By Pepper Parr
August 13th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
The weather was perfect – the setting was good.
The one hiccup with the sound system didn’t get in the way of a solid presentation from Amanda Martinez as she sang her way through an all Latin programme.
There was hardly a space to put a chair – this year there were tables set up on the sidewalk.
Tables were set up on the sidewalk creating more space for the several hundred that attended
There were people across the street sitting on benches and about 20 chairs were set up inside the Performing Arts Centre.
This was the 13th annual Jazz on the Patio programme that is put on and is free to everyone.
There are sponsors – this year it was the Burlington Downtown Business Association.
It was a good performance – soft, easy on the ears with just enough energy to appreciate the artists.
Martinez draws on her Mexican – South African roots …
Career highlights include headlining the Blue Note jazz club in NYC, the FIFA World Cup in South Africa and the Pan American Games in Mexico and Canada.
This afternoon she enchanted an audience that is getting used to not being in a rigid pandemic routine.
The band members were good – there was one especially nice session where the flugelhorn was put to very good use.
For many the afternoon was their first outing in a long time.
It was a quiet audience – on occasion there was a polite burst of applause.
Burlingtonians certainly show up for these events – but you never get the impression that the music has gotten into their bones. No one danced in the space inside – and there was plenty of room.
A few people swayed to the music and one woman stood up and clapped and waved her arms in the air.
But that was about it.
This a decidedly seniors crowd – its always been that way for this event.
We left after the first of two performances. Bumped into some friends, caught caught up on their lives and noticed that a lot of people were going to stick around for the second performance. Given that seating is really limited – wondered is that fair.
This is a free public event – let’s let everyone get a seat at the table.
There are two performances on Sunday:
People stretched out – took in a nice lazy summer afternoon.
