From: johnf@Auspex.COM (John Fereira)
Newsgroups: ba.singles
Subject: Jazz Boink
Date: 29 Jul 92 00:31:19 GMT
Organization: Auspex Systems, Inc.

A few days ago I mentioned a possible get-together at Bach Dancing and
Dynamite Society in response to someone suggesting a meeting on that side
of the hill.  I've received several requests about information about BDDS
I put together the following article.  I have no connection with BDDS other
that I have enjoyed the shows there for many years.

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Several people have expressed an interest regarding "Bach Dancing and 
Dynamite Society" (hereafter BDDS).  BDDS is a beach house owned and operated
by Pete Douglas.  BDDS is located approximately three miles north of the
town of Half Moon Bay.  Traveling north from Half Moon bay turn left on 
Medio rd. and right again on the frontage road next to the beach. It's on the
right (the beach is on the left) just before the Mirimar Beach Inn.  Pete
has been a long time jazz afficianado and quite a few years ago opened up his
house for other lovers of jazz music.  He has a large entertainment room
with a lot of chairs, a small balcony, and a stage with is partially filled 
with a full size grand piano.  Surrounding the stage are paintings and
photographs of famous jazz musicians and a nice stained glass profile of
"Bird". 

Around 2:30 on Sunday afternoons people will start showing up on the second
story wooden deck outside and in the small solarium next to it.  The people
will usually come prepared with picnic baskets full for cheese, fruit, chip
and dips, and the beverage of their choice.  Wine and champagne seem to 
be quite common.  Inside you can see people mingling around and a catered
spread with some yummy looking things that can be purchased once inside.
(Hint: save room for one of their desserts).  There is also a small beer
and wine bar should you forget your favorite beverage.  

At 3:00 the door opens and for $9-$14 they'll stamp your hand and give you 
the run of the house.  The first thing you do at this point is find a seat
in the entertainment room and mark it with a postit note or something.  Then
head back to your "spread" or try the catered food (it's good).  Take a
walk on the beach if you want.  Walk next store to the Mirimar and take in
a order of raw oysters if you want.  Relax and mingle until 4:00 when the
show starts.  Pete will then give his "why this is a good place to see
jazz" speil and will introduce the band.

Who might you see at BDDS?  It doesn't make any difference.  I usually go
to BDDS without prior knowledge of whose playing.  I've never been disappointed
yet.  Just trust the house and you won't go wrong. Some of the people that
I have seen there are:  Strunz and Farah, Paul Horn, McCoy Tyner, Pancho
Sanchez, Jimmy Smith, Betty Carter, Phil Woods,  Joe Pass,  (missed Billy
Cobham this summer),  and Horace Silver.  I've also seen a lot of people I'd
never heard of.  Basically, world class jazz almost every weekend.  

What makes BDDS special is the intimacy.  When I saw Paul Horn his microphone
stand was between my legs.  Many performers have played with any amplification
whatsoever.  What really allows performers to get away with this is the
audience.  During a quiet bass solo the audience will be dead quiet.  During
Paul Horns performance he was doing a flute so with a lot of delay.  He'd
play a few sparse notes and use the natural acoustics of the room and let
the note fade to almost silence.  As one note faded a bird outside answered
his call with a note of his own.  Horn echoed the birds call and the bird
followed.  During this whole time the audience was practically holding their
collective breaths in silence so that all could enjoy this unique experience.
Jimmy Smith (Playboys multi time best jazz organ winner) got the audience
involved at the other end of the scale.  In one raucous number everyone
in the balcony was standing arm and arm and swinging back and forth to the 
music.  The people that go to BDDS are very friendly and you might even find
yourself standing in the dessert line during next to McCoy Tyner (as I did)
during his break.  The previous time I had seen McCoy Tyner it was at the
fairmont in SF, cost me a couple of hundred plus for myself and a date, and
he only played for about and hour.  He played about 2 1/2 hours that day
(most shows get out at 7:30) and it cost $14 (about the high limit).  The
lower limit seems to be around $8 although it's been awhile since I've been
to an $8 show.  

They also do Friday night classical music catered dinners.



So,  now who might be interested in a ba.singles gathering at BDDS?

-- 
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| John Fereira            "Is that all you ever think about?"                |
| johnf@auspex.com                                                           |
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Newsgroups: ba.singles