Comedy Night at the Cellar?

[Steve]

Return of the DJ, comedy nite? Say it ain't so Cory! It had better be a musician doing stand up!

"So I got this gig......."

[Nimish]

comedy night at the Cellar? That's hilarious.

[cweeds]

Somebody approached us about using the space one Wednesday of every month for a comedy night. They said that they were pretty positive that they could pack the place....so I said, ok, we'd try it out and see how it goes......

[reddiva]

"comedy night at the Cellar? That's hilarious."

Aside from the pun (intended?), it's actually an interesting jaunt into history - google jazz/comedy and a plethora of information comes up - from the 50's and 60's, as I'm sure many of you know, stand-up comedians used to open gigs at jazz clubs all over the US and Canada. Take a look at Lenny Bruce, as an example. The first time he was busted for using a naughty word, which subsequently started the whole Obscenity Trials against him, he was in San Francisco at the Jazz Workshop.

Any other jazz/comedy anecdotes out there??? Brian? Brian?

There is a deep connection between the two genres - both are considered by many to be the last havens of true free expression, both have been cursed as "evil" by the conservative right for their supposed dirty sexual overtones, and both are tied to the underground scene, as they have been through history. My personal take on it is that they also represent the hardest working, most underrated ends of their respective genres. (aww, ain't that sweet...)

BUT - I doubt anyone will be getting arrested at the club on the 18th... it's Improv, and as Cory said, an experiment of sorts. Thanks in advance for your support... :-)

- C

[Morgan Childs]

Chris is absolutly right. The Comedy/Jazz histories run concurrently. There's a reason that jazz musicians are funny people. Our music is based on the human relationship we have with other people that play it, and that humour is (hopefully) translated into the music when we play.

[Brian Nation]

Any other jazz/comedy anecdotes out there??? Brian? Brian? As far as I'm concerned, every night's "comedy night" at the Cellar.

[reddiva]

With your cel phone going off in the middle of gigs, it's no wonder....

[Steve]

At least it wasn't his idol or anything....

[Brian Nation]

With your cel phone going off in the middle of gigs, it's no wonder.... Boy, the ringing celphone incident appears to be the biggest thing to happen at the Cellar since the time I whistled (very loudly) at Cory to get back behind the bar so I could get a beer. It's importance in jazz history is rivaled only by the famous Coleman Hawkins / Lester Young cutting contest at the Cherry Blossom in Kansas City, July 1934. Perhaps it's time for me to set the record straight, before this urban legend gets out of hand.

Here's what happened: you see, normally my cel is set to vibrate mode because no one ever calls me and basically I use the thing as a sex toy. I keep it in my pants pocket and pay women to call me. (You can find them in the back pages of the Straight, if you're interested.) Wouldn't you know it . . . I was actually expecting a call that fateful night and had the phone in ring mode. The bitch-goddess was making her usual speech about the Cellar noise policy, the one no one hears because they're talking. It reminded me to turn the ringer off. On my phone there's no way to do this without making it ring first because the phone was designed by an out of work trombonist. ("Out of work trombonist" is redundant, I know.) A normal person would leave the room for this noisy task but I've always wanted to set my phone off at the exact moment when Cory makes his turn-your-phone-off speech, because I'm just such an hilarious guy, but I usually can't get at it fast enough. This was my big chance.

Please note that this was during the announcement, hours before the actual music began. Only an idiot would let his phone ring during an actual performance like, say, in the middle of Steve Holy's bass solo at his gig with the Bruce Nielsen band, November 18, 2001.

[Steve]

Or during the Kenny Garrett show!

[Brian Nation]

Or during the Kenny Garrett show! I would have welcomed an additional instrument at the Garrett show I was at.

[cweeds]

It happens to the best of us and man at The Kenny Garrett show, that was bad. Very, very bad. I think that its a drag but you know what? I realized that cell phones are now a part of our society and people make mistakes. Its unfortunate that sometimes people forget to turn them off but it happens. The reason is becomes a big deal is because people pay to much attention to it when it happens. Having said that, NATION IM GOING TO GET YOU MAN!!

[Brian Nation]

You're gonna get me? Just remember, I control your web site!!! How'd you like to see the following on your home page:

"In order to cut costs, as of today and until further notice, all performances at The Cellar will be Cory Weeds Solo Saxophone!"

along with that photo I took of you at Bonecrusher's stag?

Think it over, pal.

[cweeds]

Easy man, you win, you win. Please not that picutre. I'll even pay my bill, in fact I'm writing a cheque for you as we speak. I'll be right over!!!!

[Morgan Childs]

you guys are crazy..... no wait.... the picture of weeds at bonecrusher's stag is crazy! ;-)

[Yodi]

wow...how intriguing...all this talk about a great pic of cory, we must see...I am thinking picture of the day ;-)

[cweeds]

Trust me folks, its not a good picture. A tad incriminating but hey it was a stag party and I was framed......literally!

[reddiva]

Brian, don't think the bitch-goddess comment went unmarked... you know flattery will get you everywhere with me, daddy.

[John Doheny]

Chris,

I think he was talking about Cory.

Don't worry though. You'll always be MY bitch godess :-)

[reddiva]

Alas, John, I am no one man's bitch-goddess. I prefer to think of myself as the bitch-goddess to all men... the everyman's bitch-goddess, if you will. A bitch-goddess to unite all men. Unite them, then hang them mercilessly over the ocean crashing onto the rocks at the bottom of a cliff.... while singing Summertime at the top of my lungs, changing keys every bar or so, stopping only to shake my fanny about and ask "Does my butt look big in these jeans??"

[Steve]

Ain't that a peach! :)

[John Doheny]

We hear and obey, red-headed one.