Flat Party and Jazz Bar

The band at Jazz Bar, after the arrival of the sax player.

What a night. Especially for a Thursday. We started off with a party in the flat and eventually made it out to a jazz bar.

Things were pretty quiet until around 22:30 when we finally broke the ten-person barrier. With fewer than ten you end up with one very public group conversation and usually a number of passive onlookers. More than ten and you get smaller bunches of people hanging out. Well, that's my theory anyway.

Among the food served was haggis, made by the only Scottish flat mate. Delicious. I also discovered that it can make a great dip for tortilla chips! Nachos with haggis, anyone?

Mike and I enjoying the show at Jazz Bar. Thanks to Lauri for the photos!

More on interesting group dynamics: four of the six living here are fluent in another language, be it Welsh, Spanish, French, or Mandarin. Lucky for the remaining two of us who only speak English, that happens to be the language we all have in common so that's what you hear day to day.

At the party it was different. There was a group of people speaking English, another French, and yet another Spanish. It made it difficult to break into another conversation if you didn't speak the language.

It must have been just after midnight when those who decided to come out climbed into a pair of really roomy cabs. The seats faced each other so it was great for talking during the short trip to the jazz bar called Jazz Bar.

Group shot of flat mates, past and current, and random smiling dude.

The show was brilliant. The night's music came from a jazz trio of drums, bass, and guitar. The only vocals came from the guitarist during a brief synchronized scat with his instrument. His playing was amazing. It was one of those guitarists who hops around the fretboard effortlessly, dropping unusual chords in unusual places. And the drum and bass backed him up with enough funk to keep the small dance floor packed.

The band was called Freaky Family and I was told there are actually six or seven members. So depending on the night, you get a different combination of instruments. With piano and brass being among the ingredients I didn't see, I really want to go to another of their shows.