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An Evening at Lutes' Casino

Mid August in Yuma, AZ - 114 degrees. And humid (we "monsoon" here for a few weeks out of the year). It is the type of evening you assume no one will venture out of their air conditioning to hear live music of any kind. The place will be empty, it will loose a lot of money, and that will be that.

But the place is not empty. Tonight there is hardly a table to be had by the time the quintet is ready to play. As a Venue, Lutes' Casino is not bad at all. A casino in name only, it is known as the oldest pool hall in Arizona, and while it does still have a couple of pool tables, there is no mistaking that this is foremost a one of a kind local eatery. Short on frills, long on atmosphere - very long. You can look around all evening and not take in all the photographs, posters, memorabilia, and Unidentified Hanging Objects that crowd the walls and ceiling.

The group plays. Because of the casual, easy atmosphere, the crowd here generally seems to be in a good, receptive mood. And there always seems to be a percentage of true jazz fans - you can tell they're there. They take notice of subtle musical ideas and musicality in general. They acknowledge outstanding aspects of a given improvisation, and aren't excited by the unexceptional.

This evening Jason Arviso is sitting in for Carl Posch on guitar. The first tune is a medium blues, intended to help make Jason feel comfortable from the beginning, and as expected, no worries - he seems to be right at home. Having someone 'sub' is a reminder of the collective chemistry that is central to jazz - individuals bringing their own skills and ideas to the whole. Change one musician, you change the overall effect - like a slight turn of the kaleidoscope.

The group certainly has a different feel this night, but it works. The performance rolls along with a lot of "musical moments" as Jon Knudtson puts it, and typical YJC musical variety and idiosyncrasies, complete with customary (though inadvertent) references to the presence of a TIP JAR.

The reaction of the audience is enthusiastic, some even stand up in appreciation after the final tune. The night seems to be successful all the way around; the quintet feels good about its efforts, and the management is pleased with the turn out, the music, the evening. So, at least so far, the group has not outstayed its welcome - scheduled for three more "Fridays at Lutes" next month ...

S. Hennig 8/24/07