“My music is the spiritual expression of what I am — my faith, my knowledge, my being…When you begin to see the possibilities of music, you desire to do something really good for people, to help humanity free itself from its hang-ups…I want to speak to their souls.” John Coltrane
“I wish those days would come back again.” Stevie Wonder
Watching “Chasing Trane: The John Coltrane Documentary,” took me, Gary Ellerbe, Rev. Hathaway and many more “back down memory lane” reminiscing about the days when you could catch live jazz shows on Pennsylvania Ave. You could also listen to jazz throughout Baltimore during the week, and on Sundays gathered at the Famous Ballroom for a jazzy Sunday afternoon with the Left Bank Jazz Society. Jazz giants would converge in Baltimore for the best sound in town. Do you remember when Art Blakely introduced a young trumpeter to Left Bank? The incomparable Wynton Marsalis blew his trumpet at Left Bank as a relative unknown.
“If you feel like tapping your feet, tap your feet.” Art Blakey
If you’re looking for Coltrane, Miles Davis, Les McCann, Sinatra, Ahmad Jamal, Aretha, Gloria Lynn, Sarah Vaughn, The Prysock Brothers and the rest of the gang, check out Jimmy Green at the Windsor Inn on a Wednesday afternoon playing jazz that has you snapping your fingers, patting your foot and even hand dancing.
When you think of Rehoboth Beach you think of a resort town surrounded by whimsical cottages, quaint bars and restaurants, sand and huge waves. “Everything must change” from the first time I visited Rehoboth Beach in the 70s and now with the influx of year round residents, million dollar homes and new restaurants. I wasn’t surprised when I saw a billboard advertising a French restaurant, “La Fable” in Rehoboth. After a day of jazz, everyone was exhausted except Dr. Charlene Cooper Boston and I, who decided to check out this authentic French restaurant. The owner and her staff greeted us warmly upon our arrival. In the background was a three-piece combo playing softly in the back next to the stained glass piano bar.
“And you don’t know, you don’t know how glad I am.” Nancy Wilson
The escargots melted in your mouth, the duck was succulent and the bottle of French champagne was chilled to perfection. This restaurant is definitely on my list for next year.
“It’s a man’s world but you can’t do nothing without a woman’s love.” James Brown
Colin’s Restaurant was transformed into a wild life safari in celebration of Eugene Smalley’s 75th surprise birthday party hosted by his wife Sarah “Sadie” Smalley and daughter Terri Williams. Sadie had many of Smalley’s mounted animals transferred from his game room to Colin’s and had them strategically placed throughout the restaurant at the invitation only celebration. The highlight was the standing black bear with a Morgan State University hat tilted on his head. Guests enjoyed a delicious meal of smothered pork chops, crab balls and more. A pediatrician by day, DJ Doc had the party in full swing as guests danced the night away. Among the guests in attendance were members of Groove Phi Groove Fraternity Inc., Pioneer Rod and Gun Club, Ravens Roost # 79, Smalley’s grandchildren , nieces, nephews and of course Smalley’s Girls.
“We’re having a party dancing to the music” Sam Cooke
If you are a lover of life, a breast cancer survivor, an Alpha Kappa Alpha (AKA), and a member of the Dragon Boat Club, celebrating your 60th birthday, you know the party is going to be “Sensational” when your sister Kimberly DeLaine is a premiere party planner. More than 150 guests dined on a non-stop menu of Cuban foods, drinks and delicacies at the party at Little Havana’s on Key Highway celebrating Chandra Jackson. The decorations included dragon boats, huge colorful lanterns with colors incorporated to represent Chandra’s life. Mom Lois DeLaine captured the moment in pictures. Guests travelled from Michigan, New York and Chicago to make this night memorable for Chandra and her husband Ellsworth.
Tyres “Tony” Jones served from soup to nuts at his wife Rosalind’s birthday dinner at Colin’s Restaurant. More than 60 guests enjoyed an intimate sit-down dinner complete with wine and delicious passed appetizers of crab dip and Jacoby grilled oysters (name after #12 Jacoby Jones a frequent visitor to Colin’s restaurant” before enjoying an evening celebrating Roz.
Singing happy birthday to my oldest son Keith Anthony Lee, the best neighbor Russell Jolivet, Sandy Aldridge, Ernestine Scroggins, Brenda Baker, Mildred Harper, Ralph Wright, Willard Wright, Donnis Kinder, Brenda Baker and a special shout out to Libby Harris of Tequila Sunset, as she celebrates her mother Lizzie McDowell on her 95th birthday.
Happy anniversary Terry and Deborah Owens, Andre and Joyce Smith and to the Brookins, Karen and Bridgette on their first wedding anniversary.
Congratulations to the Jones family, Ernestine Jones Jolivet, The Honorable Verna Jones-Rodwell, Alvin Jones and Dr. Pythias Jones on receiving the 2017 Trailblazer Award by the Journey to Hope for your tireless efforts on behalf of the Pythias and Virginia Jones African American Community Forum on Memory Loss, the Memory and Aging Community Advisory board and numerous community projects.
Baltimore’s Mario Armstrong, who is doing great things, received an award from The International Academy of Web Television for Best Live Series in 2017 for his first season of “Mario Armstrong’s Never Settle Show”. The second season of Mario’s show is on Face Book Live on Wednesdays at 7 p.m.
Oops! Blame it on my mind not my heart I misidentified my good friend Marty Glaze’s position and the name of his company. Marty is the President of Commercial Construction, not vice president of Commercial Interior.
Psalm 100:4 “Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.”
Happy Thanksgiving and remember, “Pay it Forward