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IF YOU HAVE ANY INEXPLICABLE DESIRE TO SEE & HEAR ME ON YOUTUBE.COM ..just type: betty comora, music
Betty Comora plays Washboard with legendary guitarist Tommy Emmanuel! in Nashville. Just click on blue sentence to see it. Taken in Nashville, it was a 'hoot'! Tommy autographed my washboard. Come see for yourself.
ADDITIONAL YOUTUBE TUNES ARE WITH MIKE EVANS AND SOME ARE SOLO PIANO/VOCALS..INCLUDING: "IF HE WERE STRAIGHT AND I WERE YOUNG"
check out "owens birds", on youtube.com Our N.J. daughter, Cathy Comora interviews her dad, the Florida birder. I may be slightly biased...but it's fun to watch.
2011 Happy New Year
I'm looking for more gigs.....got any? Just call...We're ready for action.
It's a long dry spell for lots of good area musicians--and other working folks, too. To ward off boredom, I fill my time with interesting volunteer work including : Fabulous Finds Thrift Shop, Tuttle Elementary School, Riverview H.S.,a Child Care Center, playing music at the Friendship Center and assorted one-day events that come through the volunteer email offers. It's fun, you meet nice people..and it's never a wasted day.
JANUARY 2 - 7 I'm attending a Road's Scholar Program at Eckerd College, in St Pete, FL. Always great fun. Check it out on google and maybe you'll go, too. I'll be back just in time for the Jazz Club gig that day..Jan. 7
. We just returned. It was soooo much fun. The instructors were fun and informative. We learned about: musical comedy shows, Frank Capra films..and Supreme Court decisions.
JAN. 7: 2 - 4 PM I'm vocalist with Greg's "Metro Connection" Jazz Band at the Jazz Club of Sarasota event, 2 - 4 pm. located at Unitarian Church, Fruitville near Beneva. $5 members, $10 non-members
JANUARY 12 & 19: Something new at 3 pm. We're trying a 'singalong' and 'sit-in' session for folks at the Friendship Center on Brother Geenen Rd, Sarasota. If I'm lucky, banjo Mike Evans will join me...and I welcome other singers and musicians, too.
JANUARY 13: I'm playing PIANO/VOCALS at "Two Chefs" restaurant, 1617 DeSoto Rd, Sarasota from 6 - 8pm. Call 355-5151 for reservations. Google their website ..and get hungry.
JANUARY 20 & 27: Russ Brannon and I play at "Two Chefs"
FEBRUARY 2: My Jazz combo will be playing for listening and dancing at one of 6 Trolley Stops for the Annual JAZZ CLUB OF SARASOTA "Trolley Night". It includes: Russ Brannon/guitar, Don Dean/bass, Dale McGrew/drume and I'm on piano/vocal. This will be my 6th year participating. A $15 badge (paid in advance) gets you into 5 different venues for live music..and you travel by Trolley! My location is the Sr. Friendship Center (on Brother Geenen Way). There's a large dance floor - so we'll play for listening AND dancing. Call the Jazz Club of Sarasota 366-1552 for details. If you buy the badge that night..it will be $20. Trolleys start at the Van Wezel parking lot at 6 pm and run regularly throughout the night from club to club.
Well, we did it and it was....as always..lots of fun.
FEBRUARY 9 & 16 from 3 - 4 pm. I'm playing for singalongs at the Friendship Center, 1888 Brother Geenen Way (near 301/41 intersection). Banjo favorite Mike Evans will be with me Feb.9...and Feb.16 too....HURRAY!
FEBRUARY 19: Mike Evans and Betty at the Bayshore Condos, Bradenton
FEBRUARY 20: Betty's Happy Dixieland Band will play (8th year) at The Meadows Community Building, 2004 Longmeadow. This year: Betty/piano/washboard, Mike Evans/banjo, Tony Martin/drums, Bill Carmichael/clarinet, Al Helfrich/Tuba, Armand Olevano/trumpet and Jim Brenner/trombone. The Annual Photo contest takes place right inside the building and we play behind it.
FEBRUARY 26: BETTY'S JAZZ QUARTET play at Sunrise Cove Mardi Gras party on Siesta Key Banjo Mike Evans, Drummer Dale McGrew, Trumpet Gene Sprague
MARCH 9 AND 23: Wednesdays from 3 - 4. SINGALONGS and fun at the FRIENDSHIP CENTER, 1888 Brother Geenen Way. I hope my good friend Banjo/Mike Evans will join me again with this volunteer fun. Everyone is welcome and 'sitting in' is welcome.
My computer was severely ill..so I brought it in to a 'recommended' computer repair shop in Sarasota. It was worse..after that..plus many programs were 'gone with the wind'..bummer! I had to buy a new computer.....so now I own a laptop. T'will be great for travel. My good buddy, the nimble fingered banjoist Mike Evans...has a good touch on computer apparatus, too. He showed me how to make changes on my website with a new program he installed..PLUS..he's adding my radio shows on my 'radio page' for me. Just for that.. I'll have to hire him for more gigs. ....if I'm lucky. Check our sound on Youtube.
MARCH 27: Wouldja' believe..I'm playing BANJO..for the third year on a trolley in Bonita Falls annual event. Folks of all ages singalong as they ride to the Fair. There are always 6 trolleys..each with a banjo player going to and fro from communities to the event. I'm the lesser of the banjoists...so I bring assorted percussion instruments for the kiddies and it's fun.
*** WEDNESDAYS.....ON-GOING GIG SINCE MARCH.....UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE I SING AND PLAY WASHBOARD WEEKLY WITH TOM BARRETT'S "DIXIELAND JAZZ BAND", AT RICO'S PIZZA from 6 - 8 pm , 5131 N. Tamiami, Sarasota (just a bit south of University) 358-9958
APRIL 13 & 27 I'm playing from 3 - 4 at the Sr. Friendship Center, Brother Geenen Way MAYBE Banjo Mike Evans will join me. Often, my buddy Shirley Goodman drops by and does a super tap dance.
May 8: Sarasota Music Archives Second Sunday Series: 2:30 to 3:30 pm at Holley Hall , near the Van Wezel in Sarasota. Banjo/vocalist Mike Evans and little old me on piano/vocal and washboard. We'll present a fun show of old timey music with a it of audience participation. I call it the "HAPPY HOUR" show...which we do at private parties, etc. Check us out on Youtube..but come. You can call John for info at 906-8250
On MAY 9: I had major surgery...no more babies for me. sob. Well, the gig the day before was so great that I thought it might be 'my last hurrah'. Mike Evans/banjo/vocals, Tony Martin/drums, Dick Poland/tuba and me/piano/vocal/washboard. Owen took a video of the "Happy Jazz Band" concert and I have a great DVD of it. It couldn't have gone better...over 200 enthusiastic fans celebrating Mother's Day with me!
May 27: Freedom Village with banjo guy Mike Evans 7:15 - 8:15 Mike came up with a good name for our act..."2 Much Fun". I love it.
Mike Evans and I play often at Friendship Center...dates vary..call me and ask.
SUNDAY, JUNE 19...MOVIEVILLE FILM FESTIVAL At 12 noon (be prompt) my film "A Mixed Blessing" will be 1 of 6 short films shown ($5) at Lakewood Ranch Cinema. See www.movievillefilmfestival.com As writer/producer, I'm delighted it was accepted. C'mon over. It's a 15 minute 'message' film and I'd love to get your comments.
We drove to Virginia Beach and Savannah, Georgia for the week and had a great time. Came home and...gas was pouring from my car left in the driveway. Squirrels chewed through the fuel line. Really! Google it. It's not uncommon. who knew?
JULY 6 at Sr.Friendship Center, Brother Geenen Way..I play 12 - 1 in dining room and 3 - 4 pm I'm with banjo guy Mike Evans in the BIG room.
July 20: Freedom Village with Mike Curreo/banjo 7:15 - 8:15
August 3 - : We're going to the annual Bix Biederbecke Festival in Davenport, Iowa. Vince Giordano's Nighthawks, my favorite band, will be one of the great line-up. We hope to see some relatives in Iowa, too.
August 25: I'm featured on WEDU "Gulf Coast Journal" channel 3, 8 pm as Washboard Woman once again..showing who I recommended to the staff to feature on other shows. This show will be repeated Thursdays, Sept.1, 8, 15
August 26, Friday: Mike Evans and I play 12 - 1 in dining room at Friendship Center, Geenen Road
August 28: Sunday 12 - 2 pm at Cafe Palm, 1341 Main St. 941-914-9411 (corner of Palm) see menu on www.Mediaonmain.com
August 31 Wed. 6 - 8 pm at Cafe Palm, 1341 Main St. Sarasota (corner of Palm) 914-9411
Sept. 1, 8, 15..check above and read August 25 info re WEDU TV 8 pm "Gulf coast Journal" show with me as 'washboard woman' and much more ...
SUNDAYS 11:30 -1:30 --- (currently) I'm performing solo at Cafe' Palm, 1341 Main St. Sarasota 914-9411 Parking garage nearby if necessary.
Sept 7: 12 - 1 Friendship Center dining room
Sept 9: DeSoto Beach Club, 4 - 5 pm
Sept. 15 Alderman Oaks 3:30-4:30
Sept. 22 Friendship Center 3 - 4 pm Singalongs
OCTOBER
SUNDAYS: 11:30 TO 1:30 Betty on piano-vocal at Cafe Palm, 1341 Main St. Sarasota 914-9411 (not Oct. 23)
Oct. 5: Friendship Center, 12-1 in dining room
OCT. 22-29 Can I have too much of a good thing? I sure hope not. Owen and I are going on the JAZZ FEST AT SEA Cruise on MSC Poescia ship which leaves NYC to go north: Boston, Maine, Canada and thereabouts. I'll be jamming alot with a bunch of musicians and Owen will be bringing his bird book and binoculars to add rare feathered friends to his lifelist.
I MUST APOLOGIZE TO THE JAZZ FRIENDS WHO CAME TO SEE ME AT THE CAFE PALM ON OCTOBER 30. MY FLIGHT HOME FROM THE JAZZ CRUISE WAS CANCELLED AT NEWARK AIRPORT ON OCT.29 (DUE TO SNOW STORM IN NEW JERSEY) AND WE SLEPT OVERNIGHT IN THE AIRPORT CHAIRS UNTIL THE NEXT MORNING FLIGHT.....WHICH WAS WHY I MISSED THE GIG. I WAS DISAPPOINTED, TOO!
SUNDAYS I WILL CONTINUE AT CAFE PALM, 1341 Main St. (Palm/Main), playing piano/singing from 11:30 -1:30 lunchtime
November 2, 12-1pm in Friendship Center dining room
**** NOVEMBER 18 - 20 THE SUNCOAST JAZZ CLASSIC FESTIVAL ..IN CLEARWATER, FLORIDA www.jazzclassic.net
I'm excited to announce that my pal, fun banjo guy Mike Evans and I will be performing two one hour sets at this festive event . We'll play our "2 Much Fun"one hour sets on FRIDAY , NOV. 18 at 7:30 pm and a different show again at 11:15 pm with audience participation! You can see samples of us on Youtube: Betty Comora, Mike Evans
PLUS..I'll be playing two sets of sophisticated jazz with bassist Mark Neuenschwander and festival drummers Eddy Graham and Ed Metz. These one hour sets are Saturday, Nov.19 at 5:30 and also 8 pm and I'm one of 4 female vocalists in a set called 'DIVAS'...
WELL..THE EVENT WAS SPECTACULAR! I HAD A BALL...AND IF ANYONE VIDEOTAPED A BIT OF IT, COULD I HAVE A COPY? I'M ADDING A NEW COMPLIMENT ON MY 'REVIEW' PAGE. I STILL FEEL THE 'AFTERGLOW'.
SUNDAYS: I'm pianist/vocalist at Cafe Palm, 1341 Main St. Sarasota JAZZ LUNCH 11:30 - 1:30 Tap dancer Shirley Goodman often 'steps' in.
DEC. 31: New Years gig in Bradenton with Mike Evans
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HAPPY NEW YE AR......2012..
EVERY SUNDAY!
SUNDAYS 11:30 to 1:30 JAZZ LUNCHES AT CAFE PALM, 1341 MAIN ST., It's always fun for me...and I hope for others. My good friend, superb dancer Shirley Goodman always taps in...for a few beats. The speciality on the inexpensive menu is crepes -- which you can watch being made.
JANUARY 8 private party anniversary at Lido Beach Resort with my quartet
January 18: Sarasota Bay Club, 4:30 - 5:30 with banjo Mike Evans
January 23: 7:30 pm "FANNY BRICE TELLS ALL", I'll be performing my new one hour show for the Road Scholar group at the Lido Beach Resort. It's fun, informative and musical...and available for groups at house parties, clubs, etc. See the page on my website to arrange for YOUR event.
JANUARY 27: 1- 2 PM, BETTY/PIANO, JIM WELLEN/SAX for a 'celebration of life' private party at Marina Jacks
JANUARY 28: I'm with banjo guy Mike Evans quartet, private party , in Bradenton Condo Association
FEBRUARY
FEBRUARY 2: Back again! "FANNY BRICE" show for Road Scholars, Lido Beach Resort
MARCH
EVERY SUNDAY: I play piano/vocals for JAZZ LUNCH 11:30 TO 1:30 AT CAFE PALM, SARASOTA 1341 MAIN ST. (corner of Main)
MARCH 7...WEDNESDAY: JAZZ CLUB of Sarasota's "Trolley Night". Call the club at 366-1552 and get a pass for $15 & details of how to hop on and off a trolley to about 5 Jazz venues. Ours is the last stop - at The Friendship Center (on Brother Geenen Way)...but you can stay there all night, if you prefer - 6:30 to 10ish. I'll be playing piano/washboard and singing with Mike Evans/banjo/vocals and Skip Conkling/drums plus Sid Townsend/bass. Sit-ins are welcome and we expect several - including tap dancer Shirley Goodman. The dance floor is one of the best in town!
MARCH 12: "FANNY BRICE TELLS ALL", my one person show at Pelican Cove, Sarasota.
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