Blue Bamboo Music

Last commission meeting over. We signed the lease! It is finally real. Thanks to everyone who supported this effort. Special thanks to commissioners Weaver, Krusada, Russell, and Sullivan. Melody and I love you all.. and now, the fun part. ❤

Thanks to Orlando Weekly for naming us "Best Nomads." Totally surprising and lovely. ❤😮

As we wrap our 2 month residency at the Casselberry Arts Center, I want to thank our new friends for welcoming us into their community. Here are a few comments from the city staff:

"We loved hosting Blue Bamboo Summer Concert Series at the Arts Center – it certainly was the talk of the town! Perhaps there may be another opportunity to partner with your top-notch organization in the future!" Linda Moore, City of Casselberry.

"We are so glad that it was a success and we would love to collaborate in the future." Justin Lupin, Arts and Marketing Supervisor

"This was a dream come true for me 😊 So glad it worked out and looking forward to future collaborations!" Kelly Brock, Public Works and Utilities Manager

Wrapping up our residency at the Casselberry Arts Center this weekend with two great shows. Tonight featuring Lucy Yeghiazaryan with the Jeff Rupert Quartet. at 8PM. She's amazing! Tickets at Bluebambooartcenter.com/calendar

Flamenco tonight at Casselberry Arts Center. Don Soledad group. 8PM. Tickets at BlueBambooArtCenter.com/calendar

2 more commission meetings. Tonight, and 8/28. Tonight is the reading of the zoning ordinance, which was accepted by the Planning and Zoning board last week. The 28th is the final reading.

I wouldn't be surprised if our future neighbors on Chase Ave were to speak in protest. During the zoning meeting, one gentleman referred to us as a "bar." Anyone making that case should expect me to ask "Is Steinmetz hall a bar?" I think the commission will continue to favor us with a 4-1 majority.

If you wish to speak on our behalf, our item is fairly early on the agenda. The meeting begins at 3:30PM today. You can watch from home and call or zoom as well. Here is the link to the page where you can access the meeting via zoom. Thank you for your support! We're almost there. ❤🤔

Till now, my only Instagram presence has been through the Blue Bamboo page, and focusing on ALL the Bamboo artists. I was recently playing a gig and someone asked me for MY Instagram and I realized I have neglected my own personal promotions. I created an artist page on Instagram, so if you feel like it, please follow chriscortezguitar. Thanks in advance.🤔❤

Casselberry Summer Concert series. Only 6 shows remain! This week's lineup includes Ella and the Bossa Beat, Cortez and Koelble, and Easy Living (the music of Paul Desmond and Jim Hall) Tix available at BlueBambooArtCenter.com/calendar

We still have seats available for this great show tonight.

Blue Bamboo Summer Concert Series presents Daniela Soledade and Nate Najar - Love and Bossa Nova 8/10/24 @ Casselberry Arts Center - Aug 10, 2024, 8:00PM Part of our Summer Concert Series, this show is in partnership with the City of Casselberry in their beautiful new gallery the Casselberry Arts Center. International Brazilian music star Daniela Soledade and virtuoso guitarist Nate Najar transport you to tropical Rio de Janeiro, Brazil with an intim...

This is going to be a great show. Loving our residency at Casselberry Arts Center. Check it out.

Blue Bamboo Summer Concert Series presents Joe Fritz Trio 8/9/24 @ Casselberry Arts Center - Aug 9, 2024, 8:00PM Part of our Summer Concert Series, this show is in partnership with the City of Casselberry in their beautiful new gallery the Casselberry Arts Center. Featuring Joe Fritz on clarinet, Steve Luciano on guitar and Charlie Silva on bass. Hungarian clarinetist Joe Fritz just arrived in the USA in March...

P&Z Board approved the zoning change. Onward. :-)

https://bluebambooartcenter.com/event/5629427/684245792/blue-bamboo-summer-concert-series-presents-dimas-sanchez-afro-latin-jazz-group-8-2-24

Blue Bamboo Summer Concert Series presents Dimas Sanchez Afro Latin Jazz Group 8/2/24 @ Casselberry Arts Center - Aug 2, 2024, 8:00PM Part of our Summer Concert Series, this show is in partnership with the City of Casselberry in their beautiful new gallery the Casselberry Arts Center. Dimas Sánchez, an accomplished drummer and percussionist hailing from Puerto Rico, currently calls Orlando, FL home. His musical journey has been s...

https://bluebambooartcenter.com/event/5620780/683600735/blue-bamboo-summer-concert-series-presents-terry-myers-quintet-8-4-24

Blue Bamboo Summer Concert Series presents Terry Myers Quintet 8/4/24 @ Casselberry Arts Center - Aug 4, 2024, 3:00PM Part of our Summer Concert Series, this show is in partnership with the City of Casselberry in their beautiful new gallery the Casselberry Arts Center. This afternoon's concert features Terry Myers on reeds, Pat Gullotta on trombone, Bob Thornton on piano, Charlie Silva on bass and Eddie Metz on dru...

https://bluebambooartcenter.com/event/5629459/684245833/blue-bamboo-summer-concert-series-presents-greg-diaz-and-the-art-of-imagination-quintet-8-3-24

Blue Bamboo Summer Concert Series presents Greg Diaz and the Art of Imagination Quintet 8/3/24 @ Casselberry Arts Center - Aug 3, 2024, 8:00PM Part of our Summer Concert Series, this show is in partnership with the City of Casselberry in their beautiful new gallery the Casselberry Arts Center. Saxophonist/vocalist Greg Diaz and his quintet perform original music, as well original treatments of old and new jazz standards. Greg has toured wi...

https://bluebambooartcenter.com/event/5629393/684245754/blue-bamboo-summer-concert-series-presents-maitland-stage-band-7-28-24

Blue Bamboo Summer Concert Series presents Maitland Stage Band 7/28/24 @ Casselberry Arts Center - Jul 28, 2024, 3:00PM Part of our Summer Concert Series, this show is in partnership with the City of Casselberry in their beautiful new gallery the Casselberry Arts Center. The Maitland Stage Band is supported by PAM (Performing Arts Matter). This 18-piece big band performs modern arrangements, as well as hits from the....

Tonight! See you there.

Blue Bamboo Summer Concert Series presents Easy Living: The Music of Paul Desmond and Jim Hall 7/27/24 @ Casselberry Arts Center - Jul 27, 2024, 8:00PM Part of our Summer Concert Series, this show is in partnership with the City of Casselberry in their beautiful new gallery the Casselberry Arts Center. Join us for a beautiful, smooth as glass presentation of some of the best small group jazz ever presented. Featuring Dave Mackenzie on woodwinds, Ch...

One of my favorite people is playing for us tonight in Casselberry. Come get some beauty, wisdom, truth, and love. 8PM. BlueBambooArtCenter.com/calendar

Looking forward to this show.

Blue Bamboo Summer Concert Series presents Easy Living: The Music of Paul Desmond and Jim Hall 7/27/24 @ Casselberry Arts Center - Jul 27, 2024, 8:00PM Part of our Summer Concert Series, this show is in partnership with the City of Casselberry in their beautiful new gallery the Casselberry Arts Center. Join us for a beautiful, smooth as glass presentation of some of the best small group jazz ever presented. Featuring Dave Mackenzie on woodwinds, Ch...

Great shows this week at the Casselberry Arts Center.
Friday - Terri Binion 8PM
Saturday - Easy Living - the music of Paul Desmond and Jim Hall featuring Dave MacKenzie, Doug Mathews, Paul Parker, Chris Cortez 8PM
Sunday - Maitland Stage Band 3PM
BlueBambooArtCenter.com/calendar

https://bluebambooartcenter.com/event/5629277/684245614/blue-bamboo-summer-concert-series-presents-chris-cortez-7-20-24

Blue Bamboo Summer Concert Series presents Chris Cortez 7/20/24 @ Casselberry Arts Center - Jul 20, 2024, 8:00PM Part of our Summer Concert Series, this show is in partnership with the City of Casselberry in their beautiful new gallery the Casselberry Arts Center. Chris Cortez is the founder of Blue Bamboo Music and Blue Bamboo Center for the Arts. He is a composer, guitarist, vocalist, arranger, producer, eng...

Here's where we're at. There are 3 more public meetings: Planning and Zoning Commission meets on 8/6. There was some last-minute legal hair-splitting to get the proper zoning classification. (Trust me, the details will put you to sleep)

The P&Z board advises the commission but their findings aren't binding. We don't know what their advice will be, but whatever they decide, it then goes back to the commission for 2 more public meetings, and we believe our super majority will survive all of these meetings, but this process will take most of the month of August. Once settled, we move to leasing, permitting, and construction.

We continue to produce shows at the Casselberry Arts Center through August and depending on the construction timeline, will continue to produce great concerts around town until we move in to the new space. Please continue to support our efforts. thanks everyone.

Great shows this weekend at the Casselberry Arts Center. Tickets at BlueBambooArtsCenter.com/calendar Hope to see you there.

Friday 8PM, Cigano Swing
Saturday 8PM, Chris Cortez solo
Sunday 3PM, Terri Binion

Guitar night in Casselberry tonight. I'm told it is also food truck night. Hope to see you.

Blue Bamboo Summer Concert Series presents Cortez & Koelble 7/12/24 @ Casselberry Arts Center - Jul 12, 2024, 8:00PM Part of our Summer Concert Series, this show is in partnership with the City of Casselberry in their beautiful new gallery the Casselberry Arts Center. Chris Cortez and Bobby Koelble are a swinging guitar duo unlike any other. Their virtuosic and off-the-cuff arrangements are like listening to two g...

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2024/07/11/orlando-fringe-desantis-veto-money-rebuttal/

Fringe festivals to DeSantis: We’ll give money back if you fund other arts groups Orlando and Tampa Fringe festivals challenge Gov. Ron DeSantis: Restore funding to the state’s arts groups and they’ll give their money back.

Great shows this week!

Thursday at the new Winter Park Library - Cortez solo - songs and stories. 7PM
Friday thru Sunday at the Casselberry Arts Center
Friday - Cortez and Koelble 8PM
Saturday - Jeff Rupert Quartet 8PM
Sunday - Orlando Jazz Orchestra 3PM (8 year Blue Bamboo Anniversary show. Come out and join us. Tickets at BlueBambooArtCenter.com

Lease is officially approved! There are 3 more public meetings dealing with the zoning classification before everything becomes final, but we're encouraged about the prospects.

Many people have asked...

The commission meetings have kind of become a hang for friends of the Boo, but they do tend to run long. There is one today, and I think our portion will probably happen around 5PM.

My sense is that we don't need to produce an audience for this meeting. This is the second reading of the lease. There are one or two discussion items, but nothing toxic. Jeff, Melody, and I will be there to answer any questions that arise or neighborhood complaints if they should pop up. If you feel like coming, we'd love to see you of course. Thanks for your support!

Our Casselberry residency begins tonight with Greg Diaz and the Art of Imagination Quintet. Tickets are on sale.

https://bluebambooartcenter.com/event/5629161/684245489/blue-bamboo-summer-concert-series-presents-greg-diaz-and-the-art-of-imagination-quintet-7-5-24

Big things happening in Casselberry next week. Our residency begins with three great shows. Spend your July 4th weekend with us. Bluebambooartcenter.com