Bake’s Blog: In The Pocket

If hard-swingin’ jazz performed by gentlemen vocalists is your thing, then you will definitely want to head out to Bake’s this weekend. We have two outstanding shows featuring a truly great line-up of some of the best male jazz singers around.

Hans Brehmer and his band take the stage on Friday night. Many of you know Hans as the musical director for the house band here at Bake’s Place, as well as the first-call accompanist for many of the region’s top jazz vocalists. However, Hans is a knockout performer in his own right, and his evening in the spotlight is a real treat. I’ve had the pleasure of working with Hans on several occasions and have always been taken by his relaxed approach to the music, a sense of swing that seems effortless and his authentic sensibility for the heart of the lyric. Hans knows how to tell a story and tell it well. His singing and playing flow together with a particularly engaging synergy, and note-by-note, Hans gracefully pulls you into the tune and holds you there until the message is delivered. Hans has a great sense of humor, which readily shines through in his music. I am quite fond of musicians, who jump into the music with a sense of adventure and fun. Hans easily falls into that category. And if all this weren’t enough, Hans is a great ambassador for the genre. On top of being a truly stellar musician, he is a tremendous spirit. Some of the best conversations that I’ve had about jazz have been with Hans. He possesses a great reverence for the music, while not taking things too seriously. He is down-to-earth and comfortable, and there is not a pretentious bone in his body. His love of the music is unmistakable, and he brings a palpable sense of joy to the stage. Hans Brehmer is the real deal, and I hope that this is just the first of many performances with Hans in the spotlight.

Everybody loved the Rat Pack, those velvet- voiced lounge kings of Vegas in the 50’s and 60’s. The original pack featured Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Joey Bishop, Peter Lawford and Frank Sinatra. Their performances were marked by swingin’ musical numbers, ad-lib comedy and playful banter. In honor of these lovable gems, we’ve put together a Tribute to the Rat Pack, which will take place on Sunday night. The line-up is a bit of a musical who’s who for male vocal talent in our area: Jake Bergevin, Clipper Anderson, Craig Baker, Reggie Goings, Butch Harrison and Hans Brehmer. They’ll be backed by the house band- Hans Brehmer on piano, Larry Holloway on bass and Brad Boal on drums- and a few will be stepping up to add a little trumpet and trombone to the mix. The last I heard, they were busy working up a set list of specific songs from that era. It’s not often that you get to see and hear so many male vocalists all in one evening, and this particular tribute seems perfect for this musical team.  This show promises to be a ball.

I’ve focused on these two performances specifically because they feature male singers.  By and large, the local scene is dominated by female vocalists, and so these two shows are unique and rare. I should also mention, however, that Pearl Django will also be house this weekend. Everybody knows them. Everybody loves them. When it comes to Gypsy Swing, few can match them. They’ll take the stage on Saturday night. Yet another great reason to head on out to Bake’s Place this weekend!

For more detailed information about these shows, please visit the calendar page on our website at www.bakesplace.org.