Brian Simpson concert recap April 17, 2011
Posted by Mike C. in Jazz, Music, Personal, Weather.add a comment
Later Brian Simpson recaps: April 2012, February 2015
Yesterday, my parents and I braved the strong easterly winds and heavy rain to see Brian Simpson‘s 8PM set at Houndstooth Pub, located in the Fashion District section of Manhattan. It was Brian’s first performance ever in New York City.
Matt Marshak was on guitar:
The last show I saw at Houndstooth was Matt’s in December.
Carl Carter on bass:
And Lionel Cordew on the drums:
SET LIST
1. It Could Happen (keytar/keyboard)
2. Here With You
3. The Blues – Elan Trotman, sax
4. Let’s Get Close (keytar)
BREAK
5. South Beach (keytar/keyboard) – Elan Trotman, sax
6. Can’t Tell You Why
7. Funkology (Matt Marshak tune)
8. Killer Joe (Quincy Jones cover) – Elan Trotman, sax
9. Brazilia
10. Saturday Cool/Mr. Magic (the latter is a Grover Washington, Jr. cover) (keytar/keyboard) – Elan Trotman, sax
Between “The Blues” and “Let’s Get Close,” Brian recounted his pop past, which included co-writing and performing on “The First Time” by Surface. That song is available on Surface’s 3 Deep and Best Of albums and on iTunes.
Elan Trotman played the saxophone on “The Blues,” “South Beach,” “Killer Joe,” and “Saturday Cool/Mr. Magic”:
At the end of the set, Brian thanked the band…
…Neal Newman, the audio engineer…
…and Steve Butler, who was right behind me, which is why Brian is pointing in my direction:
I briefly spoke to Brian during the break and we posed for this picture:
The 8:00 set was great! And I’m sure the same could be said for the one at 10:30.
Tampa Bay trip recap; panic attack April 9, 2011
Posted by Mike C. in Personal, Travel, Weather.add a comment
NOTE: At the end of this post, I recount my panic attack suffered early in my flight back to Islip.
Two weekends ago, I was in the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater region for a brief vacation and family visit. It was my first trip to Florida in two-and-a-half years when I saw family in South Florida, specifically Palm Beach and Broward Counties. This post contains pictures of scenery and roadways from this trip, all but two of them from Sunday, March 27. The last two are from the following day.
The view from my room at Safety Harbor Resort and Spa:
Driving through Safety Harbor:
McMullen Booth Rd (CR 611) and Main St. (Sunset Point Rd. after the intersection):
The main entrance to Innisbrook (after the traffic light-less Belcher Rd. intersection):
Turning left at Klosterman Rd.:
Belcher Rd. and Glen Eagles Pkwy. (pic taken at the aforementioned light-less intersection):
Two random pictures inside Innisbrook:
Two more pictures from Safety Harbor:
The last two pictures were taken Monday, March 28, from my grandparents patio at Innisbrook, overlooking the Copperhead course’s 2nd hole fairway:
After nice weather the previous two days, we were inundated by rain and thunderstorms. Our flight home in the evening was delayed a half hour, but avoided major turbulence. Before coming to that conclusion in-flight, I developed a panic attack on fear of major turbulence for the first half-hour. Here’s the story as I typed it from my laptop (partially revised):
As I boarded at around 8PM, I began to feel anxious. The heat on the plane didn’t help. Drinking water didn’t help, either. As our plane taxied and waited to take off, I began to feel tightness in my chest. Again, the water didn’t help nor did deep breathing. When we took off, the tightness turned to numbness and quickly spread to my face, hands, and somewhat to my feet. I was paralyzed in those areas for about five minutes as I continued to breathe as deeply as I could. At one point, I uttered through my frozen face: “I feel so helpless.” A man sitting across the aisle from me was reassuring, though I don’t remember exactly what he said. Gradually, I regained feeling. Once that happened, I thanked the man for helping me through my harrowing experience. I thanked him again when we landed and he patted me on the back.
Thankfully, the turbulence worries were initially for nothing. There were some bumps here and there later on, but I didn’t have another attack.
It was nonetheless a good trip.
3/29/12 UPDATE: This turned out to be the last time my grandfather, Carmen Chimeri, in person. He passed away on December 9. The last time I spoke to him was on the phone on my 30th birthday. I took this last March 27 at Carrabba’s in Palm Harbor, for his 80th birthday (albeit three days late):
I’ll conclude this update with a picture of Carmen on Christmas morning in 1994:
Eric Marienthal/Jazzaphonic concert recap March 23, 2011
Posted by Mike C. in Jazz, Music, Personal.add a comment
Eric Marienthal came to the Boulton Center in Bay Shore last night for a masterclass (“bring your instrument”) and concert. This is a photo recap of the concert.
Eric was backed up by the band Jazzaphonic. Jazzaphonic was made up of Bill Heller on the keyboard:
Steve Salerno on guitar:
Jim Cammack on the electric bass…
…and acoustic bass:
And Frank Bellucci on drums:
SET LIST
1. Hangin’ On The Boardwalk
Originally heard on: “Turn Up The Heat,” 2001
2. Blue Water
Originally heard on: “Just Around The Corner,” 2007
3. Oasis
Originally heard on: “Oasis,” 1991
4. Down and Loaded (Jazzaphonic, written by Bill Heller)
5. New York State Of Mind
Originally heard on: “Got You Covered!,” 2005
6. Safrica (Jazzaphonic, written by Steve Salerno)
7. Moody’s Mood For Love
Originally heard on: “Got You Covered!,” 2005
8. Latinesque (Jazzaphonic, written by Bill Heller)
9. Compared To What
Originally heard on: “Got You Covered!,” 2005
Encore 1. Bill’s Bop (Jazzaphonic, written by Bill Heller)
Eric switched to the soprano sax for “Oasis”:
Wayne Schuster played soprano sax to Eric’s alto on “Safrica”:
Steve’s guitar solo on “Latinesque”:
“Compared To What”:
That was followed by an encore: “Bill’s Bop.”
Before I left, I briefly caught up with Eric and our mutual friend Kat Sarracco, whom I sat with during the concert, took our picture:
This concert was a blast! Thanks to Eric, Bill, Steve, Jim, Frank, and Wayne.
3/26 UPDATE: Eric’s concert was on a day off from touring with the Jeff Lorber Fusion. Wednesday and Thursday nights, Fusion played at Iridium. Katherine Gilraine saw them Thursday night. In her recap, she lauded Eric:
His own material shows it best; he knows his horns. He knows his soprano sax and does not have to do much to get to the sound as he wants. High notes – effortless. Low growls on the alto or tenor – no problem. There is no effort whatsoever needed for Marienthal to rock out with a solo, or accent with a lick or two, and he can stand out just as easily as he blends into the overall sound.
Winter 2011 in pictures March 21, 2011
Posted by Mike C. in Personal, Photography, Weather.add a comment
Yesterday at 7:21 PM Eastern, spring began. That marked an end of a winter that started off with a bang in late December, all of January, and early February, and petered out.
That stage of winter that will stand out the most. I documented the season’s first storm here. Here’s the rest:
Friday, January 7
Thick wet snowflakes:
Wednesday, January 12
10.43 inches of snow:
Icicles outside my bedroom window:
They got rather big by the next day. I used a putter I had in my closet to knock them down.
Friday, January 21
3.5 inches of snow
I didn’t take any pictures, but left this witty status update on Facebook after shoveling:
Another snowstorm, another 2 1/2 hours shoveling. T.G.I.F.; thank goodness I’m finished.
Thursday, January 27
A wintry mix the day before turned to sleet and freezing rain (with a few rumbles of thunder) before turning to wet snow. The results were an inch or two of ice and about 12 inches of snow.
It was a pain to shovel, but I refused to quit…
…at least with the driveway and sidewalk.
It took five weeks for this gigantic bank to melt away:
This one melted a little quicker:
Saturday, January 29
The sun made it slightly easier to chop and scoop the ice and built-in tire tracks:
I finally got around to the sides and back yard:
Ice buildup and fallen icicles by the front gutter:
February began with an ice storm, but saw little snowfall the rest of the month. The only snow this month, March, came this morning when it briefly mixed with rain. There was no accumulation.
Let spring begin!
3/24 UPDATE: Winter has made a small comeback. Yesterday, snow mixed with rain at times during the day and fell by itself at night (after a thunderstorm mix):
About an inch accumulated. The snow stuck to everything, but it only partially melted on hard surfaces as of this morning. So, I shoveled the rest:
By this afternoon, most of the snow had melted.
That should be the last of the snow until the end of the year.
Smooth no more March 8, 2011
Posted by Mike C. in Internet, Jazz, Media, Music, Personal, Radio.add a comment
A few days before scheduled to occur, the Oasis Contemporary Jazz Awards were canceled. My friend Katherine Gilraine, who was supposed to co-present, is rightfully perturbed:
…
To say that I’m angry is an understatement, and not just because they have canceled the event so close to the wire. Generally, you don’t cancel shows this close in advance. Bad ticket sales are one thing, but if it’s obvious that the ticket sales are dismal – which, believe me, is not something that a promoter misses over an extended period of time – you let people know in advance. Because that way, they can plan on alternatives.What really raised my hackles is the way that the advertising was – or in this case, wasn’t – done for this event, and the producers are pulling out the “smooth jazz radio is dead” card as the reason why ticket sales were bottomed. Similarly, it pisses me off that the article above [This article. –MC] suggests that the artists drop the “smooth” moniker and “start making real music.”
What part of this music isn’t real, I ask? Seriously. What part of this music isn’t real if the cruises are booked a year in advance to the gills, the festivals are a hit, new artists are voluntarily entering the genre, and the listeners have gotten involved in more than one grassroots petition to bring the stations back?
…
You can read the rest at the link on the words “rightfully perturbed.” She goes on to say that smooth or contemporary jazz is real music. And I agree. But her post hit close to home because I relied heavily on contemporary jazz in my time at Evening Jazz on WCWP, a format that is supposed to be perhaps a little c-jazz, but mostly other sub-genres of jazz and jazz-inspired music from other genres. I got by for seven months without incorporating all of that, but chose to step down when I was told I had to.
Outside of c-jazz fan friends and musician friends, few people I know believe the genre Kat and I love is real music. They think it’s elevator music, it sucks, it gives them a headache, they hate it and the artists, they whine about a lack of vocals (“where are the words?”), it’s lovemaking music, and other complaints. Some of it could be considered lovemaking music, but I don’t think of that when I listen or talk about it on the air. If I hadn’t been introduced to c-jazz, new age, and traditional jazz in the Local Forecast on The Weather Channel when I was young, I’d probably think the same way as those that bash it. I’m glad I discovered it.
While on the subject, I have good news. I’ll be heading back to the Boulton Center in Bay Shore on Tuesday, March 22, to see Eric Marienthal, and to Houndstooth Pub in Manhattan on Saturday, April 16, for Brian Simpson. Expect recaps of both.
3/9 UPDATE: It appears Kat’s dark cloud has a silver lining:
Not 24 hours past since I put up my last post regarding the abrupt cancellation of the Oasis Contemporary Jazz Awards, and already the wheels have been set into motion. Before Tuesday elapsed, Ken Levinson, Bruce Nazarian, the artists, the people at Anthology, the people at Spaghettini’s, and everyone else who was left in the lurch by this turn of events had pulled together and engineered what has become known now as the Lemonade Weekend.
This astounds me, in the very best of ways. This is exactly why I call jazz “Our Music” when I’m with fellow fans. We took a failed, poorly-marketed event, and turned it into a makeshift festival. I’m not sure who will be part of this makeshift festival, but there is much to be said for the tenacity, gumption, and love that we have for the artists.
We, the fans, made this happen.
…
No laughing matter February 26, 2011
Posted by Mike C. in Internet, News, Personal, Politics.add a comment
Earlier this week, far-left blogger Ian Murphy made news by prank calling Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker (R). In the call, Murphy posed as billionaire David Koch (“Coke”) and engaged in a 20-minute conversation with Gov. Walker, trying to bait him into saying something incriminating. Depending on your ideology, Murphy either got nothing out of the prank and Walker didn’t say anything new, or Murphy is a hero for trapping the sinister Walker.
The Daily Caller made note of Murphy’s past. Besides a fervent anti-war position, he went to a creationist museum while pretending to have Asperger Syndrome. The title of his post on the experience was very offensive: “Let There Be Retards.” (It hurts to write that.)
As someone that actually has Asperger Syndrome, Murphy’s representation of AS was an intolerant caricature. I doubt even my fellow Aspie friend Jason Ross would act like that. Worse yet, that caricature appeared to be for the sole purpose of screwing with a creationist museum. I don’t think I’m a creationist. I rely on what I learned in science classes from elementary school in Freeport to middle and high school in Wantagh to college at C.W. Post. But my grievance is over his mockery of a stereotypical Aspie.
One symptom of Asperger Syndrome is hypersensitivity in many areas, including emotion. Murphy’s mockery and slurs an emotional response out of me. They hurt. I took them personally. Can you blame me? AS is no laughing matter. It isn’t something to pretend to have and then mock later on online.
If I get attacked personally for this somewhere on the internet, so be it. I’ve unfortunately been attacked before. I’m sure that can be said for many people. For all the positive things on the internet, there are some harsh negatives.
New computer, Blu-ray Disc player February 25, 2011
Posted by Mike C. in Media, Personal, Technology.add a comment
Earlier this month, I upgraded to a new desktop computer and Blu-ray Disc player.
The computer is a Dell Inspiron 560. It includes an Intel Pentium Dual-Core E5500 processor running at 2.80 GHz, 4 GB of DDR3 SDRAM, the Intel G45 Express Chipset, Intel HD audio, and Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit. I bought a 20″ Dell widescreen monitor to go with it. It took a couple of days to personalize it by getting the programs I had installed on the old computer on this one. It’s working great thus far.
The same can be said for the Blu-ray Disc player: a Panasonic DMP-BD45. In fact, it’s working much better than my old Toshiba upconverting DVD player. In fact, the reason I bought the new player is because that old player suddenly broke down. I haven’t played any Blu-ray Discs yet, but I ordered one a couple of days ago. It’ll be interesting to see and hear the difference between upconverted widescreen DVDs and BDs.
While on the subject of new electronics, you’ll remember a few years ago I mentioned I got a “new old laptop.” Well, last March, I got a new new laptop. It’s a 15.6″ eMachines E725. This laptop includes an Intel Pentium Dual-Core T4400 processor running at 2.2 GHz, 3 GB of RAM, Mobile Intel 4 Series Express Chipset, Realtek HD audio, and Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit. I bought a wireless mouse to go with it. I haven’t used it too much as I haven’t been away from home too often, but I have no complaints.
9:55 PM UPDATE: I foolishly installed Service Pack 1 on the desktop computer. In the middle of the update, I get “Error C000009A …” The computer is inaccessible as I type (from my pre-SP1 laptop). I’m trying desperately to repair the problem, but having no luck.
2/26, 10:15 AM UPDATE: After eight hours of sleep, I tried again. I opened in safe mode and was successful: Windows 7 Ultimate reverted back to the way it was before the update. Unfortunately, I didn’t have the right product key. So, I had to pay $216 for a new one, but I’m hoping it’ll be worth it.
2/27 UPDATE: So far, it’s worth it, but not completely. Windows Media Player won’t open because the DLL version is newer than it should be. Windows Installer won’t work, either. I’m talking to tech support as I type. If I were you, I wouldn’t install SP1.
I’m not writing anymore posts about computers I own. It’s clear I jinxed myself.
Dave Koz and winter storms February 6, 2011
Posted by Mike C. in Jazz, Media, Music, Personal, Radio, Weather.2 comments
Four years ago next Monday, Valentine’s Day, I was supposed to see Dave Koz perform at the Best Buy Theater (then the Nokia Theater) in Times Square. Unfortunately, there was a winter storm that day. So, rather than risk taking the LIRR to Penn Station and walk through the snow and ice on the way to the theater, my parents and I stayed home. We figured the show would be canceled. I’m sure it wasn’t.
This Friday, Dave returns to that theater. Though only a few snow showers are in the forecast, the friend with whom I was going to Dave’s concert had plans come up that night. So, once again, I miss out on him. Maybe next time.
I highly recommend Dave’s current album, “Hello Tomorrow.” You can buy it here. I played a few cuts from the album on CJazzPlus, my recent Live365 station.
Here’s hoping less snow and ice are in the forecast for the rest of the winter.
2/14 UPDATE: I may not have gone to Dave’s concert, but Katherine Gilraine did.
Smooth Jazz for Scholars 2011 dates/lineup January 20, 2011
Posted by Mike C. in Jazz, Music, Personal.add a comment
Jay Rowe is hosting his 9th annual Smooth Jazz for Scholars concert on Saturday, April 30, in his hometown, Milford, Connecticut. The concert will be 8PM at the Parsons Complex Auditorium. It’s located at 70 W. River St., Milford, CT 06460.
Headlining SJFS are Chieli Minucci, Ken Navarro, Marion Meadows, Jeff Kashiwa, and Steve Cole. Backing them up will be Jay on keyboards, Dave Anderson on bass, percussion by Steve Scales, and Trever Somerville on the drums. Tickets are $40.
This will be my fifth SJFS.
On Friday, April 29, one night before the main show, there will be a jam session at the Daniel Street club. (6/22/12 UPDATE: Daniel Street closed in January.) The 8PM jam session will feature Steve Cole and Jeff Kashiwa. Tickets are $20.
To purchase tickets, send a check or money order made payable to Smooth Jazz for Scholars Inc. to:
P.O. Box 3723
Milford, CT 06460
You can look my recap of last year’s SJFS here.
6/3 UPDATE: This year’s recap is up.
MikeChimeri.com 
Suddenly off the air: Olby and me January 21, 2011
Posted by Mike C. in Commentary, Jazz, Media, Music, News, Personal, Politics, Radio, TV.1 comment so far
Shortly after 9PM, I learned that Keith Olbermann had done his last show with MSNBC. At first, I was in denial. Without knowing the details, I figured he wouldn’t be gone long, as was the case when he was suspended in November. But there won’t be a reprieve for him this time. This is really the end.
It came as swiftly as my end came at WCWP last August. On a Wednesday afternoon, August 4, hours before going on the Spirit of New York’s Smooth Cruise, it was Rick Braun and Richard Elliot that week, I got an e-mail that stopped me in my tracks. Long story short, six days later, I wrote the following:
I stand by what I said then. I will admit that I’ve had bitter moments since the decision. No one likes to step away from something they love, but that’s the business of media. I wouldn’t have been part of “Evening Jazz” had it not been for Martin Phillips, who I trust has done a fine job in my place.
There is one glaring difference between Olby and me: I didn’t use my show to lob personal attacks at my competition or people I disagreed with politically. For that, I did not like Keith, after loving his work at ESPN and Fox Sports earlier in his career. I’ll never forget how listening to the audiobook for The Big Show by Keith and Dan Patrick got me and my family through the car ride to Florida in December 1997, or how listening to the same audiobook got me through an hours-long power outage in September 1998 (though not days long like last March’s Nor’easter). That made it hard for me to suddenly dislike him beginning in 2006 when he took liberal blog-inspired shots at Bill O’Reilly. Then, I discovered Olbermann Watch, where Keith’s misinformation and embellishments were questioned and debunked. It dulled the pain of the personal attacks, unless I witnessed them while recapping segments for the site.
To the chagrin of his fans, to recap what I said at the top of this post, tonight was the end of the line for Keith Olbermann at MSNBC. You can watch his farewell here.
I don’t know where either of us will end up next, but for my sake, there must be some place out there for me. I hope I don’t regret posting this.
11:32 PM UPDATE: Here’s a supportive tweet from Johnny Dollar:
I replied by thanking him for the support. Check out his site’s links for today. Since the announcement, it’s been Olbycentric.
1/22, 12:55 AM UPDATE: J$’s weekend thread has more Olbycentric links.
1/22, 5:39 PM UPDATE: The final Olbermann Watch post…for now.
1/23 UPDATE: J$’s Fox Haters Week in Review closed with a segment on Olbermann. Here’s a preview:
1/24 UPDATE: The Olbermann reportage carried over to today, as documented at J$P. Included in the links is this video:
From NewsBusters, it’s Keith Olbermann’s greatest hits.
Greg Gutfeld: Olby’s Exit.
Despite Keith’s departure from MSNBC, Bill O’Reilly still won’t mention his name on the air, as we saw tonight on The O’Reilly Factor in the Weekdays with Bernie [Goldberg] segment. Jeff Poor elaborated on that move at The Daily Caller. It’s a good move because Olbermann still has Twitter to snipe back on and rally his base. The new #FOK, or “Friends of Keith,” hashtag is one way that base is rallying.
1/25 UPDATE: Today’s round of links
The Red Eye version of Greg Gutfeld’s commentary (Gregalogue):
1/26 UPDATE: Hal Boedeker of the Orlando Sentinel replied to Goldberg today.
1/30 UPDATE: Phil Mushnick: The real reason Olbermann lost his show
Fox News Watch on Keith’s dismissal:
2/8 UPDATE: Keith is headed to Current TV. With that, attacks on everyone he disagrees with will resume.
2/9 UPDATE:
3/30/12 UPDATE: Keith Olbermann was fired by Current TV earlier today.
4/1/12 UPDATE: From Howard Kurtz: Keith Olbermann’s Angry Email Trail Traces Breakup With Current TV
4/2/12 UPDATE: John Gibson weighed in at the end of his Fox News Radio show this afternoon: