Last night, The Al Gallodoro Quartet (Al on sax, JoAnn Chmielowski on piano, Tom Wetmore on bass, and Joe Tokarowski on drums) played the last gig at the Sego Cafe in Oneonta. It's a sad fact of life that many delightful venues close, but last night's performance was a real New Orleans-style send-off to the Sego. Al and the band played brilliantly to a packed house--a standing-room-only crowd, at one point--and there was joy mingled with the regret of closing. "The Hour of Parting" (a heartbreakingly beautiful number that Al featured on his "Out of Nowhere" CD) literally came all too soon. But after "The Hour of Parting" Al finished the night with Ray Noble's "Cherokee"--and swung it hard.Chances are that Al and his group will find another venue shortly. But the last night at the Sego was sad, and delightful--and Al Gallodoro at his best.
Al, JoAnn, and the host of RADIOLA! at the Sego last night
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