Jeff Kashiwa at Houndstooth Pub February 19, 2014

Posted by Mike C. in Jazz, Music, News, Personal, Photography, Travel, Weather.
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I had a social doubleheader last Saturday.  By afternoon, I was at my friends’ twin daughters’ first birthday party in Hempstead:

By night, I was at Houndstooth Pub in Manhattan to see saxophonist Jeff Kashiwa perform.  I almost didn’t go because of the snow that had developed late in the afternoon.  I was afraid to venture out because I thought we were in for up six inches of snow.  Instead, we only got two.  So, after much deliberation, including a declaration that I wouldn’t go, I decided I would go.

There was nearly an inch snow on the ground when my mother drove me down to Wantagh LIRR station at 5:15.  The station platform looked like a pretzel as it was covered in rock salt.  The result was a slushy coating that I trudged through as I walked in the light snow to the far end of the platform where only one person was standing.  Everyone else huddled by the stairs and escalator.  It was a quiet ride inside my railcar, but sparks flashed outside as the train rode the snow-covered rails.  I had 40 minutes to kill before Houndstooth’s lower bar was open, so I stopped at Famous Famiglia two blocks south for a slice of pizza.  With five minutes to go, I resumed the walk up to Houndstooth and made my way inside.  I ordered chicken fingers and steak fries, then waited for the show to start.

Shows usually begin at 8:00, but Jeff Kashiwa’s began ten minutes early.  Jeff played tenor saxophone…

…alto saxophone…

…and EWI (“E-wee”) (electronic wind instrument):

Jay Rowe was on keyboards:

Dave Anderson on bass:

…and Trever Somerville on drums:

The set list featured six songs, a break, and six more songs:
1. Givin’ In
Originally heard on: “Walk A Mile,” 1997

2. Blue Jeans
Originally heard on: “Play,” 2007

3. Could It Be I’m Falling In Love (The Spinners cover)
Originally heard on: “Remember Catalina,” 1995

4. When It Feels Good
Originally heard on: “Back in the Day,” 2009

5. A Quiet Goodbye (preceded by Jay Rowe’s intro)
Originally heard on: “Simple Truth,” 2002

6. Hot Tin Roof
Originally heard on: “Let It Ride,” 2012

BREAK

7. Let It Ride
Originally heard on: “Let It Ride,” 2012
Played with multiple loops on Jeff’s iPhone app

8. Well, You Needn’t (Thelonious Monk cover)

9. Once Again
Originally heard on: “Play,” 2007

10. Canon in D (Johann Pachelbel)
Jeff’s iPhone app was used again for an echo effect

11. Movin’ Up
Originally heard on: “Play,” 2007

12. Hyde Park (The “Ah, Oooh” Song)
Originally heard on: “Another Door Opens,” 2000

Jeff played tenor sax on #1, 2, 6, 7, 9, 11, and 12; alto sax on #3, 4, 5, and 8; and EWI on #10 and part of #11.

Now for pictures grouped by artist, starting with Jeff:

Jay Rowe during “Blue Jeans”:

Jay’s “Could It Be I’m Falling In Love” solo:

“A Quiet Goodbye” intro:

“Well, You Needn’t” solo:

Dave Anderson’s “Well, You Needn’t” solo:

Dave’s “Movin’ Up” solo:

Trever Somerville:

Flash pictures of drummers fail to capture the fluid movement involved.  So, I took one pic without the flash:

Back to flash:

“Hyde Park (The ‘Ah, Oooh’ Song)”:

The “ah, oooh” part came from the audience, as Jeff’s direction indicates.

The view from my table:

The last note:

Jeff introduced the band one more time…

…and that was it.

Jeff and I caught up with each other during the break and I had Steve Butler take our picture:

Later in the break, I took this shot of Jeff, Trever, and Jay:

I wasn’t able to catch up with Dave until after the show.  I told him that I almost didn’t come to the show, but once I knew that he, Trever, and Jay would be back Jeff up, I had to go.  He really appreciated that.

I made the right decision to brave the snow and come to the show.  Thank you to Jeff, Jay, Dave, Trever, manager Steve Butler, and father-and-son engineers Neal and Dale Newman for a wonderful night of music.