Sept. 22, 2014 Update
Sep-22-2014
Sept. 22, 2014 Update
Hello Music Lovers!
Forgive me for taking so long to compose and post a new update. I knew it was long past due when I was recently asked by a loyal follower if his email address had been accidentally deleted from my list. No, I was remiss. I knew further it was time to write a newsletter when I received Joe Holt’s update. He is like me in that he doesn’t send out many updates. You may remember that Joe Holt plays for Shore Jazz, accompanies vocalists, like Beth McDonald, and also plays piano solo in Chestertown, MD weekly. I was blessed to have Joe fill in for Dale twice last January while Dale was in Hawaii. I look forward to working with Joe in the future, when Dale and his wife go on vacation again. Unfortunately, due to safety reasons, I won’t be free to share the dates with you in advance. But, if you happen to drop by our weekly gig at Adolfo’s on the Ocean and find me singing with another man on the piano, just know that you are in for a rare treat. He plays from his heart and is quite entertaining to listen to and watch.
Yes, Dale Britt and I are still playing at the piano bar in the Beach Plaza hotel for the Adolfo’s on the Ocean Italian restaurant gang. This is our 15th season together at this same piano. It is truly a pleasure to sing your requests and meet your smiling faces. I especially love it when you tell me that you read my newsletter! We are playing EVERY FRIDAY, year round, and we play Saturdays during the summer months. We have one Saturday left, Sept. 27th. During the summer we play 7 to 11pm; in the winter 6 to 10pm. Of course, we’ll be playing at Adolfo’s on New Year’s Eve and for Friday and Saturday of Valentine’s Day weekend 2015; reservations are highly recommended: 410-289-4001. Adolfo’s is in the Beach Plaza hotel, 1301 Baltimore Ave., which is to say at 13th street and the boardwalk, ocean front. The view of the ocean is spectacular. The front porch has rocking chairs during the season that are wonderful for sitting, rocking and taking in the vast beauty of the beach, ocean and dolphins that swim by. The food at Adolfo’s is very good—and I mean that. The marinara sauce is thick, sweet and a little spicy, just the way I like it. To each his own, but I love the penne serenade with chicken, the cheese ravioli, the house salad, the lasagna, the chicken cacciatore and the meatballs. The service is excellent; and I know because I watch them while I sing. We have been blessed to work as a team with the best bartender ever, Vanessa. Sadly, she is leaving to pursue something else—not sure what, but she is going to be very missed. Filling her shoes is a gentleman named Tom Mattingly. The website, www.oc-adolfos.com, and the Adolfo’s Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/pages/Adolfos-on-the-Ocean/135744359807801, have more information on the restaurant and hours of operation.
The big news is all about Dale’s concert! He will be giving a piano JAZZ solo concert at Asbury United Methodist Church in Salisbury on Sunday, Nov. 2, 2014 at 4pm. His instrument of choice is the $125,000 Steinway piano in the sanctuary. To say that he is excited is an understatement. He has been practicing, which is not his normal mode. And, I can hear it in his chord choices. He has always been wonderful on the piano and full of ideas, but now the ideas are flowing even more fluidly. The fingers and the mental capacity for getting the ideas out of his mind are even more in tune. You would be hard pressed to find another straight ahead jazz pianist on the Eastern Shore better than Dale Britt. The concert is either free or for a small entrance fee, I’m not sure. Either way, it will be well worth your time to hear him soar like an eagle on that grand piano in that beautiful sanctuary. It’s always a thing of beauty to see an artist excel at his craft. That is exactly what is going to happen on Sunday, Nov. 2nd. Come sit by me and soak up the creativity as it flows out of his mind into his fingers and all over the room. After the concert we can all go to dinner together to celebrate the event.
There has been talk about Dale playing with a drummer and another instrumentalist (sax or bass) playing a concert in the Spring at Asbury, as well. I’ll keep you posted.
Other news involves Dale playing at the soon to be reopened 19th Hole restaurant and bar in West Ocean City on Route 611, next to the Green Turtle. Owner Bill Cook has a desire for a Wednesday night jazz night, with Dale leading a jazz trio playing during dinner, 6 to 9pm. Bill hopes to reopen in mid-October. I’ll keep you posted on that.
As always, you can check our website: www.rhondaapple.com, for all the details on our gigs. We are on Facebook, as well, under the name Apple & Britt. https://www.facebook.com/pages/Apple-Britt/147068391974438
We would love for you to post on our Facebook page, especially any pictures or videos you take of us or while you’re with us. While Dale and I struggle to understand smart phones, public and private settings on pictures and Facebook pages, we have been blessed by a few friends who were able to share pictures and videos with us. Hank Green posted a great video of our original song “Dirty Old Man Magnet” just a few weeks ago. Thanks again, Hank! My friend Patty posted some videos of us performing, but unfortunately, we were unable to share them to the Apple & Britt Facebook page due to privacy settings.
In October Dale and I have two gigs outside of Adolfo’s: Sunday, Oct. 12 at the Ocean Pines community center, Assateague room. “This event is a fundraiser for the Worcester County Arts Council and the Worcester County Library Foundation to benefit the promotion and awareness of arts in Worcester County. Tickets are on sale now and may be purchased at the Worcester County Arts Council or reserved by phone: 410-641-0809. $15 in advance and $20 at the door.
A “Taste of the Arts” will offer a unique creative and culinary arts experience where everyone gets an opportunity to enjoy featured works created by talented artists and artisans, available for purchase, sample delicious treats prepared by JJ&K Catering, delight in the sounds of music – all while supporting art experiences in our community!” The event will feature artists works for sale, heavy hors d'oeuvres, wine, etc. Since it is an afternoon event, classy casual is the attire. http://www.worcestercountyartscouncil.org/
And Saturday, Oct. 18at Furnace Town Heritage Foundation for their second annual fundraiser pig roast and auction. We had a ball playing for that last year, doing Big Band and Old Standards for an appreciative crowd. http://www.furnacetown.com/ I encourage you to join us and support these worthy causes.
I hope you are enjoying this lovely Fall weather. Come in to hear us and we will play the song “Autumn in New York” just for you. We have our CDs for sale on CDbaby.com and at our gigs. The Love Songs CD is only $5, so come do your Christmas shopping early and be done! Thank you to all who support live music, the Great American songbook and the jazz stylings of Apple & Britt. We have the best fans in the world! We love you!
Rhonda Apple