Live Music Movement Foundation in conjunction with DuVin Pintor Gallery presented A Holiday Jazz Party with Leslie Drayton and Friends. The Foundation’s last event of the year ended on a high note, no pun intended. If you’ve attended any past events at the former venue, you’ll definitely understand how DuVin Pintor set a different tone for the holiday musical experience. Located in Downtown Houston, DuVin Pintor is an art gallery with loads of personality and an eclectic variety of art. The new venue will help LMMF accomplish its commitments to “develop a multicultural and multigenerational audience…where guests can relax and participate in the musical presentation.”
The evening started with guests enjoying a limited menu catered by Hoot’s Smokehouse. During this time, guests engaged one another and were able to take in all the awe and wonder the gallery had to offer. DuVin Pintor is not your ordinary art gallery. It’s warm, inviting, stylish, and offers a chance to cozy up to the art. Guests were able to get close enough to survey the minutest details if they so desired. Paintings and sculptures, from the representational to abstract to non-objective were plentiful and featured well-known African Americans, flora and fauna, pop-culture, and much more. The venue allowed guests to cultivate their own experience. There were those who chatted as the event got underway and those who socialized at the gallery’s wine bar. Some others toured the space and took in the fascinating artwork, while others enjoyed the music and ambiance from the comfort of their seats. And others were so moved that they got to their feet and danced and danced some more. There was more than enough space to move and groove, and enjoy the excellent music. The staff was professional, friendly and witty. And then there was the music, Leslie Drayton and Friends didn’t disappoint. Mr. Drayton’s charm was on full display while briefly recounting his inspiration for writing original composition Respect for Lee, a tribute to jazz great Lee Morgan. The band effortlessly followed with a soft and beautiful composition titled I Love You dedicated to Leslie’s wife Kathy Drayton, founder and chairperson of Live Music Movement Foundation. Funky performances of Christmas classics Jingle Bells, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, and Merry Christmas Baby encouraged the Christmas spirit and some funky dance moves from several guests. The band also played the quintessential African American Christmas anthem This Christmas by Donnie Hathaway and Nadine McKinnor. The band included Rodney Glover, saxophone; Weldon Scott, base; A. J. Moyer, keyboard; and Marcus Alexandar, drums. As the evening came to a close, there was one last element of excitement. Guests were entered into a drawing to win some cool LMMF swag. Tonya Savioe, the night’s line dance leader, won and had this to say about her lucky win, “When they called my name I was listening to music and looking at the pictures; I was so excited because I don’t usually win things.” Another guest, Mareeta Martin, had this to say “Very classy, very relaxing and enjoyable…jazz. The food was good. Everything was a great value, food, and admission.” Live Music Foundation would like to thank DuVin Pintor proprietor Pierre O’Connor and staff, Hoot’s Smokehouse; and program sponsors Canal Health Care Solutions, and Priority Methodist Healthcare for their help making A Holiday Jazz Party with Leslie Drayton and Friends a success. Please connect with us and join the Movement if you haven’t so far, and don’t forget to tell a friend.
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LIVE MUSIC MOVEMENT FOUNDATION AND DU VIN PINTOR PRESENT A HOLIDAY JAZZ PARTY WITH LESLIE DRAYTON AND FRIENDS.Kickoff the holidays with a Holiday Jazz Party. Trumpeter and composer Leslie Drayton will kickoff the holiday season with a special Holiday Jazz Party that includes his original compositions, jazz standards, and a few holiday favorites. The concert will be presented at Du Vin Pintor, an amazing art gallery in downtown Houston: Sunday, December 16th, 5:00 p.m., 1401 Caroline St., Houston, TX 77002. Enjoy the wonderful sounds of Leslie Drayton and Friends as you browse and enjoy original artwork displayed throughout the gallery. This evening will undoubtedly be one to remember and will definitely usher us into the holiday spirit. Advance tickets $20. Tickets at the door $25. A cash bar will be available. ________________________
Live Music Movement Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with the mission to promote, present and preserve jazz, blues and soul music. Visit us for more details: www.livemusicmovement.com, [email protected] or 713-425-3937. Live Music Movement Foundation hosted a series of impromptu, pop-up events this summer at Hoot’s Smokehouse in Magnolia Park. The events were on July 29th, September 9th, and September 30th respectively. This article will focus on the last two events. You can read about the first Down Home Day here.
The LIVE MUSIC MOVEMENT FOUNDATION will host the third and final ‘DOWN HOME DAY!’ pop up (DHD3) in our highly successful 2018 summer series.
The LIVE MUSIC MOVEMENT FOUNDATION will host its second pop up event – DOWN HOME DAY 2 (DHD2).
Place: HOOT’S SMOKEHOUSE 7648 Canal St. Houston, TX 77012 Date: Sunday, September 9, 2018 Time: 5pm-8pm Admission: Free Purchase with purpose. Amazon donates to Live Music Movement Foundation when you shop for back to school supplies at smile.amazon.com.
This summer Live Music Movement Foundation is hosting a series of impromptu, pop-up events that are accessible to people of all ages with the goal of building community goodwill and having some good old-fashioned fun. In partnership with Hoot’s Smokehouse, LMMF hosted its very first Down Home Day event on Sunday, July 29th and sent the month of July out with a bang. There was live music, great food, and loads of family-friendly fun. The pop-up events are made possible by generous sponsors KAT’S KITCHEN, Anthony Brooks Plumbing Co., Priority Methodist Home Healthcare, LLC, Canal Healthcare Solutions, and Kathy Drayton, CPA. (Click Down Home Day Sponsors for more details.)
Your shopping makes a difference. Amazon donates to Live Music Movement Foundation when you shop Prime Day deals at smile.amazon.com. Need some ideas on summer reading, try these:
Little Melba with Her Big Trombone by Katheryn Russell-Brown “Music lovers will enjoy this picture-book biography of Melba Liston (1926-99), child prodigy and virtuoso trombonist who collaborated with most 20th century jazz greats. An excellent match of breezy text and dynamic illustrations tells an exhilarating story.” Music Is My Mistress by Edward Kennedy Ellington ” ‘Music is my mistress, and she play second fiddle to no one.’ This is the story of Duke Ellington-the story of Jazz itself. Told in his own way, in his own words, s symphony written by the King of Jazz. His story spans and defines a half century of modern music.” Lush Life – A Biography of Billy Strayhorn by David Hajdu “Billy Strayhorn (1915-1967) was one of the most accomplished composers in American music, the creator of such standards as “Take the ‘A’ Train”, yet all his life he was overshadowed by his friend and collaborator, Duke Ellington. Through scrutiny of Strayhorn’s private papers and more than five hundred interviews, Hajdu revives Strayhorn as one of the most complex and tragic figures in jazz history.” Live Music Movement Foundation’s Spring into Summer Concert on June 10th welcomed the season with a refreshing musical event. The program featured Leslie Drayton & Friends and began with “Monday Afternoon” an original piece that set the stage for the rest of the evening. It was followed by “Ventura County Line” then a lively performance of Hoagy Carmichael’s “Stardust,” which featured a beautiful and engaging melody. A groovy and energetic arrangement of Thelonious Monk’s “In Walked Bud” rounded out the first half of the evening.
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