Ganjo Mokeev at Sunset Jazz Club - Tuesday 16 February 2011

Tuesday night is a great night at Sunset Jazz Club !!  Three excellent artists often entertain there one after the other - Saint Skytower, Vincent Merricks and Ganjo Mokeev.  It was during one such Tuesday evening that Dottie and I met there 32 weeks ago :))  


In fact we nicknamed the three " the dream team " and last Tuesday night Ganjo, from Colorado USA, was definitely in top entertaining form !!

.
When you think of Ganjo think funk, think groove, think good time and think party !!  Ganjo always has a great time during his shows and he transmits this enjoyment to his audience so effectively !!  Add some blues, some R&B and some funky humour and join in the fun !!


On stage jamming with him is xavian starsider the funkiest koala in SL :))  I'm not sure what part xavian plays in the music but he gets down well !!

" Alright !  Yeah !   I smell trouble yeah !!   How are you all tonight ? "

Ganjo "flatters" his audience by telling us that like his dad he could talk to a rock :))  He's a seasoned performer with 30 years experience, he sings and plays and entertains so easily :))

He began with an Average White Band song Please Don't Fall In Love

Please don't fall in love

leave the words unspoken

cause if you do you know your heart will get broken
...... ..... .... ...

Surprisingly the AWB - Gorrie, Duncan, Stuart and McIntosh is a Scottish band formed in Dundee in 1972.

Most of Ganjo's songs are covers - he covers them well !!  
He has a rich and very flexible voice well-used for his next song, Marvin Gaye's Mercy Mercy Me 
" Wooooooooo ............. "

Then from Tulsa, Oklahoma's The Gap Band one of the most popular funk groups of the late '70s and 1980s he sang Outstanding

Girl you're lookin sweeter now
You got it every day, girl
Wish that I could love you right
In a special way

You light my fire
I feel alive with you baby
You blow my mind
I'm satisfied
... .... ..... ......

Michael Jackson's Remember The Time followed -

Do you remember
When we fell in love
We were so young
And innocent then
Do you remember
How it all began
It just seemed like heaven
So why did it end?

...... ..... .... ...

Half way through his show the map showed that he had an audience of 39 people !!  More importantly I'm pretty sure they were enjoying every minute there !!

Teal Freenote his SL sister helps with his bookings.  Ganjo exhorts us to join his group " Teal will hook you up - that's the way she is !!   so we can party "

Next came the 1975 classic soul single Love Won't Let Me Wait from Major Harris -

Move a little close to me, you owe it to yourself
And I will selfishly take a little for myself
And it's because of you
That love won't let me wait

" Cool Ganjo !! "

If there's one song which for me sums up Ganjo's slightly cheeky personality 
and funky music it's the next one he sang - Stevie Wonder's I Wish

... .... ..... ......
Sneaking out the back door
To hang out with those hoodlum friends of mine
Greeted at the back door
With boy thought I told you not to go outside
Tryin' your best to bring the
Water to your eyes
Thinkin' it might stop her
From woopin' your behind

...... ..... .... ...

He greets regular members of his audience  " Hey Smoochess :)) " and testing his spanish " Hola Mariposa ! "


More funk followed with Bonnie Raitt's 1990 song Love Letter

Whip come to push,
Push comes to shove
Shove comes to touch
Touch will come to love
Working on a love letter
Listening to a love song
I'm writing you a love letter, love letter
With the radio on
(Radio, radio)

Ganjo thanks club owner Circe for continuing to book him !!  He affectionately calls Circe the   "Godmother of music in SL" Yes we all appreciate you Circe !!

" Book da funk ...... Funktastic !!!  "

" Hit it .... Get busy now !! ..... Shake that rump y'all !! "

Ganjo sang 10 songs in the hour. His songlist includes some 110 songs including 10 originals !!  He's happy to take requests !!

             *?¨`• ??  •'¨?*

  .•* \ o/  KEEP THE MUSIC THUMPING!       \ o/ *•.

   .•*  ||     AND THE  CROWD A JUMPING!    || *•.

   .•* /  \     ?.•*II¸.•*´ ? `*•.¸II`*•.?       /  \ *•.

Among his wide range of covers are -


Ask Me No Questions - BB King
Baby I love You - Aretha Franklin
Crossfire - Stevie Ray Vaughan
Everywhere - Fleetwood Mac
Lovely Day - Bill Withers
Mustang Sally - Wilson Pickett
Steamy Windows - Tina Turner
When Love Comes To Town - U2 / BB King
You Make Me Feel Brand New - The Stylistics


Find out more and listen to some of his music on his website:
http://www.twoblackdogs.net/index.htm


Here's the SLURL to get to the Sunset Jazz Club:
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Laurel%20Arts%20Isle/148/79/301/
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