Sunday, March 8, 2015

Downtown Restaurant Launches Live Music Series

Pho Dakao, the Vietnamese restaurant that opened downtown at 101 Concord Street last year, has launched a Friday night live music series for the month of March that has the potential to become a very popular late-night destination.

The debut act on March 6 was a jazz quartet led by vocalist Ron Murphy. Murphy and his band deftly delivered a mixture of jazz standards, R&B, and even a blues tune or two to an appreciative crowd sipping drinks and slurping pho soup, the restaurant's signature dish. The audience was as diverse as the town, tilting toward middle age on average, and also included a film crew from the Access Framingham cable TV station. The music volume still allowed normal conversation, unlike many nightspots, and the overall vibe was relaxed and friendly. After the brutal winter, a lot of folks just seemed thrilled to be having an evening out and running into friends they hadn't seen in months.

Upcoming performers include soul singer and recording artist Ralph Graham on March 13, the Lance Martin Jazz Trio on March 20, offering jazz and funk (leader and flutist Martin is renowned for a large repertoire and asking for audience requests), and Alexei Tsiganov, a professor at New England Conservatory, will present jazz with Latin, Brazilian and Russian influences on March 27.

All shows begin at 9 p.m. and run until 12:30 a.m. There is no cover charge. The music series is being produced by NCeptive Entertainment, run by Framingham resident Greg Hayes, who was on hand as MC and circulated through the crowd on March 6 talking to patrons, enthusing about both the musicians on stage and the quality acts to come in the series.

Pho Dakao is using this music series as a trial run to determine if they'll have live music on a regular basis, so stop by for a Mai Tai or a pint of Jack's Abby beer, some pho, and some great tunes if you want to see more of this type of entertainment in downtown Framingham.
On Friday, March 13, recording artist Ralph Graham, a fixture in local venues like Ken’s Steak House, will sing popular hits from Frank Sinatra, Luther Vandross and Lionel Ritchie in a rich baritone voice that’s been described as sweet “like chocolate.”
On Friday, March 20, the flute-led jazz and funk band, the Lance Martin Jazz Trio featuring John Baboian and Dave Clark, will perform a delectable mix of jazz standards, rhythm and blues and pop.
On Friday, March 27, Alexei Tsiganov, a professor at New England Conservatory, will serve up an enticing entree of jazz with Latin, Brazilian and Russian flavors.
- See more at: http://framingham.wickedlocal.com/article/20150225/News/150227564#sthash.TJczJ5lw.dpuf
On Friday, March 13, recording artist Ralph Graham, a fixture in local venues like Ken’s Steak House, will sing popular hits from Frank Sinatra, Luther Vandross and Lionel Ritchie in a rich baritone voice that’s been described as sweet “like chocolate.”
On Friday, March 20, the flute-led jazz and funk band, the Lance Martin Jazz Trio featuring John Baboian and Dave Clark, will perform a delectable mix of jazz standards, rhythm and blues and pop.
On Friday, March 27, Alexei Tsiganov, a professor at New England Conservatory, will serve up an enticing entree of jazz with Latin, Brazilian and Russian flavors.
- See more at: http://framingham.wickedlocal.com/article/20150225/News/150227564#sthash.TJczJ5lw.dpuf
On Friday, March 13, recording artist Ralph Graham, a fixture in local venues like Ken’s Steak House, will sing popular hits from Frank Sinatra, Luther Vandross and Lionel Ritchie in a rich baritone voice that’s been described as sweet “like chocolate.”
On Friday, March 20, the flute-led jazz and funk band, the Lance Martin Jazz Trio featuring John Baboian and Dave Clark, will perform a delectable mix of jazz standards, rhythm and blues and pop.
On Friday, March 27, Alexei Tsiganov, a professor at New England Conservatory, will serve up an enticing entree of jazz with Latin, Brazilian and Russian flavors.
- See more at: http://framingham.wickedlocal.com/article/20150225/News/150227564#sthash.TJczJ5lw.dpuf
On Friday, March 13, recording artist Ralph Graham, a fixture in local venues like Ken’s Steak House, will sing popular hits from Frank Sinatra, Luther Vandross and Lionel Ritchie in a rich baritone voice that’s been described as sweet “like chocolate.”
On Friday, March 20, the flute-led jazz and funk band, the Lance Martin Jazz Trio featuring John Baboian and Dave Clark, will perform a delectable mix of jazz standards, rhythm and blues and pop.
On Friday, March 27, Alexei Tsiganov, a professor at New England Conservatory, will serve up an enticing entree of jazz with Latin, Brazilian and Russian flavors.
- See more at: http://framingham.wickedlocal.com/article/20150225/News/150227564#sthash.TJczJ5lw.dpuf

1 comment:

Holli Andrews said...

Brett, you are definitely NOT a hamster confined to a cage! And you do such wonderful things outside the box... I am thrilled with your on-going blogs about Downtown Framingham, and how well you represent the changes and opportunities happening here! Yes, I'm so looking forward to tonight, and having my end-of-the-week celebratory Jack's Abby brew at Pho Dakao -- bringing friends to listen to jazz and have some fun with birthday girl Robin and former Simple Living Cycles owner, Phil. Very happy to join the budding nightlife that is growing around Amazing Things Arts Center's fabulous performances and places like the Tavern for live music. You're the best -- hope to see you there!