Evelyn Rubio at the Live Oak Listening Room...

The Friday night performance by Evelyn Rubio and band at the Live Oak Listening room in Nacogdoches, Tx was off the charts. Though she has played there three times it was a first for us to catch her show and it's easy to see why the friends that we always see at this venue consider her a favorite. 

Evelyn, a native of Mexico City covers a wide variety of music. Her honking sax digs deep into the blues rock idiom with detours into almost bebop jazz and soul. Her performance credits include touring as Mary Madelene in Jesus Christ Superstar and I bet this band could play a mean cumbia if they had to. 

Speaking of the band, the drummer and keyboard player seemed to be regular members but the bass player was new, played well and the guitar, Paul Ramirez who was a last minute substitute blew the top off the place with big bold solos and intricate interplay with Evelyn's sax. You would never guessed that he was sitting in. I mean how would you react if you got a last minute gig and they said, "oh yeah and then we cover this Joe Bonamassa tune..."       

Now you may be watching the big stars on your TV or phone but they have been living in gated communities so long, make so many millions and are so famous there are is no connection between who you are and them. Sitting in a small room with people playing music for all they are worth up close and personal makes me believe in the good things and good people in the world and how much it matters that we listen to what they have to say.  

 It's also worth a mention that the potluck dinner before the show, which is always good was really on point and a good start off to a wonderful evening.