Magic at La Tapatia

After several Sunday visits to this fine Landmark Mexican restaurant in downtown Escondido, with its Sunday Afternoon Jazz Sessions, we finally get to see and hear the legend himself. In fact, the whole Jackson musical family is present (I'm not speaking of Michael, Janet and Tito). Chubby, Duffy, Jaijai and Myno plus a host of local musicians are on hand to make this a memorable Sunday evening in jazz.

There's something in the atmosphere of this restaurant that has the fragrance of being a European kind of thing. The Jackson clan sitting around a big table and the effervescent sweetness of Chubby's personality bouncing about all over the room. It's a festive occasion and, what's more: a musical one. Chubby's good nature has not changed one iota since the days of Woody Herman's dynamic First Herd and his infectious character is addictive to all of us around him. So, with the good food and drink,there is joy and warmth emanating out unto Grand Avenue in Escondido.

Soon after all the conversation and drinking have ebbed Chubby and his son Duffy take over the bandstand. Chubby does a very horn -like blues scat over some neat funky comping by Duffy. Even his grand daughter, Chloe Zae, gets into the act with a riff taught to her by her Grandpa. Duffy could very easily be mistaken as a jazz pianist that doubles on drums. He also plays bass and recalls the strength and drive his dad had leading a whole herd of jazz greats over fifty years ago. Later, Duffy tells me how through metamorphosis, much of Don Lamond and Davey Tough have filtered into his playing. I think Miles Davis said it best when describing a very young Tony Williams' revolutionary style of playing the drums. He said, "Tony has taken a little bit of every drummer he ever knew and let it filter through him. The result of which is what you're hearing now."

The climax to this evening came when Duffy took over the drums. The busy restaurant came to a screeching halt. Even the Mexican bus boys and waiters dropped what they were doing to witness. All of us in the room could sense, behind the swishing and vibrant brush work,that something wonderful was happening. Duffy is both a technician and a musical drummer. There is logic and thought out preparation in his solo which finally erupted into a powerful blur of ebullience that brought the room to its feet in a round of applause.

I felt honored for my wife and I to be a part of this gathering. The Jackson family is a tight and harmonious group. Chubby has very high ideals that have obviously touched all around him. After all the years he's still one of life's most gifted and exuberant cheerleaders.

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