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Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Live Review: The Pete Weise Quartet at Pearl (June 27)

By Michael Schaefer of Strat's Corner

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Pete Weise

myspace.com

Pete Weise

Thanks to a last minute sleep-over hosted by one of our daughter's friends, my wife and I were blessed with a night off Friday night. I scrambled to find some great live music for an evening on the town, just the two of us. Normally, a free evening would mean following some of my local heroes to a venue to hear some live blues. But this night, I was tempted to try something a little different.

I learned that The Pete Weise Quartet was playing down at Pearl at Commerce. I went and listened to some songs on his MySpace page, and I knew I had to check this out. I'm not well versed on jazz, but I do go and listen to it a lot. I grew up listening to my mom's Duke Ellington and Stan Kenton records. I'll admit, I don't know that I ever understood it, but I like the vibe. And the idea of being downtown listening to some live jazz got me motivated to make the drive from Frisco and weather the challenges.

After dinner at Monica's Aca y Alla in Deep Ellum, we made our way down to Pearl. The parking situation here was not quite as nice as Monica's, who offer valet. There is a pay lot right next door. I paid $5 to park there, but I will admit that given the lighting and crowd from the club next door, I was not feeling quite as confident about our safety. We didn't have any issues, but let's just say some of the stories I heard about Deep Ellum were running through my mind.

Once inside, I was in heaven. Pearl is an open room with great sight lines and comfortable seating. It's very upscale with a vibe to it that lets you know you didn't just walk into another smoky biker bar. We picked a table along the wall and ordered a few drinks. We just happened to be sitting next to Miss Marcy who plays there every Monday night. How cool is that?

The Pete Weise Quartet features Pete Weise on guitar, Chris Bullock on tenor sax, John Caruth on drums, and Mike League on bass. The entire band is fantastic. I was mesmerized by John Caruth and Mike League, let me say that. I could try to describe for you just how amazing the music was, but my words wouldn't do it justice. Here is a little medley I've put together from the show (with Pete's permission). Have a listen:

Pete Weise Medley



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That pretty much says it all right there. Pretty cool stuff, huh? You don't get the full force unless you see it in person, but the audio is the next best thing. Pete is also an associate professor of Music at Collin County Community College. So for those of you out there who have Pete as a prof, your teacher kicks some serious butt.

So, the final tally for the evening is:

1) An incredible night on the town in Dallas thanks to Monica's in Deep Ellum, Pearl at Commerce, and The Pete Weise Quartet ... Score: 9.5

2) Trouble? Nil. Zero. Squat.

Thanks Dallas. Let's do it again real soon. ;)


Pegasus News content partner - Strat's Corner

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Comments

Rick Yost

Rick Yost Verified

Michael- So glad you stepped in to hear one of our favorite jazz bands.

I'm pleased you enjoyed Pearl and enjoyed yourself while you were here.
Your next time in please introduce yourself. Although, as I guess this situation demonstrates, we treat all our guests like they're good reviews waiting to happen.

2 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Rick Yost

Rick Yost Verified

By the way, Pete Weise and his outstanding jazz quartet will be back at Pearl on July 25th from 9:30 to 1:30 No cover. Michael Schaefer liked them, you might too.

2 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Lisa Lawrence Merritt

Lisa Lawrence Merritt Verified

I agree! Pete is a good friend and I want to invite all the Pegs to come on down!!!

2 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Scott Doyle

Scott Doyle Verified

Any drink specials that night, Yost? =p

2 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Brett Hoerner

Brett Hoerner Staff

Scott, he already said he doesn't want our kind there. :(

2 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Rick Yost

Rick Yost Verified

Brett- I'm not sure what 'your kind' is exactly. If you're speaking of yourselves being non-smokers, then yes, Pearl is a real 'bar'. WE SMOKE HERE! (for now)
So if you don't want to be anywhere near the dreaded-demon-smoke, then maybe you should try somewhere else. It's your choice.

Scott- I do have other patrons who don't just say they frequent our place, but actually do.
Pearl's 'regulars' either smoke or don't freak out about it. "Just sayin'!"

I'd be honored to have you, Brett, or any of the Pegasus group grace our humble establishment.

And we have happy hour specials, but they only go to the end of happy hour at 8pm. The music starts about 9:30. And for the Pete Weise show there is no cover. I hope to see you there.

1 month, 3 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Brett Hoerner

Brett Hoerner Staff

Maybe we're just too ugly and/or unrecognizable, but I was really referring to the time when you told Pavel and I that you didn't want to attract our kind to your bar, while we were talking to you at the door. :(

Granted, we do hate covers and asked if you'd let us in for free. I have no shame!

But hey, no cover on a Friday, two weeks? Sold.

1 month, 3 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Scott Doyle

Scott Doyle Verified

Never said I was a regular, mang. Methinks you pegged me all wrong here, Yost - smoke doesn't bother me much at all, I'd just prefer it not be around if given the option. Speaking of, what's your take on cigars?

It's more of a fiscal issue than anything, honestly. Cover + drinks that are more expensive than other areas of town = infrequent visits from my kind. I'm a really big fan of Pearl, especially that room overlooking the bar...but money talks!

Guess that's just a premium you pay for downtown location.

1 month, 3 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Rick Yost

Rick Yost Verified

Cool!
And don't read any hostility into this, I'm just noting where I picked this up... Scott's post- "is it my God given right to reign down fire upon peeps exhaling carcinogens in establishments I frequent?"
Since you were bantering with Tracy and I among others, I thought you were mentioning Pearl as an establishment you 'frequent'. I've only personally seen you here once, but then I'm not always the most observant bulb in the box. You could have popped in and out without my notice.
Besides, between my scowl and acerbic personality, some folks just avoid me completely if at all possible.

Brett- We're definitely not the Palladium- if you were trying to get past what we usually feel is a humble cover- which goes to the band, then yeah, we need to attract folks who can handle such a thing. :-)

July 25- no cover, no worries, come on down!
Scott- I'm not sure what the deal with your duck is...but if you plan to bring any waterfowl with you, keep it on a leash will ya!

1 month, 3 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Rick Yost

Rick Yost Verified

P.S. Our take on cigars is we sell them and burn them. However, we're completely out of our premiums cigars- although we still have some of our less expensive flavored cigars. We're patiently waiting for our order to arrive.

1 month, 3 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Brett Hoerner

Brett Hoerner Staff

None of us (us is Pavel, Doyle and I) are hard up for $10, it's just that we're not Jazz aficionados, so it's hard for us to decide to drive to downtown and pay cover when we could just hit up another random place (I don't say that to be mean, I don't want to imply the crap bars we go to are anything like the Pearl most nights, we just have low standards). Don't get us wrong, we like the jazz when we come, but it's more of a backdrop to us than a main attention-grabber.

I wish I could remember who was playing the first time we went, I think it was sort of a random gig, people kept getting up and down - but it rocked and I'd pay $10 to see that sax player again anytime.

We'll bug you in two weeks.

1 month, 3 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Scott Doyle

Scott Doyle Verified

Uh, meant I frequent bars in general where smoking is allowed and encouraged.

Love me some cigars, Yost. Surely you don't take issue with peeps bringing their own...

What Brett said. I earn a decent wage; doesn't mean I'm looking to burn it as soon as I touch it. Still at the quantity over quality point of my drinking career (but it's slowly shifting, esp on the beer side).

Guess it needs more reviews like this one. If I see a good review, I'm more likely to pay the cover and whine about it than not go at all.

1 month, 3 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Rick Yost

Rick Yost Verified

No worries- no offense taken. And Jazz to some is an acquired taste, kinda like Doyle. :-)

1 month, 3 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Rick Yost

Rick Yost Verified

Scott- Light 'em if you got 'em!

Happy Hour Mon-Fri 4-8pm...$3 wells and domestic longnecks.

On tap we have Saint Arnold's Summer Pilsner, Pyramid Hefeweizen, Kronenbourg 1664 all at $5.25 a pint, and then my personal favorite- Afflighem Belgium Ale at $8.oo - great stuff!

And as far as you being swayed by reviews...how's this-
Pearl was chosen as the "Best Over-30s Singles Scene" for 2008 by the editors of Citysearch!

1 month, 3 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Scott Doyle

Scott Doyle Verified

Still no cover tonight, Yost? Anything change in the past couple of weeks we should now about?

1 month, 1 week ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

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