BALTIMORE — Hello, my dear friends, I hope things are going well with you. This time of year brings some good and bad things, hoping the good overpowers the bad. We did lose a couple of performers in the past couple of weeks—musician Wendall Shepherd and jazz singer Denyse Pearson. We also lost a well-known community member, Andrew Johnson. My condolences to the families; try to remember they are in a better place with no more suffering.
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Renowned trumpeter and musician Wendall Shepherd passed away on Sunday, May 7, 2017. Shepherd worked at Jazzman Music; he studied at Berklee College of Music; he went to Douglass High School and Edmondson High. Funeral Service was held at New Union Baptist Church and his funeral was held on Saturday, May 13, 2017. Musicians from all over came to celebrate his life. Sincere condolences to his family as well as his musician family. May he Rest in Peace.
On a fun note, The Patapsco Flea Market located at 1400 W. Patapsco Ave., in Baltimore, which has been around for over 35 years in the same location and my adopted child, Brian Hall, aka “T-Shirt Brian” of D.O.T. Sport & Promotions are sponsoring a free concert every second Sunday of the month at the Flea Market. The May concert will feature Skip Mahoney and the Casuals, Cliff Perkins and the Soul Generation, Ms. Bee, and many more from noon to 4 p.m. The event will be hosted by Courtman and DJ Mike Jones will lay recorded music. Not only can you shop until you drop, but you can enjoy hot steamed crabs on the Crab Deck and have cocktails at the Outdoor Patio Bar every Saturday and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. I will see you there!
My lands of mercy! Renowned saxophonist Art Sherrod, Jr. is hosting a CD release concert with guest vocalist Kenny Allen on Friday, May 19 at the AMP by Strathmore, 11810 Grand Park Avenue, Rockville, Md. Showtime is 8 p.m. You can have dinner while enjoying a fantastic show. For more information, call 301-581-5100.
Closer to home and there is another CD release party for saxophonist group The T.K. Blue Quartet, with T.K. Blue on sax, Kalimba on flute, Essiet-Essiet on bass, Zaccai Curtis on piano and Eric Kennedy on drums on May 20 from 6 to 10 p.m., at Caton Castle, 20 South Caton Ave., in Baltimore. Call 410-566-7086 for more information. Tell them Rambling Rose told you!
Next week, mark your calendar for two dynamite shows. WEAA-FM 88.9’s Your Girl Cheryl will host a Motown Show at the Carroll Arts Center, 91 West Main Street, Westminister, Md., on Friday, May 26 at 7 p.m. and Roy Ayers will be performing at the Bethesda Blues Jazz Supper Club, 7719 Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda, Md. For more information, call 240-330-4500.
Well, my dear friends, I am out of space. Remember if you need me, call me at 410-833-9474 or email me at: rosapryor@aol.com. UNTIL THE NEXT TIME, I’M MUSICALLY YOURS.