One of my all-time Richmond Fan favorites is Emilio’s, a classic old-school neighborhood tapas bar that draws colorful characters of all ages for a steady line-up of some of the best live music in town. On most Thursday nights, you can find me in the front row. I love the relaxed atmosphere and personal concert vibe at Emilio’s, especially when the ‘Sax Man’ Roger Carroll takes the stage. An Emilio’s fan favorite, Roger has been playing for 45 years, ever since he realized in his schoolboy years that he could ditch class to play the saxophone. That rebellious streak plays into his performances, with gravelly vocals and live riffs on blues and jazz standards. Roger’s music projects the influences of jazz greats Dizzy Gillespie and Miles Davis, but with a soulful style and hard-knocks grit all his own.
You can catch Roger Carroll & the Stable Geniuses every Thursday (7:30 to 9:30 p.m.) at Emilio’s. See you in the front row!