Lots of pre-ordering today May 10, 2008

After browsing the Upcoming Jazz Releases page at allaboutjazz.com, I just pre-ordered a whole mess of CDs:

Al Turner, “Movin'” (5/20)
Yellowjackets, “Lifecycle” (featuring Mike Stern) (5/20)
Wayman Tisdale, “Rebound” (6/3)
The Jeff Lorber Fusion, “The Jeff Lorber Fusion” (re-issue) (6/10)
The Jeff Lorber Fusion, “Soft Space” (re-issue) (6/10)
Gerald Albright, “Sax For Stax” (6/24)
Nick Colionne, “No Limits” (6/24)
Eric Darius, “Goin’ All Out” (6/24)

Last April, I bought the original “Jeff Lorber Fusion” and “Soft Space” LPs on eBay, thinking it would be ages before those albums would ever be released on CD.  When they came, I recorded the tracks on both from my turntable to my DAT (Digital Audio Tape) recorder.  Then, I recorded what was on the DAT to my computer as WAVE files, which I also saved as high-quality MP3s.  Now, they’re coming to CD on Wounded Bird Records.  Go figure.  At least the LP versions held me over for a year.

I pre-ordered David Benoit’s new album, “Heroes,” a week ago.  That comes out May 27.  Outside of that, I had no idea any of the other albums listed in this post were coming out.  But I know now and look forward to hearing them.

P.S. Still bored and lonely.

David Sanborn concert recap May 4, 2008

As I feared, there was no meet-and-greet after tonight’s (technically, last night’s; it’s after midnight as I post) David Sanborn concert at IMAC.  Initially, I was frustrated, but I’ve gradually gotten over it.

My seat was excellent.  It was in the left section, first row, aisle.  The band was comprised of David on alto saxophone; Ricky Peterson on keyboards, organ, and a vocal on “The Dream,” the encore of the night; Richard Patterson on bass; Nicky Moroch (“MorOCK”) on guitar; and Gene Lake on drums.  Besides “The Dream,” the set list was “Comin’ Home Baby,” “Full House,” “Maputo,” “Tin Tin Deo,” “As We Speak,” “Benny,” and “Soul Serenade.”  After “The Dream,” some of the crowd wanted another encore, but they didn’t get it.  It’s just as well.  I’ve been told that most single artist sets are 75 minutes, which is about how long the set was tonight.  I wasn’t complaining, though.

Overall, it was great to finally see David in concert, even if this ends up being the only time.

I took around 30 pictures (without the flash).  Here are the ones that stood out:

David Sanborn:

Ricky Peterson (the only shot I tried getting with his organ in the way):

Richard Patterson on two kinds of bass:

And Nicky Moroch:

Gene Lake was completely obstructed from my view.

Another Saturday, another concert May 3, 2008

For the second Saturday in a row, I’m going to a concert.  This time, I’ll be seeing David Sanborn at IMAC (the Inter-Media Art Center) in Huntington, New York, 20 to 30 minutes northeast of me.  Hopefully, I’ll enjoy myself as I did last week.  If there’s a meet-and-greet following the concert, I’ll likely have a picture to share of me with him.  Just don’t expect a detailed recap like I had for Smooth Jazz for Scholars.

Last year, the same thing happened.  On April 28, I attended Smooth Jazz for Scholars, and one week later on May 5, I saw Bob James and Angels of Shanghai at IMAC.

For those of you not familiar with David Sanborn–and since my blog is intended to appeal to everyone, some of you may not be–his website is one of the Jazz Links listed on the left side of your screen below the Blogroll and Friends/Family.

Incidentally, Bob James and David Sanborn have worked together in the past.  David appeared on Bob’s “Heads” (1977), “Touchdown” (1978), “Lucky Seven” (1979), and “Foxie” (1983) albums.  And they released a collaborative album, “Double Vision,” in 1986.  (If I made any mistakes, let me know and I’ll correct myself.)

SJFS meet-and-greet pics April 30, 2008

2008 recap

As promised, here are pictures from the meet-and-greet following the Smooth Jazz for Scholars concert Saturday night.

First, Eric Marienthal:

Chieli Minucci:

Ken Navarro:

The man behind SJFS, Jay Rowe:

Joyce Cooling:

Jay Rowe, Joyce Cooling, and Jay Wagner:

Oops, Jay blinked.

But through the magic of Adobe Photoshop:

Does it look authentic?

And finally, back in the Hampton Inn lobby, shortly after midnight, Kim Waters:

Kim, Ken, and Kat Sarracco (who took the above picture) were on their way to the after party at the Stonebridge Restaurant.  I opted not to go and was sound asleep in my room within an hour and a half.

I slept soundly until 10:30 AM Sunday.  From there, I did my push-ups, showered, and packed.  Then, as I checked out, I ran into Kat in the lobby where my mom and her friend Mandy were waiting to drive me back home after driving all the way to the hotel.  I introduced Kat to them and we all had a nice brief conversation.  Then, Mom, Mandy, and I drove back to Long Island.  Meanwhile, Kat drove Ken and Eric to JFK (John F. Kennedy International Airport) for their respective flights.  Ken was flying home; Eric was flying to Moscow to begin a tour with his band comprised of all Russian musicians.

And that concludes our journey through my weekend in Milford.  I hope you enjoyed this look back as much as I enjoyed it in real time.

SJFS recap April 29, 2008

2008 meet-and-greet

I left for Milford at 12PM Saturday and arrived at the Hampton Inn an hour and a half later.  My room was on the first floor, where many of the musicians performing at Smooth Jazz for Scholars that night.  As I was walking to my room, I heard Eric Marienthal practicing two rooms down from me.

The hotel had two computers in the lobby connected to Wi-Fi internet.  Unfortunately, the connection was shoddy at best and my attempts to blog from there were futile.

Here was the view from my room this year:

I had dinner delivered from a nearby pizzeria.  I ordered fried mozzarella (mozzarella sticks) and baked ziti with meatballs.  The order came with a side of garlic bread.  As I waited for the delivery, I listened to Ken Navarro’s brand new album “The Grace of Summer Light,” which Ken gave me my copy of earlier in the lobby.  (The CD is a masterpiece, by the way!)

After 40 minutes of eating the delicious food, I brushed my teeth, packed my equipment, and walked 1.3 miles to the Parsons auditorium.  You saw a picture in my previous posting as I was leaving the Hampton Inn.  Here are more pictures from my walk:

Plains Rd./Boston Post Rd. (U.S. 1) intersection.

Plains Rd. becomes W. Main St. after U.S. 1.

Almost there…

In we go…

My friend, Kat Sarracco (center), working the merchandise table.

To set the stage (so to speak), here’s the empty stage:

Kevin McCabe of JumpstartJazz Productions welcomes the audience and introduces Jay Rowe, the man behind Smooth Jazz for Scholars.

Jay’s ready to go and so is the audience…and so are you, I bet.

The house band featured members of Jay Rowe’s band, the Best Kept Secret: Dave Livolsi on bass…

…Trever Somerville on drums…

…Steve Scales on percussion…

…and of course, Jay on keyboards.

Unlike last year, there was no intermission.
Below, I do not list Jay as a featured musician because he’s featured in every song but two.  It was his concert, after all.
The original artist is listed in parentheses next to the song title.
I sat in the first row, straightaway center.  I had my tripod rested on my seat.  How else could I have gotten such jitterless pictures that you saw above and will see below?

SONG #1: Boat Ride (Jay Rowe)
Originally heard on: “Jay Walking,” 1997
Featured musicians: Bob Nunno (“NU-no”) (“The Feature Teacher”), Rohn (“Ron”) Lawrence

SONG #2: Courageous Cats (Chieli Minucci)
Originally heard on: “Jewels,” 1995
Featured musicians: Chieli Minucci, Eric Marienthal, Bob Nunno

“I wish I could make a musician magically appear on stage.”

Eric Marienthal!

SONG #3: Mystical (Chieli Minucci & Special EFX)
Originally heard on: “Sweet Surrender,” 2007
Featured musicians: Chieli Minucci, Kim Waters

SONG #4: The Ride (Kim Waters)
Originally heard on: “Someone To Love You,” 2002
Featured musicians: Kim Waters, Chieli Minucci

Kim Waters during “The Ride.”

SONG #5: Smooth Sensation (Ken Navarro)
Originally heard on: “Smooth Sensation,” 1997
Featured musician: Ken Navarro

Playing to Jay…

…and Steve Scales.

SONG #6: Try Again (Ken Navarro)
Originally heard on: “The River Flows,” 1990; “Island Life,” 2000
Featured musician: Ken Navarro
In the early minutes, Ken walked through the first few rows of the audience.

Ken playing/walking by my seat…

…and to my right.

SONG #7: Daddy-O (Joyce Cooling)
Originally heard on: “Third Wish,” 2001
Featured musicians: Joyce Cooling, Eric Marienthal

SONG #8: Come And Get It (Joyce Cooling)
Originally heard on: “Revolving Door,” 2006
Featured musician: Joyce Cooling

SONG #9: Blue Water (Eric Marienthal)
Originally heard on: “Just Around The Corner,” 2007
Featured musicians: Eric Marienthal, Bob Nunno, Rohn Lawrence

SONG #10: Open Road (Eric Marienthal)
Originally heard on: “Just Around The Corner,” 2007
Featured musicians: Eric Marienthal, Rohn Lawrence, Bob Nunno

SONG #11: Frankenstein (Edgar Winter Group cover)
Featured musicians: Caitlin Kalafus, Chieli Minucci, Bob Nunno

15-year-old Caitlin Kalafus just gets better and better with each passing year. She was fantastic on drums.

SONG #12: The title of this song was not given, but Joyce pointed out to the audience that she and Jay Wagner had not played it in 10 years.
Musicians: Joyce Cooling and Jay Wagner only

Chieli gives Joyce a stool.

SONG #13: Nature Boy (Special EFX)
Originally heard on: “Confidential,” 1989
Musician: Chieli Minucci only

SONG #14: Daybreak (Special EFX)
Originally heard on: “Global Village,” 1992
Featured musicians: Chieli Minucci, Ken Navarro, Kim Waters, the Foran High School Select Ensemble Chorus (under the direction of Theresa Voss)

Jay introduces the chorus.

The Select Ensemble Chorus in action behind Jay.

SONG #15: In The House (Kim Waters)
Originally heard on: “From The Heart,” 2001
Featured musicians: Kim Waters, Chieli Minucci

SONG #16: What’s Going On (Marvin Gaye cover)
Featured musicians: Lamone Andrews, Rohn Lawrence, Kim Waters
The next two songs featured Lamone Andrews on vocals.

SONG #17: Foolish Heart (Journey cover)
Featured musicians: Lamone Andrews, Rohn Lawrence, Kim Waters

SONG #18, Finale: Compared to What (Eric Marienthal; Les McCann cover)
Originally heard on: “Got You Covered!,” 2005
Featured musicians (initially): Eric Marienthal, Rohn Lawrence

Midway through, Jay called all the musicians back to the stage…

…including Caitlin’s father, Chris Kalafus, on guitar.

Caitlin took over on drums (she’s blocked from view, guided by Chieli)…

…while Trever provided additional percussion.

And that was it.

What a night it was.

Either later today or tomorrow, I will post my pictures with the musicians during the meet-and-greet in the lobby at Parsons and the lobby at Hampton Inn.  In the meantime, I hope you enjoy the pictures I’ve posted here.  Feel free to leave comments.  I look forward to hearing from you.

This post took five hours to create; two hours last night and three hours today.  It was a labor of love, if that makes sense.

One other thing: here’s Caitlin’s official website.  As you’ll see, she’s much more than just a drummer.

8/30 UPDATE: Until today, Bob Nunno’s last name was spelled with only one “n.”  I have now made the correction.  I apologize for the error.

3/10/19 UPDATE: I upgraded my WordPress plan, which means more storage space, so I’m upgrading to higher resolution pictures.