“Tonight we are going to celebrate both his dream and his reality,” said Jeff Flowers in front of a packed house at Winter Park’s Blue Bamboo Center late last week. “Chris Cortez, the stage is yours!”
With these words, Flowers — the Blue Bamboo’s Board Chairman — yielded the floor to Bamboo guiding light and guitarist Chris Cortez, taking his stage with his musical Friends for a final Thursday Night Hang.
It would be an emotional but celebratory night for both performers and audience. Cortez — musician, founder of the nonprofit performing arts haven, and the man who guided the venue to its expansive new home at the old Winter Park Library building on New England Avenue with wife Melanie — was recently diagnosed with brain cancer. He’s decided to step away from his day-to-day duties at the venue (though he fittingly retains emeritus status) and prepared to head west with Melanie to California to be near family.
But before their departure, Cortez would anchor one more night of hot jazz at the venue he helped build in front of a standing-room only crowd. Joining Cortez on the evening were Paul Parker (drums), Ed Krout (piano/keyboards), Dan Jordan (sax/flute) and Dimas Sánchez (percussion). Filling in for Cortez during a second set was guitarist Bobby Koelble.
It was a fitting bow for a titan of Orlando music, both on and off the stage.
The Blue Bamboo Center for the Performing Arts will continue under the direction of Flowers, building on the rock-solid foundation laid down by Cortez. “His artistic vision and legacy continue to guide our mission and inspire our work,” said Flowers.
Credit: Jim Leatherman
Credit: Jim Leatherman
Credit: Jim Leatherman
Credit: Jim Leatherman
Credit: Jim Leatherman
Credit: Jim Leatherman
Credit: Jim Leatherman
Credit: Jim Leatherman
Credit: Jim Leatherman
Credit: Jim Leatherman
Credit: Jim Leatherman
Credit: Jim Leatherman
Credit: Jim Leatherman
Credit: Jim Leatherman
Credit: Jim Leatherman
Credit: Jim Leatherman
Credit: Jim Leatherman
Credit: Jim Leatherman
Credit: Jim Leatherman
Credit: Jim Leatherman
Credit: Jim Leatherman
Credit: Jim Leatherman
Credit: Jim Leatherman
Credit: Jim Leatherman
Credit: Jim Leatherman
Credit: Jim Leatherman
Credit: Jim Leatherman
Credit: Jim Leatherman
Credit: Jim Leatherman
Credit: Jim Leatherman
Credit: Jim Leatherman
Credit: Jim Leatherman
Credit: Jim Leatherman
Credit: Jim Leatherman
Credit: Jim Leatherman
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