We went down to the South Park Bar and Grill on Friday night to catch some jazz and have a drink before starting our night in earnest. Paul Ingram was leading a band from the drum chair.





The first gig I ever played in San Diego was a jazz gig at Grossmont Center with Paul. He was still wearing a wrist brace from some surgery, but was still the most swingingest drummer I'd played with to that point. I was pretty nervous to be playing straightahead jazz with a buch of guys at this level, and it took me a full set to settle down and stop rushing. I know this bass player though another group he played with, and his playing sounded as nervous this night as mine did 6 years ago.

The rest of the band is great though. Brian Pierini plays sax with Kensington Garage, although they're taking a break due to the (very personally familiar) fact that their drummer moved away.

 

The guitar player, John Kopecky, is actually the owner of the place.


He's a VERY good player and a heck of a nice guy. The walls are adorned with some interesting photography from several different artists. I wonder if there's room for some more...