The Anchor In, 3120 W. Lake Rd., has resumed its presentation of live music for 2014-15.  Friday evenings feature jazz from 6:00 - 9:00 p.m., with guitarist Frank Singer serving as the house band, paired with a variety of high-profile guests.  Saturday evenings feature area pop and blues stars, also from 6:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Drinks and dinner service, NO COVER.  Free parking behind to club.  No smoking.  Call 814/833-1212 for reservations

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Fri., March 6   Frank Singer with bassist Tony Stefanelli

Tony Stefanelli counts Jimmy Manucci and Basil Ronzitti among his first teachers.  He commuted to New York City for several years to pursue studies with Dave Holland after
winning a National Endowment for the Arts grant.  Tony relocated to Detroit, where he performed with several bands including Johnny “Yard Dog” Jones. 

Locally, Stefanelli has performed with such bands as Wave, Angel Fire, Quintessence, J.D. Blues, Tito and Cat's A Bear. In the last ten years Tony has sponsored jazz performances at Romolo Choclates during it's Summer Saturday Concert Series, which has included jazz greats such as Jay Ashby, Bill O'Connell, Tony Monaco, Claire Daly, Cocomama and many
others.  [ World's best chocolate  www.romolochocolates.com ] -

Sat., March 7   The Monk's Brew

The Monk's Brew consists of Dillon Shidemantle (trumpet/flugel/voice), Bobby Lucas (keys), Alex McLaughlin (upright bass), and Michael Hibbler II (drums). The Brew does their own renditions of popular songs, from Van Morrison's "Moondance" to Queen's
"Crazy Little Thing Called Love," as well as original tunes and jazz favorites. The Monk's Brew formed in October 2011 with the idea of building a fresh imagine and  bringing jazz to new audiences.

The band is currently completing a demo recording and has planned an album release in the coming year. The demo and album releases will emphasize The Brew's original work.

William Fairgraves is stepping down as executive of Local 17, American Federation of Musicians, the Erie Chapter of the AF of M, after 51 years of service.  That might be two careers for many people, and came in addition to his career as a working musician during that period.

This photo shows Fairgraves early in his career, while stationed in Japan as a member of an Army band there in1956.  Like many veterans of service bands, he enthusiastically recalls those days as a great learning experience, working with many talented, experienced musicians.

The photo below shows Fairgraves today, with Union Board members, at the the Union office in the Masonic Building in downtown Erie.  Fairgraves in center of photo; Allen Zurcher, new Secretary/Treasurer, third from left.

Thanks to Basil Ronzitti for leading us to this treasure.  We've read about the creative things happening in this great MD Quintet as they worked their way through a tour of Europe.  Think of a rhythm section composed of a very young Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter and an even younger Tony Williams, a band finding ways to bend form to fit artistic intent, fronted by the open ears and open-to-new-ideas minds of a young Wayne Shorter and Miles, each with plenty of ideas of their own.  Here's a sample from YouTube: Miles Davis Quintet - Agitation - 31-Oct-67 (1 of 4).

A clear inspiration to Wayne Shorter's great current quartet, whose members also seem to read each others' minds at will