that sounds like your cup of tea, check out these local hot spots.
Think his fingers are fast? At one time, local jazz guitarist Marty Liquori was one of the top competitive runners in the world. He competed in the Mexico City Olympics in 1968 and for two years was the number one ranked runner in the world for the mile.
≥Where to
Listen Emiliano’s Cafe
Embers of Florida
Leonardo’s 706
The Red Onion Neighborhood Grill
7 SE First Ave. Gainesville, FL 32601 352-375-7381 Live jazz, Mondays & Wednesdays 6:30 to 9 or 10 p.m. Call to confirm times. 706 W. University Ave. Gainesville, FL 32601 352-378-2001 Live jazz, Mondays 6:30-9:30 p.m., Thursdays 7:3010:30 p.m.
3545 SW 34th St., Suite A Gainesville, FL 32608 (352) 380-0901 Live jazz, Thursdays, 6-9 p.m.
3885 Northwest 24th Blvd. Gainesville, FL 32605 352-505-0088 Live jazz some Saturdays 7-10 p.m. Call to confirm.
Liquori plays most Mondays and Thursdays at Leonardo's 706 in Gainesville.
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