Smooth Jazz for Scholars 2016 dates/lineup December 21, 2015
Posted by Mike C. in Jazz, Music, Personal.add a comment
The time has come to reveal the who and when of keyboardist Jay Rowe‘s annual Smooth Jazz for Scholars benefit concert. This is the 14th year, the fourth since expanding to two nights.
Jay has the details in two separate Facebook posts. Here’s the first:
Reserved seating for the 14th annual Smooth Jazz For Scholars benefit concert are on sale now!! The shows will be held on 4/29/16 and 4/30/16. The line-up for 4/29 is Peter White, Marion Meadows, Brian Simpson and Matt Marshak. The line-up for 4/30 is Nick Colionne, Chieli Minucci, Nelson Rangell and Eric Darius. Tickets are $40 for each night and $70 for both nights. Purchase tickets by sending a check or money order payable to Smooth Jazz For Scholars Inc. to P.O. Box 3723 Milford, CT 06460.
General admission Smooth Jazz For Scholars tickets are on sale now at smoothjazzforscholars2016.eventbrite.com. Friday 4/29/16 line-up; Peter White, Meadows, Brian Simpson, Matt Marshak. Saturday 4/30/16 line-up: Nick Colionne, Eric Darius, Chieli Minucci, Nelson Rangell. The show will be held at the Parsons Complex 70 West River Street Milford, CT 06460. showtime at 8p.m. both nights. Tickets are $40 each 1 night $70 both nights.
I opted to go to both nights this year, meaning I’ll miss out on the 2016 WCWP Hall of Fame Ceremony at LIU Post. For the second year in a row, the ceremony conflicts with the second night. It was a tough decision to make as I’ve contributed quite a bit to WCWP alumni events with my pictures, video, and audio. It’s times like this when I wish I had a helicopter. I could take it from Milford to Brookville, and then go back after the ceremony. I hope 2017 is conflict-free.
As for Smooth Jazz for Scholars, this is the first appearance for Brian Simpson, Matt Marshak, and Eric Darius. I wonder if Brian will play his keytar and walk through the audience with it. And will Marion do the same for “Suede,” if he that’s on the set list? Can we expect Nick to play “Rainy Night in Georgia” and end the show with the always-wild James Brown tribute? What will Nelson’s whistle song be? Those questions and more will be answered this April.
Friday, April 29
Peter White
Marion Meadows
Brian Simpson
Matt Marshak
Saturday, April 30
Nick Colionne
Chieli Minucci
Nelson Rangell
Eric Darius
Location:
Parsons Complex
70 W. River St.
Milford, CT 06460
Tickets: $40 for one night, $70 for two nights
Reserved seating tickets can be purchased by check (like I did) or money order payable to:
Smooth Jazz for Scholars, Inc.
P.O. Box 3723
Milford, CT 06460
General admission tickets can be purchased at smoothjazzforscholars2016.eventbrite.com.
Here’s my recap of the first night of the 13th annual SJFS.
5/4 UPDATE: Recaps of both nights can be seen here and here.
Expanding my Christmas album collection again December 17, 2015
Posted by Mike C. in Christmas, Jazz, Media, Music, New Age, Personal.add a comment
2014 Christmas presents prior to unwrapping
Two years ago, I wrote about my love of Christmas music, which I incorporated into an extensive iTunes playlist. I listed all the albums I had compiled prior to 2013 and the albums I added that year. Last year, I updated the original post:
12/21/14 UPDATE: This year’s additions to my collection were A Smooth Jazz Holiday compiled by Nu Groove; Grover Washington, Jr.’s Breath of Heaven: A Holiday Collection, and A Soulful Christmas from Brian Culbertson. Tracks from those three albums, plus additional tracks from albums I already had, increase the duration of my iTunes playlist to 13 hours and 34 minutes!
This year, three new Christmas albums came out and I didn’t hesitate to pre-order either of them on Amazon.com. A pair of men named Kim released their albums in October. Kim Pensyl’s Early Snowfall was released on October 2 while Kim Waters’ My Gift to You came out two weeks later. Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band released A Big Phat Christmas WRAP THIS! on November 6. I added to the Christmas Music playlist three tracks from My Gift to You, eight from …WRAP THIS!, and nine tracks from Early Snowfall.
But that wasn’t all. About a year ago, my girlfriend gave me several Dave Koz albums, including A Smooth Jazz Christmas (Dave Koz & Friends) and December Makes Me Feel This Way. I didn’t take the time to listen to those albums until March. There were plenty of gems to be found, including a Hanukkah song (“Eight Candles”). Six songs from those albums were added to the playlist.
And just yesterday, I bought the instrumental tracks from David Benoit’s 2 In Love and Believe albums. I added “Guaraldi Medley” from Believe to the playlist.
Those 27 tracks, along with more material from the albums I already had, added another four hours and two minutes to the playlist; 17 hours and 36 minutes overall.
So far, the only person to hear my playlist this year is me. Since Thanksgiving, whenever I’ve gone for a run, or when I want to drown out music I don’t like in a store or restaurant, I listen to the playlist on either my iPod or iPhone. On Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, I’ll share my playlist with family and friends, as I do every year.
Merry Christmas to all.
Fourplay at the Blue Note December 3, 2015
Posted by Mike C. in Christmas, Jazz, Music, Personal, Photography, Travel.add a comment
I was at the Blue Note Jazz Club in Greenwich Village on Thursday night to see contemporary jazz group Fourplay perform. It was the third of six nights at the legendary venue, which they called their Blue & Silver Holiday Celebration. Each night had an 8:00 show and a 10:30 show. I was there for the 8:00 show.
I left my house in Wantagh at 4:00, walking about 20 minutes to the Wantagh LIRR station. From there, I boarded the 4:27 train bound for Penn Station.
Once at Penn, immediately walked to the Subway station and took the A train, as in the Duke Ellington song, downtown to West 4th Street. I ascended the stairs at West 3rd and walked a quarter block to Blue Note.
I arrived at 5:40, waiting outside until the doors opened at 6:00. I took this picture while I waited:
After I was let in and I checked my coat, I chose a table facing center stage and sat at the closest seat to the stage.
After dinner and dessert, it was time for Fourplay.
The band is made up of Bob James on piano and keyboard:
Nathan East on bass and vocals:
Chuck Loeb on guitars and background vocals:
It’s Chuck’s birthday today. Happy Birthday, Chuck.
And Harvey Mason on drums:
Unfortunately, I couldn’t see Harvey from my seat, but I did get this shot of him when he stood up as he and the band introduced each other:
Fourplay is celebrating 25 years as a band, the silver anniversary. That’s why their latest album is entitled “Silver.” A few songs from the album were incorporated into the set list, as you’ll see below:
1. Angels We Have Heard On High
Originally heard on: “Snowbound,” 1999
2. December Dream
Originally heard on: “Esprit de Four,” 2012
3. Max-O-Man
Originally heard on: “Fourplay,” 1991
4. Chant
Originally heard on: “Between the Sheets,” 1993
5. Quicksilver
Originally heard on: “Silver,” 2015
6. Horace
Originally heard on: “Silver,” 2015
7. Silverado
Originally heard on: “Silver,” 2015
8. Silver Streak
Originally heard on: “Silver,” 2015″
9. Bali Run
Originally heard on: “Fourplay,” 1991
10 (Encore). Between the Sheets (The Isley Brothers cover)
Originally heard on: “Between the Sheets,” 1993
The rest of this recap contains various shots of each band member. We start with Bob James:
Nathan East:
Chuck Loeb:
Harvey Mason:
Nate and Chuck:
Shots from the encore: “Between the Sheets”:
Nate thanked the audience:
And the last note was played:
I had a blast at this show. I was into every note of every song. Thank you to Bob James, Nathan East, Chuck Loeb, and Harvey Mason for a fantastic night of music. And thank you to Ken Freeman for his masterful mixing. The audio levels were just right – not too loud, not too soft – and each instrument was in tune.
Happy Silver Anniversary to all!
I’ll leave you with a few pictures I took at West 4th Street Station while waiting for an uptown A train back to Penn Station:
Downtown A train:
Matt Marshak at Houndstooth Pub: 2015 edition November 16, 2015
Posted by Mike C. in Jazz, Music, Personal, Photography, Travel.add a comment
Other Matt Marshak show recaps: 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
I was at Houndstooth Pub on Saturday night to see guitarist Matt Marshak perform. It was the first time I’d seen him in two years.
Matt’s band was made up of himself on guitar:
Kenny Harris on bass:
Etienne Lytle on keyboards:
…and Matt’s brother Chris on drums:
SET LIST
SET 1
1. Kenny’s Groove*
2. Lifestyle
3. Summerfunk
4. A Silent Knowing
5. Wind Chill Factor
6. Feelin’ It
7. Put It Where You Want It (The Crusaders cover)
8. Cadillac Kid
9. Affirmation/Breezin’ (George Benson cover medley)
*-Matt didn’t join the band until the next song.
SET 2
10. Midtown
11. Funkology
12. Teddy P (audience request)
13. Sanibel
14. Wonderful Tonight (Eric Clapton cover)
15. Sleepwalk (Santo & Johnny cover, notably covered by Larry Carlton)
16. Kiss (Prince and The Revolution cover)
17. Matt’s Blues
Various shots of Matt:
Kenny Harris’ “Feelin’ It” solo:
Etienne Lytle:
Chris Marshak’s “Feelin’ It” solo:
Wide shots:
“Kiss”/”Matt’s Blues”:
Another successful Matt Marshak show was in the books. I had a blast. Thanks to Matt, Kenny, Etienne, and Chris for making my night.
2015 LIU Post & WCWP Homecoming, 2016 Hall of Fame Announcement October 11, 2015
Posted by Mike C. in Airchecks, Audio, Football, Interviews, Jazz, Media, Music, Personal, Photography, Radio, Sports, Video, Weather.add a comment
Other recaps: 2008, 2009, WCWP 50th Anniversary (2011), 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022
Earlier 2015 Homecoming Weekend posts: FM 50th Anniversary Celebration, First few hours of shows on Friday
Later in this recap, I share the aircheck from my pre-recorded Homecoming Weekend show that aired early this morning. To see and hear my live show on Friday, click here.
Yesterday was my third day in row on the campus of LIU Post: Homecoming Day.
I arrived about an hour earlier than previous years. When I made my way to Bethpage Federal Credit Union Stadium, the LIU Post Pioneers and Merrimack College Warriors were in the second quarter of their game.
On the way to Bronko Piersall Field, I shot pictures from the carnival and signs in the parking lot:
The annual press box shots…
Jeff Kroll and Neil Marks were back in the lower booth calling the game. Jeff’s wife Pat is to his left (screen right) and Joel Feltman is to Neil’s right (screen left).
Pat photographed Jeff and Neil before kickoff:
Unfortunately, the Pioneers did not score while I was by the field:
They did, however, miss a field goal:
Disappointed, I walked to WCWP, where I spent the rest of the day.
The Pioneers would trail the Warriors 3-0 at halftime, but score 20 unanswered points in the second half. The Warriors got back within 3 twice and had two chances to regain the lead. They couldn’t, and the Pioneers hung on to win 27-24.
Now for the WCWP portion of the day…
The Studio 1 clock:
Maura “Bernie” Bernard’s show followed the football game:
Pete Bellotti announced the two 2016 inductees to the WCWP Hall of Fame: the late Ann Gaffney…:
…and Joe Honerkamp:
Bruce Leonard called in – speaking with Neil Marks, initially – and spoke with Bernie on the air following the announcement:
Jeff Kroll chimed in on Joe’s induction:
Jay Mirabile and me:
Pete Bellotti, me, Jay Mirabile:
Pete Bellotti, Bernie Bernard, Joe Honerkamp, Dan Cox, Bobby Guthenberg:
The inductees:
John Zoni in Studio 2:
Bernie made way for Mike Riccio and Bobby G.:
Back in Studio 2, Bill and Debbie Mozer:
Bernie Bernard and me:
It was a fun few days of Homecoming festivites for me. It’s always great to catch up with my fellow alumni. The compliments I received for my multimedia work – pictures, video, and audio – have made this year extra special.
Now, here’s video from some of Bernie’s show followed by the start of Mike and Bobby’s show:
There was one part of Bernie’s show that I missed: Ted David called in. Here’s how that sounded:
That’s what I meant by the compliments I received. Thank you very much, Ted.
At 2:00 this morning, the second of my Homecoming Weekend shows aired: a bonus edition of Instrumental Invasion with Mike Chimeri. I recorded the show two weeks ago. Naturally, I have pictures to show for it:
Here is the aircheck from the show:
And the playlist:
I’ve been listening to the rest of the WCWP Homecoming Weekend throughout Sunday.
2015 WCWP Homecoming Weekend, first few hours October 10, 2015
Posted by Mike C. in Airchecks, Audio, Education, Football, Internet, Jazz, Media, Music, Personal, Photography, Radio, Sports, TV, Video.add a comment
I was honored to kick off this year’s WCWP Homecoming Weekend with a live edition of Instrumental Invasion with Mike Chimeri yesterday at noon.
I went right to bed after getting home from the 50th anniversary celebration on Thursday night because I had to get up at sunrise yesterday morning. That allowed me time to edit pictures and video that you saw in the above post before getting a ride from my father up to WCWP at around 8:45.
As a result, I arrived 2 1/2 hours early, which gave me plenty of time to set up. I took a few pictures when I entered Studio 1:
The next six pictures were taken while my show was on the air:
Joel Feltman took this shot:
LIU Post/WCWP alumnus Tom Murphy caught some of my show on 88.1 FM. When he heard it was Homecoming Weekend, he decided to drop by the station. He was complimentary of the music I played.
His fellow alum Dan Cox requested a picture, and I was more than happy to oblige:
Tom wasn’t the only one complimentary of my show. Jeff and Pat Kroll, and the aforementioned Joel Feltman, were equally laudatory.
After my show, it was Jeff Kroll’s turn:
He’ll be on plenty this weekend.
Jeff’s setup:
Next on the schedule was Joel Feltman:
On my way to the bus stop, heading for home, I noticed a familiar name on the LIU Post Alumni Walk: Fred Gaudelli. This sign was posted by Pell Hall:
There’s also a Ted David sign by the Great Lawn, which I took a picture of two weeks ago:
I’ll be back later today for Homecoming itself and the announcement of the 2016 WCWP Hall of Fame class. (10/11 UPDATE: Click here for the recap.) I’ll conclude this post, no pun intended, with my show’s playlist:
…along with video and audio of my aircheck, which includes the beginning of Jeff’s show:
WCWP-FM 50th Anniversary Celebration: October Edition October 9, 2015
Posted by Mike C. in Education, Media, Personal, Photography, Video.add a comment
Previous 50th Anniversary Celebration: March 2015
Homecoming Weekend at LIU Post began Thursday as WCWP’s FM station once again celebrated 50 years on the air. This time, the celebration was on campus in the Great Hall at Winnick House.
As usual, I had my camera at the ready. Here’s what I shot:
Scott and Janet Perschke, Jeff Kroll, Jay Elzweig, Alan Seltzer:
Dan Cox, Pete Bellotti:
Janet Perschke, Alan Seltzer, Scott Perschke:
Jay Elzweig, Bernie Bernard, Melissa Bernard:
Pat and Jeff Kroll, Joe Honerkamp:
Bobby Guthenberg joined in for the next shot:
Me, John Zoni:
Pete Bellotti, Beverly (née Koondel) and Jeff Bolnick:
About a half hour in, Jeff Kroll and WCWP Station Manager Dan Cox addressed attendees.
Jeff spoke first:
Then, it was Dan’s turn:
After dinner, Dan’s daughter Emily presented him with a birthday cake:
Pat and Jeff Kroll, Mike Ferrari, Scott Perschke, Bernie Bernard, Bobby Guthenberg, Jay Elzweig:
Scott Perschke, Alan Seltzer, Bobby Guthenberg:
Scott and Janet Perschke:
Naoko and Perry Holst:
Dan Cox with his wife Nancy, daughter Emily, and Emily’s boyfriend A.J.:
Here’s to 50 more years of WCWP 88.1 FM!
We leave you with video of Jeff and Dan; a guest appearance by Dr. Kimberly Cline, President of LIU Post; and Dan receiving his birthday cake:
Click here to see sights and sounds from the first few hours of WCWP Homecoming Weekend.
Two WCWP Homecoming Weekend shows September 28, 2015
Posted by Mike C. in Airchecks, Internet, Jazz, Media, Music, Personal, Phone, Radio.2 comments
I’ll be doubling my pleasure on WCWP’s Homecoming Weekend as Instrumental Invasion with Mike Chimeri will air twice. The first show kicks off the weekend next Friday, October 9, at noon Eastern. It’ll be my first live homecoming show since 2009. The second show will be pre-recorded, as my previous four shows were, and will air Sunday, October 11, at 2AM Eastern. The above picture is from the end of my pre-record session a few days ago.
You can listen locally on 88.1 FM or at WCWP.org. You can also listen on the TuneIn app. Just search WCWP.
The live show will include Ken Navarro, Brian Simpson, The Jeff Lorber Fusion, and two by Nelson Rangell.
The pre-recorded show is dedicated to songs from albums released between 1965 and 2015, sans 1970. Expect to hear Vince Guaraldi, Return to Forever, Ramsey Lewis, Bobby Lyle, and many more.
Outside of those two shows, I’ll be at the WCWP-FM 50th Anniversary Reception at LIU Post’s Great Hall on Thursday, October 8, and at Post’s various Homecoming activities on Homecoming Day, Saturday, October 10. Late Saturday afternoon, the 2016 inductees to the WCWP Hall of Fame will be announced. I look forward to catching up with my fellow alumni.
I hope you’ll listen to WCWP all weekend long. Homecoming Weekend shows begin at noon next Friday with me and end at midnight on Sunday (early Monday morning).
My 2015 NFL predictions September 10, 2015
Posted by Mike C. in Football, Personal, Sports.add a comment
Previous NFL season predictions: 2014
(3/27/16 UPDATE: Results italicized in parentheses.)
The 2015 NFL season starts tonight, which means it’s time for my annual predictions.
In the NFC: The Packers will win the North (1) (wrong; Vikings won with 3 seed; Packers were 5) Seahawks win the West (2) (wrong; Cardinals won with 2 seed; Seahawks were 6), Cowboys win the East (3), and Panthers win the South (right) (4) (wrong; 1). The Cardinals (5) (wrong; Packers were 5) and Eagles (6) (wrong; didn’t make the playoffs; Seahwaks were 6) will be the wild cards.
In the AFC: The Patriots win the East (right) (1) (wrong; 2), Broncos win the West (right) (2) (wrong; 1), Steelers win the North (3) (wrong about winner, but right about seeding; Bengals won North; Steelers were 6), and Colts win the South (4) (wrong about winner, but right about seeding; Texas won South; Colts didn’t make the playoffs. The Ravens (5) (wrong; didn’t make the playoffs; Chiefs were 5) and Chargers (6) (wrong; didn’t make the playoffs; Steelers were 6) will be the wild cards.
In the postseason:
Wild Card: Eagles, Ravens, Cardinals, and Steelers win (Chiefs, Steelers, Seahawks, and Packers won)
Divisional: Packers, Steelers, Seahawks, and Patriots win (Patriots, Cardinals, Panthers, and Broncos win)
Conference Champions: Packers (NFC) and Patriots (AFC) (Panthers [NFC] and Broncos [AFC]), setting up the Super Bowl XXXI rematch I incorrectly predicted last year. Only this time… (wrong)
Super Bowl 50 Champions: Patriots (Broncos)
Last year, my pessimistic Super Bowl prediction turned out to be right. (Thanks, Pete Carroll.) I’d like to go back to being wrong this year. If I’m right, it will be Bill Belichick’s fifth Super Bowl win as a head coach, surpassing Chuck Noll’s four with the Steelers. (I’m glad to have been wrong again.)
Locally, I expect the Giants to finish third again in the NFC East (right, and with the same record: 6-10) and the Jets to finish remain in last in the AFC East (wrong; they needed to beat the Bills in their last game or for the Steelers to lose to the Browns; neither happened). Rex Ryan’s Bills will finish third in the East (right, and that last win must have been sweet for him), leaving the Dolphins to finish second (wrong; last).
Despite Jameis Winston at quarterback, the Buccaneers will finish last again in the NFC South (right). Marcus Mariota will deliver a third place finish in the AFC South for the Titans (wrong; last).
MikeChimeri.com 
Audiobooking 2: Listen Up! November 12, 2015
Posted by Mike C. in Audio, Audiobooks, Basketball, Blu-ray, Christmas, Comedy, Commentary, DVD, Film, News, Personal, Politics, Sports, TV, Video.add a comment
Early last December, I listed all the audiobooks I had listened to while working out between June and the day I wrote the post. I said “there [would] be more audiobooks to come in the weeks ahead.” This follow-up post will list those books, all of which I listened to on Audible.
Since my misadventure with Dick Cavett’s left-leaning
bookcollection of New York Times blog posts, I’ve only listened to apolitical or right-leaning audiobooks.From last December to now, here is what has guided me through workouts, bedtime, and boredom:
allmost episodes of Wings on DVD for seven weeks. All By My Selves took up half of January. It was written back in 2010 and chronicles Jeff’s life from birth to meeting his now-wife Audrey, and all my favorite characters: Walter, Peanut, Achmed, Jose, and Bubba J. For the record, I’ve pre-ordered Unhinged in Hollywood on Blu-ray. It comes out next Tuesday, my 34th birthday.I have many more audiobooks I plan on listening to between now and the next post, whenever that will come. Just today, I started Mort Kondracke and Fred Barnes’ book on Jack Kemp. It’s called Jack Kemp: The Bleeding-Heart Conservative Who Changed America. After that, I’ll move on to the another Rush Revere book: Rush Revere and the Star-Spangled Banner. Then, a series of autobiographies should keep me occupied through the summer. Until next time…