music_is_inspiration Episode 7: Frank Singer Keeping Jazz ‘Alive and Well’ in Smalltown America It’s Friday night in Erie, PA and Frank Singer and Joe Dorris are entertaining guests at the Anchor In as part of their weekly jazz set that runs throughout the fall and spring season. The duo plays to a packed house filled with jazz lovers, both young and old, all eager to enjoy another night of quality music. Initially, one might not think of Erie and Erie County, an area with a population of a little less than 300,000 people, as a hot spot for jazz. However, Erie proves to be an oasis for such music. Much of this can be credited to Frank and Joe’s hard work and dedication to Erie’s jazz scene. After arriving in Erie in the late 80s following years of studying, performing, and building their reputation and skill as musicians in Boston, the two arrived with their band ‘Cat’s a Bear’ and decided to call it home. The duo had a common goal in mind: tap into Erie’s jazz community and expand the city's jazz scene. The Anchor In sits in the basement of Oasis Pub on West Lake Road in Erie, but feels like a venue right out of the West Village. Guests walk down a staircase in the back of the club to reach the cozy, classy, and intimate spot that guarantees weekly jazz sets from Frank and Joe, frequently accompanied by other talented local and nationally known artists, who have grown to love and recognize Erie's outstanding jazz scene. At the Anchor In, Frank and Joe have established a popular spot for jazz lovers to spend their Friday and Saturday nights. As a musician, Frank Singer is at the top of his game. A graduate of Berklee College of Music in Boston, Frank has studied and composed 20th century music, performed in countless jazz bands, and established himself as a skilled jazz guitarist, though he also plays piano, drums, saxophone, and bass. Frank’s also a teacher and the co-founder of ‘Cat’s a Bear’, a band that himself and Joe Dorris began in 1982, during their time in Boston together. Cat’s a Bear was founded with an important purpose in mind: to always write challenging music that pushed the musicians’ skills to new levels. Frank’s hard work and devotion to his instrument is certainly apparent, as he “speaks” to guests with his personal, energetic, and phenomenal performances. He’s devoted to his craft like none other and provides residents of Erie, PA with the opportunity to hear the highest quality jazz right in their home town. Listen to the full interview with Frank and download for FREE above. Then, hear additional audio from Frank's interview on the m_i_i Soundcloud page. Visit www.franksinger.com to learn more about Frank, review a list of his upcoming performances, purchase his CDs, and receive more information about online and in-person lessons with Frank.