Jeff Weintraub Music

Next gig: Something a Bit Different, May 11, at Mr. Henry’s

For my next appearance at Mr. Henry’s (601 Pennsylvania Ave., SE, Washington, D.C.,) from 8 to 11 p.m., on Saturday, May 11, I’m going to depart a bit from my usual fare.

In addition to some jazz staples, I’ll focus much more on folk, country, bluegrass and blues tunes. Many are the songs I’ve mixed into my shows for awhile now. But I’m going to go a bit deeper this time.

To do that, I’m very pleased to be joined this time by Ira Gitlin, who has been a stalwart in the Washington area roots music scene for many years and played with many of the leading lights of that very broad genre. He’ll bring his banjo and guitar to complement me on voice and guitar. Should be a fun and enjoyable evening.

You can make a reservation through the Mr. Henry’s ticketing app by clicking here. Tickets are $15 per person (plus service charge through the app), and Mr. H will ask that you make food or drink purchases of at least that amount, too.

The music will start at 8 p.m., but you can get there earlier and order food and such. Note that if, on the day of the show, you haven’t made a reservation, you can just call the restaurant at (202) 546-8412, and they’ll let you know if there’s room. Don’t worry. We will do what we can to fit you in (without offending the fire marshall).

I hope you can make it.

Jeff

Next Gig: Mr. Henry’s, Sat., Feb. 24

Once again, I’ll be back at Mr. Henry’s (601 Pennsylvania Ave., SE, Washington, D.C.,) from 8 to 11 p.m., on Saturday, February 24.

I’m excited to be joined by Jon Ozment on piano, Mark Saltman on bass and Halley Schoenberg on reeds. We’ll play a broad mix of Great American Songbook, blues, pop and folk pieces.

You can make a reservation through the Mr. Henry’s ticketing app by clicking here. Tickets are $15 per person (plus service charge through the app), and Mr. H will ask that you make food or drink purchases of at least that amount, too.

For a hint of what I usually offer, go to: https://weintraubmusic.com/listen/

I hope you can make it.

Jeff

Next Gig: Mr. Henry’s on October 21. Spotlight on Paul Simon.

Once again, I’ll be back at Mr. Henry’s (601 Pennsylvania Ave., SE, Washington, D.C.,) from 8 to 11 p.m., on Saturday, October 21, and this time I’ll be spotlighting some of the music of Paul Simon.

Helping me play these tunes and many others will be a terrific collection of musicians: Jon Ozment on piano, Mark Saltman on bass and (all the way from Baltimore) Seth Kibel on reeds and flute. In addition to the Simon songs, we’ll also play a number of Great American Songbook, blues, pop and folk pieces.

You can make a reservation through the Mr. Henry’s ticketing app by clicking here. Tickets are $20 per person (plus service charge through the app), and Mr. H will ask that you make food or drink purchases of at least that amount, too.

For a hint of what I usually offer, go to: https://weintraubmusic.com/listen/

I hope you can make it.

Jeff

Next Gig: Tom Waits for Everyone

Saturday, July 15 at Mr. Henry’s

Once again, I’ll be back at Mr. Henry’s (601 Pennsylvania Ave., SE, Washington, D.C., ) from 8 to 11 p.m., on Saturday, July 15. And, once again, I’m going to put a spotlight (about a half-a-dozen songs or so) on another artist whose work I admire. I’m talking this time about Tom Waits.

Helping me play these tunes and many others will be Harry Appelman on piano, Mark Saltman on bass and (all the way from Baltimore) Seth Kibel on reeds and flute. This should be a lively combination of talents. In addition to the Waits songs, we’ll also play a number of Great American Songbook, blues, pop and folk pieces. Something for everyone.

I decided to do this when I realized that I already sing a lot of his songs. That’s, of course, not the best reason. Tom Waits deserves the attention and praise he’s gotten for his career. He’s one of the best and most creative songwriters and performers of our time.

What are his songs like? Better that you explore this on your own because it’s a bit of a challenge to describe Waits’ songs and what he does with them. His range, going back to his earliest recordings in the 1970s (about when the photo above was taken) is vast and varied. Deceptively disguised by the sometimes eccentric characters who voice them, many of his songs are works of great poetry, some of which can arguably stand on their own without the support of a melody. They can make you laugh and then, a few measures later, leave a catch in your throat.

Every song, Waits has said, “needs to be anatomically correct. You need weather, you need the name of the town, something to eat. Every song needs certain ingredients to be balanced. You’re writing a song and you need a town and you look out the window and you see St. Louis Cardinals on some kid’s t-shirt. You said, okay, we’ll use that.”

You can make a reservation through the Mr. Henry’s ticketing app by clicking here. Tickets are $15 per person (plus service charge through the app), and Mr. H will ask that you make food or drink purchases of at least that amount, too.

For a hint of what I usually offer, go to: https://weintraubmusic.com/listen/

I hope you can make it.

Jeff

The public domain photo above was published by Asylum Records.

Next gig: April 22 at Mr. Henry’s. Spotlight on Nat ‘King’ Cole

I’m certainly not too proud to introduce a gimmick or two into my performances, if that’s what it takes to get more people there. That’s just what I’m planning to do on Saturday, April 22, 2023, from 8 to 11 p.m., when I’m next at Mr. Henry’s, 601 Pennsylvania Ave., SE, Washington, D.C.

As gimmicks go — maybe “theme” is a less loaded term — this isn’t a big one. I was somehow recently reminded of one of my favorite albums, “After Midnight,” which came out in 1957 and features Nat ‘King’ Cole with John Collins on guitar, Charlie Harris on bass, Lee Young on drums a host of others who dip in and out of indvidual tracks.

As I wrote about the album 15 years on my long-abandoned blog: “In ‘After Midnight,’ Cole shows himself to be every bit the jazz musician. It’s full of his acrobatic, crisply executed piano solos that only a master could pull off. And his voice, at that time well known for is smooth crooning in a soup of richly swelling strings and horns, is nimble, full of energy and experimental. Though he rarely strays from the melody line, the improvisation comes with his never-predictable phrasing.”

I also made the point that it’s too bad Cole left a lot of this behind when he gained greater fame — altering his style to appeal, it seems, more to white audiences who maybe didn’t appreciate his jazz. Not that he didn’t do the more popular stuff well. He was luminous. But I like this stuff far more. (I made a similar comparison in this blog post to the arc of Sam Cooke’s career.)

I used to sing a number of the songs from “After Midnight.” So, hey, why not pull them up and sing them again, as part of a spotlight on this great musician? (Does that rise to the level of a gimmick?) I only hope I will do them justice and that his estate won’t mind my using the cover art for this post. My set will also include songs from a variety of other composers and performers in the jazz, pop and folk genres.

At this writing, I have not yet made this decision clear to the three great musicians who will join me on April 22: Harry Appelman on piano, Francis Thompson on drums andSteve Arnold on bass. They will be up to the task.

The show will require a cover of only $15, plus a food or drink minimum of $15. Click here get advance tickets. Please note that ticket sales stop the day of the show, but that doesn’t mean it’s sold out. (There’s been confusion about this in the past.) Best to call Mr. Henry’s that day at (202) 546-8412.

Also, at 6 p.m., the dining room opens, and you’re welcome — indeed, encouraged — to go then. But just know that the music begins at 8 p.m.

For a hint of what I usually offer, go to: https://weintraubmusic.com/listen/

I hope you can make it.

Jeff

Next gig: April 22 at Mr. Henry’s

Remember those days a couple years ago (such as in the photo above) when I was doing “shows” from my laptop at home? I don’t miss that, but the memory of it makes me all the more grateful to be performing in person — as I will again on Saturday, April 22, 2023, from 8 to 11 p.m., at Mr. Henry’s, 601 Pennsylvania Ave., SE, Washington, D.C.

In addition to the fine food, good drinks and warm atmosphere, you can enjoy three great artists who will play with me: Harry Appelman on piano, Francis Thompson on drums andSteve Arnold on bass.

There will be a cover of $15, plus a food or drink minimum of $15. Click here get advance tickets. Please note that ticket sales stop the day of the show, but that doesn’t mean it’s sold out. (There’s been confusion about this in the past.) Best to call Mr. Henry’s that day at (202) 546-8412.

Also, at 6 p.m., the dining room opens, and you’re welcome — indeed, encouraged — to go then. But just know that the music begins at 8 p.m.

For a hint of what I usually offer, go to: https://weintraubmusic.com/listen/

I hope you can make it.

Jeff

Back to Mr. Henry’s: January 21, 2023

As we near the end of 2022, I hope 2023 will be a good year for you and everyone. I’m also hoping my next gig on Saturday, January 21, 2023, from 8 to 11 p.m., at Mr. Henry’s, 601 Pennsylvania Ave., SE, Washington, D.C., will contribute in someway to that outcome. It will be even nicer to see many of your faces there.

In addition to the fine food, good drinks and warm atmosphere, there are at least three other compelling reasons for you to come: the trio of great artists who will play with me. They include Jon Ozment on piano, Francis Thompson on drums and Steve Arnold on bass.

There will be a cover of $15, plus a food or drink minimum of $15. Click here to get advance tickets. Please note that ticket sales stop the day of the show, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s sold out. (There’s been confusion about this in the past.) Best to call Mr. Henry’s that day at (202) 546-8412.

Also, at 6 p.m., the dining room opens, and you’re welcome — indeed, encouraged — to go then. But just know that the music begins at 8 p.m.

As a special incentive, the first 375 people to attend will be given a full set of clean utensils with which they can eat their food. Napkins are also complimentary.

For a hint of what I usually offer, go to: https://weintraubmusic.com/listen/

I hope you can make it, and happy new year.

Jeff

Next Gig: Sat., Oct. 22 at Mr. Henry’s

On SATURDAY, October 22, 8 to 11 p.m. , I’ll be playing again at Mr. Henry’s, 601 Pennsylvania Ave., SE, Washington, D.C. I hope you and all of your friends can join me.

I’m thilled to be playing with three really exciting musicians: Harry Appelman on piano, Francis Thompson on drums and Blake Meister on bass.

There will be a cover of $15, plus a food or drink minimum of $15. Click here get advance tickets. Ticket sales stop the day of the show, but that doesn’t mean it’s sold out. Best to call Mr. Henry’s that day at (202) 546-8412.

At 6 p.m., the dining room opens, and you’re welcome — indeed, encouraged — to go then. But just know that the music begins at 8 p.m.

For a hint of what I usually offer, go to: https://weintraubmusic.com/listen/

I hope you can make it.

Jeff

Big-time Correction: Next Gig is on Saturday, July 30, 8 to 11 p.m., Mr. Henry’s

Someone in the Office of Bonehead Mistakes at Weintraub Music’s North American headquarters was under the impression that Jeff’s next gig was on July 23, as already advertised. But no. The gig is actually on SATURDAY, JULY 30, 8 to 11 p.m. at Mr. Henry’s, 601 Pennsylvania Ave., SE, Washington, D.C. The search is now on for whoever is responsible for this unforgivably embarrassing blunder.

As before, the July 30 show will spotlight tunes by Bob Dylan.

There will be a cover of $15, plus a food or drink minimum of $15. Click here to get advance tickets. I’m springing for ice water for the first 65 guests.

Just so you’re not confused, at 6 p.m., the dining room is open, and you’re welcome — indeed, encouraged — to go then. Music begins at 8 p.m. Also, on the day of the show, they close the online ticketing. But tickets may still be available. Please call Mr. Henry’s the find out at (202) 546-8412.

For a hint of what I usually offer, go to: https://weintraubmusic.com/listen/

I hope you can make it. ON THE 30TH!

Jeff

Photo credit: Bill Ingalls/NASA.gov.

Next Gig: Saturday, July 23, at Mr. Henry’s in Washington, D.C. Spotlight on Bob Dylan.

I’ll be back performing at Mr. Henry’s, 601 Pennsylvania Ave., SE, Washington, D.C., on Saturday, July 23, 8 to 11 p.m. This time, I’ll be spotlighting some tunes by Bob Dylan, who, among other things, received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2012 (see the picture above).

This should be a lot of fun, not least because I’ll be joined by some terrific musicians, including: Harry Appelman on keyboards, Francis Thompson on drums and Percy White on bass.

For a hint of what I usually offer, go to: https://weintraubmusic.com/listen/

I hope you can make it.

Jeff

Photo credit: Bill Ingalls/NASA.gov.