Rob Duguy @ Jazz Standard 7/26/11

I got the last spot for the first set.  I'm always surprised at full it is on a Tues night.  I recognized a lot of live music lovers in the audience.

The music was excellent and highly worthy of the venue.  You can say that about every single band they book there.  Rob and Yvonne both work there, so it was extra special to see them up there.  I mean, you go somewhere on average a few times a month and you are bound to make friends with people who work there.  Especially THAT place.  It has an aura that supports people being very nice and happy.  I mean, they get to see excellent music and likely get a staff meal every shift.  That's where I would be working if I was still in the restaurant business.

Anyway, this ensemble was fantastic.  Rob was great on bass.  I didn't realize he does some percussion as well.  The 2 tenors were fantastic.  I could really get into the piano.  The drummer was awesome.  Yvonne has a great jazz voice.  There was also an unlisted special guest Alex Cowings, the tap dancer.  He added to the show,  it was fun to see him jam with the drummer.  Rob called him back up later during an African Suite to jam with Rob on hand-drum AND Nadav Snir–Zelniker on drums.

He was having so much fun they went a little long.  It was about 1.5 hours and it looked like another sold out set coming up.

ROB DUGUAY’S SONGEVITY featuring ABRAHAM BURTON, NOAH PREMINGER & YVONNE SIMONE
Abraham Burton – tenor saxophone
Noah Preminger – tenor saxophone
Yvonne Simone – vocals
Justin Kauflin – piano
Rob Duguay – bass
Nadav Snir–Zelniker – drums

Countless Jazz Standard patrons have been greeted nightly by our skilled and friendly maitre’d, Rob Duguay – but do they know that Rob is also an in–demand bassist, inventive composer, and first–rate bandleader? Tonight, Jazz Standard is proud to present Rob Duguay’s Songevity in its first appearance on our stage. Beginning in his student days at the University of Vermont, Rob has played with Clark Terry, Paquito D’Rivera and Arturo O’Farrill, among others. Rob later spent significant periods of musical development in Paris and pre–Katrina New Orleans before arriving in the NYC area in 2007. He’s gigged extensively with both his Low Key Trio and the Rob Duguay Quartet, but Songevity is his most expansive and unique experiment to date – don’t miss it!