Do you ever kick back on Sunday nights thinking about the weekend that just zoomed past you wanting to squeeze in just one more thing?  I was fortunate enough to do just that this week.  As dusk began to settle on downtown Charlotte and the city lights began to shine we climbed to the top of the roof of the Holiday Inn for an evening of smooth jazz.  The smooth breeze of the crisp air was as refreshing as the music we were about to enjoy.

The group Innertwyned started the show with a great mix of both original and smooth jazz classics.  It was a pleasant surprise to see saxophonist Marcus Anderson again after the show he put on at the Carolina Music festival last month.  His soprano and tenor played well off the group and got them ready for Ken.

Considering the fact that Ken had never played with these guys was quiet impressive.  They kicked off the show with “In My Wildest Dreams.”  The energy level was high as Navarro arched from side to side of the stage while the band played tantalizingly along.  His electric guitar drifted to the streets below and the star filled sky above.  He introduced “Skating on the C&O Canal” from his Best Of release as a song he had written for his wife.  With its beautiful melody and uplifting sax solo from Anderson, it was easy to see why.  It was fun to shut your eyes for just a moment and visualize where the inspiration for this tune came from.

Ken changed guitars to a more acoustic one and chose the title track from his latest CD The Meeting Place.  The approach was more laid back with a nice funky rhythm thrown in for good measure.  He played off of the rest of the band like they had played it for years.  The next track was his 1997 release called “Smooth Sensations.”  Marcus picked up the soprano this time, and the two sparred musically to bring the set to a climatic close.  Live In G” was an entertaining finish due the extended solo work of Innertwyned’s keyboardist and Anderson again.  Ken’s guitar shone brightly like the stars overhead.

The show was the first of a series of “jazz under the stars” in downtown Charlotte that are sure to provide excellent entertainment for an up and coming jazz hotbed.  Ken Navarro’s show was a great way to finish a wonderful weekend and relax on the roof.  

Harvey Cline