In a rare appearance, the Hank Johnson Trio became a quartet at Cleopatra's Needle on Saturday Night April 23rd, 2005. From 8:00 P.M. until 12:00 Midnight - 3 sets and packed house - the music was great and truly jazz! The rhythm section consisting of Hank Johnson on piano, Gary Smith, on drums, and “Cool Mike" Fitzbenjamin provided the solid backdrop for Mike Ridley to do his thing..........play his_____off! There was no shortage of soul here! Several mean down home blues tunes and intermingeled with jazz standards provided for some musical excitement and fireworks. Reminiscent of Art Tatum, and Oscar Peterson, Hank got down and held court! His piano solos were filled with dazzeling runs, block chords, cluster chords, and style that is his own, original. Guest vocalist Steve Chromity dropped by and did a wonderful rendition of On Green Dolphin Street and I Could Write a Book (showtune). In the house Rodney Kendricks (monk man) dropped by to check out scene which can best be described as one hell of a swinging group of jazz musicians. Cleopatra's Needle is located at West 92nd Street and Broadway in Manhattan and features live jazz entertainment 7 days a week including late night jam sessions. You can check out their jazz calendar by first dropping onto the jazzbone website and picking up link to the Cleopatra's Needle website! Cool Mike Fitzbenjamin also did some great basswork and improvizations and was at his prime. Mike Ridley added a happy horn on Do You Know What It Means To Mrs. New Orleans and it really grooved! Drummer Gary Smith as usual had flawless time and can be compared to the thinking man's drummer Ed Theigpen for his very smooth and polished brushwork on drums. -30-
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