Lee Ritenour at the Blue Note August 20, 2016
Posted by Mike C. in Internet, Interviews, Jazz, Media, Music, Personal, Photography, Radio, Travel.Tags: Smooth Jazz Magazine
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Another month, another concert at the Blue Note in Greenwich Village. Friday night, I saw guitarist Lee Ritenour with special guest Dave Grusin.
My recap of the Spyro Gyra show I saw at Blue Note in May caught the attention of Art Jackson of Smooth Jazz Magazine. Art asked to put most of it in the July/August issue and I eagerly agreed. He also asked if there were any shows I’d like to attend as a photographer on behalf of the magazine. I told him I was interested in seeing Lee Ritenour the week he was at Blue Note. Like Earl Klugh last month, I had never seen him – or Dave Grusin, for that matter – live. However, I interviewed him twice for The Mike Chimeri Show on Webradio WCWP (now MyWCWP) a decade ago.
I had in mind Friday night at 8:00. Art came through.
I arrived outside at 5:00. I was second in line this time, behind a jazz concert regular named Celeste. We had a great conversation and time flew by. Before we knew it, it was 6:00 and we went in.
I sat in my usual spot right by the stage, but I wasn’t there for long. I felt cramped and closed in. So, I asked for a different table and the staff was very accommodating. Not many shots below were taken at the table. I mostly walked adjacent to the stage in brief spurts to avoid getting in the audience’s way.
Lee Ritenour was on guitar:
Dave Grusin was on piano, except on the first song:
…and briefly on keyboard:
Otherwise, Giorgi Mikadze played the keyboards:
Giorgi was a 2014 grand prize winner of Lee’s annual Six String Theory competition.
Tom Kennedy on acoustic and electric bass:
…and Lee’s son Wes – named after the late guitarist Wes Montgomery – on drums:
Wes is two weeks older than my cousin Steve.
Here was the 8:00 set on Friday night:
1. The Village
Originally heard on: Rhythm Sessions, 2012
2. Waltz for Carmen
Originally heard on: Stolen Moments, 1990; A Twist of Rit, 2015
3. Punta del Soul
Originally heard on: Migration (Dave Grusin), 1989; Rhythm Sessions, 2012
4. Stone Flower (Antonio Carlos Jobim cover)
Originally heard on: A Twist of Jobim, 1997
5. Wes Bound
Originally heard on: Wes Bound, 1993; Alive in L.A., 1997
6. Pearl
Originally heard on: A Twist of Rit, 2015
7. (Dave Grusin song I didn’t recognize; unidentified by Lee)
8. A Little Bit of This and a Little Bit of That
Originally heard on: First Course, 1976; Rio, 1979; A Twist of Rit, 2015
9 (Finale). Wild Rice
Originally heard on: First Course, 1976; A Twist of Rit, 2015
A few wide shots from my table:
Lee introduced the band one last time at the end:
This was the first Blue Note show I’ve been to with a meet-and-greet. I brought a copy of Lee’s 1998 album, This is Love, the first album of his I ever bought. Rit’s House, The Very Best of Lee Ritenour, and Overtime would follow. Then, I gradually filled my collection with every other album in his discography. After A Twist of Rit came out last summer, I completed the collection to date with First Course, Gentle Thoughts, and The Captain’s Journey. The title track from that last album came up in my iPod’s shuffle during my run earlier in the day.
I introduced myself, Lee signed the album, and he told me that his son Wes was on the cover. I never knew that was him. Before leaving the line, we posed for a picture.
Before gathering my belongings and taking the subway and LIRR back home, I ran into Wes downstairs. I complimented his performance and showed him the CD. Then, we posed with it. The picture took several tries, as the patron I lent the camera to initially shot above the CD, but Wes was patient.
I wished him luck with the second set, packed up, and headed for home.
Thank you to Lee, Wes, Dave, Giorgi, Tom, and the Blue Note staff for another great night at the legendary venue.
If you’d like to see Lee and the band perform, you have two more nights to do so.
A day at the 2016 PGA Championship July 30, 2016
Posted by Mike C. in Audiobooks, Books, Golf, Health, Media, News, Personal, Photography, Sports, Travel, TV, Video, Weather.2 comments
I spent my Friday with my father Bill at the second round of the PGA Championship, held this year at Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield, New Jersey. The championship was held two weeks earlier this year because of the Olympics. This is a photo recap of our day. Regular cameras weren’t allowed, so all pictures were taken on my iPhone 6.
A few months ago, I listened to the Audible version of Love That Boy, a book by National Journal senior political columnist Ron Fournier. (I ended up buying the book and then buying a copy for my dad for Father’s Day.) It’s mainly about his relationship with his son Tyler, before and after he was diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome at age 12, about five years before I learned I had it. After the diagnosis, Ron began taking Tyler on trips to presidential museums and to meet a few living presidents, whom Ron covered while a reporter. My dad and I have also taken trips since my diagnosis: to golf tournaments, especially major championships. He used to go to golf tournaments with his friends and father, my grandpa Carmen. In particular, he attended the 1986 and 1995 U.S. Open Championships at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, and the 1993 U.S. Open at Baltusrol. Since 2002, when the U.S. Open was first held at the Bethpage Black Course in Bethpage State Park, we have been to six majors and a handful of regular tournaments. The majors we’ve been to, counting the one that’s the subject of this post, are:
2002 U.S. Open, 3rd Round – Bethpage Black Course
2004 U.S. Open, Final Round – Shinnecock Hills Golf Club
2005 PGA Championship, Final Round – Baltusrol Golf Club
2006 U.S. Open, Final Round – Winged Foot Golf Club
2009 U.S. Open, 3rd/Final Round – Bethpage Black Course
2016 PGA Championship, 2nd Round – Baltursol Golf Club
In 2005 and 2009, play was suspended due to thunderstorms (PGA) and darkness (U.S. Open). I watched the rest of those two majors on TV the following day. In 2009, I also went to the course twice before the first round; once with my mother Lisa and once alone. Here’s how that went.
Dad and I didn’t plan on going to this year’s PGA Championship, even though it was in the tri-state area, but earlier this month, my uncle Jim gave us two grounds tickets to the second round. We would be going, after all.
Rain was in the forecast for Thursday night and yesterday, which I thought would mean no trip or a wasted trip. But play was only delayed 45 minutes and the rain subsided shortly before we left Wantagh around 10AM. General parking was about a half hour away from Baltusrol at Oak Ridge Park in Clark, New Jersey. We arrived there a little after noon.
Shuttles traveled to and from the park and Baltusrol around the clock.
We got to the grounds just before 1PM.
The 2019 PGA Championship will be at Bethpage Black:
We watched Soomin Lee, Joost Luiten, and William McGirt finish their second round starting at 16.
The 16th green:
The MetLife blimp:
The 17th green:
The 18th hole:
The clubhouse:
We reached the practice green just in time to see Phil Mickelson leave it and make his way to the 1st tee:
Phil won the last time we were at Baltusrol in 2005.
In his second round, he recovered from a triple bogey at the 1st to shot an even par 70, making the cut at +1.
Gregory Bourdy chipping off the green:
He went on to shoot a 68 after starting at the 10th tee. At -3 for the championship, he was six shots back of Jimmy Walker and Robert Streb (-9) after two rounds.
Brian Gaffney’s ball adjacent to the 6th fairway:
Gaffney reached the green and was able to save par, but he shot a 74 (+4) in the first round and 73 (+3) in this second, missing the cut by five shots.
The 7th fairway:
The 11th tee and 10th green:
From there, we watched two groups that started at the 10th:
1) Omar Uresti, Greg Chalmers (who had an autism awareness patch on his bag), Ross Fisher
2) David Muttitt, Smylie Kaufman, Zac Blair
The view from the grandstand by the 10th tee and 9th green:
Here, we watched a few groups:
1) J.B. Holmes, Brian Stuard, Hideki Matsuyama
2) Matt Dobyns, Tyrell Hatton, Harris English
3) Ernie Els (whose son is autistic), Rickie Fowler, Zach Johnson
We left the grandstand before Jimmy Walker’s group reached the 9th green.
The 13th green:
The aforementioned Harris English’s ball adjacent to the 13th fairway:
He did make the cut and was five shots back (-4).
Walking through Patron Plaza…:
A misting fan:
After 4 1/2 hours, our day came to an end:
Since it was rush hour, the shuttle ride back to Oak Ridge Park took about 40 minutes. From there, Dad and I drove home, listening to the coverage of the rest of the second round on SiriusXM’s PGA Tour Radio. Heading up the coverage was the voice of the New York Giants, who play a half hour away at MetLife Stadium, Bob Papa. We arrived back at the house at about 8:30.
It was a memorable day at the PGA Championship. Thank you, Uncle Jim, for the tickets.
I will update this post after the final round.
7/31, 7:30 PM UPDATE: The rains came yesterday (Saturday) afternoon and suspended play until this (Sunday) morning. Jimmy Walker briefly trailed in the third round this morning, but regained the lead heading into the final round this afternoon. Moments ago, Walker held off defending PGA Champion Jason Day, and his own nerves, to win the 2016 PGA Championship. He won wire-to-wire, leading or tied for the lead after every round. Day showed class by congratulating Walker on the 18th green.
I’m glad to have been part of the tournament as a second round spectator.
7/31, 8:41 PM UPDATE: Post-championship links:
PGA/CBS Sports: Walker’s winning par putt
PGA/CBS Sports: Wanamaker Trophy presentation and interview
Nick Menta, Golf Channel: Walker bests Day by one to win PGA Championship
Kyle Porter & Robby Kalland, CBS Sports: PGA Championship 2016 leaderboard, highlights: Breaking down a wild ending
8/1 UPDATE: More links:
Matt Stypulkoski, The Star-Ledger: Jimmy Walker continues trend of first-time major winners
Steve Politi, The Star-Ledger: Jimmy Walker’s PGA Championship victory is a win for grinders everywhere
Hank Gola, The Star-Ledger: Is it still Jimmy Walker’s day if he had been paired with Jason Day?
Andy Vasquez, The Record: Walker holds off Day for first major
Tara Sullivan, The Record: Walker’s wire-to-wire act was dynamite (a reference to “dynomite!,” the catchphrase of J.J. Evans on Good Times, portrayed by namesake Jimmie Walker)
Michael Bamberger, Golf Magazine: Jimmy Walker Edges Jason Day, Wins 2016 PGA Championship
Art Stricklin, Golf Magazine: Party Awaits Jimmy Walker at His Home Club in Texas
8/2 UPDATE: Even more links:
PGA: Full Sunday Highlights
PGA: Full Tournament Highlights
PGA: Jimmy Walker’s Full PGA Champion Press Conference
PGA: Top 10 Shots of the 2016 PGA Championship (#9 spoiler: I saw John Senden on the practice green after he completed his second round.)
An afternoon at the Fire Island Lighthouse July 16, 2016
Posted by Mike C. in History, Jazz, Military, Music, Personal, Photography, Travel, Weather.5 comments
Two weeks ago, Lori Downing, a co-worker of my mother and sister, invited me to visit the Fire Island Lighthouse. Her father, Bill Laghezza, is among its volunteers. I agreed, not knowing what to expect.
Lori’s original plan for yesterday – a hot and humid day, even by the ocean – was to pick me up at 10:30. That became 11:30. We took the Wantagh Parkway to Ocean Parkway, planning on getting on the Robert Moses Causeway, proceeding to Robert Moses State Park, and walking to the lighthouse. We knew there would be a Wounded Warrior Project Soldier Ride until 1:00, but we thought it stopped at the State Boat Channel Bridge. It actually ended on the Ocean Parkway, which meant eastbound traffic was diverted back west at the finish line. So, we had to reverse course, taking the Ocean Parkway west, Wantagh Parkway north to Exit W4E, the Southern State Parkway east to Exit 40, then take the Robert Moses Causeway south to the park. By this time, the Soldier Ride was over.
Lori and I parked in Field 5 and walked the path to the Fire Island Lighthouse. I brought my Nikon D5500 and snapped away. Below is our photographic journey. Enjoy.
The lighthouse’s 15th Annual Benefit Art Show was in its third-to-last day. Here are the exhibits:
Time to climb to the top:
It was tougher than using a stairmaster.
The view from the top deck:
It was jarring at first being up so high, but I adjusted.
Lori took my picture:
Then, Bill joined us and I took a picture of him and Lori:
Here are a couple of videos I shot while on the top deck while Bill was with us.
“C.I.” is Central Islip.
Time to head back down:
It was easier going down than it was going up.
All visitors that climb to the top and come back down get a certificate of accomplishment. Another lighthouse volunteer, Angela, took my picture after filling out my certificate:
Angela and I had a brief conversation about Earl Klugh and I told her about the show I went to a few nights earlier.
One last piece of business: signing the guest log:
As a privacy precaution, I blurred out last names, locations, e-mail addresses, and the file location of the log.
I’m so glad I decided to join Lori on her trip to the lighthouse. As I wrote in the guest log, it was worth waiting in traffic to get there. I will never forget the sights, the sounds, or the volunteers I met.
Earl Klugh at the Blue Note July 13, 2016
Posted by Mike C. in Jazz, Music, Personal, Photography, Travel.2 comments
It took many years, but last night, I finally saw guitarist Earl Klugh (“clue”) perform live. It’s been 40 years since he made his solo debut with a pair of albums, Earl Klugh and Living Inside Your Love. Most of his early albums were released on Blue Note Records, and the show I saw was at the infamous Blue Note jazz club in Greenwich Village. It was my fourth time at the Blue Note, and won’t be the last.
The show I saw was the first of 12 over six nights. As usual, I opted for the 8:00 show over the 10:30 show.
My sister drove to the Wantagh LIRR station at 3:45 for the 4:02 train to Penn Station. As fate would have it, the 3:27 train was running a half hour late. So, I boarded that train a few minutes earlier than the train I planned on taking.
Just before 5:00, I arrived at Penn and proceeded to the 34th Street subway station for the downtown A train to West Fourth Street. Just like my previous trip to Blue Note for Spyro Gyra, I was so early that I was the first in line outside the club. After 5:30, a line began to form behind me. At exactly 6:00, the door opened and I was let in. I chose my center stage table seat and ordered dinner. A father and daughter from Japan sat to my left, which made me wish I spoke enough Japanese to carry a conversation. I was rewarded a half hour later when a man from Ottawa, in town for his daughter’s dance competition, took the seat across from mine. We had a nice, prolonged conversation. It was great.
The show I was about to see was even greater.
Earl Klugh, as he has throughout his 40-year career, played acoustic guitar:
David Lee was on keyboards:
Tom Braxton played alto sax (seen below), soprano sax, and flute:
Al Turner, the Bass Burner, on electric bass:
…and Ron Otis on drums:
There were also two special guests, as you’ll see in the set list below:
1. Brazilian Stomp
Originally heard on: Collaboration (with George Benson), 1987
2. Midnight in San Juan
Originally heard on: Midnight in San Juan, 1991
3. Last Song
Originally heard on: The Journey, 1997
4. Across the Sand
Originally heard on: Move, 1994
5. Cabo Frio
Originally heard on: Finger Paintings, 1977
6. Wishful Thinking
Originally heard on: Wishful Thinking, 1984
Special guest: Barry Eastmond, keyboard
7. Vonetta
Originally heard on: Earl Klugh, 1976
8. Living Inside Your Love
Originally heard on: Living Inside Your Love, 1976
9. Dr. Macumba
Originally heard on: Finger Paintings, 1977
10 (Encore). Twinkle
Originally heard on: Crazy for You, 1981
Special guest: Michael Lington, alto sax
Here are various shots of each musician, including the special guests, starting with Earl Klugh:
David Lee in emcee mode:
…and at the keys:
Hearing him on the Kurzweil synthesizer reminded me of Bill Heller, who also uses that model:
David was quite the character. I loved his antics.
Tom Braxton on alto sax:
…on soprano sax:
…and on flute:
Al Turner:
Ron Otis:
Barry Eastmond appeared on “Wishful Thinking,” just as he did on the original in 1984:
Michael Lington joined the band for the encore, “Twinkle”:
Wide shots:
The last note:
With that, the 8:00 set was complete.
I complimented Al Turner and Michael Lington as they left the stage, and let Earl know that this was my first time seeing him live. “Really?” Yes, and I hope it isn’t the last time. I spoke to Tom Braxton before the show, but didn’t have a chance to talk to him again afterward.
I got a picture with Al before I left:
If you’d like to see Earl and the band at Blue Note, you have five more nights to do so. Come on down to the Village and see them play. You won’t be disappointed. I was enthralled. Thank you to Earl, David, Tom, Al, Ron, Barry, and Michael.
My National Camera Day story June 29, 2016
Posted by Mike C. in Personal, Photography.add a comment
Another day, another social media holiday. Today is #NationalCameraDay.
That was how my proposed Facebook status update started. It snowballed into a multi-paragraph history of cameras I’ve used. Below is that history.
I’ve been using cameras regularly for 22 years as of next month. That was when I got a Kodak Funsaver disposable 35mm camera. I used a few more of those before getting a Minolta point-and-shoot camera and 35mm rolls to go with it. Like the disposables, it didn’t have a zoom, but I didn’t care. Three years later, forgetting to bring that camera on a trip to Florida led to purchasing an Olympus camera with a zoom. I alternated between the two cameras for a few more years. Then, another instance of forgetting to bring either camera led to purchasing a Nikon camera, which also had a zoom. A handful of times at the turn of the century, I used my dad’s Canon Rebel G SLR, mostly at sporting events, including two Mets games.
By the fall of 2004, I was ready to switch full time to digital. I had Fujifilm DX-10 and Largan Chameleon Mega digital cameras, but used them sparingly while sticking with 35mm. For the full-time switch, I bought an Olympus C-765. To save space on the 256 MB xD card I bought for it, I only took pictures at the 1280 x 960 resolution. The maximum resolution was 2288 x 1712. In hindsight, my space-saving decision was a mistake. By today’s standards, 1280 x 960 is microscopic.
For Christmas in 2007, I received another digital camera to replace the C-765: the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ8. With a 4 GB SD card, I shot at nearly double the resolution of the C-765: 2048 x 1536. The max resolution is 3072 x 2304, but once again, I settled for less. The Lumix got me through another 4 1/2 years, which included an upgrade to a 32 GB SDHC card.
By May 2012, I craved a DSLR camera, which my jazz fan friends were using to photograph concerts. So, I took a big step and purchased a Nikon D3100 with a kit 18-55mm lens, and a 32 GB SDXC card to go with it. For six months, I alternated between that and the Lumix, which could zoom farther than the lens I had with the D3100. Finally, after my birthday, I bought a 55-300mm lens. After that, I gave the Lumix to my girlfriend. The D3100’s max resolution was 4608 x 3072, but I settled for less (3456 x 2304) a third time, except for pictures of the moon or passing planes. That practice continued when I swapped cameras with my dad 11 months later. I ended up with a D5100. The medium resolution was a little higher than the D3100: 3696 x 2448. The D5100 got me through another 2 1/2 years. I would eventually opt to shoot at max resolution (4928 x 3264).
Last November, I bought my latest camera: a Nikon D5500 with a kit 18-140mm lens. The max resolution on the D5500 is all the way at 6000 x 4000, and it records 60p video. The previous cameras only shot 30p. I kept the D5100 and 18-55mm lens as spares, but they’ve only been used once. I gave them to my mom to take pictures at a retirement party earlier this month. At some point, I plan on buying a second D5500 body and dedicate the 18-140mm lens to one and the 55-300mm lens to the other.
That’s my story. And you didn’t need to click on “See More” to see all of it. Happy National Camera Day!
Dharma 2.0 recap June 25, 2016
Posted by Mike C. in Jazz, Media, Music, Personal.add a comment
A new era began last night at Suite 1828 in Merrick. Drummer John Favicchia upgraded his band from Dharma All Stars to Dharma 2.0.
The set now features mainstream covers while retaining Dharma classics, as you’ll notice in the set list.
I was last at the Suite last January for Dharma 1.0. I had planned on returning two months later, but came down with bronchitis and had to stay home. I felt redeemed last night.
I sat in a chair in front of the stage. Behind me, a packed house gathered. We were all in for a wild set.
Dharma 2.0 is led by John Fav on drums:
Tim Regusis on keyboard:
Benny Reid on tenor sax:
…and alto sax:
Brandon Dove on guitar:
…and Thomas Velsor on bass:
SET LIST
1. Apocalypso (Dave Weckl cover)
2. Spies (Coldplay cover)
3. Coincidence
4. Sing a Song of Song (Kenny Garrett cover)
5. In My Place (Coldplay cover)
6. Kukuc
Here are various shots of each band member, starting with John Favicchia:
Tim Regusis:
Benny Reid:
Brandon Dove:
Thomas Velsor:
Wide shots:
The last note of the set:
Until the next show, I’ll leave you with a pair of group pictures taken by me…
…and mutual friend Jeff Krasner:
Spyro Gyra at the Blue Note May 28, 2016
Posted by Mike C. in Basketball, Jazz, Music, Personal, Photography, Sports, Travel.2 comments
I was back at Blue Note on Thursday night to see Spyro Gyra‘s 8:00 show. This is a recurring expression in these recaps, but it was Spyro Gyra’s third night of a six-night engagement at the famous jazz club in Greenwich Village. It was also the first time I’d seen the band in nearly three years. This was the first time seeing them on land since June 2007 at the YMCA Boulton Center in Bay Shore.
My original plan on Thursday afternoon was to take the 4:27 westbound train from LIRR’s Wantagh Station (currently in the first phase of renovations) to Penn Station. But I was bored at home, so I left the house an hour and a half early. I walked 20 minutes to the train station and boarded the 3:09 train. I use a backpack, so I must have looked like a high school student to some fellow adults I passed. (Wantagh High School lets out at 2:19.) Wantagh Elementary School had a fire drill as I walked past it on Beech Street. I was glad to hear it was a whooping siren and buzzer instead of a ding-ding-ding bell. That’s why I dreaded fire drills as a kid. I don’t like surprises and I like those big bells even less.
The train ride was longer than scheduled due to a delay at Jamaica, but I still got to Penn Station within an hour of boarding. My girlfriend took Metro-North and the S and 1 trains, and we met at Penn 15 minutes after I arrived. We then took the A train to West Fourth Street. We walked up the stairs at West Third and killed time by watching basketball games at the West Fourth Street Courts. At 5:20, we decided walk up the block to Blue Note and wait for the doors to open. There was no line at first, but about 15 minutes, a line began to form.
Shortly after 6:00, the doors opened and my girlfriend and I chose our usual table at center stage. Our seats were the last before the stage.
Through dinner and dessert, 8:00 came, Spyro Gyra walked on stage, and the show began.
As he has been for all 40 years, Jay Beckenstein was on saxophone. He mostly played alto:
…but was briefly on soprano:
Tom Schuman, also with the band for all 40 years, played keyboards:
Julio Fernandez, with the band for 29 of the last 31 years, was on guitar:
Scott Ambush, in his 25th year, was on bass:
…and newcomer Lionel Cordew on drums:
Each night’s shows were at 8:00 and 10:30. Here is the set list from Thursday’s 8:00 show:
1. Catching the Sun
Originally heard on: Catching the Sun, 1980
2. Stolen Moments (Oliver Nelson cover)
3. Havana Moonlight
Originally heard on: Got the Magic, 1999
4. Morning Dance
Originally heard on: Morning Dance, 1979; Access All Areas, 1984; Road Scholars, 1998
5. Cape Town Love
Originally heard on: Original Cinema, 2003
6. Harbor Nights
Originally heard on: Incognito, 1982; Access All Areas, 1984
7. Good to Go-Go
Originally heard on: Good to Go-Go, 2007
8. Funkyard Dog
Originally heard on: Good to Go-Go, 2007
We’ve reached the part of the recap with various shots of each musician. We start with Jay Beckenstein:
Playing alto and soprano simultaneously on “Funkyard Dog”:
Tom Schuman:
Julio Fernandez:
Julio’s vocal intro to “Havana Moonlight”:
Julio was born in Havana.
Scott Ambush:
Lionel Cordew’s drum solo before “Funkyard Dog”:
Scott and Tom:
Julio and Lionel:
Scott, Jay, and Tom:
My girlfriend and I had a wonderful time. We couldn’t have asked for a better show. I can only imagine what the 10:30 crowd saw.
Spyro Gyra are still at Blue Note tonight and tomorrow night. So, if you haven’t seen them yet and you’re free either night, come on down to the Village and see them live.
SJFS 2016 Night 2 recap May 4, 2016
Posted by Mike C. in Football, Internet, Interviews, Media, Music, Personal, Photography, Radio, Sports, Travel, TV.add a comment
Day 2 of my weekend in Milford, Connecticut, began at sunrise. I went right to sleep when I returned to the hotel the night before. So, the first thing I did when I woke up was move the pictures I shot from my camera to my laptop. After that, I took the elevator down to the lobby and helped myself to breakfast. The day progressed from there. To pass the time, I watched episodes of Kevin Pollak’s Chat Show while editing Friday’s Smooth Jazz for Scholars pictures. When the latter rounds of the NFL Draft were televised, I had that on with the TV muted as I continued to listen to (when editing) and watch (when not) the Chat Show.
If such a thing existed, I would have teleported from my room to the Tilles Center Atrium for this year’s WCWP Hall of Fame Ceremony. Instead, this recap by 2014 inductee Frank D’Elia will have to do. Jeff Kroll, inducted last year, informed me that next year’s ceremony will probably be earlier in the year, eliminating a conflict with Smooth Jazz for Scholars.
Eventually, 5:15 came and it was time for dinner. My girlfriend Kelly and I ate at the Olive Garden in nearby Orange. It was the first time I had been to any location other than the one in East Massapequa. Since I ate waffles and muffins at breakfast, I avoided those delicious breadsticks, limiting myself to minestrone, lasagna, and a creme de menthe candy when the check came.
Kelly improvised on her alto saxophone again while we waited in the parking lot adjacent to the Parsons Complex Veterans Memorial Auditorium. This time, she even played in front of audience members waiting on the auditorium steps. They loved it.
In the auditorium lobby, I met Jay Rowe‘s mother, Mia DiStasi, as I preordered Jay’s upcoming album, Smooth Ride.
At 8:00, Kevin McCabe welcomed the audience:
There were plenty of people like me that also attended Friday’s show.
Once again, John Patterson, president and CEO of the Monroe County (Michigan) Convention and Tourism Bureau, promoted the River Raisin Jazz Festival:
After two songs from West Shore Middle School students Friday night, Saturday night saw two songs by the East Shore Middle School Jazz Band:
They played “Blues at Frog Bottom” and “Peter Gunn.”
After chairs were removed from the stage, Jay Rowe and his band came out.
Jay played keyboards:
Steve Scales on percussion:
Trever Somerville on drums:
…and Dave Anderson on bass:
The stars of night 2 were Eric Darius on alto saxophone:
Chieli Minucci (“key-ELLIE min-OO-chee”) on electric guitar:
…and acoustic guitar:
Nelson Rangell on alto sax…:
…flute…:
…and piccolo:
He also whistled a couple of bars:
Nick Colionne on electric guitar:
…and with Jay’s band on seven songs, including the finale, just like the night before, Rohn (“Ron”) Lawrence on electric guitar:
SET LIST
1. East Coast West Coast (Jay Rowe)
Originally heard on: Red Hot and Smooth (2006)
Featured musicians: Jay Rowe (keyboards), Rohn Lawrence (electric guitar)
2. Goin’ All Out (Eric Darius)
Originally heard on: Goin’ All Out (2008)
Featured musicians: Eric Darius (alto sax), Rohn Lawrence (electric guitar)
3. If I Ain’t Got You (Alicia Keys cover) (Eric Darius)
Originally heard on: Just Getting Started (2006)
Featured musicians: Eric Darius (alto sax), Rohn Lawrence (electric guitar)
Eric worked his way through the audience in the middle of the song.
4. Uptown East (Chieli Minucci)
Originally heard on: Slice of Life (Special EFX) (1986)
Featured musician: Chieli Minucci (electric guitar)
5. Dance on the Delta (Chieli Minucci)
Originally heard on: Upcoming Special EFX album
Featured musicians: Chieli Minucci (acoustic guitar), Nelson Rangell (flute, alto sax)
6. From Here (Nelson Rangell)
Originally heard on: Red (2015)
Featured musicians: Nelson Rangell (alto sax, whistling), Chieli Minucci (electric guitar)
7. Tomorrow (A Better You, Better Me) (The Brothers Johnson cover) (Nelson Rangell)
Originally heard on: Nelson Rangell (1990)
Featured musicians: Nelson Rangell (piccolo), Rohn Lawrence (electric guitar)
8. Buckle Up (Nick Colionne)
Originally heard on: The Journey (2016)
Featured musicians: Nick Colionne (electric guitar), Nelson Rangell (alto sax)
9. Rainy Night in Georgia (Brook Benton cover) (Nick Colionne)
Originally heard on: It’s My Turn (1994), Keepin’ It Cool (2006)
Featured musicians: Nick Colionne (vocals, electric guitar), Eric Darius (alto sax)
10. Night on the Town (Eric Darius)
Originally heard on: Night on the Town (2004)
Featured musicians: Eric Darius (alto sax), Rohn Lawrence (electric guitar)
11. Ballerina (Chieli Minucci)
Originally heard on: Just Like Magic (Special EFX) (1990)
Featured musician: Chieli Minucci (electric guitar)
12. The Road Ahead (Nelson Rangell)
Originally heard on: Destiny (1995)
Featured musicians: Nelson Rangell (alto sax), Rohn Lawrence (electric guitar)
13 (Finale). James Brown tribute
Featured musicians: Everyone, led by Nick Colionne (vocals)
Nick went into the audience twice for his “Whatta ‘Bout You?” routine.
Now for various shots of each musician, starting with Jay Rowe:
Eric Darius:
Chieli Minucci on electric guitar:
Acoustic guitar:
Nelson Rangell on alto sax:
Flute:
Piccolo:
Whistling:
Tambourine break on “Buckle Up”:
I always love when Nelson joins Steve Scales on percussion.
Nick Colionne:
Singing “Rainy Night in Georgia”:
Rohn Lawrence:
Steve Scales:
Trever Somerville:
Dave Anderson:
Next, two shots, starting with Rohn and Eric:
Nelson and Chieli:
Rohn and Nelson:
Nick and Nelson:
Nick and Eric:
Steve and Trever’s duet on “Night on the Town”:
The James Brown tribute finale begins with Nick channeling the Godfather of Soul:
The rest of the band was in on the seance:
“Fellas!”:
The response was inadequate:
Take 2: “Fellas!”:
After a “yeah!” response, Nick imitated James’s incoherence in a questioning tone, eliciting more “yeah!” responses.
Then, he laughed: “Ha-ha-ha!”:
“Can I count it off?”:
“1, 2, 3, 4!”:
And away we went.
The “Whatta ‘Bout You?” routine:
Back on stage:
The cape routine:
Jay can dance:
Time to bring it home:
That was it for night 2.
What a wild night and a fantastic weekend.
Kelly drove me to Bridgeport Station at around noon on Sunday and my journey home began. Until next year, Milford.
SJFS 2016 Night 1 recap May 4, 2016
Posted by Mike C. in Internet, Interviews, Jazz, Media, Music, Personal, Photography, Radio, Travel.add a comment
Ten years ago tomorrow, May 5, I met keyboardist Jay Rowe following a Special EFX concert at the since-defunct IMAC (Inter-Media Art Center) in Huntington. A friendship was born. (We posed for a picture that can be seen here.) About seven months later, he invited me to his annual Smooth Jazz for Scholars benefit concert the following April in his hometown of Milford, Connecticut. I agreed to go. Last Friday, I made my tenth annual pilgrimage to Milford for the 14th annual Smooth Jazz for Scholars. This was the fourth year with two shows, and the third in which I went to both shows.
The journey began Friday morning in a cold wind on the platform at the Wantagh LIRR station. I took a westbound train to Penn Station. My next stop was Penn’s Amtrak terminal. I waited an hour, which included a quick nosh at Tim Horton’s, then boarded the Vermonter on track 8E. I was in coach, which resembled the commuter trains I’m used to riding. About 70 minutes later, I exited the train at Bridgeport. My girlfriend Kelly was waiting for me.
I met her on Facebook six years ago. She first discovered me four years before that through this website because of an interview I did with Brian Simpson at WCWP. (You can find that interview here.) She noticed me in the audience at the 2009 SJFS, but didn’t approach me. When we connected on Facebook, I assumed she was a fan of my stint as host of Evening Jazz, a WCWP format at the time. We shared a love of music, both for listening and playing. I’m a piano man, she was a sax woman.
We checked in at Hampton Inn in Milford around 2PM. After a few hours of settling in, we went out to dinner and dessert at Friendly’s. From there, we drove to the site of Smooth Jazz for Scholars: the Parsons Complex Veterans Memorial Auditorium. We were early, so we waited in the parking lot for a half hour.
While we waited, Kelly improvised on her alto saxophone to backing tracks on her MP3 player.
Shortly after 8:00, show #1 began with an introduction by Kevin McCabe:
Next to speak was John Patterson, president and CEO of the Monroe County (Michigan) Convention and Tourism Bureau:
John was promoting another annual jazz event: the River Raisin Jazz Festival.
Then, it was time to showcase Milford music students. First to perform were students from West Shore Middle School, who sang “No Woman, No Cry” by Bob Marley…:
…and “Thinking Out Loud” by Ed Sheeran:
From there, it was on to the Foran High School Jazz Ensemble, who performed Herbie Hancock’s “Chameleon”:
The students then gave way to Jay Rowe and his band.
Jay was on keyboards:
Steve Scales played percussion:
Trever Somerville on drums:
…and Dave Anderson on bass:
The stars of night 1 were Matt Marshak on electric guitar:
The aforementioned Brian Simpson, who was briefly on keyboard…:
…but mostly on keytar:
Peter White on acoustic guitar:
Marion Meadows on soprano saxophone:
…and with Jay’s band on seven songs, including the finale, Rohn (“Ron”) Lawrence on electric guitar:
SET LIST
1. Red Hot and Smooth (Jay Rowe)
Originally heard on: Red Hot and Smooth (2006)
Featured musicians: Jay Rowe (keyboards), Rohn Lawrence (electric guitar)
2. Cadillac Kid (Matt Marshak)
Originally heard on: Colors of Me (2012)
Featured musician: Matt Marshak (electric guitar)
3. Teddy P (Matt Marshak)
Originally heard on: Urban Folktales (2011)
Featured musician: Matt Marshak (electric guitar)
4. Just What You Need (Brian Simpson)*
Originally heard on: Just What You Need (2013)
Featured musicians: Brian Simpson (keyboard, keytar), Rohn Lawrence (electric guitar)
5. Saturday Cool (Brian Simpson)*
Originally heard on: It’s All Good (2005)
Featured musicians: Brian Simpson (keytar), Rohn Lawrence (electric guitar)
6. Promenade/Could It Be I’m Falling in Love (The Spinners cover) (Peter White)
Originally heard on: Promenade (1993), Reflections (1994)
Featured musicians: Peter White (acoustic guitar), Marion Meadows (soprano sax)
7. In Rainbows (Peter White)
Originally heard on: Smile (2014)
Featured musicians: Peter White (acoustic guitar), Marion Meadows (soprano sax)
8. What Cha Gonna Do? (Brian Simpson)*
Originally heard on: Above the Clouds (2007)
Featured musicians: Brian Simpson (keyboard, keytar), Rohn Lawrence (electric guitar)
9. Lifestyle (Matt Marshak)
Originally heard on: Lifestyle (2014)
Featured musician: Matt Marshak (electric guitar)
10. Bueno Funk (Peter White)
Originally heard on: Glow (2001)
Featured musicians: Peter White (acoustic guitar), Marion Meadows (soprano sax)
11. Treasures (Marion Meadows)
Originally heard on: In Deep (2002)
Featured musicians: Marion Meadows (soprano sax), Rohn Lawrence (electric guitar)
12. Humanity (Marion Meadows)
Originally heard on: Soul Traveler (2015)
Featured musicians: Marion Meadows (soprano sax), Rohn Lawrence (electric guitar)
13 (Finale). Kiss (Prince cover)
Featured musicians: Everyone
*-Jay was not on stage during this song.
Now for various shots of each musician, starting with Jay Rowe:
Matt Marshak:
Brian Simpson:
Peter White:
Leading the audience on “Could It Be I’m Falling in Love”:
The audience followed:
Marion Meadows:
Rohn Lawrence:
Steve Scales:
Trever Somerville:
Dave Anderson:
Next, two shots, starting with Rohn and Brian:
Rohn and Marion:
Peter and Marion:
The finale: “Kiss”:
The last note:
Night 1 was complete:
Before heading back to the hotel, Kelly and I caught up with Brian Simpson and I spoke with Peter White.
Yellowjackets at Birdland April 25, 2016
Posted by Mike C. in Jazz, Music, Personal, Photography, Travel.add a comment
Three months and two weeks after my previous visit to Birdland Jazz Club, I returned to see the band Yellowjackets perform. As with the Jeff Lorber Fusion, I went to the middle night of Yellowjackets’ five-night engagement, which coincided with the release of their new album, Cohearence.
This was the second time I’ve seen Yellowjackets perform. The first time was also at Birdland on my 25th birthday, which coincided with their 25th anniversary. I posed for a picture after the show with original member Russell Ferrante, whom I had interviewed a month earlier on WCWP. The picture can be found here and the interview here.
Since 2006, original bass player Jimmy Haslip, and drummer Marcus Baylor, left Yellowjackets. Will Kennedy, who was with the band from 1987 to 1999, returned on drums, and Dane Alderson is now on bass.
So, let’s introduce the band:
Russ played piano and keyboard (not always at once):
Bob Mintzer was on tenor saxophone…
…and EWI (electronic wind instrument):
Will Kennedy on drums:
…and Dane Alderson on bass:
All five nights had shows at 8:30 and 11:00. Here was Thursday’s 8:30 set list:
1. Spirit of the West
Originally heard on: Club Nocturne, 1998
2. Inevitable Outcome*
Originally heard on: Cohearence, 2016
3. Monk’s Habit
Originally heard on: Time Squared, 2003
4. Golden State
Originally heard on: Cohearence, 2016
5. Claire’s Song*
Originally heard on: Mirage a Trois, 1983
6. Even Song
Originally heard on: Run for Your Life, 1994
7. An Amber Shade of Blue
Originally heard on: A Rise in the Road, 2013
*-Bob played EWI
Now for various shots of each band member, beginning with Russell Ferrante:
Bob Mintzer on tenor sax:
…and EWI:
Will Kennedy:
Dane Alderson:
Unfortunately, my view of Dane was mostly blocked by Bob, so I could only get this picture and the one earlier in this post.
A pair of wide shots:
The end of “An Amber Shade of Blue”:
After the show, I went to the merchandise desk and bought a copy of Cohearence. I also brought a copy of the Bob Mintzer Big Band’s latest album, Get Up!
I had Russ sign my copy of Cohearence. Even though I’m about 90 pounds thinner than the last time he saw me, he remembered me when I introduced myself. Ten years later, we posed for another picture:
Next, I introduced myself to Bob Mintzer. We chatted briefly as he signed both Get Up! – I told him “Truth Spoken Here” was my favorite track – and Cohearence. Then, we posed for a picture:
Russ and Bob weren’t the only people I spoke to that night. In the audience were my friends keyboardist Bill Heller and guitarist Chieli Minucci. I caught up with them before calling it a night and heading for home. It was a lively and energetic set, especially when it came to Bob and Dane’s call and response on “An Amber Shade of Blue.” I’m already looking forward to next time.
In the meantime, I’ve listened to Cohearence a few times since Thursday night and love it. My favorite track so far is “Inevitable Outcome,” which was part of Thursday’s set.
MikeChimeri.com 