Day 1: October 18, 2023 Giants and All-Stars Comment via blog

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I got an early start and headed toward Illinois on the expressway but made a jog onto th National Road for breakfast at the Oasis Diner in Plainfield, IN. It's a place where sitting at the counter requires fending off terrific looking cakes and pies.

I made another jog before reaching Bloomington. This time it was to check out the American Giants Museum in Atlanta, IL. Although visitors are welcome, it is a work in progress with five more giants to be placed on the already prepared concrete pads. Inside, what looks like the possible beginnings of a leg-lamp is actually an unused replacement part for a Uniroyal Gal. Yes, two heads are better than one but they've got that beat.

The conference starts tomorrow but there was something of a welcome event at Jazz UpFront. The all-star concert wasn't exclusive to conference attendees but we did get very special treatment like admission to the sound check and a meet-and-greet. The all-stars are identified below.

Both of these ladies are conference organizers but that's not entirely why they're here. Chery Eichar Jett introduced the band and the opening act. Comedienne Terri Ryburn was that opening act.

Here's that all-star band with four performers who can and did front the group at various points during the evening.

Robby Robinson handled the keyboards and directed the band. It's a role he is used to having been Frankie Valli's music director for the last forty-five years. Vinnie Martell has been the lead guitarist for Vanilla Fudge even longer than that. Travis Cloer has clocked more than 2200 performances as Frankie Valli in Jersey Boys. Sara Niemietz has tours with the likes of Postmodern Jukebox on her resume. I don't know much about either bassist Zeb Briskovich or drummer Miles Vandiver beyond they formed a solid and impressive foundation for that formidable front line.

Jazz UpFront owner James Gaston had delivered a few lines of "Mustang Sally" during the sound check and some Robby instigated chanting from the audience managed to get him on stage for a full length performance.

These are some fairly random shots from the night including one where Sara may or may not have pointed directly at me and another where Travis, Sara, and Vinnie just sit back and watch Robby tear up some Bach.

I didn't quite clear all of the obstacles for the final group shot but I came close.

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