Last week a friend invited me to dinner at Stir Fry Caf and to hear the musical stylings of a local jazz band.
I did not know what was in store for me, but I said yes thinking of the Stir Fry’s coconut cr_me brule, which is to die for. Little did I know that I was in for a night filled with fine Asian cuisine and great music.
Linda Brimer, a junior at ETSU, is the singer for the Bill Perkins Quintet. She is a nursing student and a member of the ETSU Chorale.
This was only her second performance with the band, but she told me she has wanted and hoped to sing for a group since she was a child. She does it because “it’s tons of fun,” Brimer said.
She became interested in singing at an early age, because singing was always all around her growing up in her family.
Her musical influences for the jazz band are Billie Holiday and Shakakahn. “Tell Me Something Good” is one of her favorite songs to perform and that was evident. She told me that the song was originally sung by Stevie Wonder, but later made popular by Shakakahn.
She is accompanied by Bill Perkins on guitar, Samuel Burke on bass (a professor here at ETSU), Jose Castillo on congas, and Mark Thie on keyboard.
The fusion of their instruments and her voice worked together to make calming and relaxing music, which at any second could smoothly and seamlessly shift to an upbeat jazzy sound.
The group also played a few instrumental pieces, which made you want to get up and dance. “Minor Mishap” was the piece that stuck out to me the most.
Overall the band set the mood for a lovely and slightly romantic atmosphere at Stir Fry. Brimer takes you back to a different place and time with her soothing and smooth voice.
My favorite song of the night was “Easy Money” for its sassy style and clever lyrics and jazzy instrumental parts.

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