I wonder if Neil Crowley ever considered being a meteorologist. Christ Church may have been a bit warm and stuffy Sunday, but his music took me on a tour of the atmosphere. He pounded his piano like the rough-and-tumble thunderstorms of the high plains. Then his music swirled like a Midwestern twister. Finally, there was calm after the storm, and a glimpse of the sun breaking through the clouds to reveal the crystal-clear twinkling of a musical rainbow. I felt battered and weather worn, and relieved I'd survived. And that was just the first song! I didn't think they had that kind of weather in the UK.

Later, there was "That's My Space," a song about Crowley's mum's obsession with her parking space. From the sound of it, she doesn't have road rage. I do believe she politely requests. "His Nibs" is the band's UK hit; powerful, and easy for the ear to follow. Whereas "Clown Town" may have been irreverent, they followed it with a song that sounded almost sacred.

Another great thing about the Jazz Fest is that it brings out our local street musicians. Aaron James Sprague had come from up Canandaigua, and as I exited the church he was playing The Beatles' "I've Just Seen a Face," which in my Neil Crowley Trio weather-washed head I transposed to "I've just seen a place I can't forget." He was kind enough to give me his CD even though I didn't have the $5 cash. Thanks, Aaron!