Instrumental Invasion, 1/18/23 January 19, 2023
Posted by Mike C. in Airchecks, Audio, Biking, Film, Food, History, Internet, Jazz, Media, Music, Personal, Radio, Sports, TV, Video.add a comment
The January 18 Instrumental Invasion on WCWP was recorded from December 1 to 3, 2022: the first segment on the 1st, the next three on the 2nd, and last two on the 3rd along with remixing and pickups.
The playlist was created on November 27 with annotations on 29th and 30th. The talk break script was drafted November 30 and December 1.
This week, the extra 2017-present segment was swapped for an extra 1985-95 segment. The last four segments only had two talk breaks each. The first two of hour 2 were made up of three songs in a row (a triple shot).
“Off the Top” by Kim Scott was originally played last April 6.
Since I brought it up after playing Wes Montgomery’s cover of “Windy,” I would have liked to attend the Dancing with the Stars Live tour stop at the Tilles Center last Tuesday, but the show was sold out when I looked for tickets and they were only available marked up through resellers on Ticketmaster. Oh, well. By the way, my “everyone knows it’s Instrumental Invasion” line going into “Windy” referenced a lyric in the song.
I included “Automat” by Yellowjackets after having seen a documentary on the titular fast food restaurants popularized by Horn & Hardart.
Here is a composite of CBS Sports’ coverage of the 1988 Tour de France, complete with John Tesh‘s music:
Click here to download this week’s scoped aircheck or listen below:
1:50 PM UPDATE: This is another of those shows where I don’t notice mistakes or oversights until after the show airs. Bob Mintzer played tenor and soprano sax on “Automat.” The phrase trumpeter Igmar Thomas borrowed on “Blues Vagabond” by Lisa Hilton was from “Killer Joe,” which Quincy Jones covered on Walking in Space. The song was originally written and performed by Benny Golson for The Jazztet‘s Meet the Jazztet record. “Chicken Joe” was by pianist Joe McBride.
I also missed a community calendar spot I recorded on Monday that ran during the last break:
4:05 PM UPDATE: Oh, and this is the PAMS jingle I referenced going into “Wherever You Go” by Brian Simpson:
Turning 40! November 20, 2021
Posted by Mike C. in Bowling, Food, Personal, Photography, Sports, Travel, Video.1 comment so far
As noted in this week’s Instrumental Invasion recap, I turned 40 the day the show aired. Celebration of my birthday began 11 days earlier with a late lunch with my friends Kelly and Lori and my mother Lisa at La Strada of Merrick. After pizza and pasta, I was treated to a birthday cannoli:
The following Saturday, my aunt Donna treated me to two games at AMF Wantagh Lanes, a bowling alley half a mile from my house:
Saturday afternoon bowling at Wantagh Lanes was a tradition for just over a decade of my life, most of which was in Nassau P.A.L.‘s handicap league.
Aunt Donna and I were on lane 24:
It took until late in the first game to regain my form, salvaging an 83. I bounced back with a 149 in the second game.
My ninth frame spare, via cropped vidcaps:
My first shot in the last frame:
The final scores for game 2:
Aunt Donna also shot video of three spare conversions, which I’ve compiled here along with my video:
I posed with my ball, which I’ve had for 25 years, before putting it away:
Aunt Donna then treated me to lunch at Margarita’s Cafe a few minutes to the north. We got caught in a severe thunderstorm on the way to King Kullen where I bought a pint of ice cream:
The storm contained small hail, slightly larger than sleet:
Finally came my 40th birthday on Wednesday. Here’s what greeted me in the kitchen that morning:
At one point in the day, I read Wikipedia’s entry for November 17. I was surprised how many pivotal events occurred on that day and how many notable public figures were born that day.
Dinner was at Umberto’s in Wantagh’s Cherrywood Shopping Center.
I was joined by my parents Lisa and Bill, sister Lauren, and family friends Janice and Joe, Mandy and Kevin, and Janine. This was one of my gifts:
My dinner was meat lasagna:
The staff sang “Happy Birthday” to me as they brought out my vanilla and chocolate tartufo:
I waved to the other guests and thanked them as they applauded, then let them know what milestone I was celebrating: “40!” I got more applause.
My 40th birthday concluded back at home with a Carvel ice cream cake:
Throughout the day, and all the way into this morning, I received hundreds of birthday wishes on social media. Thank you to each and every one of them. I greatly appreciate it. My 40th birthday was a rich, full day; just how a milestone birthday should be.
Working from my 30th birthday post where I said I was a tricenarian, I learned that I’m now a quadragenerian.
I’ll leave you with a simple photo I whipped up in Photoshop:
Instrumental Invasion, 8/18/21 August 19, 2021
Posted by Mike C. in Airchecks, Animation, Audio, Food, Internet, Jazz, Media, Music, Personal, Rock, Travel.add a comment
The August 18 Instrumental Invasion on WCWP was recorded two segments per day from July 8 to 10.
The playlist was created on July 7 and annotated on the 8th. This time, I drafted the script as I recorded.
Since the show aired on my father Bill’s birthday, just as March 10 was my mother Lisa’s birthday, I chose to play “Daddy’s Got a New Girl Now” (even though I’m a boy) by Spyro Gyra and David Benoit‘s cover of “Secret Love” since he recorded it with his father Bob. As usual for my dad’s birthday (which he shares with David), we went out for dinner at Sushi Time 560 in Bethpage.
I also made sure to include Road Runner sound effects leading into “Roadrunner” by Boney James. I said “meep meep” myself when talking up the song in my overnight Homecoming Weekend show in 2017 and coming out of Lee Ritenour‘s “Road Runner” last December 2.
“Hipster” by Alexander Zonjic was previously played on January 6. I referred to irony, at the root of hipster culture, in both talk-ups.
Click here to download the aircheck MP3 or listen below:
The left channel audio was barely audible, so the aircheck is mono from the right channel. (8/26 UPDATE: The next show had the same problem.)
SJFS 2019 Night 2 recap April 29, 2019
Posted by Mike C. in Food, Golf, Internet, Jazz, Music, Personal, Photography, Sports, Travel, Weather.add a comment
Other SJFS recaps: 2008, 2008 meet-and-greet, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 Night 1, 2013 Night 2, 2014 Night 1, 2014 Night 2, 2015 Night 1, 2016 Night 1, 2016 Night 2, 2017 Night 1, 2017 Night 2, 2018 Night 1, 2018 Night 2, 2019 Night 1, 2022 Night 1, 2022 Night 2
The 17th annual Smooth Jazz for Scholars run by keyboardist Jay Rowe resumed on Saturday night with the second of two concerts. The headliners were Brian Simpson, Eric Darius, Jessy J, back for the second year in a row, and Steve Oliver, back for the second time in three years.
I could only manage about four hours of sleep early Saturday morning, but it felt like more than that. I got out of bed at 5:45 AM and began my exercises and pre-run stretches. Then, I headed down to the West Haven Best Western‘s fitness center to run 42 minutes on the treadmill. I had to enter my weight in kilograms and speed in kilometers per hour. It’s a good thing I had a converter on my phone. As has been the case semi-regularly since January, I did not take any breaks. It was 42 minutes in a row. That was all I needed to reach my monthly mileage goal of 150 miles.
After free weight exercises, I showered and changed into a second t-shirt and pair of shorts. Then, I brought my laptop and portable hard drive down to the lobby. While guests came in for breakfast, I was fine with a cup of tea. I’d have preferred hot chocolate, but it’s only served in the winter. Two hours later, I went back to my room and finished editing. My parents texted me from across the hall to ask if I’d like to eat a late breakfast at the nearby Denny’s. I agreed. We also ate at Denny’s the morning after SJFS in 2009 when we stayed at the adjacent Hampton Inn.
As with Sally’s yesterday, I took a few pictures at Denny’s:
The weather was better on Saturday: partly to mostly cloudy, but dry. I was underdressed, though. A t-shirt and shorts were the wrong things to wear. It’s a good thing I had my spring jacket.
The menu had an option to make your own Grand Slam breakfast. I chose two buttermilk pancakes, a buttermilk biscuit, hash browns, and two sausage links.
I grabbed a picture when I was down to the pancakes:
Back at the hotel, I showered again and worked on the rough drafts for this post and the one before it.
Eventually, the time came to drive to Veterans Memorial Auditorium at the Parsons Government Complex in Milford.
Jay Rowe’s mother Mia DiStasi was the last person I saw Friday night and the first I saw Saturday.
Kevin McCabe welcomed the audience one minute before 8:00:
Then, the Foran High School Jazz Ensemble, led by Jessica Turner, came on stage:
They performed two songs. First, a Gordon Goodwin composition, which I haven’t heard on any Big Phat Band album, called “Tweet Fatigue”:
…and Doc Severinsen’s arrangement of Hoagy Carmichael’s “Stardust” for The Tonight Show Band:
Five minutes later, musical director Jay Rowe and his band took the stage.
As usual, Jay played keyboards:
He was backed up by Trever Somerville on drums:
Unfortunately, that was only one of two pictures I got of Trever, but you can see him in other pics.
On his birthday, Steve Scales on percussion:
Dave Anderson on bass:
…and on 11 of the 15 songs, Rohn Lawrence on guitar:
The headliners were Steve Oliver on guitar and vocals:
Jessy J on tenor saxophone:
Brian Simpson on keyboard:
…and keytar:
…and Eric Darius on alto sax and occasional vocals:
SET LIST
1. There She Goes (Jay Rowe)
Originally heard on: Upcoming album
Featured musicians: Jay Rowe (keyboards), Steve Oliver (guitar, vocals)
2. High Noon (Steve Oliver)
Originally heard on: Positive Energy (2002)
Featured musician: Steve Oliver (guitar, vocals)
3. Illuminate (Steve Oliver)
Originally heard on: Illuminate (2018)
Featured musician: Steve Oliver (guitar, vocals)
4. Tequila Moon (Jessy J)
Originally heard on: Tequila Moon (2008), Live at Yoshi’s 10 Year Anniversary Special (2018)
Featured musicians: Jessy J (tenor sax), Steve Oliver (guitar)
5. All I Want (Jessy J)
Originally heard on: Live at Yoshi’s 10 Year Anniversary Special (2018)
Featured musician: Jessy J (tenor sax)
6. Just What You Need (Brian Simpson)
Originally heard on: Just What You Need (2013)
Featured musician: Brian Simpson (keyboard)
7. Persuasion (Brian Simpson)
Originally heard on: Persuasion (2016)
Featured musicians: Brian Simpson (keyboard), Eric Darius (alto sax)
8. Breakin’ Thru (Eric Darius)
Originally heard on: Breakin’ Thru (2018)
Featured musician: Eric Darius (alto sax)
9. L.O.V.E. (Eric Darius)
Originally heard on: Breakin’ Thru (2018)
Featured musician: Eric Darius (alto sax)
L.O.V.E. is Eric’s marital acronym for “living our vows every day.”
10. The Tango Boy (Jessy J)
Originally heard on: My One and Only One (2015), Live at Yoshi’s 10 Year Anniversary Special (2018)
Featured musicians: Jessy J (tenor sax), Brian Simpson (keytar), Jay Rowe (keyboards)
11. Chips and Salsa (Steve Oliver)
Originally heard on: 3D (2004)
Featured musicians: Steve Oliver (guitar, vocals), Brian Simpson (keyboard), Jay Rowe (keyboards)
12. Saturday Cool (Brian Simpson)
Originally heard on: It’s All Good (2005)
Featured musician: Brian Simpson (keyboard, keytar)
13. Love is the Answer (Todd Rundgren composition for his band Utopia)
Featured musicians: Foran High School Advanced Ensemble Chorus (directed by Theresa Voss), Eric Darius (alto sax), Jay Rowe (keyboards)
14. Night on the Town (Eric Darius)
Originally heard on: Night on the Town (2004)
Featured musician: Eric Darius (alto sax, vocals)
15 (Finale). Happy (Eric Darius) (Pharrell Williams cover)
Originally heard on: Retro Forward (2014)
Featured musicians: Everyone
Jay did not play on Brian’s three songs.
The first group of pictures by artist is for Steve Oliver:
Guitar symphony orchestra:
Vocals:
Audience sing-a-long:
Steve started “Chips and Salsa” in the audience:
Along the way, he prompted them to shout “¡Olé!”
Back on stage…:
“Where’s the party?”:
“Ohhhhh-oh! Sing!”:
They did:
There was more to echo after that:
Including complicated vocalise:
Their effort passed muster: “Aw, you’re hired. You’re comin’ on the road with us.”
Jessy J:
Brian Simpson on keyboard:
…and keytar:
Eric Darius:
Eric prompted the audience to wave their phones’ flashlights at the start of “L.O.V.E.”:
… What this light represents tonight is unity ’cause we are all united, and most importantly, this light represents love, L.O.V.E.
In the middle of the song, after sitting on the end of the stage:
…he walked down to them, high-fiving some along the way:
Back on stage:
Big finish:
“Love you, Milford!”:
During “Night on the Town,” more audience participation: “Ooh-ooh!”:
“Now, somebody scream!”:
He returned to the audience for “Night on the Town”:
As Eric made his way to the other side, I smiled for my camcorder, then panned right when I got back in position:
Back on stage:
Jay Rowe:
The end-of-solo glide:
The second Trever Somerville pic:
Steve Scales:
Dave Anderson during his “Saturday Cool” duet:
Rohn Lawrence’s “Breakin’ Thru” solo:
Jessy and Jay:
Jessy and Steve:
Rohn and Jessy (and Trever):
I just missed his wolf whistle riff.
Eric and Brian:
Rohn and Eric:
Jessy and Brian:
Brian and Jay’s Jessy J-sanctioned keyboard competition:
I call it a draw.
“Brian Simpson! Jay Rowe!”:
Brian and Dave:
“Love is the Answer,” with the Foran High School Advanced Vocal Ensemble, directed by Theresa Voss:
The finale: “Happy”:
“Oh!” “Yeah!”:
Eric named all performers…:
“I’m Eric Darius! We love you! God bless! Thank you!”:
Air Darius:
That’s it!
A selfie for Brian’s Facebook page:
Here’s how it looked:
Jay brought up the rest of the band for a group bow:
That marked the end of the 17th year of Smooth Jazz for Scholars.
What a fantastic night! And what a workout! The health app on my iPhone says I took thousands of steps both nights. I was cold in my short-sleeve shirt when I arrived both nights, but I was hot when the house lights came up and the stage was struck. That’s a workout.
During the show I once again caught up with my photography colleagues Ron Hancox, Keith McDonald, and Bill. Before and after, I spoke to Jay Dobbins and John and Barbara again. Afterward, I saw my friends Kelly and Jen.
Kelly was nice enough to take pictures during the meet-and-greet. First, Brian Simpson:
Next, Jessy J:
Jessy asked what I’d been up to since last year. I gave her the highlights, including my cousin David’s wedding down in Miami. Jessy’s 8-month-old son is also named David.
Then, Steve Oliver:
Seconds before Kelly took the above picture, she said she loved “Chips and Salsa” and Steve proceeded to vocalize. That cracked me up. Before that, he noticed the 2019 PGA Championship shirt I was wearing. I told him I’d be going to the final round at Bethpage Black golf course in a few weeks. I added that I wore the 2018 U.S. Open shirt that I got ahead of that tournament, held at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton. I said I arrived at the course for the third round at about the time Phil Mickelson moved his ball on the 13th green while it was still rolling. Getting back to music, after Kelly took our picture, I told Steve I was glad he played “Illuminate” because it made me think of the late Chuck Loeb, who played SJFS five years ago. We both miss him, and I know anyone else that followed his music misses him, too.
5/6 UPDATE: My friend John Caramagna took a candid shot of the above moment from another angle:
Finally, I met Eric Darius:
I told him I liked his energy, bouncing around the stage so fast. I didn’t realize he was pointing at me when we posed, just as I didn’t know Matt Marshak’s expression last year. I would have pointed back. Eric said it was because “you’re the man.” I told him he was the man and thanked him for a great night of music.
Kelly and Jen were waiting outside to take me back to West Haven, but I had to say hi to Dolly Moye before I left. I saw her dancing in the right aisle both nights, but didn’t get to talk to her on Friday.
On the ride back to Best Western, Kelly and Jen shared stories from their union’s strike against Stop & Shop earlier in the month. I was glad to be with them.
I went right to sleep after returning to my room. Once again, I could only manage a few hours of sleep. I woke up around 4:45 AM and started going through photos from the night before. I weeded out the poor quality shots, pausing periodically to do push-ups and jumping jacks. I noticed the dawn sky outside my 7th floor window, which had a southeast exposure, and broke out my camera:
20 minutes later, the sun was in view:
Another 10 minutes passed and I took my last sunrise pic:
I could also see Long Island Sound and the north shore of either Miller Place, Rocky Point, Shoreham, or Wading River, based on Google Maps:
I put my camera away and went down to the fitness center to lift weights. Then, I went back to my room to start editing Saturday’s pictures, shower, and pack up.
Checkout was at 11:00, so with everything else packed, I packed up my laptop and proceeded to the lobby. My parents and I left the hotel at 11:10. As we pulled out of the parking lot, the England Dan and John Ford Coley version of “Love is the Answer” was playing on SiriusXM 70s on 7, which was running the April 28, 1979, episode of Casey Kasem’s American Top 40.
Just like last year, an hour and 40 minutes later, even with a heavy pocket of traffic in Stamford, we were home. Traffic is always lighter getting home late Sunday morning than it is going to New Haven County on Friday afternoon. I finished editing half a mile from my house.
I put the finishing touches on the two recaps today. Thank you for reading and viewing along with me, and thank you to everyone I encountered while in Milford and West Haven. Until next year, so long.
SJFS 2019 Night 1 recap April 29, 2019
Posted by Mike C. in Food, Internet, Jazz, Music, Personal, Photography, Travel, Weather.add a comment
Other SJFS recaps: 2008, 2008 meet-and-greet, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 Night 1, 2013 Night 2, 2014 Night 1, 2014 Night 2, 2015 Night 1, 2016 Night 1, 2016 Night 2, 2017 Night 1, 2017 Night 2, 2018 Night 1, 2018 Night 2, 2019 Night 2, 2022 Night 1, 2022 Night 2
The 17th annual Smooth Jazz for Scholars, the brainchild of keyboardist Jay Rowe, began Friday night at the usual place: Veterans Memorial Auditorium at the Parsons Government Center in Milford, Connecticut, Jay’s hometown. Friday’s headliners were Chieli Minucci, Marion Meadows, and Nick Colionne.
While the venue remained the same, the official hotel changed: Best Western Executive Hotel in West Haven. It’s adjacent to the Hampton Inn I stayed at ten years ago. That year, SJFS was still only one night and was held at Foran High School.
Since this year’s SJFS took place during spring break, I left for West Haven with my parents just after 11AM. Unfortunately, for the third year in a row, rain followed us most of the way to the hotel. It persisted throughout the day, except for a two-hour lull in the late afternoon. It was during that lull that the three of us ate dinner at the legendary Sally’s Apizza (pronounced “a BEATS”) in New Haven. It was the furthest north and east I had been in Connecticut since returning from a few days in New Hampshire in August 1996. (We took a ferry from New London to Orient Point on Long Island’s North Fork.)
Sally’s is located on Wooster Street in New Haven’s Little Italy:
For privacy reasons, I only photographed the walls:
We shared a coal-fired, thin-crust meatball pizza pie:
It was delicious!
I learned afterward that this pizza style is exclusive to New Haven.
We were back at Best Western by 6:00. An hour later, I was driven to Veterans Memorial Auditorium. By this point, it was raining again. If Smooth Jazz for Scholars were an outdoor baseball series, Friday’s show would have been made up the next day as part of a day-night doubleheader. Luckily, the rain had tapered off as I walked into the auditorium.
Inside, I got to speak to my friend John. We spoke wistfully about saxophonist Paul “Shilts” Weimar’s heyday, and how we missed his music. He even told me about the one time Shilts played a joke on me, early in his 2012 show at Houndstooth Pub. Shilts said he would note that photography wasn’t allowed, then wait a few seconds and admit he was messing with me. I had a nice laugh as he cordially asked what camera I was using.
As showtime approached, after I’d set up my equipment in the orchestra pit, I spoke to Billy and Sandy Okumu (it was Billy’s birthday), Mark and Phyllis Abrams, Jay Dobbins, another John, John Caramagna, and his wife Barbara Grocki. I met the two of them at Hampton Inn last year. John told me Saturday night that they stayed there again this year and wondered where I was in the morning.
Kevin McCabe welcomed the still-arriving crowd a few minutes after 8:00:
Like last year, the opening act was the Jonathan Law High School Jazz Band, directed by Phil Giampietro, who addressed the audience beforehand:
They performed “Jeannine,” a Cannonball Adderley tune:
Our feature presentation started at 8:20. Musical director Jay Rowe led the house band on keyboards:
Trever Somerville on drums:
Steve Scales on percussion:
Dave Anderson on bass:
…and for eight of the 14 songs, Rohn (“Ron”) Lawrence on electric guitar:
The headliners were Chieli Minucci (“key-L-e min-OO-chee”) on acoustic guitar:
…and electric guitar:
Marion Meadows on soprano saxophone:
…and Nick Colionne on electric guitar and vocals:
SET LIST
1. Smooth Ride (Jay Rowe)
Originally heard on: Smooth Ride (2016)
Featured musician: Jay Rowe (keyboards)
2. Daybreak (Chieli Minucci)
Originally heard on: Global Village (Special EFX) (1992)
Featured musician: Chieli Minucci (acoustic/electric guitar)
3. Crazy Eights (Chieli Minucci)
Originally heard on: Genesis (Chieli Minucci & Special EFX) (2013)
Featured musician: Chieli Minucci (electric guitar)
4. Celebration Road (Marion Meadows)
Originally heard on: Soul Traveler (2015)
Featured musicians: Marion Meadows (soprano sax), Chieli Minucci (acoustic guitar)
5. No Rhyme, No Reason (Marion Meadows) (George Duke cover)
Originally heard on: Next to You (2000)
Featured musician: Marion Meadows (soprano sax)
6. The Reunion (Jay Rowe)
Originally heard on: Smooth Ride (2016)
Featured musicians: Jay Rowe (keyboards), Marion Meadows (soprano sax)
7. Be Urself (Nick Colionne)
Originally heard on: Just Being Me (2018)
Featured musician: Nick Colionne (electric guitar)
8. Rainy Night in Georgia (Nick Colionne) (Brook Benton cover)
Originally heard on: It’s My Turn (1994), Keepin’ It Cool (2006)
Featured musician: Nick Colionne (vocals, electric guitar)
9. Uptown East (Chieli Minucci)
Originally heard on: Slice of Life (Special EFX) (1986)
Featured musician: Chieli Minucci (electric guitar)
10. Dance on the Delta (Chieli Minucci)
Originally heard on: Deep as the Night (Special EFX) (2017)
Featured musician: Chieli Minucci (acoustic/electric guitar)
11. How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You) (Nick Colionne) (Marvin Gaye cover)
Originally heard on: Just Being Me (2018)
Featured musician: Nick Colionne (electric guitar, vocals)
12. Is This Love I’m Feeling? (Nick Colionne)
Originally heard on: Just Being Me (2018)
Featured musician: Nick Colionne (electric guitar, vocals)
13. Sweet Grapes (Marion Meadows)
Originally heard on: Player’s Club (2004)
Featured musician: Marion Meadows (soprano sax)
14 (Finale). Diggable (Marion Meadows
Originally heard on: Player’s Club (2004)
Featured musicians: Everyone
Now, on to groups of pictures by artist, starting with Chieli Minucci on electric guitar:
…and acoustic guitar:
Marion Meadows:
Nick Colionne on guitar:
Vocals on “Rainy Night in Georgia”:
The song ended with an “America the Beautiful” motif. Nick had the audience sing the last line, “from sea to shining sea,” but had them hold the “ing” in “shining”:
He cut the second “sea” and wrapped up the song:
More audience participation on “How Sweet It Is”:
…and “Is This Love I’m Feeling?”:
Jay Rowe:
Trever Somerville:
Steve Scales:
Dave Anderson:
Rohn Lawrence’s intense “No Rhyme, No Reason” solo:
Marion and Chieli’s “Celebration Road” call and response:
Nick and Jay:
Before “Dance on the Delta,” Jay announced the winner of the 50/50 raffle:
It was Barbara Grocki, who generously donated her winnings:
I think it’s only fair that we donate this to Milford Schools and to your cause.
“Thank you so much, Barbara. Give it up for Barbara!”:
Wide shots from the finale: “Diggable”:
The last note:
Jay named all performers:
“I’m Jay Rowe! Thanks so much for comin’! See y’all here tomorrow night!”:
They looked toward me:
The first night of the 17th annual Smooth Jazz for Scholars was complete.
I caught up with so many musicians afterward, starting with Steve Scales:
Next, Rohn Lawrence:
Chieli Minucci:
Nick Colionne:
…and Marion Meadows:
Thanks to John Caramagna, Ron Hancox, and Steve Lewis for taking all those pictures.
They were also busy photographing during the show, as were Keith McDonald, Steve Cooper, and Bill, who I met as I was putting away my equipment.
I also said hello to Ron’s wife Nydia, our friend Estella Greene, whom I met during the Houndstooth Pub shows years ago, and Jay Rowe’s mother, Mia DiStasi.
After packing up, getting my jacket on, and pulling up my hood, I went back in the rain where my parents were waiting to drive me back to West Haven. Click here to see my recap of my Saturday, Saturday night’s show, and the return home on Sunday. (5/4/22 UPDATE: Until working on this year’s recaps, I forgot to link to 2019’s second night. I have now.)
10 years of weight loss and maintenance January 2, 2017
Posted by Mike C. in Food, Health, Personal.add a comment
The mid-2000s were an unhealthy period of my life. I repeatedly indulged in desserts and dinners. I went from normal weight to overweight to obese. I surpassed 200 pounds late in 2004 and climbed all the way to 233.4 when I stepped on the scale on the morning of January 2, 2007, ten years ago today. By then, even my size 42 pants were too small. Enough was enough. I vowed to go on a diet. My goal was 160 pounds.
This diet required a lot of discipline, going for long periods between meals, and limiting myself to under 2,000 calories. I had a little over 2,000 calories on January 2, but the days that followed saw my daily calories drop to 1,600. A typical day began at noon with an Atkins bar, which was 240 calories at the time. A few hours later, I would eat a can of Progresso soup, either Hearty Chicken and Rotini or Homestyle Chicken. At the time, both were 200 calories. An hour or two after that, I ate two cups of Ronzoni Ziti Rigati with 1/2 cup of Ragu Traditional or Meat Sauce and four teaspoons of Kraft Parmesan Cheese. For dessert, which came after another hour or two, I ate three 100 calorie packs of Pringles or Sun Chips. Eventually, those would be phased out in favor of either Special K vanilla or chocolate bars that were 90 calories each, and then Quaker Chewy Granola Bars that were 100 calories each.
Besides eating, I also made an effort to walk daily with the aid of a step counter that I attached to my belt. In my hour-long walks, I averaged around 6,000 steps.
While on my diet, I skipped Easter and Passover dinners, adhering to my routine. When I was in Florida in March to see the PGA Tour’s PODS Championship (now, the Valspar Championship) at Innisbrook Resort, where my grandparents lived, I stuck to my eating routine. My grandpa Carmen was nice enough to buy the foods that I ate daily for the four days I was down there. A few days before the trip, I fell below 200 pounds. By March 30, I broke 190. On April 27, I broke 180. I was below 170 on May 18.
I reached my goal of 160 pounds on June 16, and my body fat was below 20%, but I was not ready to stop. I continued my diet, falling below 150 pounds on July 24 and breaking 140 on September 7. I had lost 93 pounds in eight months!
I added calories to my daily intake, remaining below 2,000 per day until October 10.
In the following months, my weight hovered in the mid-to-upper 130s. My lowest weight was 134 on April 25, 2008, a day which also saw my lowest body fat: 11.7%. My body fat would hover within 12% (varying tenths of a point), occasionally breaking 13%.
Throughout my diet, I took selfies, though not in the common way, to document my progress. Here are those selfies, all from 2007:
- January 30: 215.2 lbs.:
- February 19: 205.6 lbs.:
- March 5: 199.8 lbs.:
- March 30: 189.2 lbs.:
- April 20: 180.8 lbs.:
- May 9: 173.6 lbs.:
May 29: 165 lbs.:
June 16: 160 lbs.:
July 3: 155.6 lbs.:
July 16: 152 lbs.:
August 3: 147.6 lbs.:
August 26: 142 lbs.:
October 1: 137.4 lbs.:
October 28: 135.8 lbs.:
I was still able to maintain my weight for the first half of 2009, but my body fat was regularly within 13% by this time.
Unfortunately, the second half of 2009 marked the beginning of my regain. At first, I was able to keep my weight in the low 140s, occasionally reaching the upper 130s. But by the summer of 2010, I was averaging mid-to-upper 140s. By late 2011, I was averaging the low-to-mid 150s.
After Hurricane Sandy, I had reached the upper 160s to low 170s, where I remained until August 27, 2013. That day, I weighed 173.2 pounds and vowed to begin a new diet. The weight loss was slow at first, but I was down 12 pounds on December 23. Unfortunately, Christmastime dinners and desserts followed. Eventually, I was able to find an under-2,000-calorie routine and stick with it most of the time. There were days where I faltered, but not many. I had broken 160 pounds a few times between January and March 2014, but always came back above 160. That changed after March 16. I have not been 160 or above since. I haven’t been 150 or above since June 29, 2014. I fell through the 140s thereafter. I went below 140 pounds several days between September and December, but no lower than 138.8 on two days in October. I otherwise hovered in the low 140s, except for two days after Thanksgiving when I topped out at 146.
I remained below 140 pounds between June 2015 and January 2016, even breaking 130 several times in October and November. After peaking at 144 pounds in early June 2016, I fell back below 140 by mid-June. I was able to hover in the low 130s starting in mid-July, with body fat staying within 11%, but Christmastime eating has put me in the mid-130s and increased my body fat to around 13%. That’s where I stand as of this post.
What helped me lose my weight the second time around time was running, rather than walking the first time, with the help of the Nike+ Running (now Nike+ Run Club) app on my iPhone. Between May 2013 and May 2015, I opted to run and walk. But then, I challenged myself to only run. If I needed to rest, I would stop, and the app would pause. My early runs were around three miles, then four, then five. Nowadays, I’ll run up around 7 1/2 miles, running above eight miles on a few occasions. My average pace has gone from around 15 minutes a mile, when I started, to between 7:30 and 8 minutes per mile today. From spring to fall, I ran outdoors, but I opted for the treadmill in the winter. So far this winter, I’ve continued to run outdoors. In April 2016, I began stretching before each run, something I should have done all along. I seldom experience stiffness thanks to those stretches. Friends say I should run in a 5K, 10K, or higher, but for now, I feel more comfortable running on my own, setting and achieving goals. In the early days, my goal was 80 miles a month. These days, I like to run at least 100 miles a month. It’s even more satisfying when I reach 130 or 140 miles. My first month above 130 miles was September 2015. In September 2016, I broke 140 miles. And just last month, I broke 150 miles. That’s high enough for me; I don’t want to overdo it.
Since August, my eating routine consists of a protein bar, almonds, Progresso soup, pasta, and six graham crackers. That’s around 2,000 calories. There are days when I’ll break that routine, which I hope will be few and far between in the months ahead.
If your New Year’s resolution is to lose weight, I wish you luck. Thanks for reading. I’ll leave you with a second diet before picture from August 2013 at Planting Fields Arboretum…
…and an after picture from October 2016 during my live WCWP Homecoming Weekend radio show:
Acoustic Alchemy at Iridium on my 35th birthday November 20, 2016
Posted by Mike C. in Food, Internet, Jazz, Media, Music, Personal, Photography, Radio, Travel, Weather.add a comment
Other Acoustic Alchemy recaps: June 2008, October 2010, June 2012
11/24 UPDATE: I forgot to note that this trip to see Acoustic Alchemy at the Iridium came ten years to the date after seeing Yellowjackets at Birdland on my 25th birthday. I referenced that trip back in April.
Thursday night, on my 35th birthday, I took a trip to the Iridium in Manhattan’s Theater District to see British contemporary jazz band Acoustic Alchemy perform. It was my first time back at the venue since October 2012, one week before Hurricane Sandy.
Following Chieli Minucci and Special EFX at the Long Beach Jazz Festival in September, I learned through fellow audience members that Acoustic Alchemy would be playing at the Iridium two months later, on November 17 and 18, to close out their U.S. tour. My birthday falls on the 17th, so I bought a ticket for that night. There were two shows each night, at 8:30 and 10:30. As usual, I chose the early show.
Since I would be on my own at the Iridium, birthday dinner and ice cream cake with my family was moved up to Wednesday night. My parents, sister, and I ate dinner at Margarita’s Cafe, a Mexican restaurant in North Wantagh:
Ice cream cake was waiting back at home:
We usually get Carvel cakes, but this one was from Friendly’s. It tasted just as good.
I spent much of my 35th birthday afternoon responding to “Happy Birthday” wishes on Facebook. One of my friends, radio personality Don Tandler, quipped in his wish that I’m no longer in the young demographic, which is 18 to 34. I got a chuckle out of that.
At about 4:10, I took an extended walk from my Wantagh Woods home, to make up for not running, to the Wantagh LIRR station and bought an off peak round trip ticket for Penn Station. I boarded the 4:59 train and arrived an hour later. I responded to more birthday wishes on the train.
I was told the Iridium door wasn’t opened until 7:30, which meant I had a lot of time to kill. Rather than take the 1 Subway train to West 50th Street, I walked all the way from Penn Station to the club.
The walk took twenty minutes. I stood outside for about ten minutes before figuring out I could wait inside at the bottom of the stairwell.
I was first in line.
Once staff began letting ticket holders in, a few minutes before 7:30, I chose a seat at a center table right by the stage.
While waiting for the set to start, I took a picture of the monitor as this upcoming event image was on screen:
8:30 arrived and the show began. The image below was posted to Acoustic Alchemy’s Facebook page a few minutes in:
You can see me, camera in hand, right by the stage. You’ll also notice the stage has been renovated since my last visit.
Acoustic Alchemy was made up of Miles Gilderdale on electric guitar:
…and acoustic guitar:
“The Detroit Shuffle” vocal medley:
Filling in for Greg Carmichael was Nate Najar – a native of St. Petersburg, Florida – on acoustic guitar:
Rounding out the band was Gary Grainger – out of Baltimore, Maryland – on bass:
Vocalizing on “One for Shorty”:
Gary’s brother Greg on drums:
…and Fred White on keyboards:
There were ten songs on the set list:
1. Homecoming
Originally heard on: Reference Point, 1990; Arcanum, 1996; Live in London, 2014
2. Overnight Sleeper
Originally heard on: Natural Elements, 1988; Live in London, 2014
3. Mr. Chow
Originally heard on: Red Dust & Spanish Lace, 1987; Arcanum, 1996
4. The Detroit Shuffle
Originally heard on: American/English, 2005
5. One for Shorty
Originally heard on: Roseland, 2011; Live in London, 2014
6. Clear Air for Miles
Originally heard on: Back on the Case, 1991
7. Ariane
Originally heard on: Blue Chip, 1989; Live in London, 2014
8. The Beautiful Game
Originally heard on: The Beautiful Game, 2000; Sounds of St. Lucia, 2003; Live in London, 2014
9. Catalina Kiss
Originally heard on: Blue Chip, 1989; Arcanum, 1996
10 (Finale). Kidstuff
Originally heard on: The Beautiful Game, 2000
Here are wide shots, starting with Miles’s high notes on “The Detroit Shuffle”:
The finale – “Kidstuff”:
The last note:
“Thanks so much, guys!”:
There was a meet-and-greet after the show. I let Fred White know on Facebook, in the days leading up to Thursday, that I was coming, so he was happy to see me. The feeling was mutual. It was also nice to see Gary Grainger, who I first discovered through his appearances – and Greg’s, as well – on many Ken Navarro albums. I had a female audience member take our picture:
My camera’s lens focused on the wall rather than us, which happened in a few attempts at a picture the night before at Margarita’s. Since time was short, I didn’t have that audience member take us again. I told Fred, “I’ll get it in editing.”
Thank you to Miles, Nate, Gary, Greg, and Fred for their musical 35th birthday present. I had a blast.
And thank you to everyone that passed along birthday wishes the day before, on, the day after, two days after, and even three days after my birthday.
MikeChimeri.com 