Claes and I were picking up Evelyn at the University Circle Arabica Sunday around 5 and I heard one of my favorite sounds flowing over from my favorite area spot - the Barking Spider - roots jazz. I knew who I would find there... the finest roots jazz musician I know in town, George Foley... so we headed right over. George plays and sings, solo and with many area musicians, in every imaginable combo, all over town, and it is always a fun, uplifting and inspiring experience.

If you have not enjoyed George's great performances, you must check him out. His schedule can be found on his website here. He is a regular at the Spider, of course, and Nighttown, Tavern Company, and now at my favorite neighborhood haunt, Happy Dog... upcoming dates and combos include:

I especially love the Sunday afternoon Spider shows, on a sunny Sunday (they will come), when they open the doors and let the fresh air in, and people spill onto the two patios and chill with an afternoon beer and jazz - NEO at its best!

George is local-grown, and studied at the Cleveland Institute of Music. I lived next to him, on Hessler Street, and can't say enough good things about this great guy and his music and love of jazz. A rare find in this less than jazzy part of the world and time.