The Burners made a return visit to an appreciative crowd on the first Saturday of “local summer” at the Chubby Pickle. JSJBF board member Joseph Vincent Riggio’s Jazz Café series, has been gaining in popularity and is now a fixture at this member venue. This organ based trio features Dan Kostelnik on the B-3 mk2, long-time foundation member Ron Rauso on guitar, and veteran Dave Sang on drums.
The band has only been together since the pandemic, but they have become a staple on the local music scene, and it’s easy to see why. They are consummate professionals and mine the classic songs that their inspiration, Charles Earland, made popular with his signature jazz interpretations, in the mid to late 20th century. The first set consisted of some instantly recognizable tunes like Curtis Mayfield’s “People Get Ready,” to songs that only a jazz purist could identify, like Stanley Turrntine’s “Minor Chant,” which included a “Hit the Road Jack” interlude for good measure. In their hands, these tunes were swinging, and whether you recognized them or not, you couldn’t help but enjoy what the band was putting down. Other highlights of the set included their singular take on “Ode to Billie Joe,” “Fly Me to the Moon” and their signature song which closed the set, that one hit wonder Spiral Staircase’s “More Today Than Yesterday”.
The second set began with two songs by Booker T & the MGs, their big hit “Green Onions,” followed by “Hip Hug-Her,” both sounding as fresh as they did in the 60’s. Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On” was given that vintage Earland treatment with Dan playing those familiar riffs while holding down the bass, Ron supplying terrific leads on his vintage Gibson ES330, while Dave was keeping that swinging beat on the drums. A beautiful version of the Percy Sledge hit, ”When A Man Loves A Woman” was a nice change of pace, but they re-energized the room with a great version of Bill Doggett’s “Honky Tonk”. The night ended with another Old Blue Eyes’ tune “Summer Wind,” which made for a perfect ending on this “local summer” night. Watch the band listings on our website and Facebook postings for future gigs by this terrific band.