Charlie Hunter and Scott Amendola

[Ed S]

A new low

Not Hunter and Amendola by any means

Me.

I have reached a new low.

First, let me go back to Monday evening. I was reading the Buffalo News "Gusto" - a section of the local paper dedicated to entertainment and the arts.

I live in a second ring suburb of Buffalo - Orchard Park, current home of the Buffalo Bills. About 10 minutes to the east is the village of East Aurora - home of Elbert Hubbard and the Roycroft movement if anyone is into that sort of thing. Both villages are about 20 minutes from downtown Buffalo and are known to be very conservative. East Aurora might be the most unlikely spot on earth to host a jazz artist of Hunter's caliber.

Recently, though, in East Aurora, a new bar opened that claimed to feature live music. I figured it would be local bands - which are fine. The bar is a nice place - I had checked it out a few weeks earlier - but I don't connect suburban Buffalo with touring jazz artists. I was shocked to see Charlie Hunter booked into this joint. Thus, I figured no one would show up, we'd buy a ticket at the door and enjoy.

Wrong!

I got there and the place was sold out. Good for them, but bad for me.

My wife and I went to the bar next door to have a couple of drafts. When the music started, I walked over to the bar and stood outside and watched through the window - with an unobstructed view btw - and enjoyed the performance. I alternated between that spot and a spot in the alley between this place and an adjacent building. It's not so horrible as the word alley implies as there are tables and a fire pit which kept us warm. The sound was fantastic. It was almost like being inside and I could not get myself to leave.

So that's it.... My new low - I listened to most of the show in some alley or through a window. I felt like that guy - Francis - in Round Midnight who would listen to the music through a window of the Blue Note in Paris.

Have to say - it was a great performance. I'm a big fan of Hunter and was happy to have seen and heard him in any way I could.

Edited September 26, 2014 by Ed Swinnich

[CraigP]

Well, you certainly sucked me in with that post title!

[Ed S]

I changed the title.

I figured I've had enough views based on the original thread title and did not want to reflect negatively on Hunter or Amendola should it come up in an internet search.

I'm still embarrassed that I listened to the concert from an alley though. Could have been worse I suppose.

[7/4]

Cool story Ed.

You love music.