The Riverside is open seven days a week and every night features original programming. From the popular open-jam night on Monday, to indie bands on weekdays, to his jazz showcases on the weekend, Geddy insists that the musicians play their own compositions.
This is what separates his club from the few others that have managed to stay open. "We make our own music, original jazz," he says and then adds, "And we put a lot of money back into the business with the technical equipment." He gives a tour of the recording studio, points to the stage monitors and grins. "Good quality, loud, good for guitarists."
He says he has been lucky with the club because his wife and others take care of the business side of things, allowing him to blaze his pioneering trail in the relative jazz wilderness of Taipei.
This month the Riverside is featuring a small month-long festival highlighting the city's youngest and finest jazz players, many of them Geddy's friends. Delta on the Main Street is a band he used to play in, that plays funk n'jazz fusion, with Xiao Bai (小白) on drums, Brian Chiu (邱培榮) on bass, Fred Lui (呂聖斐) on keyboards and Jeff Yen (嚴和邦) on guitar.
His own band, J.E.G. is part homage to the sounds of Chick Corea and, of course, Pat Metheney in the 1970s to 1990s. Super Trio includes Chris Pao on piano, Taneki from Japan on bass and Rich Hung on drums.
Also lined up are the twelve-piece Combo Band, fusion group GFP, Diamond Vehicle, LISA and others.
Information:
For details of the upcoming Riverside Jazz Festival, call (02) 2368 7310. Or log on at www.riverside.com.tw. Riverside is at B1, 2, Lane 244, Roosevelt Rd. Sec 3, Taipei (
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