OFF! the top of my head

By Chad Armbruster

Well kids, it's time again for that all-important article that will change your life, make your hair grow and will in the end entice you to ask yourself out loud, "Just what the hell does Bling mean?"

Anyway, now on to more important things. I give all of you a grand thank you for all of the letters and emails that were sent to me about OFF!. I've been at this job for over a year now and it's always nice to get something from someone who reads us, regularly or even casually. So again, thank you to all of those who wrote back. I'll be sure to put you on my Hanukkah card list for next year. However, there was one letter in particular that caught my attention.

Now, I'm not going to get to specific on the name but Kathryn - you know who you are. Kathryn's idea was for someone out there to start-up a jazz club here in Cape and sister I tell you, you're preachin' to the choir on this one. As some of you out there know I'm a jazzer at heart and while I do listen to a very eclectic mix of music jazz is/ has always been my favorite type.

I don't know how many of you were out and about on Friday, April 27, but if you walked past Jeremiah's you heard the Southeast Missouri State University Lab Band performing in front of a packed house. Need I say more on this?

To all of you out there with some money and looking to make some money Kathryn and I give you this idea. Go out there and start a jazz club! And if you're looking for jazz talent you don't have to look that far from your own backyard. This town is full of jazz talent that would kill for the opportunity to play jazz at a club every weekend. Think about it, local talent playing here in town every weekend with famous talent playing when they come through town. It's a money-making opportunity that if done well/ right would do wonders for our town and music community.

Now, I know what you guys are thinking, "It's not that simple!" Well, I admit that it might be rough going at first but it's a matter of staying power and draw. If people in this area knew where to go every weekend for good jazz they'd be there don't you think? Now, I know the next question on your minds, "Who out there likes jazz?"

Well, my friends, there are a lot of us out there. Some of us are closet jazzers while others of us drive around with Buddy Rich bumper stickers all over our cars, but that's another story. Anyway this is something that needs to happen in Cape. We have the talent and we have those with money who know how to run businesses. It's just a matter of all of us out there showing that we need something like this in Cape, to those with the means to accomplish our goal.

So if you agree then let the downtown bars know what you want. While if you don't agree then ... uhm ... well, send me a topic and if I can help you get the word out about your cause then I'll do my best. Sorry but this one was all for Kathryn.

And before I forget, OFF! Will be taking a little summer break. But we will be back on Aug. 15 with more of the stuff you love and more of the stuff you hate. Hey, what can I say, we try to please the masses. So, to nix the rumors that I can already hear flying about. No, we aren't closing up shop. Yes, we will be back. And yes I will be back.

Hugs and kiss to one and all.