Shilts at Houndsooth Pub recap; with guests! June 13, 2011
Posted by Mike C. in Jazz, Music, Personal, Photography, Sports, Travel, Weather.add a comment
Later Shilts recap: May 2012
Saturday evening, I made my second trip to Manhattan in four days. I saw Lisa Hilton down in Greenwich Village on Wednesday. On Saturday, the musician was Shilts at Houndstooth Pub in the Fashion District, a few blocks north of Penn Station.
Unlike Wednesday when my dad and I drove to the venue, I went by myself taking the LIRR (Long Island Rail Road) to Penn Station. Not that it mattered to me, but alcohol was banned from trains that day because of the Belmont Stakes. It made sense. Why spoil the day of someone who came from out of town for the race? I was between Woodside and Penn Station while the race was in progress. Neither Shackleford nor Animal Kingdom won. Instead, Ruler on Ice was the surprise winner, as I learned through mobile web on my cell phone once inside Houndstooth Pub and watched on DVR when I got home.
Getting back to music, the last time I was at Houndstooth for Brian Simpson, there were strong winds and heavy rain. This time, there was a lighter wind and mist. The $19.99 umbrella I bought earlier in the day was worth it.
Bass player Kenny Harris opened up for Shilts with two songs. The latter song was a Bobby Caldwell cover, “What You Won’t Do For Love,” which he also played during Matt Marshak’s Houndstooth show in December.
Kenny was accompanied by his brother Rodney Harris on drums and the aforementioned Matt Marshak on guitar.
Then, it was time for Shilts.
Kenny Harris remained on bass:
Frank “Third” Richardson was on drums:
And Jay Rowe played the keyboards:
SET LIST
1. See What Happens
2. Look What’s Happened
3. Good Evans – Solo intro by Jay Rowe
4. Steve Cole: Just A Natural Thang – without Shilts
5. Sugar (Stanley Turrentine cover) – with Steve Cole
6. Seeing Things Clearly
7. Jam – with Matt Marshak
8. Staten Island Groove – with Matt Marshak
Jay led off “Good Evans” with an original piano solo:
He had another in the middle of the song:
After “Good Evans,” Shilts introduced a special guest:
Shilts yielded the stage to Steve who played “Just A Natural Thang”:
Shilts returned and Steve stuck around for “Sugar”:
Shilts brought out another special guest, Matt Marshak, seen earlier with Kenny, for the last two songs:
Third Richardson’s “Jam” drum solo:
The last song of the set was “Staten Island Groove”:
And that was it for the first set:
I’m sure the second set was just as great.
Before I left, I said hello to Shilts and we posed this picture:
I had a blast. I send my thanks to all involved: Shilts, Steve Cole, Kenny Harris, Rodney Harris, Third Richardson, Matt Marshak, Jay Rowe, Eulis Cathey, Kevin McCabe, Steve Butler, Kat Sarracco, Frank Sarracco (neither present, but there in spirit as Neko Productions was a sponsor), and Katherine Gilraine. K.G. has a post up about the entire night.
Lisa Hilton at Zinc Bar recap June 9, 2011
Posted by Mike C. in Jazz, Music, Personal, Travel, Weather.add a comment
Later recaps: January 2014, January 2015, January 2016, January 2018, January 2019
(If you’re friends with me on Facebook, I cross-posted pictures from this show in a photo album.)
Last night, my dad and I went to see pianist Lisa Hilton perform at Zinc Bar down in Greenwich Village. It was the first of two concerts I’m going to in four nights. I’ll be seeing Shilts at Houndstooth Pub on Saturday night. (6/15 UPDATE: Here’s how that show went.)
We left Wantagh at about 5:15. Thanks to delays for seven exits on the L.I.E. (Long Island Expwy., I-495) and volume on Park Ave./Union Square E./Broadway, we didn’t get to West 3rd Street until 6:30. We parked by Mercer Street, three blocks east of Zinc. We walked in the high heat and humidity past Zinc to Ben’s Pizzeria on the corner of MacDougal Street for a few slices of pizza. Eating was a challenge because we sat a table that was right next to a fan. (Ben’s was open-air with no air conditioning; hence the large fan set on high.) I had to weigh down my plates and napkins. The pizza made it worth it. After that, it was back to Zinc just before 7:00 as another band was finishing up.
Lisa was scheduled to play two sets, but she and her band seemed to combine the two into one long set. That set began at 7:20.
Lisa’s band was made up of JD Allen on the tenor saxophone:
Ameen Saleem on acoustic bass:
And Jaimeo Brown on drums:
The set lasted about an hour and 45 minutes with 15 songs played. Here’s the set list:
1. City Streets (without JD)
2. Underground*
3. Someday, Somehow, Soon*
4. Just A Little Past Midnight*
5. So This Is Love
6. Boston+Blues* (+ = and)
7. Come & Go*
8. Midnight in Manhattan
9. Meltdown
10. Seduction (Lisa solo)
11. Moon River (Henry Mancini cover) (Lisa/JD duet)
12. Blue Truth*
13. Early Morning Impressions
14. Wake Me Up When September Ends (Green Day cover) (without JD)
15. Jack & Jill*
*From Lisa’s latest album, “Underground.”
Lisa spoke to the audience between each song:
Lisa & JD during their “Moon River” duet:
Lisa rhythmically swayed her right arm at one point in “Jack & Jill” while playing with her left hand:
I spoke to Lisa afterward. We were both glad to finally meet each other in person after six years when first interviewed her at WCWP. (Those interview occurred in November 2005 and August 2006.) Then we posed for this picture:
Lisa asked me what my favorite song was. I told her it was hard to pick one favorite. So, I chose three: “City Streets,” “Underground,” and “Jack & Jill.”
It was certainly an interesting two hours at Zinc Bar. Thanks to Lisa and the band for a really good show.
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:
Fan phone call! September 1, 2010
Posted by Mike C. in Comedy, Internet, Interviews, Jazz, Media, Music, Personal, Pets, Photography, Radio, Sports, Technology, Travel, TV.add a comment
Since March, I have been a semi-regular viewer of Alison Rosen’s weekly internet show, Alison Rosen is Your New Best Friend, on the website UStream. One of the segments on her show, which streams through a webcam on her laptop, is Fan Phone Call. Phone numbers e-mailed to her by fans are taken out of a pot at random. The lucky fan is then called. If there is no answer, Alison leaves a funny voicemail and picks another number. If there is an answer, she interviews the fan. I e-mailed my number in March but it was never picked. So, I e-mailed it again on August 1.
This Sunday, my number was finally picked. You can see the call here. Scroll ahead to 27:40. I also recorded my end of the conversation in Adobe Audition with my mic in hand. I later mixed Alison’s end and my end together. Here’s the end result.
As you listen or watch, keep the following in mind:
- I bear no malice toward WCWP or any of the management. I have nothing but fond memories and best wishes. I’ll have more on my Homecoming show in a later post. (9/25 UPDATE: The show is not happening, but I will be at Homecoming. 10/16 UPDATE: I’m not going, but should be on hand for WCWP’s 50th anniversary next year.)
- I didn’t notice that Alison and her friend Dustin Goot were referring to the former JetBlue flight attendant Steven Slater as they were pressing me on my departure from the station.
- I was speaking generally when I said I’ve stormed out of places in the past, later coming back and apologizing. It comes with having Asperger Syndrome. I may regret writing this publicly.
- As you’ve seen in a few concert recaps on this blog, I do take pictures of street signs, highway markers, and exit signs. I used to have Hagstrom’s New York City, Western Suffolk, and Eastern Suffolk atlases. Now, I only have a recent Nassau atlas. With sites like Mapquest and Google Maps with printable directions, there’s less of a need to rely on atlases.
- Despite the heat, I kept my word and went for a walk 20 minutes after the call.
Guitars & Saxes 2010 Smooth Cruise recap August 12, 2010
Posted by Mike C. in Jazz, Music, Photography, Travel, Weather.add a comment
8/18 UPDATE: I’ve added more pictures of Arlington Jones, Braylon Lacy, and Eric Valentine.
Yesterday, I went to my second Smooth Cruise in a row; this time, for Guitars & Saxes 2010. As usual, I took the sunset cruise aboard the Spirit of New York. As with RnR, the last time I saw G&S before yesterday was in 2008 at IMAC.
The ship left Chelsea Piers’ Pier 61 at 6:37. The set began at 6:50.
A sold out crowd saw Peter White on guitar #1:
Jeff Golub on guitar #2:
Gerald Albright on the alto sax:
And Kirk Whalum on the tenor sax:
They were backed up by Arlington Jones on the keyboards:
Braylon Lacy on bass:
And Eric Valentine on drums:
SET LIST
1. Intro Medley: Promenade (PW)/Roundtrip (KW)/Dangerous Curves (JG)/To the Max (GA)
2. Bright (PW)
3. All I Do (KW)
4. Shuffleboard (JG)
5. My, My, My (GA)
6. Influences: Oh Happy Day/The Thrill Is Gone/Mercy, Mercy, Mercy/Day Tripper/In The Mood
7. Medley: No Two Ways About It/Cold Duck Time/Goin’ On (JG)
8. Georgia On My Mind (GA)
9. You Are Everything (KW)
10. Bueno Funk (PW)
11. When the Saints Go Marching In
Now for a photographic journey through the Guitars & Saxes sunset Smooth Cruise:
The next three pics were taken from a closed-circuit TV on the deck below the stage:
I hung out on the dance floor for the rest of the set, beginning in the middle of “Georgia On My Mind”:
Echoing notes at the end of “Georgia…”:
Kirk making his way through the audience:
The James Bond sunglasses bit during “Bueno Funk”:
A wild drum solo from Eric:
We leave you with pictures taken outside before the set began. First, a look at Chelsea Piers shortly after embarking:
Hoboken:
Lackawanna Park:
Jersey City:
And finally, Lower Manhattan:
Thank you for reading and viewing.
UPDATE: Hello to author Katherine Gilraine, who was among the sold out crowd last night. Check out her recap here.
RnR Smooth Cruise recap August 7, 2010
Posted by Mike C. in Jazz, Music, Photography, Travel, Weather.add a comment
On Wednesday, I embarked on my third Smooth Cruise aboard the Spirit of New York. The cruise was their 6:30 PM sunset cruise. In 2008, I saw Spyro Gyra. In 2009, I caught the Rippingtons. This time, the group was RnR: Rick Braun and Richard Elliot. It was the first time I had seen them since June 2008 at IMAC.
RnR was made up of Rick Braun on trumpet…
…and flugelhorn:
Richard Elliot on tenor sax…
…and EWI (electronic wind instrument):
Dwight Sills on guitar:
Nathaniel “Nate” Phillips on bass:
Ricky Lawson on drums:
And Ron Reinhardt on the keyboards:
The ship left Chelsea Piers’ Pier 61 at around 6:45. The set began shortly thereafter. So, let’s take you through that set:
1. Q It Up
2. Down and Dirty
3. Tijuana Dance?
Rick switched to flugelhorn for this one:
I went outside for a few minutes to snap some pictures.
The Statue of Liberty:
Lower Manhattan:
Brooklyn:
Back inside…
4. Inner City Blues (Richard only)
Richard began on the EWI…
…before switching back to tenor sax:
Ron had a wild keyboard solo:
Rick dedicated the next song to his late mother and all the moms in the audience:
And that song was…
5. My Funny Valentine (Rick only)
Rick was on vocals…
…and muted trumpet:
6. When A Man Loves A Woman (Richard only)
While Richard played inside, I went back outside just as we rode under the Brooklyn Bridge…
…and came close to the Manhattan Bridge:
FDR Drive:
The ship then turned around, heading back for Chelsea Piers.
Back inside, I shot another pic of the FDR Drive from my table:
Back at the stage, Richard was playing his heart out:
For this, he got a standing ovation:
Rick returned to the stage for…
7. Green Tomatoes
He and Richard invited the audience to get on their feet and dance:
Those on the floor didn’t leave until the set was over.
8. Keep On Truckin’
Richard sang through his EWI:
Rick appeared mesmerized:
Richard switched back to the sax at the end:
9. Grazin’ In The Grass
“Everybody scream!”
The band left the stage for what felt like ten seconds and came back for an encore.
10 (Encore). Rock Steady/Move On Up
“Rock…Steady!”
The “Move On Up” half of the encore:
The final note:
Afterward, I went downstairs to re-meet and re-greet Rick and Richard:
The set was exhilarating. And after all that, Rick and Richard had a moonlight cruise set at 9:30. I have no doubt that it was just as exhilarating then as it was for the set I saw. Thanks to Rick, Richard, Dwight, Nate, Ricky, and Ron.
Two Smooth Cruises ahead August 4, 2010
Posted by Mike C. in Jazz, Music, Personal, Travel, Weather.add a comment
For the next two Wednesdays, I will be aboard the Spirit of New York for the sunset (6:30 PM) Smooth Cruise. This will be my third year aboard. In 2008, I saw Spyro Gyra. In 2009, I caught the Rippingtons.
This week, I’ll be seeing RnR: Rick Braun and Richard Elliot. Next week, it’s Guitars and Saxes with Peter White, Jeff Golub, Gerald Albright, and Kirk Whalum.
Photo recaps will be posted within a week (at the latest) after each cruise.
David Benoit at Tarrytown recap May 24, 2010
Posted by Mike C. in Jazz, Music, Personal, Photography, Travel.add a comment
Saturday night, my dad and I drove an hour (plus scattered delays) up to Tarrytown to see David Benoit perform at Tarrytown Music Hall. It was the first time I’d seen David since December 2008 at IMAC, six months before it closed.
David B. was accompanied by David Hughes on the electric bass…
…and Jamey Tate on drums:
The set list began with four songs from David’s just-released “Earthglow” album, with a fifth song later in the show:
1. Will’s Chill
2. New Creation
3. Downtime
4. Sneaky As A Cat
5. Mountain Dance
6. Your Song
7. If I Were a Bell
8. Blue Rondo A La Turk
INTERMISSION
9. Cast Your Fate to the Wind
10. Kei’s Song
11. Every Step Of The Way
12. Waiting For Spring
13. Cabin Fever
14. Freedom At Midnight (The Schroeder Variations)
15. Beat Street
16 (ENCORE). Linus and Lucy
David talking to the audience between songs:
Afterward, there was a meet-and-greet next to the stage. David and I briefly caught up with each other and had this picture taken:
It was great to see David B., David H., and Jamey again. It was also nice to meet fellow fan Bonnie Schendell of SmoothViews in person. (Bonnie interviewed David in this month’s SV issue.)
6/3 UPDATE: Bonnie reviewed the Tarrytown concert for the June issue of SmoothViews.
The first paragraph:
It’s always a great feeling of anticipation when you are going to hear new music from an artist played live for the first time, especially when the CD that has been in your rotation for several months has blown you away. You hope and pray that hearing it from the stage will be just as powerful and emotional. Well, I was not a bit disappointed by David Benoit.
The rest of this post contains scenic pictures taken on the ride to and from Tarrytown.
We begin on the Hutchinson River Pkwy. at Exit 12:
We got off at Exit 13 for the Cross County Pkwy.:
Exits 5 and 4:
On I-87, the New York State Thruway, Exit 5:
Exit 6:
Exit 7:
Exit 7A:
Exit 8:
Exit 9:
Driving up U.S. 9:
The Music Hall was on Main St.:
The view of the Hudson River from where we parked, two blocks away:
Heading home, I shot some more pics. Here’s Exit 9 on I-695/I-295 in the Bronx:
On I-295 in Queens, Exit 4:
On I-495, the L.I.E., Exit 30;
Exit 31:
Exit 32:
Exit 33:
Exit 34:
Exit 36:
Exit 37:
And Exit 38:
Ken Navarro, “Dreaming of Trains” April 24, 2010
Posted by Mike C. in Jazz, Music, Personal, Travel.add a comment
On March 16, Ken Navarro’s 19th album, “Dreaming of Trains,” album was officially released. It’s been out on Ken’s website since January 16.
As the title indicates, it’s like a trip through a dream, track by track. Whenever I’ve listened, I daydream that I’m on the Long Island Rail Road. I’m looking out the window as we pass through different hamlets and villages of Nassau County or sections of Queens and Brooklyn. The doors open and close. There’s a ding-dong sound followed by either an automated message or live conductor on the public address system letting us know where we’re headed, what station is next, or what station we’re at.
The tracks:
1. Dream So Real (2:46)
2. Self Propelled (4:46)
3. True Stories (8:44)
4. Dreaming of Trains (8:27)
5. The Buzz (4:35)
6. Shared Air (5:43)
7. Everything Being Is Dancing (5:43)
8. The Stars, The Snow, The Fire (7:23)
9. Gymnopedie No. 1 (3:04)
The musicians on “Dreaming of Trains” are the same as on “The Grace of Summer Light”:
Ken Navarro – guitars, keyboards
Jay Rowe – acoustic piano, keyboards
Tom Kennedy – acoustic bass, electric bass, fretless electric bass
Joel Rosenblatt – drums
The specific instruments played varies by track. Ann Sacks appears on vocals on “Dream So Real,” where the dream is intended to begin.
I’m dreaming of trains, and you will be, too, when you listen.
6/9 UPDATE: I linked to this post at the Magic Island BBS and Ken had this to say in reply:
Thanks Mike – and here is a link to another very nice review – http://jazzartistrynow.com/?p=267
You’re very welcome, Ken.
HotForWords at Borders in NYC! August 20, 2009
Posted by Mike C. in Internet, Media, Personal, Travel, TV.2 comments
Yesterday afternoon, I took the LIRR (Long Island Rail Road) out to Manhattan for Marina Orlova’s book signing at Borders in The Shops at Columbus Circle. She was promoting her new book Hot for Words: Answers to All Your Burning Questions About Words and Their Meanings, which was released on Tuesday.
Leading up to the signing, she posted this video and appeared on the CBS Early Show and PIX 11 Morning News (WPIX-TV, a CW affiliate).
Once on W. 34th St. from Penn Station, I walked to 6th Ave. and turned left. I wanted to pass some major media buildings that were on that street. Among them were HBO, News Corporation (FOX, New York Post, etc.), and SNY (SportsNet York).
Across from SNY is Radio City Music Hall:
I then turned left at W. 49th St. and turned right on Broadway.
Before reaching Columbus Circle, I passed the CBS Store…
…and Ed Sullivan Theater, home to The Late Show with David Letterman:
Last night’s taping was in progress as I walked by.
At Columbus Circle:
Almost at Borders:
Inside Borders, shortly after 7PM, Marina made her grand entrance:
She was accompanied by her dog Gorby (as in Mikhail Gorbachev), a male miniature Maltese:
Gorby has been featured in many of her videos.
Before addressing the crowd, Carlos Sanchez of SneakGeekz presented Marina with a pair of sneakers:
After thanking everyone for coming, the floor was opened up to questions.
Gorby:
Next, the signing.
When it was my turn to have my book signed, I introduced myself as MCLIJazz from her website, where I’m a semi-regular commenter. She knew exactly who I was and that I was initially up in the air about going, but decided to go and made it.
We took two pictures together:
In this one, I laughed nervously as Gorby put his paw on my shoulder and sniffed my right ear (or he licked it):
After that, it was a whirlwind. Minutes later, a little after 8PM, I went down to the [extremely hot] subway station, which was mere steps from The Shops.
The last picture I took:
I boarded the [air conditioned] C train to [equally extremely hot] Penn Station. A few minutes after that, I was able to catch the [air conditioned] LIRR Babylon train and headed back to Wantagh. I was in Wantagh 50 minutes later.
I had a great time and it was a pleasure to meet Marina (and Gorby) in person.
Before heading back to Los Angeles, Marina wrote a talked about the signing on her website:
Hi guys!! The turnout at the book signing was AMAZING!!! I got some great footage, so I will be posting that as soon as I get back to LA and edit it! It was so great to meet you all! Thank you so much for coming out!
And I might even show up in that footage.
8/31 UPDATE: While at Borders, Marina was interviewed by Predicto TV:
9/28 UPDATE: Footage from this appearance was finally shown on Marina’s website today. It was part of a video promoting her appearance at Book Soup in Los Angeles on Thursday. I was only featured for two seconds saying “It’s-it’s great to be here.” That’s good enough for me.
MikeChimeri.com 
