Jazz Singer Evelyn Wright To Join Blue Lunch for Annual X-Mas Night Latke Party

A local treasure, the Southern soul/jazz/blues act Blue Lunch began in 1984 as a five-piece band. Over time, it has become a larger ensemble with multiple singers and a three-piece horn section.

Last year, the band marked its 40th anniversary with two special shows at the Barn, AKA Barnegie Hall, in Avon and at the Bop Stop.

“It was great,” says Blue Lunch’s Pete London. “We had nice turnouts. It’s hard to believe it’s been that long, but it has. We still enjoy it, and we enjoy each other. We had a sellout or close to sellout for both gigs. We had special guests too, including previous International Blues Challenge winner and Columbus-based Sean Carney on guitar and Akron-based Tim Longfellow, who has performed and recorded with Todd Rundgren, on Hammond organ. Over these years, we have developed this nice community of musicians. Some are local, and some are nationally known. What was also nice was that both music venues are non-profits too. The Bop Stop is associated with the Music Settlement, and the Barn is associated with Music on a Mission. Any nice venue is fun to play, and when it’s multiplied by the fact that it’s a non-profit, that’s even better.”

Blue Lunch has just announced that it’ll return to the Beachland Tavern on Thursday, Dec. 25, for the 16th Annual X-Mas Night (not Christmas Eve) Latke Party at the Beachland Tavern.

Each year, special guests join the band for the concert, and this year, singer Evelyn Wright will sit in with the group. Wright has performed for more than 40 years and has played concert halls, clubs, and festivals throughout the country with artists including Mel Torme, Harry Belafonte and others.

“She is very well-regarded and well-known,” says London. “She sings regularly with the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra and won a Jazz Legend award from Tri-C. This will be our first time working with her. She brings a different feel. One of the plusses with our band is that we’re eclectic. Last year, our Christmas guests were two blues harp players. This year, Evelyn is more of a jazz singer. She will bring a different feel and maybe a different audience too. She was in the crowd when we played Legacy Village this summer, and we asked her to sit in, and she sang a couple of tunes with us.”

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. with London spinning blues, soul, jazz, and R&B vinyl. The band takes the stage beginning at 7:30, and Wright will join the group throughout the evening.

This year, Chanukah will be over before Christmas Night, but, as always, homemade latkes (potato pancakes) and the Beachland’s regular food and beverage menu, will be available for purchase.

“As it turns out, last year, Christmas and Chanukah coincided, but Chanukah varies,” says London. “Christmas Night is the default. We’ve done the show in the Beachland’s ballroom but going forward, we’ll keep it in the tavern. We try to have as much seating as possible, and it lends itself to a party and has a nice vibe.”

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