No Sleep ‘Til Brooklyn

Hey, another music rant since there is no new band news to report – Mixing starts December 3rd.

I reside in Oak Cliff, one of the oldest suburbs of Dallas. If you are a native North Texan you may automatically conjure images of poverty, crime, gangs and general seediness when you hear the words ‘Oak Cliff’. While parts of the town do contain these things, the majority does not. I live in a nice big ’20s Craftsman house I could never afford anywhere else. The neighbors are friendly, there are trees everywhere and I’m only 5 minutes away from downtown Dallas with no need to get on a freeway if I so choose.

Oak Cliff is undergoing something of a renaissance these days and actually has a hip area called Bishop Arts District. Its contains wannabe-chic restaurants, nightclubs and shops. One of my favorite clubs is called Brooklyn. Unfortunately due to ‘noise complaints’ (READ: subtle racism) Brooklyn will be moving soon and I’ll be left without a cool place to relax nearby. Brooklyn’s patrons are mostly affluent or middle-class blacks. OMG there are Black people ruining our nice white pseudo-cool area. Vomit. I’ve stepped outside for a smoke on numerous occasions when things are in full swing and can’t hear a thing 20 paces from the club. Hell, there are 2 businesses open only during the day on either side that pad them from the two restaurants that complained about the noise. I’ve been in both restaurants and could never hear a thing. Urgh, what stupidity.

While Brooklyn was voted ‘Best Jazz Club’ by the Dallas Observer and the club is always packed with people, it is still widely overlooked by the mainstream. Maybe this is good, but what surprises me is that not many really know just how great the musical talent this club brings in – for free – each weekend.

My favorite act, Martha Burks and Her Band is a staple each friday night and I’ve seen her several times. Simply mind-blowing yet unrecognized talent. Oh, she’s known in the jazz circles I’m sure, but sheesh – she should be a mega-star in Dallas or nationwide for that matter. The band usually starts off with some warm up standards, and then Martha steps in to finish out the first set. By the second set she’s wailing or scatting with such precision and passion I usually just stare with mouth agape. Seriously the woman could sing without a mic and everyone would hear her. I’m not enough of an aficionado to properly compare her to other jazz vocalists. She’s a mix of Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday IMO. You simply have to see her (2nd set for sure) and you’ll agree, she’s the best in town. She’s incredibly friendly and has the audience going crazy by the third set.

Her rotating backing band, usually consists of Lawrence Robinson on Trumpet,
Jerome Allen on bass, James Kings on Keys and Eric Morgan on drums. Eric’s drumming just wows me. He sounds like he’s banging the shit out of his kit, but makes it look like its completely effortless, which I’m sure it is. I asked him how he gets such a loud, tight snare sound and he shrugged and said ‘Heavy hands I guess’. Too modest.

Since Brooklyn usually fills up fast, you always end up sharing a table with someone, which is great. I’ve met the nicest folks this way. More clubs should do this – force you to interact with people outside of your party. But be sure to get there by 8pm (yes, very early) or you’ll just be standing at the bar. Perhaps when they move to their new digs on the southside, this won’t be a problem. I just hope they still fill the place up enough to pair up strangers. God, I feel like Marge Simpson in ‘Oh, Streetcar’. “A stranger’s just a friend you haven’t met”. Ok not that cheesy, but you get the gist.