Joe’s Restaurant, Abbot Kinney’s original fine dining experience where farmer’s market ingredients meet California-French cuisine in a comfortable neighborhood atmosphere in Venice Beach, is pleased to present a monthly jazz series to coincide with the First Friday’s Art Walks. Mohr Music presents the First Fridays Jazz Series at Joe’s featuring instrumental and vocal artists, internationally recognized players as well as great local talent, signed and unsigned, playing on the heated patio.
The May 4 First Fridays Jazz Series installment kicks off at 7pm with noted jazz drummer Dexter Story and his trio. Story first performed Joe's at the February 1st Fridays playing drums next to Trevor Ware on bass. They were supporting John Beasley and Dwight Trible for their “Duality” album release event. Now Dexter and Trevor's dynamic teamwork come back to Joe's, this time with Sam Barsh on keyboards as The Dexter Story Trio. They will be performing a tribute to Miles Davis, performing his music from the 50s through the 90s.
Dexter is a complete musician, a multi-instrumentalist, composer, producer and more. Aptly named after legendary saxophonist Dexter Gordon, Story has performed and recorded with a diverse array of bands and artists including Dwight Trible, John Handay, John Stubblefield, Eric Reed, Ravi Coltrane, Andy and Jeff Narell, Miguel Atwood-Ferguson, Kamau Daaood, Sa-Ra, Mark Ded Clivelow, Steve Spacek, JROCC, Alan Lightner, Build An Ark, Damon Aaron/CFO, Sy Smith, Cedric Nora, J-1, Todd Simon, Nia Andrews, and many more.
Parallel to a successful on-stage and studio career, Story also has worked in nearly every facet of the music industry, from marketing, promotions and artist development to tour coordinator, and artist management. His latest endeavors are scoring music-to-picture for Director Roman Michael's 2012 feature 5 Minutes, and he is preparing to release his debut album, Seasons this summer. Seasons displays Story's multiple talents and a who's who of musicians.
Seasons was fueled by a 2010-2011 song-a-day project wherein Dexter wrote a new song everyday for a year, inspired by playwright Suzan-Lori Parks who wrote one play per day in 2002. Dexter challenged himself accordingly. Many of his friends appear on the record including Dwight Trible, Derf Reklaw, producer/composer/musician Mark de Clive-Lowe, steel pan player/composer Alan Mark Lightner, violist/arranger/composer Miguel Atwood-Ferguson, artist/producer/composer Cedric Norah, guitarist/vocalist Erik Rico, Waberi Jordan, Kamasi Washington, Gaby Hernandez and more.
The timing for The Dexter Story Trio's visit to Joe's is perfect. He and Trevor will arrive on the heels of a European tour with Dwight Trible's Cosmic Band and Build An Ark. Dexter, Trevor and Surya will be primed for an outstanding First Fridays at Joe's, the unique monthly music experience produced by Mohr Music and hosted by Chef Joe Miller every first Friday of the month.
Joe's Restaurant is located at 1023 Abbot Kinney Blvd in Venice, CA 90291. Reservations are made by calling 310-399-5811 and are strongly recommended as patio seating is limited. The music begins at 7pm and ends at 11pm. The artists will play three or four sets. There is no cover charge for the music, but dinner orders are required for table seating. Joe's will give a complimentary glass of wine, with dinner, for 6-7pm reservations. There is valet parking, a paid parking lot, and street parking.
