2013 LIU Post & WCWP Homecoming, 2014 Hall of Fame Announcement October 22, 2013
Posted by Mike C. in Airchecks, Audio, Interviews, Jazz, Media, Music, Personal, Photography, Radio, Sports, Technology.add a comment
Other recaps: 2008, 2009, WCWP 50th Anniversary (2011), 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022
Later in this recap, I share the aircheck from my Homecoming Weekend show and behind-the-scenes pictures from the pre-record. 2/26/18 UPDATE: Video that I shot for DVD has been reworked for YouTube and is embedded before my aircheck and behind-the-scenes pics.
I was at LIU Post on Saturday for their annual Homecoming celebration. I was there primarily for WCWP’s barbecue and announcement of 2014 inductees to their Hall of Fame.
I arrived on campus at around 2:30. After getting situated, I decided to head to Hickox Field for a little while:

In the lower right window of the press box are Neil Marks, Jeff Kroll, Dan Cox, and Pat Kroll:

Jeff Kroll described the above picture this way when I posted it to the WCWP Alumni Association Facebook group (account links removed):
We’re on the lower level of the press box…..hard to see clearly, but on the far right side, that’s Pat Kroll, sitting next to her is Dan Cox, standing next to Dan with the red shirt on (glad I had red on that day for identifying purposes) Jeff Kroll, and Neil A. Marks is standing next to me. Sat 10/19/13. Post 58 Pace 0. Pat was coordinating with Joel Feltman (down on the sidelines) for field interviews. (sign still says CW Post Campus!)
He later added:
If you look at the upper level of the press box, toward the left side, the third person in….that person is operating the scoreboard from what used to be the WCWP booth until the 2000’s. THAT was really home!
11/10 UPDATE: Jeff had one more thing to say about this picture tonight:
I received this note from Dan Cox today:
“I saw Bryan Collins today at the Field Hockey final. He told me the grandstand demolition begins next Monday. Looks like new press box by next fall. I hope!” If that happens, the press box goes with the entire grandstand. And this great shot will be a timely memory for those of us who have spent so many fall afternoons there. Thanks Mike Chimeri! Great timing to have taken that picture last month!
I’m honored to have taken it.
10/21/14 UPDATE: The press box was still there this year, but probably for the last time.
As Jeff noted, the LIU Post Pioneers dominated the Pace Setters (get it?) 58-0. I was at the field in time to catch the Pioneers’ second-to-last touchdown.
The extra point is good.
Satisfied, I walked back to WCWP. The Pioneers’ last touchdown came during my walk back. I could faintly hear the public address announcer declaring, “touchdowwwwwwwwn!”
Maura “Bernie” Bernard brought photo albums of past Homecoming weekends at the station:

She also prepared for show in Studio 1 following the Homecoming Game:

Meanwhile, in Studio 2, alumni interviews were recorded:

The interviewee here is Jay Elzweig:

The Hall of Fame plaque, introduced at this year’s ceremony:

Plaques dedicated to the late Dr. Herb Coston and Bill Epperhart:

Joel Feltman and Jay Mirabile look through some of the albums:

At 5:00, Pete Bellotti and Bernie Bernard announced the 2014 inductees to the WCWP Hall of Fame:

The inductees are Rita Sands, Frank D’Elia, Bill Epperhart, and Ted David. Bernie interviewed Ted over the phone.
John Mertz and Bobby Guthenberg listened along:

The announcement and interview with Ted can be heard here:
2014 WCWP Hall of Fame Announcement
Later, in Studio 2, Jay Mirabile and I were interviewed:

Thanks to Zach Parker for taking those pictures during the interview.
Here is that pre-recorded interview, which was later edited by me, but my edit isn’t the one that aired:
Interview with Mike Chimeri & Jay Mirabile
As Bernie’s show drew to a close, she posed for this picture with me, Jay Mirabile, Bobby Guthenberg, Barry Albano, and John Mertz:

The final aircheck of Bernie’s show:

The Disco and Funk King Show was next:

I had a wonderful time at Homecoming this year. It was great catching up with my fellow alumni, and meeting some in person for the first time.
2/26/18 UPDATE: Here is video that I shot for DVD and have reworked for YouTube:
The rest of this post is devoted to my Homecoming Weekend show – CJazzPlus with Mike Chimeri – which aired at 3AM on Sunday, hours after I left campus.
I recorded the show back on October 4.
I took some behind-the-scenes pictures while recording, starting with this self-timed shot:

Here is the playlist, complete with my copious notes to mention during the show:

I made sure to mention whatever notes I wrote down, but unfortunately, I had to edit some out for time. Each pre-recorded hour had to be exactly 59 minutes long.
Here is the aircheck from the 2013 edition of CJazzPlus with Mike Chimeri:
The file is downloadable here.
It’s mostly from the console when I pre-recorded the show, but I mixed in elements from WCWP’s stream as the show aired.
WCWP Homecoming Weekend show to air October 20 October 7, 2013
Posted by Mike C. in Airchecks, Internet, Jazz, Media, Music, Personal, Phone, Radio.add a comment
I was at WCWP (at LIU Post) on Friday to record my annual Homecoming Weekend radio show. CJazzPlus with Mike Chimeri will air very early on Sunday, October 20, at 3AM Eastern (midnight Pacific) on 88.1 FM WCWP.
If you are outside of the signal range, you can listen here or browse for it on the TuneIn mobile app.
In the two hours of CJazzPlus, I’ll be playing Chuck Loeb, The Jeff Lorber Fusion, Spyro Gyra, Steve Cole, and much more. The show took 2 1/2 hours to record and an hour and 15 minutes to edit. There was also an additional 15 minutes of editing (and one minute of re-recording) for hour 1 at home on Saturday and another 10 minutes of editing for hour 2 yesterday.
I’ll be on campus hours earlier – on Saturday, October 19 – for Post and WCWP’s Homecoming festivities, the latter of which includes the announcement of 2014 inductees to the WCWP Hall of Fame.
Busy mid-to-late summer for album releases September 23, 2013
Posted by Mike C. in Jazz, Media, Music, Personal.add a comment
Between July 30 and September 17, seven albums were released by my favorite contemporary jazz musicians.
Needless to say, I bought them all. They vary in style, but were all satisfying.
In order of release date, they were:
- Earl Klugh, HandPicked (July 30) – Mostly covers with a pair of original compositions, and a remake of “Cast Your Fate to the Wind,” which he first covered on Magic in Your Eyes (1978); duets with Bill Frisell, Jake Shimabukuro, and Vince Gill (who also sang one verse)
- Chuck Loeb, Silhouette (August 13) – A series of tracks recorded with various bands backing up depending on the track; his wife, Carmen Cuesta, and their two daughters, Christina and Lizzy, are also featured
- The Jeff Lorber Fusion, Hacienda (August 27) – The third album since the Fusion were reborn in 2010; surprisingly, the album lacks remakes of original Fusion songs, but it doesn’t matter because every song is a thrilling adventure; “King Kong,” a Frank Zappa cover, features violinist Jean-Luc Ponty, who originally covered the song on King Kong: Jean-Luc Ponty Plays the Music of Frank Zappa (1970)
- Pieces Of A Dream, In The Moment (August 27) – Has the signature Pieces style that I know and love; guitarist Rohn Lawrence featured prominently
- Jessy J, Second Chances (September 10) – Features Jeff Lorber, Jimmy Haslip, Johnny Britt, and Norman Brown; album title and its title track refer to never giving up on the first try, if at first you don’t succeed, etc.; the running joke in my head is the album should technically be Fourth Chances, since it’s Jessy’s fourth album
- Steve Cole, Pulse (September 17) – Collaborative effort with David Mann (co-producer, co-engineer, writer or co-writer, backing saxes and flute); “With You All the Way” is based in part on “All ‘n All,” David’s composition for Nelson Rangell on Far Away Day (2000)
- Oli Silk, Razor Sharp Brit (September 17) – Features Elan Trotman, Chuck Loeb, and Paul Brown (no relation to Norman); I was amazed how Oli was able to write (and perform) in Chuck’s style on “The Prestige,” the song featuring him
Besides these magnificent seven, I also finally bought Quartette Humaine by Bob James and David Sanborn, their follow-up to Double Vision (1986). It’s a straight-ahead, acoustic album, which initially drew me away when it was released in May, but I made the right decision in buying it last month.
Tomorrow, Spyro Gyra’s The Rhinebeck Sessions album comes out. Based on the previews I heard on Amazon, I’m in for a treat with that one.
Scanning pictures and transferring audio tapes September 1, 2013
Posted by Mike C. in Audio, Media, Personal, Photography.add a comment
The evening of July 12 marked the beginning of seven weeks (though not nonstop) of photo and audio archival, scanning and transferring media – 35 millimeter prints, cassettes, and microcassettes – to my external hard drives.
The first task was scanning pictures from photo albums that I didn’t scan back in December 2008 and January 2009. At that time, I scanned at 300 DPI (dots per inch). This time, I opted for 400 DPI. And unlike the previous period of scanning, I didn’t mindlessly adjust contrast, levels, and color in each picture. I made a picture-by-picture decision.
I also tried my best to clone stamp out dust, scuffs, and scratches, but it was very hard. For some of the early scans around July 12, I gave up and left them in. I also settled for the vertical banding (red, green, and blue streaks) that was present when I used an Epson Perfection V33 scanner. For subsequent scans, I switched to a Canon CanoScan 9000F Mark II and there wasn’t any banding.
The albums contained pictures from the 1940s through the early 2000s, including shots of me as a kid. Three albums were of special days: my high school senior prom, my sister Lauren’s Bat Mitzvah reception and my Bar Mitzvah reception. The third one was the last album I scanned.
After completing the albums, I moved on to an album-less bin of pictures that were mostly from high school and college. I was scared to look at them until now.
In the process of scanning the albums, and the pictures in that bin, I was reminded how much I miss those that are no longer alive and I wished I could reconnect with those still living that I haven’t seen in years.
The point of scanning all of those pictures was to archive them digitally to go along with all that I’ve shot on digital cameras since 2004. Unfortunately, a fraction of the prints have become blurry over time. Sharpening couldn’t save them, but I archived those nonetheless. If it was in an album or in that bin, it had to be scanned.
Picture scanning took just over a month, completing on August 17. The next day, I took the next big plunge and began transferring cassettes and microcassettes to one of my external drives as WAVE files. Both cassette types contained personal recordings from me, my sister Lauren, and my cousin Chris. Like the pictures from school, I was scared to listen because I didn’t like how I spoke back then. I commonly began sentences by saying “okay, now, we’re…”, “um,” “uh,” and “right now, we’re going to have…” There was even one recording of me in June 1994 where I had an embarrassing lilt. But by 1998, my speech was improved, and more so by 2000.
I transferred my 36 microcassettes between August 18, my father’s birthday, and August 24. The 40 cassettes were transferred between August 19 and August 31 (yesterday).
Editing the microcassettes involved speeding up or slowing down either parts of a side or an entire side. Editing for both formats (cassette and microcassette) involved normalizing the audio, which was sometimes loaded with valleys (low levels). The peaks came when turning on whatever recorder was used or from clicks and hits while holding and moving the recorder around. In the normalization process, I had to work around those peaks. It wasn’t easy.
There are a few pictures left to scan and cassettes left to transfer, but the bulk of my work is complete. It’s a great relief.
Whose Line picked up for another season! August 2, 2013
Posted by Mike C. in Comedy, Internet, Media, News, Personal, Theatre, TV.add a comment
After only three weeks on the CW, the reboot of Whose Line is it Anyway? has been renewed for another season! This one will be 24 episodes long. Jonathan Mangum tweeted the great news on Monday (one day before the airing of an episode he performed in):
Whose Line is it Anyway picked up for 2nd season! Congrats
@waynebrady@colinmochrie@aishatyler@1DanPatterson and Ryan [Stiles]!!
When news broke of Whose Line‘s return back in March, I said this:
It’s a 10-episode run, but could be more if renewed or less if canceled. Based on the failures of the Green Screen Show, Improv-A-Ganza, and Trust Us With Your Life, I’d say the latter is more likely. But as usual, I’m prepared to be pleasantly surprised.
Consider me pleasantly surprised. Best wishes to Whose Line, which is thus far thriving in its second life.
Boarding the iPhone bandwagon July 6, 2013
Posted by Mike C. in Internet, Media, News, Personal, Phone, Photography, Radio, Sports, Technology, Travel, TV, Weather.add a comment
On an unseasonably hot day in mid-April, I switched from an LG enV3 (VX9200) to an iPhone 5. Soon after, I bought an Otterbox Defender case for it (which includes a belt clip holster) and a Logitech wireless headset for extended phone calls.
I’ve downloaded 30 apps so far. Among them are two for radio, nine for sports, three for news, three for weather, and three social media. I bought two apps: a tip calculator (which was standard on my old phone) and the Merriam-Webster dictionary.
On the first day I had the iPhone, it took a few hours to load all my contacts to iCloud. But they’re in and some are categorized by ringtone, something I hadn’t done with my previous phones.
The Nike Running app has been instrumental in getting me to run three miles (or more) every day. Most of the runs have been outdoors, but I ran on my treadmill on a rainy day last month. And with temperatures now hovering near 90 degrees each day, I may have to do more indoor runs on my treadmill or step machine.
The iPhone’s camera has come in handy when I don’t have my Nikon D5100 on me. Most of the pictures taken with the phone are of recently replaced Town of Hempstead street signs and new traffic lights. Some examples:
The one downside is the internal drive is only 13.5 GB (gigabytes) (billed as 16 GB). It makes me wish there was a microSD slot for an additional 16 GB, or even 32.
Regardless of that, I’m glad I finally boarded the iPhone bandwagon. I don’t know why I didn’t do it sooner.
The end of Manor East June 16, 2013
Posted by Mike C. in Internet, Media, News, Personal, Travel, TV, Video.add a comment
A piece of my early teens – and my sister’s, as well – is no more. Thursday, without warning, Manor East in Massapequa closed down (WABC-TV, WNYW-TV, CBSNewYork.com, Bellmore Patch). The catering hall at the corner of Jerusalem Avenue and North Broadway was home to my Bar Mitzvah reception in November 1994 and my sister’s Bat Mitzvah reception in September 1996 (two months after her birthday). (Our services were at the now-defunct Union Reform Temple in northwest Freeport.)
I pass by it whenever I take the n55 NICE Bus to Sunrise Mall or on the way to Lumara Salon for my monthly haircut. I can’t imagine what will take its place.
I feel terrible for those that paid for parties and receptions at Manor East and are left scrambling to find alternate locations.
Here is home video that I shot outside Manor East in February 1995 before going in for my friend Rob’s Bar Mitzvah, three months after mine:
(Sorry about the poor camerawork.)
Sandy retired May 15, 2013
Posted by Mike C. in Media, News, Personal, Weather.add a comment
I missed this story last month, but the National Hurricane Center has retired the name Sandy from its list of Atlantic Basin tropical cyclone names. Beginning in 2018, and every six years thereafter until the next retirement, the “S” storm will be named “Sara.” Here are the first two paragraphs of NOAA’s article about the name retirement:
Sandy has been retired from the official list of Atlantic Basin tropical cyclone names by the World Meteorological Organization’s hurricane committee because of the extreme impacts it caused from Jamaica and Cuba to the Mid-Atlantic United States in October 2012.
Storm names are reused every six years for both the Atlantic and eastern North Pacific basins. If a storm is so deadly or costly that the future use of the name would be insensitive or confusing, the WMO hurricane committee, which includes personnel from NOAA’s National Hurricane Center, may retire the name. Sandy is the 77th name to be retired from the Atlantic list since 1954. The name will be replaced with “Sara” beginning in 2018.
…
I think I speak for everyone affected by Sandy when I say “good riddance.”
You can read about my Sandy experience here. I was lucky. All I experienced was nine days without power. It was nothing like the horror that waterfront residents experienced, and many are still recovering from.
SJFS 2013 Night 2 recap April 29, 2013
Posted by Mike C. in Internet, Jazz, Media, Music, Personal, Photography, Travel.1 comment so far
Updated on 8/20/13 with two videos.
If at first you succeed, try to duplicate the success the following night. That was the task for the second night of Jay Rowe‘s eleventh annual Smooth Jazz for Scholars concert.
Kevin McCabe was the first to speak to the audience just before 8PM:

As you can see behind Kevin, before Jay and the house band came out, the show began with a performance by the Foran High School Jazz Band, under the direction of Jessica Shearer. Their song featured a solo by Jay. Pictures of what was visible can be seen later in this post.
The house band was made up of Jay on keyboards:

The show took place on Steve’s birthday.
…and for eight of the songs, Rohn Lawrence on guitar:

SET LIST
1. Martinis and Bikinis (Jay Rowe)
Originally heard on: “Live at Daniel Street,” 2011
Featured musicians: Jay Rowe (keyboards), Rohn Lawrence (electric guitar)
2. Side Tracked (Jeff Golub)
Originally heard on: “The Three Kings,” 2011
Featured musicians: Jeff Golub (electric guitar), Rohn Lawrence (electric guitar)
Unfortunately, Jeff went blind a few years ago. But he hasn’t let that stop him from performing. He still sounds great. His courage and perseverance are admirable.
3. Freddie’s Midnight Dream (Jeff Golub)
Originally heard on: “The Three Kings,” 2011
Featured musicians: Jeff Golub (electric guitar), Rohn Lawrence (electric guitar)
4. Can’t Stop Now (Vincent Ingala)
Originally heard on: “Can’t Stop Now,” 2012
Featured musicians: Vincent Ingala (tenor sax), Rohn Lawrence (electric guitar)
5. Wild Thing (Marion Meadows)
Originally heard on: “Whisper,” 2013
Featured musicians: Marion Meadows (soprano sax), Vincent Ingala (tenor sax), Chieli Minucci (electric guitar), Rohn Lawrence (electric guitar)
6. Black Pearl (Marion Meadows)
Originally heard on: “Whisper,” 2013
Featured musicians: Marion Meadows (soprano sax), Chieli Minucci (acoustic guitar)
7. Dreams (Chieli Minucci)
Originally heard on: “It’s Gonna Be Good,” 1998
Featured musicians: Chieli Minucci (electric guitar), Vincent Ingala (soprano sax)
8. Crazy Eights (Chieli Minucci & Special EFX)
Originally heard on: “Genesis,” 2013 (to be released on May 21)
Featured musicians: Chieli Minucci (electric guitar), Vincent Ingala (tenor sax)
9. If I Could Fly (Vincent Ingala)
Originally heard on: “Can’t Stop Now,” 2012
Featured musicians: Vincent Ingala (tenor sax), Rohn Lawrence (electric guitar)
10. It Is What It Is (Vincent Ingala)
Originally heard on: “North End Soul,” 2010
Featured musicians: Vincent Ingala (tenor sax), Rohn Lawrence (electric guitar)
11. In Memory of Elizabeth Reed (The Allman Brothers Band cover)
Featured musicians: Chieli Minucci (electric guitar), Jeff Golub (electric guitar)
12. Suede (Marion Meadows)
Originally heard on: “Player’s Club,” 2004
Featured musician: Marion Meadows (soprano sax)
13. Katy’s Groove (Jay Rowe)
Featured musicians: Foran High School Advanced Vocal Ensemble, under the direction of Theresa Voss
14 (Finale). Cold Duck Time (Jeff Golub; Eddie Harris cover)
Originally heard on: “Do It Again,” 2002
Featured musicians: Everyone
Just like in 2011, Marion began “Suede” by playing his way through the audience:

Foran High School Advanced Vocal Ensemble:

The Finale – “Cold Duck Time”:

The second night of Smooth Jazz for Scholars was now complete.
Jay: “We’ll see you all next year!”

I hope you enjoyed this pictorial journey through both nights of Smooth Jazz for Scholars. Until next year, so long.
SJFS 2013 Night 1 recap April 29, 2013
Posted by Mike C. in Internet, Jazz, Media, Music, Personal, Photography, Travel.add a comment
Updated on 8/20/13 with two videos.
This weekend, I made my annual pilgrimage to Milford, Connecticut, for Jay Rowe‘s eleventh annual Smooth Jazz for Scholars concert. For the first time in SJFS history, there were two nights of music to enjoy. This is a recap of night 1.
Kevin McCabe had some opening remarks:

His house band was rounded by Jerry Brooks on bass:

…and Steve Scales on percussion:

The structure of this recap is different from previous SJFS recaps. Instead of combining the set list with pictures from the corresponding songs, I’ll list the set list first. Here it is:
SET LIST
1. Martinis and Bikinis (Jay Rowe)
Originally heard on: “Live at Daniel Street,” 2011
Featured musicians: Jay Rowe (keyboards), Marc Antoine (acoustic guitar)
2. Sunland (Marc Antoine)
Originally heard on: “Madrid,” 1998
Featured musician: Marc Antoine (acoustic guitar)
3. Mas Que Nada (Marc Antoine; Sergio Mendes & Brasil 66 cover)
Originally heard on: “Cruisin’,” 2001
Featured musicians: Marc Antoine (acoustic guitar), Nelson Rangell (alto sax)
4. Spain (Return to Forever [Chick Corea] cover)
Featured musicians: Nelson Rangell (flute), Marc Antoine (acoustic guitar)
5. Turning Night Into Day (Nelson Rangell)
Originally heard on: “Turning Night Into Day,” 1997
Featured musician: Nelson Rangell (alto sax)
6. Did You Know? (Nick Colionne)
Originally heard on: “Just Come On In,” 2003
Featured musicians: Nick Colionne (electric guitar), Vincent Ingala (electric guitar)
You read right. Vincent isn’t limited to one instrument. And if you’ve read the liner notes for some of Nick’s albums, neither is he.
7. Rainy Night in Georgia (Nick Colionne; Brook Benton cover)
Originally heard on: “It’s My Turn,” 1994; “Keepin’ It Cool,” 2006
Featured musicians: Nick Colionne (vocals/electric guitar), Nelson Rangell (alto sax)
8. Pusherman (Alex Bugnon; Curtis Mayfield cover)
Originally heard on: Upcoming album
Featured musicians: Alex Bugnon (keyboard), Jay Rowe (keyboards), Nick Colionne (electric guitar), Vincent Ingala (electric guitar)
9. A House is Not a Home (Alex Bugnon; notably covered by Luther Vandross)
Originally heard on: Upcoming album
Featured musicians: Alex Bugnon (keyboard), Vincent Ingala (electric guitar)
10. Poinciana (notably covered by Ahmad Jamal)/107 Degrees in the Shade (Alex Bugnon)
“107 Degrees…” originally heard on: “107 Degrees in the Shade,” 1991
Musicians: Alex Bugnon (keyboard), Jay Rowe (keyboards)
11. The Connection (Nick Colionne)
Originally heard on: “Feel the Heat,” 2011
Featured musicians: Nick Colionne (electric guitar), Vincent Ingala (electric guitar)
12. How Insensitive (Insensatez) (Antonio Carlos Jobim cover)
Featured musicians: Nelson Rangell (whistling/piccolo), Marc Antoine (acoustic guitar)
13. Harlem On My Mind (Alex Bugnon)
Originally heard on: “Tales from the Bright Side,” 1995
Featured musicians: Alex Bugnon (keyboard), Nelson Rangell (flute), Vincent Ingala
14. On the Strip (Marc Antoine)
Originally heard on: “Cruisin’,” 2001
Featured musician: Marc Antoine (acoustic guitar)
15 (Finale). Cantaloupe Island (Herbie Hancock cover)/(James Brown-style jam)
Featured musicians: Everyone
In the finale, some musicians switched to different instruments. Vincent went from electric guitar to tenor sax; Marc Antoine tried out Vincent’s guitar, Steve’s drums, and one of Jay’s synthesizers.
With the set list out of the way, let’s get to the pictures.
We begin with various shots of Jay Rowe:

Nelson Rangell helped out during Marc Antoine’s “How Insensitive” solo. Seconds before I took this, he struck the chimes:

Whistling like that deserved a bow:

Vincent Ingala on electric guitar:

Nelson and Marc’s “Mas Que Nada” call and response:

Nick and Vincent’s “The Connection” duet:

“Can I count it off?! (slow staccato): Can I count it off?!”

With that, the first night of the eleventh annual Smooth Jazz for Scholars was complete.
The fun resumed the following night. Click here to see.

















































































































































































































































