Ulysses S. Jasz didn't start out as a band. It was a weekly jam session
open to traditional jazz revivalist players. Tommy Byrne, the jazz-loving
proprietor of the popular Irish pub in downtown State Street, Santa Barbara,
made the corner of his hostelry available. A honky-tonk was obtained and a regular
band evolved, named in honour of J. Joyce's notorious novel Ulysses.
Jasz is a historical spelling of the name for America's classical music.
This successful gig has now persisted for over five years and now has the distinction
of being one of only two venues in Southern California presenting this essential
roots music on a weekly basis.
This recording was made on the 16th of February 2002 by Peter
Feldmann during a concert at the Live Oak Congregation in Goleta, It
turned out to be the inaugural presentation in the ongoing Song Tree Series
presented by the bassist on this recording, Tom Lee.
| "For anyone unfamiliar with the legendary half-mile strip of bars and
clubs on lower State Street in Santa Barbara, it's usually bursting, at
the seams with a mind-boggling number of ridiculously beautiful college
women and a small army of dudes doing whatever it takes to get their attention.
This particular Saturday night, however seems to be an off night for the
storied street. Walking past such stalwarts of my youth as the Wildcat and
O'malleys (where guest bartender Michael Jordan once served me a series
of drinks before leaving with my date), one venue after another sits practically
dead, hardly a beer-guzzling patron in sight. Until, of course, we stumble
upon the James Joyce where the kinetic crowd is spilling put onto
the sidewalk and playfully jockeying for position. Why is this old time
Irish pub the hottest spot in town tonight? Four words. The Ulysses Jasz
Band." |
|
James Sulios, Wav Magazine
|
|
