Bill Saitta Produces A Great New Sound: JazzGrass" at Palm Desert Greens Country Club

Jeremie Levi Samson, Bill Saitta and Bob Hamilton

Barnaby Finch, Don Reed, Jeff Olsen,Lily McCabe, Bill Saitta and Sean Longstreet

                                                Bill Saitta, Don Reed, Lily McCabe. Sean Longstreet

On Saturday night, January 16, "Bill Saitta Music" presented a wonderful new music sound that might be a new experience for a lot of music lovers here in the Coachella Valley.  Bill calls the music "JazzGrass" and it consists of a blend of Jazz and Blue Grass.  The result is a rather infectious sound that is guaranteed to get your feet moving and your spirits soaring!

The night opened with a trio of Bob Hamilton on Guitar, Jeremie Levi Samson on Violin and Bill Saitta on Bass.  Bill's trio set the tempo for the evening and introduced for the first time to many in the audience French Violinist, Jeremie who was nothing short of fantastic.  In my opinion, Jeremy is one of the best Jazz violinists I have ever heard.  His dexterity and tone were perfect and after hearing him tonight, I have no doubt he is ready for prime time performances.  Don't miss any chance to see him.  You may be able to catch him at Backstreet Bistro on Tuesday nights where he like to sit in with Bill.

The next group of outstanding musicians led by Barnaby Finch took the stage after Bill's Trio finished.  This group consisted of Barnaby Finch on Piano and Conducting,  the great Don Reed on Guitar, Mandolin and Dobro, Lily McCabe on Fiddle,  Jeff Olsen on Drums, Sean Longstreet on Guitar and Bill Saitta on Electric Bass.  The sounds of this group were new, fresh and explosive.   As I looked around the sold-out audience of 200+, I could not see anyone sitting still.  This music makes you want to clap your hands and stomp your feet.  It was a great evening of music, excellent food and good old fun.  I particularly enjoyed the solos from Barnaby that were outstanding riffs enjoyed by both Jazz and Blue Grass fans.

 

Tom Keenlyside and Barnaby Finch Join Bill Saitta and Jeff Olson At Last Jazz Session at Woodhaven CC

Bill Saitta, Tom Keenlyside, Jeff Olsen and Barnaby Finch

Tom Keenlyside

Jeff Olsen

Barnaby Finch

Wednesday, March 20 was the last session in the Jazz series that Bill Saitta put together at the Woodhaven CC. I decided to attend because I heard that Tom Keenlyside and Barnaby Finch were sitting in.  I was not going to do a review but the Jazz was so good that I just had to let my readers know.  I heard just a little of Tom's playing this season at the recent supper concert Tom and Steve Madaio put on at The Gardens on El Paso, and I wanted another chance to hear him close up.  Tonight, Tom played a lot on his Tenor Sax, and it is hard to express just how good he performed.  Tom is known by many for his superb flute performances but take it from me, a long-time Sax player, Tom plays Tenor Sax as good as anyone I have ever heard. 

Tonight was my first time this season to hear Barnaby Finch play and he exceeded my highest expectations!  He was just "on fire". I can only tell you that both Barnaby and Tom were really cooking and took each other to higher levels of great Jazz. 

There was a real Jazz chemistry in the air at Woodhaven tonight and it not only could be felt by everyone in the packed audience but also by Bill Saitta and Jeff Olsen.  Tonight I heard some of the best Jazz of the season!  This group of musicians does not play together too often but I highly recommend that anytime they do, you should make every effort to get to hear them.

This is the last performance for Bill Saitta for a while.  Bill is having surgery on his shoulder on Friday and will be out of commission for at least a month.  Best of luck Bill, and we all wish you well and a speedy recovery.  

                                                                                                     

                                                                                                       
                                                                                                         

                                                                                                       

Barnaby Finch, Rod Kokolj, Jeff Olsen and Bill Saitta Bring Jazz Alive At Woody's

Bill Saitta, Rod Kokolj and Barnaby Finch

Rod Kokolj & Bill Saitta

Barnaby Fitch

Rod Kokolj

Rod Kokolj

Jeff Olson

Back to Woody's again on Jan 26th to hear keyboard player Barnaby Finch, Sax and flute player Rod Kokolj, drummer Jeff Olsen and of course, the main man, Bill Saitta on bass. I had hear many good things about Barnaby and had to hear him for myself. He was terrific and so was the rest of the group.  I had hear Rod Kokolj before but he was in the groove tonight.  And many of my singer friends had told me that Jeff Olson had the softest hands in the desert and I can now validate their opinion.  The sounds tonight were wonderful and the quartet played to a full house of appreciate Jazz fans.

I have to say that if you have not been to Woody's yet you are really missing the boat. Tonight Woody's had a free wine tasting with finger food.  And the menu at Woody's is great if you like comfort food and great wines at the lowest prices in the desert.  If you like great jazz sounds and great reasonable food, Woody's is your place. It's located at 317 Indian Ave., Palm Springs, Ca.