Bayshore Coffee Company -Naples

The Bayshore Coffee Company has been a hidden musical gem in Naples for several years. It’s a fun place for breakfast, lunch or dinner, with sodas, wines and beers. In the evenings, depending on the musicians, the often packed crowd ranges from 20’s and tattoos, through 30’s and Beemers, to 50’s and ups with diminishing IRA's.

The setting is a small intimate coffee house, with the band/entertainer usually by the front piano. Facing that are soft couches and comfy big chairs. Toward the back are tables and chairs, with food/beverage by waitstaff, or walk up to one of two counters.

This is warm, welcoming and homey, no way around it. Its charm is in it’s sayings on the earth tone walls, the fact that little matches, and a packrat’s accumulation of interesting bric-a brac.

Park in the back, and come in early for a dining table, or later for general seats on an entertainment night. We came famished, and specifically for light jazz-to experience Kathryn Taubert-and went away well fed, on the tasty food, and nourished by Kathryn’s warmth, and wonderful voice. The musicians among us noticed the professional quality of her band-Woody Brubaker on keyboards, sax and vocals, and Joey Dio, on drums and vocals. When we walked in we heard Satchmo’s (Louis Armstrong) unmistakable voice, and realized Joey was not lipsynching it-he was singing just like Satchmo! When professional musicians say “they got chops” of other musicians, they are tops.

Food is largely ample sandwiches, panini style, and some fresh salads. We favored the vegetable panini (8.25), and the chicken salad (below).

The chicken/portobello panini (8.25)was good sized, a little dry, but ok. A very good glass of the house Merlot is well recommended at $6.

Kathryn Taubert started to sing, and the audience hushed, to hear every word’s inflection. Hers is a warm, mezzo voice you’d pay a high cover charge for in New York or LA. We are lucky to hear her for $4. She has two CD’s out, with the acclaimed 2008 CD: "Somewhere In Time", and is going strong. She even writes fitting lyrics to music that no one else has thought to do. A tall attractive woman with a warm friendly manner, she visited with the musicians at our table during a break, and made several new fans. Later, a local realtor sang with a great voice, and even Tony Pulera, of Opera Naples' Rigoletto, sang some songs. Saves us a plane ticket to Vegas, to hear similar quality.

Kathryn's sung with many of Florida’s top musicians, and you can find her at high end concerts, posh New Years celebrations, and even scuba diving! She’ll next be at Bayshore Nov 29th and Dec 27th, 2008. Check her website for 2009. Going to Beverly Hills in 2009? She won’t tell you, but I will, that she has been nominated for the award as Best Performance by a Female Vocalist in the Latin/Afro-Cuban Jazz category for the four Latin songs on her 2007 CD, "Where Can I Go Without You?" The cost for this Beverly Hills Hilton swanky event is $250, so the $4 cover at Bayshore is a STEAL!!! Check out her voice and site at: http://www.kathryntaubert.com/home.html .

Bayshore Coffee Co. has many different artists appearing each month, so call and find out who’s playing. Have a sandwich and drinks, and relax!

2727 Bayshore Dr Naples, phone- 775-5676
(On Bayshore, just a block off the East Trail, on the left (north side), in the little shopping center.)
Note: this is the new address, as of 5/09

Liza Minnelli - a Performer's Performer!

Liza Offstage with Albanian Voice Coach

Liza Minnelli suddenly goes from 5'4" to 7' tall when she hits the stage lights, dazzling her audience with her own 10,000 watts of pure energy, 'til she leaves the stage, and the audience's standing ovation.

She started out Friday, March 28 at Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall in Fort Myers, with a throaty voice, more suited for her torch songs, and her voice then gained back its' strength and upper register as the evening progressed. With a great 16 piece band, 4 dancers and a spartan black stage and set, the lighting and inventive choreography gave a wonderful support and emphasis to her captivating acting and singing. She gives full credit to her highly talented band members-briefly, the piano player even got up and sang, while a dancer took over the keyboard. Her drummer, said to be formerly with Henry Mancini, is second to none.

The audience ooh-ed and aah-ed with the frequently changing, stunning stage lighting on her face and simple black outfits, contributing to her larger-than-life stage persona. She sang old favorites like New York, New York, Cabaret, and even snippets from Mammy and other oldies. She added a new one honoring a wonderful woman, Sara Lee, and her tasty goodies!

She gave a heartfelt tribute to her godmother and guiding light, Kay Thompson, who was always there for Liza, especially after Liza's mother, Judy Garland, died when Liza was 22 years old. Kay was also vocal coach to Judy and to Frank Sinatra.

Born in 1946, Liza's dancing can exhaust most 20-somethings. When seen quite close up, she looks 38-40 years old! That's with two hip replacements and a shiny new knee, mind you. Top that energy! Slender, leggy and petite, she confided that she recently lost 62 lbs, just kidding, no, actually 42 lbs on a popular diet. Sign me up!

Her strength is in her Oscar, Tony and Emmy award winning acting, her shtick, her expressive face and her sharing with the audience. The singing is a bonus, people get goose bumps and drop their jaws when she sings her sultry "Life is a Cabaret". After belting out quite a few big songs, she said "I don't have any more loud ones left", cracking up her audience!

There's a stage presence, a charisma that Liza has, that few other living performers, save, say Tina Turner have; both performers give 110% of their all to an audience. This audience reflected back Liza's same dazzling intensity with enthusiasm. Amazingly, in two days, she will be performing again with her 20 piece orchestra and dancers in Melbourne, Fl, and then a Mexico tour, then off to Europe. Whew!

Don't miss her. This young living legend has enough firepower to electrify all on her world tour. After a couple days of rest, she's ready to let her light blaze forth anew, illuminating her adoring audiences' faces and hearts.