Non-GoGo: Metropolitan International Jazz Festival
2nd Annual Metropolitan International Jazz Festival, Show Place Arena, 14900 Pennsylvania Ave, Upper Marlboro, MD 20772


This was my first time at this venue. I knew it would take me an hour to get there, so I knew I would be late.

Mindi Abair (in Progress) 7:41 PM
The line up was: Mindi Abair (vocals & Sax), Jay? (guitar), bass, Greg Manning (keyboard player), Jamie (drummer, on center riser)
X) Rolling Stones' Miss You - instrumental at first, the bass player soloed (he had a really big bass)
Mindi said, "A little Rolling Stones never hurt, we're not really purists."
Mindi encouraged the audience to get in the aisles and dance.
X+1) Flirt - Mindi said, "One of the first songs, I released", a couple of nice guitar solos, a keyboard solo
X+2) The Joint?
x+3) Little Sexy?
The set ended at 8:08 PM. Really only the way Mindi played her Sax defined it as Smooth Jazz. I enjoyed it, but it wasn't exceptional to me (not really my thing).

The house lights came on, and the MC of the evening, Al Santos of WJZW 105.9 took the stage.

I was a bit annoyed that it took over an hour between the end of Mindi's performance and the start of Isaac's performance.

Dana said hello.

Isaac Hayes 9:18 PM
The line up was: Isaac Hayes (vocals & keyboard), 3 female backup singers, 3 other keyboard players, bass, guitar, James (drummer, on center riser), Jason (percussionist, on right riser).
1) Don't Let Go - it cranked
2) Joy? - it cranked, there were keyboard sounds from Truck Turner
3) Walk on By - it started with a light crank and then rose to a full crank / Percussion solo - everyone but the drummer and percussionist left the stage
4) Theme from Shaft - Isaac conducted, this was the only song where he performed standing up instead of sitting at his keyboard, it alternated between instrumental and with vocals
The set ended at 9:55 PM. Even though it was short, this alone was worth the ticket, I really enjoyed it.

Dana told me I could go up front.

War 10:26
The line up was: Lonnie Jordan (Keyboards & Vocals), Fernando Harkless (Sax & vocals), Mitch Kashmar (harmonica & vocals), Stuart Ziff (Guitar & vocals), Pancho Tomaselli (bass & Vocals, he stood on the right riser), Sal Rodriguez (drummer, on center riser), Marcos Reyes (percussion, on left riser).
Lonnie said, "Are you ready?" The crowd responded, but Lonnie said, "I was talking to the band."
Lonnie again said, "Are you ready?" The crowd responded again, but Lonnie said, "Still talking to the band."
1) Instrumental - it cranked, Lonnie said, "Back in 1969, I almost lost my mind, a lot of things going on: wars, drugs, partyin', and then I had to deal with my Mom. I was young; I thought I knew it all."
2) Slippin' into Darkness - it had a light crank and then rose to a full crank, Fernando and Mitch held their mics to the crowd, Lonnie said, "Damn, I need a cigarette. I'm just joking, I don't smoke, especially cigarettes.", He chanted, "Zoom, zoom, zoom" / Instrumental
3) Spill the Wine - it cranked, Lonnie said, "Eric The Burdon used to be an animal. So did I, in fact, I'm still an animal." Lonnie said, "Here's my vision. What a dream or was that a flashback? Here we are, somewhere into the year 2007, I saw all of you."
Lonnie said, "This song I wrote about a friend of mine who's no longer a friend of mine."
4) Cisco Kid - it had a light crank, Lonnie had the fans sing, he held his mic to the crowd
5) Instrumental - it cranked, Lonnie led the crowd in call & response "Yeah! and Eya, eya" / ? "Used to work together, love my baby brother" - the frontline shifted around at the end
Lonnie said, "This next song is about but not for the fellas in the house."
6) Why Can't We Be Friends? - all five vocalists had lines, this is my favorite War song
Lonnie said, "This next song we wrote for the ladies in the house."
7) Low Rider - it cranked, Lonnie shouted, "Wind it up" and went from a crouch to standing", Lonnie said, "I've been married to one woman... after another"
8) Band introductions: Lonnie said, "Sax from New York City by way of Puerto Rico: Fernando Harkless" - Fernando soloed / Lonnie said, "From Russia with Love (they performed the James Bond theme), Mitch Kashmar" / "On bass, from Ecuador, my son. He has ten names, I will only give you three: Pancho Tomaselli" - Pancho soloed, then the whole band performed Cream's Sunshine of Your Love / Lonnie said, "On drums from near San Diego, where I was born: Salvador Rodriguez" - he soloed and the rest of the band left the stage, he poured water over himself, he sang, "Walk the line", I believe he performed Iron Butterfly's In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida / Lonnie said, "From Tijuana on percussion, Marcos. He's going to get married next week." - they performed the Dixie Cups' Chapel of Love, Marcos soloed, Lonnie said, "Marcos Reyes" / Lonnie said, "On guitar, from Manhattan via Buffalo, Nashville, LA. The Godfather of Soul wanted to borrow him, Stuart Ziff" - they performed the JB's Gonna Have a Funky Good Time (Doing It to Death) - Stuart soloed / Lonnie said, "Now let's talk about me. I've been with you for forty years. I plan to be with you for eighty more years, then I will take a rest... for one week. I have a solo album, I mean CD, War Stories. Give it up for yourself."
9) "You're the reason why" - it cranked / Sly & the Family Stone's I Want to Take You Higher - Lonnie said, "Not bad for a man almost about to turn sixty." / "If you want to keep moving" / Low Rider (instrumental tease)
The set ended at 11:35 PM. I really enjoyed their set (my first time seeing War), especially the way they stretched it out.

The showplace arena was nearly empty and I don't know why. I certainly enjoyed myself.

They said there would be a free jam session afterwards at UMUC, but I had to go home since I had to work Friday.