John Beasley & the MONK'estra Big Band at Miner Auditorium, August 22, 2013

John Beasley & the MONK'estra Big Band
2013-08-22
Miner Auditorium
SFJAZZ Center, 205 Franklin St, San Francisco, CA
7:30 PM, Thursday, August 22, 2013

[7:30 PM lights down, Introduction by Randall Kline as the musicians take stage]

1. Epistrophy
2. Little Rootie Tootie
3. Ask Me Now
4. Skippy
   [set ends 8:22 PM]

[8:43 PM lights down]

1. I Remember Clifford
   [band introduction]
2. San Francisco Holiday »
3. Oska T
4. I Mean You
5. ? Rhythm-a-Ning
   [set ends 9:41 PM]
   
   Encore
6. Peace
   [show ends 9:50 PM]

• Justo Almario: tenor saxophone, clarinet, flute;
• John Beasley: piano, melodica, synthesizer;
• Ryan Dragon: trombone;
• Jeff Driskill: alto saxophone, clarinet;
• Jamie Horvaka: trumpet, flugelhorn;
• Steve Hughes: bass trombone;
• Gabe Johnson: trumpet;
• Wendell Kelly: trombone;
• Tom Luer: tenor saxophone, bass clarinet;
• Gary Novak: drums;
• Tommy Peterson: baritone saxophone, bass clarinet;
• Bob Sheppard: soprano saxophone, alto saxophone, clarinet, flute, piccolo;
• Brian Swartz: trumpet, flugelhorn;
• Francisco Torres: trombone;
• Bijon Watson: trumpet, flugelhorn;
• Ben Williams: bass, contrabass.

Inside and seated at 7:25 PM. Looks like a sparse house tonight, even with the floor reconfigured to allow for a double-depth stage.

First set was a little short, but the band came roaring out of the gate and set a great pace for the enthusiastic crowd. Second set started off a little slower, beginning with a ballad, but the rest of the tunes were a real blast. Oska T – a tune I don't remember hearing before – started out with a really engaging contrabass solo from Ben Williams, a young dude who earned a spot on my watch list with tonight's performance.