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On Wednesdays, It's Jazz At Lenny's

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By JOYCE McKENZIE

jmckenzie@tampatrib.com

Published: January 7, 2009

TEMPLE TERRACE - Percussionist Don Capone calls it "a work in progress."

He is referring to the Wednesday night jazz sessions at Lenny's Latin Cafe.

Capone, 65, a former teacher and police officer is a drummer with more than 40 years of playing experience and numerous engagements with well-known jazz artists to his credit. He kicked off the informal gatherings a few weeks ago.

With Capone's longtime friend and cafe owner Lenny Cruz's blessing, the weekly gigs have attracted an array of performers, ranging in age from 17 to 83.

"So far we've attracted a 17-year-old King High School graduate at the piano, a bass player from USF and an 83-year-old guy on the lead trumpet," said the Temple Terrace resident who intermittently studied at the Berklee College of Music. He also worked the club scene in New York City and performed backup in the 1980s for the Coasters, the Platters and the Drifters, to name a few.

Keyboardist and University of South Florida research Professor Charles Berlin, 76, a onetime Juilliard School student, has agreed to play each week with Capone.

Before losing his home and the Kresge Hearing Research Lab he headed in New Orleans to Hurricane Katrina, Berlin, a seasoned and well-traveled musician in his own right, played for many years in the New Orleans Jazz Festival, as well as at several area venues. He once did a two-week stint with Al Hirt when the trumpet player's regular pianist was ill.

"Don is a fine talent, and exploring new connections with him will be a great opportunity for collaboration and development," Berlin said. "My goal in playing with Don is to make new and improvisational music with mainstream roots, reconnect with any music scene after I was exiled from New Orleans, and to use the venue to help Lenny build a business and support jazz in the community."

Berlin learned of the gig at Lenny's by way of Bob Seymour, a broadcaster on WUSF-FM, 89.7.

"It's great to see he's gotten back into the jazz scene, and I've heard great things about what's going on at Lenny's," Seymour said. "Don is really talented, and what I enjoy is getting great people like this together."

Because no alcohol is served at Lenny's, Capone invites families to come out on Wednesday nights.

"The food is excellent, and I'd like to see more young people get involved in jazz," Capone said. "Hopefully, we can bring a little bit of old New Orleans to Temple Terrace."

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Jazz jam sessions

WHEN: 7 to 10 p.m. Wednesdays

WHERE: Lenny's Latin Cafe, 10918 N. 56th St., Temple Terrace

INFORMATION: (813) 984-7884 or (813) 732-8782

Reporter Joyce McKenzie can be reached at (813) 865-4849.

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