Red Bank, New Jersey

It was an hour and a half car ride from Manhattan to Red Bank, New Jersey this afternoon.  Red Bank stuck in my mind as the birthplace of the great Count Basie.  Red Bank is a commuter community to N.Y.C. and  seems like a grand place to live if one is working in the city.  Beautiful homes on tree lined streets. loads of great stores and boutiques and an inlet from the Atlantic that offers fishing and boating.  My first time here and would love to explore it more.

Tonight's venue was opened in Novemeber of 1926 under then, the Carlton Theatre.  In 1984 the theatre's name was chaneged to The Count Basie Theatre in honour of it's native son.  A major renovation was done in  the summer of 2004 which included 1,543 brand new historically accurate theatre seats, improved sight lines, new house lighting and decorative plaster and paint restoration.  A wonderful example of an old theatre made modern while still keeping it's original feel.

Another fab gig, the band is sounding miraculous and MK better than ever, still doing the sit down gigs.  The audience was vocal and appreciative.  This is another spot that I wish we'd stayed, but it was a runner back to Manhattan after.

We arrived at the hotel starving, Dan took a one of the cars to the Carnegie Deli for a platter of chopped liver and mahtzoh ball soup, Tim O'Brien, Mike McGoldrick and I opting for an Irish pub just down the street.  It was a four pint meal for us, then back to our rooms for some much needed rest.

So long,

Richard