Jessica Lurie
I’m starting to think The Parliament is my second musical home. I don’t really have an excuse not to hang there more since it’s in my hood. This year I’ve seen Crystal Beth play in various incarnations at least five times, but I had a dilemma for my last show of 2019. The Jessica Lurie Quartet was playing the same night as Crystal Beth.
Jessica Lurie, Bill Horist, Heather Thomas, and Joe Doria
Argh!!! Who to support? I decided my last show of 2019 would be Jessica Lurie, who I last saw play in 2016 at The Royal Room, with the Tiptons Sax Quartet. The band line up for Jessica’s show was Bill Horist (guitar), Heather Thomas (drums) and Joe Doria (organ). I’ve seen all of them in various bands but not this combination. I was intrigued. It turned out that the show was pretty packed. I spent a good amount of time on the steps. At some point I noticed a woman with glasses making her way towards the steps. We smiled at each other and she commented on my Kermit hat, as she walked up to the balcony. I heard a voice say, “You found a really good spot.” She sat down on the stairs. The band was in a groove and she asked if they been playing long. I replied that it was still the first set. I kept thinking her face was familiar. I was sure she was at The Pulsations show. I later discovered she is singer J.R. Rhodes (Very Cool!).
By the way, the first set was so crazy. I witnessed Bill Horist breaking a guitar string - this doesn’t happen.
