Joe Taino & Blueflames
Arthur's Tavern57 Grove Street, New York 10014
Joe Taino & Blueflames are billed at Arthur’s Tavern in Manhattan on November 21. The available information identifies the act by that name, but does not name the musicians joining Taino or describe the group’s formation. It also gives no indication of a special occasion, guest appearance, tribute, release celebration, or other theme for the performance. What is clear is that this is a Joe Taino & Blueflames date at the West Village club, with the band name presented as part of the billing rather than as a separately documented lineup.
Taino began playing rock in Puerto Rico as a teenager, then played clubs and Navy bases there before performing at blues clubs in New York and New Jersey. Arthur’s Tavern says his long performing history has included shared stages with Tito Puente, Carlos Santana, Eddie Palmieri, the Fania Allstars, Peter Frampton and Etta James, among others. He was inducted into the New York Blues Hall of Fame in 2013. Available material does not provide a separate biography for Blueflames, identify its personnel, or include reviewers’ comments on the group.
Arthur's Tavern is a basement club in the West Village where jazz, Latin, and blues are played with deep roots and modern energy. The stage is small, the room intimate, and the audience sits close to the musicians, often with a few people standing near the back. Shows start around 5 PM and go late, with some sets extending into the early hours. The club has a history of hosting top-tier performers since 2001, including regular appearances by Yuichi Hirakawa Jazz Group. It's a place where music is the center, and conversation flows naturally between the audience and the performers.