The Parliament — Journal - Silent Girl with the Camera

Last Dance of 2019 with Jessica Lurie Quartet / January 8, 2020 by Danette Davis

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.

Featured

Jessica Lurie

Bill Horist

Joe Doria

Heather Thomas

Jessica Lurie & Bill Horist

What I Like About This Photo…

I’m sure some photographers would disregard this shot, but that’s not me. I like the warm light, the framing of Jessica and Bill, and the shimmer on the guitar.

Heather Thomas

What I Like About This Photo…

I kept waiting all set for Heather to break, but even during solos she played it cool. Of course, when I turned my attention away, she did a quick smile - oh so fun, and a very excellent drummer.

Bill Horist & Joe Doria

What I Like About This Photo…

Joe’s hands about to hit the keys.

Heather Thomas & Joe Doria

What I Like About This Photo…

The serious look on Joe’s face and his foot on the organ pedal. The unexpected energy from Heather, as she had played it pretty cool on the facial expressions, and her wearing bright socks.

Bill Horist, Joe Doria, & Heather Thomas

What I Like About This Photo…

Bill is perfectly in focus and despite Joe being blurry, you see the movement of his hands. I like the unusual angle of three people in the photo.

A few years ago I noticed a West Seattle Blog post about an event called West Seattle Soul at The Parliament Tavern. What? I thought. Who are these people with soul? I noticed a musician friend Bill Wolford posting Facebook notices about their shows, then I started meeting other musicians who mentioned playing with the band. One of these people was drummer Ollie Klomp. I told Ollie that I love to photograph drummers and I didn’t have any of him. Of course, he brought up West Seattle Soul - coincidentally on the same day, I met Maurice Caldwell Jr., who shared that he was their singer. I kept seeing photos posted of large crowds dancing. This is a strange phenomenon to me. No one dances at Seattle shows! All right, this band is circling around my orbit.

I finally made it to their last show of 2019. For the last two years they’ve been filling The Parliament, one of a handful of live music venues in Seattle - Thank you Tom Langen. The band is called The Pulsations, and it was started two years ago by Wolford, Klomp, and Tige DeCoster with a rotating cast of Seattle’s best musicians, which includes the vocals of Maurice Caldwell, Jr. They play for West Seattle Soul the first Thursday of every month.

I’ve photographed at The Parliament before and expected to be greeted by red lighting, so I brought a prime lens that’s happy in low light. The downside is it requires moving to a position for the shot. The crowd was kind and often asked if I wanted to move up front. Sometimes, I shook my head no, and other times I obliged. Everyone was having a great time. It was all about the music. Where am I? Is this really a Seattle crowd? I loved it! While I didn’t get the full band shot that I wanted, there were up to fifteen people on the stage, I did manage some nice portraits and group photos. I also got my first shot of Ollie playing. I will see you all again, West Seattle Soul, in 2020 and I will get my full group shot. Plus, I need to work off all that Christmas cheer on January 2, 2020.