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Right this moment, Lawrence, a reader, asks us to take a look at the Bach Dancing & Dynamite Society in Half Moon Bay for “world-class reside jazz on Sunday afternoons.”
Clearly, essentially the most noteworthy factor in regards to the society is its historic – and ongoing! – function in attracting huge musical abilities like Artwork Blakey, Etta James, Invoice Evans and the Kronos Quartet, in addition to fostering a tight-knit neighborhood of jazz lovers in charming Half Moon Bay.
The second most-noteworthy factor must be its uncommon identify, actually linked with explosives. Pete Douglas, the society’s departed founder, associated the story this manner:
The identify arose out of a casual social gathering in 1963. A small group of mates had been hanging out on a Sunday afternoon in my unique beer joint dealing with the ocean, the Ebb Tide Cafe. Whereas consuming and listening to recorded music, another folks fell in with some dynamite. They advised all of us exit and explode it on the seashore. (After we) declin(ed) their provide, the dynamiters left us to do their deed. In the meantime again to the social gathering and music: In a change of temper, I placed on my recording of the Bach Brandenberg Concerti. Upon listening some time, somebody advised the music was in 4/4 time – why not dance to it! This we did, doing a type of West Coast Swing dancing to Bach, after we heard an explosion on the seashore. An inebriated visitor, Bob Swift, upon listening to the blast, claimed we had been the Bach Dancing & Dynamite Society.
Douglas’ daughter Barbara Riching, who’s taken the reins as president and creative director of the society, remembers rising up in that wild environment. “Within the Sixties, folks obtained away with stuff, typically,” she says. “The (native) inhabitants was most likely one-third of what it's as we speak. Moreover, on the coast there have been simply lots of crazies that lived there. It attracted individuals who didn’t slot in or conform to different locations.”
A kind of non-conformers was a person named Pat Britt, who went on to change into a well known saxophone participant within the L.A. space. Now, Douglas wasn’t a musician himself – he simply grew up through the Massive Band period and cherished the entire West Coast scene – however he was a probation officer. Britt was on probation for having stolen some baloney from a grocery retailer, so it was maybe pure they’d meet up. What wasn’t so anticipated was the 2 males forming a bond that helped rework Douglas’ seashore home right into a star-powered jazz membership.
“Pat lived within the Peninsula and was linked to lots of native jazz musicians, so lots of (what adopted) emanated from that relationship, at first,” says Riching. “Then jazz had a renaissance within the late ’70s and there have been lots of musicians coming by way of San Francisco. My dad at all times did Sunday afternoons. It’s slightly area of interest the place you seize touring musicians. They'd come play a membership in San Francisco after which Sunday afternoon, they is perhaps free.”
Because the Douglas kids sat and tried to do homework, a cavalcade of jazz musicians would drop by to do reveals or hang around and play data – Dexter Gordon, Stan Getz, Betty Carter, McCoy Tyner. Joe Locke, a well-known vibraphonist, stayed the evening a number of instances (however was good sufficient to not maintain the youngsters up banging on his instrument).
Right this moment, visiting the Bach Dancing & Dynamite Society nonetheless feels such as you’re strolling into anyone’s home.
“What makes it particular is the confluence of the environment and the great thing about the ocean mixed with how my dad created the live performance room,” Riching says. “The stage is particularly designed to not be that tall, so it makes it more durable perhaps to see, however you're feeling such as you’re in a front room proper with the musicians. It’s a really intimate expertise.”
I visited the membership on a current Sunday to see Jane Bunnett and Maqueque, an all-female Afro-Cuban band with a killer drummer and vocalist. The wind was whipping off the Pacific like a banshee, however contained in the acoustics within the elegantly cedar-paneled room had been excellent. Some friends introduced their very own bottles – in actual fact, it’s inspired – and glasses of wine and beer and a light-weight dinner had been served in adjoining rooms. (Some evenings there are additionally meals vans.)
“My dad considered this earlier than everybody began doing that sort of factor – the picnicking, the wine,” says Riching. “It’s meant to be extra of a social outing. And in the long run you expertise this excellent factor and it rejuvenates you for the week.”
So, to summarize: two jazz-hands up. And for people who need to make an evening of it, there’s Half Moon Bay to discover. The upscale Pasta Moon is a standout for its do-it-yourself pastas, akin to buttternut-mascarpone ravioli with sage and amaretti or Manila-clam linguine with pancetta and braised leeks.
La Costanera is a superb, if considerably dear choice for modern Peruvian delicacies from well-regarded Bay Space chef Carlos Altamirano. For a less expensive chunk, strive the Lamas meals truck that’s sometimes within the car parking zone behind La Costanera. It attracts traces for conventional Peruvian/Mexican choices and bountiful ceviche.
Then there’s the stalwart Half Moon Bay Brewing Firm situated so near the water, you may hear the seals going off on one another. The pub fare is strong, and the cooks blacken a terrific fish sandwich. And followers of California’s greatest vegetable, the artichoke, will discover it grilled or beer-battered in parts massive sufficient to fulfill the Jolly Inexperienced Large.
If You Go
Bach Dancing & Dynamite Society: 311 Mirada Street, Half Moon Bay; reveals begin at 4:30 p.m. on Sundays, for more information name 650-726-4143 or go to bachddsoc.org.
Pasta Moon: Opens at 5 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday at 845 Primary St.; www.pastamoon.com.
La Costanera: Opens at 4 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday, with lunch beginning at 11 a.m. Friday-Sunday, at 260 Capistrano Street; https://lacostanerarestaurant.com.
Lamas: Take a look at the meals truck menu at www.lamasperuvianfood.com.
Half Moon Bay Brewing Co.: Opens at 11 a.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. weekends at 390 Capistrano Street; www.hmbbrewingco.com.
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