We had been trying to get up to the new club in Bethesda ever since my buddy, Jeff Bonk, was playing bass bone in the house big band – and managed to miss the entire run – bummer. Anyway, we finally checked it out with Eddie Palmieri and his Latin Septet on stage.

The club is in an old Art Deco movie theater, with some of the theater seating in-tact in the back, and two mammoth dining areas that step down to the stage. The food was good, the service was terrible and the music was fantastic.

Trumpet player, Jonathan Powell, crushed it on what looked like an Olds Recording horn, and the whole set buzzed with non-stop energy. Even the opening ballad moved at a vibrant clip.

We’ll have to get back there sooner next time – maybe the management wise up and bring back the big band.