Jazz violinist opens Romolo Music Series

BY JOHN CHACONA, Erie Times-News , Contributing writer

Erie's most beautiful jazz club is set to reopen this week. Among its many charms: an easygoing, welcoming ambience, beautiful artwork, sweet treats and no cover charge.

If this sounds too good to be true, well, it nearly is. It's the Romolo Chocolates Music Series. Thanks to the advocacy and generosity of Romolo's owner, Tony Stefanelli, who is himself a bassist, Erie music lovers can enjoy nationally prominent musicians in a setting that's hard to beat.

The atmosphere at Romolo's piazza opposite Frontier Park is worlds away from the smoky, clattery jazz basements of New York. Close your eyes, and you might think you're at one of the wonderful Italian jazz festivals in places like Perugia. Open them, and it's not much different; the trompe l'oeil fresco on the piazza's west wall and the merry light bulbs strung overhead evoke the charm of "Cinema Paradiso."

Stefanelli's taste in music is as infallible as his eye for design, and he's chosen a perfect opener for the series.

Photo: Jazz violinist Christian Howes./ERIE TIMES-NEWS
Read more: http://www.goerie.com/article/20130613/ENTERTAINMENT0301/306139976/Jazz-violinist-opens-Romolo-Music-Series

Christian Howes—a classically trained violinist who has turned his hand...

"Christian Howes—a classically trained violinist who has turned his hand to all kinds of music from orchestral to Latin, and jazz to fusion—is doing his bit to revive the violin as an authentic voice of the blues. His just released second album for Resonance Records, Out of the Blue, is an exploration of the intangible essence of the blues and a passionate calling card from one of the most talented violinists of any genre of music".

- Christian Howes: Blues for the Blues Violin, September 27, 2010

"The violin is widely considered as the most expressive of instruments, closely approximating the human voice. It depends, however, to a large degree, on whose hands the instrument is in. Christian Howes is that rare breed of musician who makes the violin talk; using the idiom of the blues on Out of the Blue, Howes gives a virtuoso performance, as full of emotion as it is technically dazzling. Joined by guitarist Robben Ford , who lends his jazz-inflected accent to these blues, Howes’ quintet fairly rips through an eclectic selection of covers which run from gospel and funk to New Orleans, by way of Ornette Coleman. The energy levels are high, and Howes’ stirring displays must surely rank him as one of the very best violinists on the scene". -

- Out of the Blue Review, September 27, 2010

Program:

10/29/10 Christian Howes in Kansas at Jardine’s Restaurant and Jazz Club

10/30/10 Christian Howes in Cincinnati at The Blue Wisp

10/31/10 Christian Howes in Piermont at The Turning Point Music Cafe

11/01/10 Christian Howes in NYC at 55 Bar