Wow!
As the band took a bow, the sold-out crowd was on its feet – shouting, cheering, putting their hands together in appreciation of the smoke show they had just witnessed.
Ralph Peterson and the Messenger Legacy …
a sharp-dressed sextet of jazz elderstatesmen …
direct musical descendants of jazz legend Art Blakey …
delivered an evening of passionate, kinetic, masterfully energetic sounds for the heart and soul.
These cats play for audiences around the world – Paris, Milan, Beijing, Australia, the Newport Jazz Festival, New York’s Lincoln Center – and last night they rolled up to the Atlantic Grill in Rye with something truly special to share.
And in the lingo of world-class jazz, they “moved the room.”
Welcome to Elle’s, baby!
Well, not officially just yet. The Labrie family’s much-buzzed-about jazz and blues, fine dining music and supper club doesn’t open until Spring 2021 at 135 Congress St. in beautiful downtown Portsmouth.
The Atlantic Grill launch party (AG is Elle’s sister restaurant) was the first in a series of sneak peek special events to give people a taste of what’s to come.
The fine cuisine. The real-deal jazz club scene.
The food was to die for; the music something to live for.
Momentous musical artists.
Moving the room.
In the moment.
Cool as a cocktail on the rocks.
Hot players on horns, strings, keys and skins …
Drummer/bandleader Ralph Peterson – Berklee professor, trusty custodian of his mentor’s musical legacy – was the consummate MC.
Toweling the sweat from his glistening forehead between numbers …
Playfully razzing acclaimed trumpeter Brian Lynch about casting his “Grammy shadow” over the rest of the combo …
And closing their epic Messenger Legacy celebration of jazz with a special message about Elle’s – “Now go tell all of your square friends what they missed.” 😎
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We hope you’ll join us for the next “Elle’s Live at The Atlantic Grill” event. Details coming soon !!
Stay tuned for info:
Like/Follow Elle’s here on our FB page.
Stop by our website, read about the club and pop us your email for future bulletins about Elle’s: https://ellesoncongress.com/
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Thank you to …
Ralph Peterson and The Messenger Legacy
Ralph Peterson – drums
Brian Lynch – trumpet
Bill Pierce – tenor sax
Craig Handy – alto sax
Essiet Essiet – stand-up bass
Anthony Wonsey – piano