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.
New blog header January 11, 2011
Posted by Mike C. in Internet, Personal.add a comment
After seven months, here is the new blog header:
I had trouble getting a good smile in all the pictures I took tonight. This is the one I chose.
Post-Christmas 2010 Blizzard December 31, 2010
Posted by Mike C. in News, Personal, Weather.add a comment
The last week of 2010 began with a blast for the East Coast. A powerful blizzard/Nor’easter socked us with howling winds and 1 to 3 feet of snow. Winds gusted as high as around 50 miles per hour, which left me worried that I would lose power like I did during the March Nor’easter. But somehow, it stayed on.
I couldn’t find a snowfall total for Wantagh. So, I averaged the totals for Bellmore to the west, 10 inches, and Seaford to the east, 15.5 inches. That gave me 12.75 inches.
Below are pictures from Sunday, the day the blizzard began, and the three days of shoveling that followed.
Sunday, December 26:
Watched the snow fall, listened to the wind (impossible to miss), hoped the power stayed on:
Monday, December 27:
Shoveled the driveway from curb to front porch (with help from my sister and mom), left side of house:
Tuesday, December 28:
Shoveled a path from the front yard to the back yard patio:
Wednesday, December 29:
Shoveled the sidewalk, path linking driveway center to sidewalk, opening for a car to be parked in the street:
Winter is only a week old and we’ve already had a major storm. What else does this season have in store? We’ll find out in the weeks ahead.
For the New York City perspective on this blizzard, read Katherine Gilraine’s blog.
Matt Marshak concert recap December 6, 2010
Posted by Mike C. in Jazz, Music, Personal.add a comment
Later Matt Marshak show recaps: 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015
Yesterday, I saw Matt Marshak perform at Houndstooth Pub, located in the Fashion District section of Manhattan.
Before the show, between sets, and after the show, music was provided by DJ Rafe Gomez of “The Groove Boutique.”
The show began just after 5PM.
Matt Marshak was on guitar:
Kenny Harris on bass:
Rodney Williams on the keyboards:
And Carl Anderson was on drums:
SET 1
1. Seduction
2. I Will Be With You
3. Affirmation/Breezin’ (George Benson medley)
4. Wind Chill Factor
5. Uptown
6. Sleepwalk (Larry Carlton cover)
SET 2
7. Ascension (Maxwell cover)
8. Summerfunk
9. Tell Me How You Feel – Gina Breedlove, vocals
10. Low Rider (War cover)
11. Gratitude
12. What You Won’t Do For Love (Bobby Caldwell cover) – Kenny Harris, vocals
13. Smile (I think this was a cover, too. Again, let me know in the comments.)
14. Kiss (Prince cover) – Paula Atherton, alto sax
15. Funkology – Paula Atherton, alto sax
Let’s take a photographic journey through the evening.
Gina Breedlove came in on vocals for “Tell Me How You Feel”:
Kenny Harris was on vocals for “What You Won’t Do For Love”:
The rest of the band, including Kenny, had background vocals in a few songs in both sets.
Carl’s wild drum solo:
Saxophonist Paula Atherton performed on the last two songs of the evening:
Rafe Gomez also played a role in the last two songs. He’s seen here after the last song:
Between sets, Matt and I posed for a picture:
It was an exciting two and a half hours. Thanks to Matt, Kenny, Rodney, Carl, Gina, Paula, DJ Rafe Gomez, Katherine Gilraine, Kat Sarracco of Neko Productions, and Ed Tankus of Blue Plate Radio.
4/3/11 UPDATE: I was able to identify “Tell Me How You Feel” because it’s on Matt’s recently released album “Urban Folktales.”
Peter White Christmas 2010 at B.B. King’s December 5, 2010
Posted by Mike C. in Internet, Jazz, Music, Personal.2 comments
Last night, Peter White took his annual Peter White Christmas tour to B.B. King’s in New York City. Unfortunately, I was not there, but my friend Katherine Gilraine was:
… Now, here’s an interesting factoid: despite my atheism, I rather like Christmas music, especially Christmas music done right. So naturally, where would I be today but with Peter White, Mindi Abair and Rick Braun for the Christmas special?
The first show, the one that I had my ticket for way in advance – since before the Big Cruise, mind! – was sold out. How I got the seat right next to the stage, I will never know, but you cannot beat that view. And what is first but Rick opening up with Little Drummer Boy? Muted trumpet, brushes on the snare – a light, simple-but-classic take on this holiday favorite. And soon enough, Peter and Mindi come on up as well and the rest of the band, standing by, joins in as well, turning an easygoing tune into something rousing.
You know, seeing that trio on stage together is something interesting, considering the stylistics. Rick Braun is almost old-school in his handling of the trumpet – and he handles it to perfection. Peter White is deceptively straightlaced, and is immensely playful when he’s on stage. Mindi – all attitude, sharp and energetic. But put them together, and the creativity on stage is infectious. …
Read the full recap here.
The last time I saw Peter White Christmas was in 2008 at IMAC. You can check out my recap of that show here.
Last day of CJazzPlus tomorrow December 1, 2010
Posted by Mike C. in Internet, Jazz, Media, Music, Personal, Radio.add a comment
Tomorrow is the last day of operation for my Live365 internet radio station, CJazzPlus (station link). Listen in from 12PM to 12AM Eastern.
In its two-month existence, CJazzPlus (blog page link) has struggled to get listeners, but it’s been an honor (I know, I always say that) to run it, playing my favorite instrumentals from my personal collection. I don’t know what will come next for me, but there must be something.
Mike C. November 16, 2010
Posted by Mike C. in Internet, Jazz, Music, Personal, Radio.add a comment
Starting today, I’m shortening my display name from “Mike Chimeri” to “Mike C.” Since this is The Mike Chimeri Blog, you’ll know what the “C.” stands for.
In other news:
- My 29th birthday is tomorrow.
- CJazzPlus continues to chug along and I have an eye on expanding listening hours next month. Stay tuned.
- My grandfather, Arthur Rose, passed away on November 5. May he rest in peace. Thank you to those that have expressed condolences.
20,000 views!!! November 1, 2010
Posted by Mike C. in Internet, Personal.1 comment so far
This afternoon, The Mike Chimeri Blog passed 20,000 views! Thanks to all of you that have dropped by since April 2008. You’re always welcome here.
News Corp-Cablevision impasse over October 31, 2010
Posted by Mike C. in Media, Personal, TV.add a comment
Our long regional nightmare ended last night. After two weeks, News Corporation and Cablevision reached a new retransimssion deal. The channels kept from customers were Fox, MyNetwork TV, Fox Business Network, Fox Deportes, and Nat Geo (National Geographic) Wild.
Many of the early posts at this blog were requests for Cablevision to add FBN to its lineup. It was finally added last November.
Nine years in radio October 12, 2010
Posted by Mike C. in Airchecks, Jazz, Media, Music, Personal, Radio.2 comments
October 5, 2001, was the day that launched my radio career. I hosted “The Mike Chimeri Show” on WebRadio WCWP (now myWCWP). I didn’t think of recording my shows until a week later, October 12. Here’s how that show sounded.
I’ve come a long way since that second “Mike Chimeri Show,” as you’ll hear when you listen to my last “Evening Jazz” show a few months ago.
MikeChimeri.com 
