Reds, whites & bluenote at Tango

Event Preview: A Nose for Wine and an Ear for Jazz @ Tango, Nov. 29

Jazz and wine sometimes get a bad rap. First off, they are commonly described as “acquired tastes”—hey, if you don’t believe me, then why do Michael Bolton albums and sticky-sweet “white” zinfandel fly off of the shelves so much faster than Charlie Parker and red Bordeaux? Couple that with the conjured images of business soirees, midtown dinner parties and urban snobbery, and people steer clear of Mingus and Shiraz whenever people aren’t watching.

But fortunately, jazz and wine are a pairing of many faces—whether you’re perched in a tapas lounge or lounging solo in your living room, they’re equally at home in both places. And while Kingston may not be Montreal or New Orleans, jazz and wine are taking centre stage and kicking off the holiday season next Tuesday night at “A Nose for Wine and an Ear for Jazz.” The event, a tasting sponsored by Festivals on the St. Lawrence and hosted by Tango, will serve up choice offerings of a trio of locally based jazz artists, the best of four Prince Edward County wineries, palate-pleasing tapas and even a Q&A session with the winemakers themselves. Decidedly informal, the evening will allow discerning oenophiles and burgeoning connoisseurs to intermingle in perfect tune. And even Garth Brooks fans—who may feel a little lost—will get a few impromptu demonstrations on jazz basics.

Proceeds from the $20 ticket price support music, art and heritage programs throughout the Thousand Islands and St. Lawrence region. For those unfamiliar with Festivals on the St. Lawrence, they’ve been affiliated with numerous music events over the past year, most notably the Wolfe Island Music Festival.

Tuesday night’s event has drawn Wellington, Ont.’s Sandbanks Estates and Carmela Estates and Picton’s Black Prince and Huff Estates wineries. The trio, comprised of Dave Barton (guitar), Mike Perlin (bass), and Jon Stewart (sax) will be playing an assortment of jazz standards and holiday stand-bys, offering a great warm-up for the impending holiday season. And who knows—maybe you’ll acquire a few skills to show off at that inevitable string of holiday parties your parents drag you to every year.

With a run-time of just three hours, you’ll make it home with plenty of time to finish off that Shakespeare paper. Don’t worry—the chilly stroll up Brock Street will sober you up in no time.