Jazz Kitchen
Friday, May 18-Sunday, May 20

• Kate McGarry was simply hard to resist last Friday at the Jazz Kitchen. She covered Broadway, jazz and the “great American song book” with a hip, refreshing charm and a pristine voice of polish and enthusiasm. An empathizing trio backed her with strong B-3 organ support by Gary Versace, guitar by Keith Ganz and drums by Otis Browns. McGarry brought a delightful evening of Manhattan to Indy.

• Killer Ray Appleton brought a strong pickup group of David Young, Frank Puzzulo and Joel Kelsey to the Jazz Kitchen last Saturday, May 19. Appleton showed why he is held in high esteem as a jazz drummer the whole evening, regardless of tempo or mood. But the evening belonged to tenor saxophonist Young. The former Duke Ellington Orchestra soloist was simply brilliant, ripping through up-tempo bop on the “Eternal Triangle” to a masterful ballad rendering on “In a Sentimental Mood.” Appleton performed a tasteful Coltrane suite to close out a meaningful set of jazz in the tradition.

• The Four Freshmen gave their fans at the Jazz Kitchen last Sunday a feast of classic Freshmen hits with a few new items tossed in. This edition of the Freshmen has been working together for seven years. Their polish, humor and delightful, wide-open harmony rival that of the original group. Only the trombone sound was missing, but trumpeter Curtis Calderon’s energetic solos kept things heated. For two days in August 2008, members of The  Four Freshman fan clubs around the world will gather in Indy for the Four Freshmen’s 60th anniversary.