Saturday, November 25, 6-8pm
El Vergel, Camino la Alborada 17
Free with consumption

Azande, One Year Celebration - mixed

Great music doesn't have an expiration date. It’s a communion between listener and musician. It lives on and on in the heart of those who can hear it.

When I first heard about a jazz trio playing in the outskirts of San Miguel, my first reaction was “Oh man, what a hassle.” I love to walk everywhere and obviously I would have to take a cab. But something nudge me to go and check it out and what a delightful surprise. Jazz at El Vergel is quite a triple treat, a lovely setting, gourmet food and world class music. It doesn’t get any better than this. My attitude has evolved from “what a hassle to what a treat” and currently I go to enjoy that pleasure at least once a month. El Vergel is one of the places that I take my visiting guests to share a delightful evening. To the person, everyone that I’ve taken there has left enchanted.

The true beauty of music is that it connects people. There is no warmer glue than the musical leader of the group, Azande Cummings. Azande is a New York City transplant, a lifelong professional musician, who now calls San Miguel de Allende home. He has played in all of the major clubs in the Big Apple and is the jazz messenger. The genre runs deep in his veins. A year ago Azande got the green light to head his group at El Vergel every Friday and Saturday night. In this past year Azande has hosted a wide variety of local, national and international musicians, keepimg the experience fresh and energized.

Ideologies separate us, but great music brings us together. The essence of all art is to have pleasure in giving pleasure. The joy that you experience in Azande’s smile is part of the treat. One of Azande’s favorite quotes is by Jean Michel Basquiat, "Art is how we decorate space; Music is how we decorate time." Jazz is something you have to feel. It touches your soul. It awakens something that animates your spirit.

It has been said that a chef must think like a scientist, plate like an artist and cook like a grandma. There is no better personification of these sentiments than Magda Pablo. The kitchen at El Vergel is headed by Chef Pablo, who often comes out and ensures that the patrons are happy and that the meal has been prepared to their delight.

The adage that you only live once is flawed and inaccurate; you come alive every time you share great music, break bread with friends and are fully present to these gifts. I invite you to take advantage of the unique experience that happens at El Vergel every Friday and Saturday nights.

This coming Saturday, November 24th, Azande is hosting his trio’s one year celebration at El Vergel, it’s going to be a party that I won’t miss.