Chelsea, New York City, August 2012

Chelsea, New York City, August 2012
written on October 12, 2012 in East Peoria, Illinois 

sticky, odorous, dense air
tinged with summer haze
framed by twilight, hankering to near.
The sky is a periwinkle gray, with artificial illumination
provided by endless buildings
that are heaven-bound.

You can see the people at the top of the top
with timed and flickering flashes.
Anxious tourists racing up
to be in the pointy concrete giant
with Olympics-colored lighting.

we gingerly make our way to the middle
arrange discarded chairs and once-elegant patio furniture
avoid cigarette butts that skimmed the ashtray
and settled elsewhere

our feet are weary and shot by the day's adventures
the burdens of past & future too heavy around our necks.
Twilight brings with it
a vague and directionless draft.
Perhaps it is menacing.

bottle opener, twist, pull, listen
recline, glance up, smile

Eastern Blok @ Katerina's, January 3 '13

My family somewhat spontaneously decided to listen to Eastern Blok, a world fusion jazz ensemble that was formed in Chicago in 2004. The group consists of guitarist Goran Ivanovic, sax/flute/perhaps- other-woodwinds-player Doug Rosenberg, bassist Matthew Ulery, and percussionist Michael Caskey. They played at Katerina's on West Irving Park, and we caught a few hours of their show. 

Selections included many original works written by mostly Ivanovic, and ranged from traditional Balkan-styled melodies with underlying innovative jazz chords to free jazz influenced jams. The music was evocative with a wide variety of emotions - Old World nostalgia, dance-like exuberance, melancholic, observant. Each player is an accomplished instrumentalist, and the group had a beautiful sound and chemistry together. It's a real treat to watch people intently listening to one another while on stage, a sign that they're in the present moment and committed to what they're playing. 

Katerina's is also an intriguing venue, with its deep red walls, elegant place settings, and great acoustics. It seemed as though many at the bar were regulars who came to hear good tunes often. We had some appetizers and chatted a bit with Katerina herself, a warm and eclectic lady. Catch Eastern Blok when you get a chance, whether it be through one of their many albums or a live show, and check out Katerina's if you're in the mood for good world music and jazz.