AGENDA 2009
17 January - Blue Moon Jazz at the Point. Somers Point Jazz Society. Organist Luke O'Reily at the Inlet (998 Bay Ave.) and basist Andy Lalasis at Gregs.
25 January - (2 - 4pm in the afternoon)Cape May Traditional Jazz Society inagural show at the Cape May VFW Post 386, 419 Congress St., West Cape May, N.J. with the Atlantic City Jazz Band featuring Franny Smith on banjo, Bob Rawlins on clarinet and the Red Garter Band from the old North Wildwood Days. Promoting traditional Dixieland, blues, Ragtime and New Orleans jazz,the Cape May Traditional Jazz Society (CMTJS) is led by Bob Ashman and Charlie Logeman, and can be reached at info@capemaytraditionaljazzsociety.com. Shows are also scheduled at the VFW on February 15, March 8, April 19, May 10, June 14, July 12 and August 9. Proceeds benefit the bands at Lower and Middle High Schools.
25 January - 1st Annual Somers Point Jazz Society benefit concert at the Inlet (998 Bay Ave.), featuring the George Mesterhazy Trio, with George on piano, Tim Lekan on bass and Bob Shomo on drums.
http://www.spjazz.org/
6 February - Friday, Somers Point Jazz Society presents Jazz Movie Nite, featuring "A Great Day In Harlem!" a documentary about the making of the famous photograph of New York City jazz musicians on the steps of a Harlem row house that was published in Esquire Magazine.
There's a local angle to this story too, since the photographer, Art Kane, lived in Cape May and started the Cape May Photographers Workshop, before he committed suicide.
Check it out: Jazz@thePoint2009
5 March - Thursday - (7 PM & 8:30 PM) Stumpos. The Magnificant 7; Ken Fowser/Ben Gillece Quartet at Gregory's (8:30 PM & 11:30 PM) have new CD "Full View."
6 March - Friday - One For All sextet with Eric Alexander, David Hazeltine, Jim Rotondi and friends, at Stumpos (8 PM & 10 PM): Tony Day Quartet featuring Denis King, at the Inlet, (8 & 10); Jazz guitarist Dave Stryker & Trip at Gregorys (10 PM & 1 AM)
7 March - Saturday - Vincent Herring & "The Earth Jazz Agents" at Stumpos (8 & 10); Trumpet giant Brian Lynch and his Latin Jazz quartet at the Inlet (8 & 10); guitarist Steve Giordano Spacetet at Gregory's (10 PM & 1 AM).
8 March - Sunday - Jim Ridl Quartet at the Inlet (2 PM & 4 PM Matinee); Trumpeter Joe Margnarelli Quartet at Gregory's (2 & 4PM); Gina Roche and her quartet at Stumpos (4 PM & 6PM).
[(609) 927-6677 - Thursday Nite free, Friday $30, Saturday $35, Sunday $25, or all event pass $50 in advance, with discounts to SPJS members.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Inaugural Blast
Inaugural Blast – By Bill Kelly
All things are pointing towards a major Inaugural blast, as a lot of people are planning on converging on Washington D.C for the inaugural and inagural party and balls.
Since the preceeding day is Martin Luther King Day, an official holiday and three day weekend, it should be a blowout now that there’s a young, black president with friends like Bruce Springsteen, Aretha Franklin, Billy Joel, the Greatful Dead, Will.i.am, Beyonce, Jay-z and Leona Lewis.
While born in Hawaii, he’s now from Chicago, and that’s no Don Ho, so we can expect the official Inaugural Band to include some Chicago blues and maybe even the Blues Brothers and the Purple Gang Rhythm Section.
The official Inagural Committee, a subcommitte of the Senate, has announced the inagural schedule, program and starting lineup of acts. Among those set to perform for the inaguration will be the US Marine Band, John Phillips Sousa's old group who used to be the house band at Congress Hall in Cape May, and peform on the porch.
Then there's Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul who you all remember as the gal who ran the greasey spoon joint in the original Blues Brothers flick.
Put together by Senate Inagural Subcommittee chair Dianne Feinstein, Obama and Biden, the Inagural show will also include Chinese American Cellist Yo-Yo Ma, Israli American virtuoso violinist Itzhak Pearlman, pianist Gabriela Montero, Anthony McGill on claranet and the San Francisco Boys and Girls Chorius.
They will reportedly perform a special song composed by John Williams ("Jaws" "Star Wars") who was at the Grant Park gig on election night.
As with Robert Frost at JFK's inaguration, Obama has invited Elizabeth Alexander of Yale to read a poem, while Joseph Lowery, of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference will speak and Pastor Rick Warren ("Purpose Driven Life"), host of a Obama-McLain debate in California, will lead a prayer.
More to come on the inagural acts and who will be performing at what parties and balls.
Consider for a moment, the Inauguration is on Tuesday, January 20, the day after January 19th, Martin Luther King Day, King’s birthday, now a national holiday and an official day off, creating a three day weekend that ends with the inauguration on Tuesday.
They say, what's the difference between MLK Day and St. Patrick's Day? On St. Patrick's Day everybody wants to be Irish. Well, MLK Day is the St. Patrick’s Day for black people and all minorities, and for once, it is a day everyone will take note because of the special historic occasion of the inauguration of a black president, something few people ever imagined would happen.
We all know black people have a reputation, like the Irish, for having fun and knowing how to party, and Obama’s early and eager supporters included Hollywood actors, New York entertainers and musicians, especially Bruce Springsteen and Will.i.am, who was inspired by Obama to wrote songs “Yes We Can” and “It’s a New Day.”
Springsteen, who made a number of solo acoustic appearances at Obama rallies in Philadelphia and Ohio, also wrote, “Working on a Dream,” which he premiered at a rally in Ohio and is on a new album set for release around the time of the Inauguration. Springsteen and the E-Street Band are also scheduled to play at halftime of the Super bowl on February 1, but that may be an afterthought following the Inaugural blast.
If you want to go, be part of the party and witness history, you’re not alone, as ten times as many citizens have requested some of the 240,000 free tickets to the inauguration as ever before, giving a good indication that this is going to be one Big Bash.
Only Senators and Congressmen can distribute tickets to view the inaguration, which will take place on the West Steps of the Capitol building, which faces the Washington Monument and the Mall, which will be open to the public for the first time to accomidate the four million people expected to attend. That's up two million from last month's projections.
Besides the reserved tickets that give you a view of the inauguration, the swearing in of the new president and his speech, more than 4 million people are expected to pack the mall and watch the proceedings on big screens, and line Pennsylvania Avenue as the new president rides or walks from the Capitol steps to the White House.
As for shear numbers, a lot will depend on the weather, as few people will bother if its too cold, or there’s a storm, but regardless, there will be at least a million and a half people expected, which is three times the number of people who were at Woodstock and a little less than the Philadelphia Phillies World Championship parade.
Which makes me think that if Philadelphia can put two million people together for a baseball parade, then DC can do better for Obama, so regardless of the weather, I say 2 mill easy, will pack the National Mall like Martin Luther King was giving a speech. And the new security numbers of up to 4 million don't seem too farfetched.
But the real action will not be the day of the Inaguration, but that night, when the official and unofficial Inagural Balls and parties will take place all over town.
First off, it really is a formal occasion, and if you swing an invite to say the MTV party, New Jersey contingent’s ball, or even if you intend to crash a party, you must dress the part – to the Nines.
And there isn’t just one official ball, but about a dozen of them, and your lucky to get an invite to any of them, with increasing significance attached to those who get to go to more than one and, like the new President and his wife, move around to different parties.
Of course, if you go, you have to make arrangements ahead of time, and first get a place to stay. Forget a hotel or motel, and think of a friend you went to school with who now works as a mid level government beauracrat who will let you stay on their couch, though be prepared to have to bid for the squatting rights, as other old friends are also thinking along these lines.
Once you secure lodging, then you have to consider whether to fly, drive, bus or train. For me, I’ve done it all, and the train is by far the preferred route, not only cost wise, but hassle wise, and comfort. Driving is a problem, not only the four hours getting there, but in parking once you get there and having to drive back after it’s all over. Unless there are three or more souls making this trip, the highway takes a back seat to AMTRACK.
And now they announce that Barrak and Joe will be taking AMTRACK too. Obama will be in Philly for Martin Luther King Day (of Service) and get on the train at 30th Street Station and head south to Wilmington and pick up Joe and take the train down to Union Station in DC for the Shindig.
See, did I tell you how to go?
Once you have acomidations and transport lined up, the tickets to the inaugural and the parties and balls, will come easier. If you are a regular Democratic Party stalwart then you should have no problem getting a free pass from your Congressmen, but if you just voted for him, well then you may have to put in a little squeeze and remind people about that favor you once did. There’s a real determination in Congress and the new administration not to allow these free tickets to be resold on ebay or the black market, but I’m sure a lot of people will be getting greedy as it gets closer to the day.
While tickets to the balls are easier to get because many of them actually cost money, and you have to be able to get there to use them, and have your tux or gown ready, best bet is to check in with your local Democratic Party boss and see about getting a ticket.
Once the accommodations, travel and tickets to the inauguration and the ball are all covered, the only thing left is where to eat. If you’re going to a ball, the food should be covered, as they usually put a out a pretty nice spread for all of the balls, high end or low. You will have a ball.
But it’s a long holiday weekend, there’s breakfasts, lunch and dinners for a few days that I’ll cover in more detail as we get closer to DC and the date.
In the meantime, MTV has announced that they will be having a party the night of the inagural.
MTV will be hosting a party with the theme “Be the Change Inaugural Ball” at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, where I was at the in last Inaugural Ball at a Hollywood sponsored bash, tickets compliments of Jersey Joe Piscopo.
According to their news release, MTV announced that it has partnered with ServiceNation to co-host the "Be the Change Inaugural Ball" in Washington, D.C., on January 20, 2009 — the same day President-elect Barack Obama will take his oath of office.
The event will celebrate the massive youth-voter turnout in this month's presidential election and an active commitment from America's youth to impart positive social change through volunteer service. ServiceNation is an organization that campaigns to increase support for expanding national service programs like the Peace Corps and Americorps.
A record 24 million people between the ages of 18 and 29 voted in the 2008 presidential election, accounting for 18 percent of the 133.3 million voters who hit the polls. It marked the third major election in a row with increased youth-voter numbers, and for the first time in 20 years, the number of young voters surpassed the number of voters over the age of 65.
The ball will be staged at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center and will feature several leading artists, celebrities and government officials (to be named later), alongside hundreds of young people who've been chosen to attend based on their demonstrated volunteerism.
The "Be the Change Inaugural Ball" will be televised live across all MTV platforms, including MTV, MTV2, MTV Tr3s, mtvU, MTV Hits, MTV Jams and MTV.com on the evening of January 20. Exact air times will be announced in the coming weeks.
The live television event will also include live broadcasts from other locations across the globe, where young people are completing major service projects. Leading up to the event, MTV will showcase stories of young people providing service within their communities on a daily basis, beginning on January 1.
"Over the last year and culminating in this election, we have seen a groundswell of engagement and a refreshed spirit of activism from young people," MTV general manager Stephen Friedman said. "ServiceNation is the perfect partner for this inaugural event, given that they encompass a broad coalition of youth service organizations. We want to celebrate young people across the nation who are answering the call and working to make changes in their communities and beyond."
http://www.nme.com/news/leona-lewis/41244
Leona Lewis has been asked to sing for US President-elect Barack Obama at his inauguration ceremony in Washington DC on January 20.
The singer, who yesterday (November 23) beat Dido to the Number One spot in the albums chart with a reissue of her album 'Spirit', is set to join Jay-Z and Beyonce at the ceremony
Millions are expected to convene in the US capital on inauguration day, while tickets to the ceremony are exchanging hands for thousands on auction sites.
Speaking before Obama won the US election, Lewis said: "I think Obama is amazing. He's just so cool and articulate. Nothing fazes him.
"It would mean everything for ethnic minorities in that country and every country around the world to have a mixed-race leader of America."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/11/06/beyonces-obama-joy-offers_n_141747.html?show_comment_id=17813008
NEW YORK — Attention, Mr. president-elect: Come Inauguration Day, Beyonce is at your service.
"I'm there. I can't wait. I feel like all of us, we're ready to do whatever we have to do. Whatever they want _ if they need me to volunteer, they need me to sing, I'm there, and I'm ready," a giddy Beyonce said in an interview the day after Barack Obama made history in becoming the nation's first elected black president.
The singer couldn't stop beaming after Obama's win over Republican John McCain on Tuesday. In fact, she was so inspired, she wore a blue suit and tie in honor of Obama _ with stiletto heels that were red, white and blue.
"I've never been so patriotic!" she laughed. "I'm just beyond excited."
Beyonce was supposed to be in Japan on Election Night to promote her upcoming album, "I Am ... Sasha Fierce," but decided to postpone it at the last minute.
"I said, 'What am I doing? I'm completely making a bad decision. I have to go home, I'm gonna kill myself if I'm not home in America,'" she said. "I knew I needed to be here."
After going with hubby Jay-Z, Diddy, Mary J. Blige and others to states like Pennsylvania, Florida, and Ohio just before the election, she watched the returns Tuesday night with family and friends in her home. She was not only inspired by Obama, but McCain's concession as well: "McCain's speech was so classy."
The 27-year-old said the win was particularly important for the inspiration it gave to African-Americans.
"My nephew, who is 4, when we say, 'You can do whatever, you can be whatever,' it's not cliche. You have no doubt that it's not true," she said.
The election even brought Beyonce to tears, though she says it was the good kind: "I fell asleep crying and smiling at the same time," she laughed. I woke up with mascara running and a smile on my face!"
http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/23605227/springsteen_jayz_lead_obama_swing_state_drive
From Bruce Springsteen leading 50,000-strong crowds in chants of "Yes we can!" to the Beastie Boys headlining a last-minute voter-awareness arena tour to Jay-Z putting a political twist on his full-band stage show, musicians are coming out in force for Barack Obama as the November 4th election approaches. It's a burst of enthusiasm that recalls 2004's Vote for Change Tour: Some events, including a Dead/Allman Brothers show on October 13th in State College, Pennsylvania, and a Springsteen/Billy Joel/John Legend concert in New York on October 16th, are official Obama fundraisers, held under the campaign's Change Rocks banner; others, like the Beasties' tour with the nonpartisan Rock the Vote organization, are focused on encouraging fans to show up at the polls.
"Ultimately, the mission statement is to get people out and voting," says Beastie Mike D, whose group is bringing along guests including Jack Johnson, Sheryl Crow, Ben Harper, David Crosby and Graham Nash. "But in my opinion, the America I love is in such a terrible state, and for the change that I would like to see happen, it's really crucial that people get out and vote for Obama."
Most musicians performing for Obama — ranging from the Dead to Devo — are focused on swing states including Ohio, Pennsylvania and Florida, where electoral votes are crucial to an Obama victory. "We want to be of as much use to the candidate as we can be," says Dead drummer Mickey Hart. "At this stage of the game, it's about consciousness and about getting out there and voting, and doing something on your own that makes a difference. The stakes are so high."
Some events — such as Springsteen's in Pennsylvania, Ohio and Michigan, and Jay-Z's in Michigan and Florida — are carefully targeted to areas in which newly registered voters are likely to vote Democratic. "If you're doing it in the right part of the state, most of the people who register are gonna vote the way you want," says Democratic strategist Joe Trippi. "Pennsylvania is a place where you could say Obama wasn't connecting with blue-collar workers. There's no one who connects more with those people than Bruce Springsteen."
In Detroit, Jay-Z fans picked up tickets at Obama's campaign office, where staffers encouraged them to register. "It was a way to pull in voters who maybe hadn't been part of the system before and get them registered," says Brent Colburn, Michigan spokesman for Obama's campaign. "You were able to see the breadth of Obama's appeal: Jay-Z's concert skewed younger, and the Springsteen show was on a college campus, so there were a lot of students but also a lot of working-class people." Both Springsteen and Jay-Z performed in the final three days before the Michigan registration deadline, with the Obama campaign coming away with 9,000 new registered voters in the Detroit area alone.
In Miami, Jay-Z looked out at a crowd of thousands and said, "I'm not telling you who to vote for. I'm telling you who I'm voting for: Barack Obama!" At another point, the MC alluded to Sarah Palin before launching into "99 Problems," with its chorus of "I've got 99 problems, but a bitch ain't one."
Springsteen, who performed on 2004's Vote for Change and made appearances with John Kerry, told crowds that he expects his efforts behind Obama to be more effective. "In 2004, I had the tequila all lined up on the bar," he joked during a Michigan performance of "No Surrender," which Kerry used as a theme song.
And Springsteen also made an impassioned case for Obama. "I've spent 35 years writing about America, its people and the meaning of the American promise," he said at each of his campaign stops. "I want my America back, I want my country back. So now is the time to stand with Barack Obama and Joe Biden, roll up our sleeves and come on up for the rising."
Shortly after a roof-raising version of “Born To Run” featuring Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel and key members of both their bands, Bruce turned to the back of the stage at New York’s Hammerstein Ballroom and said “We want to bring out the next President of the United States!” With that, Barack Obama took the stage to the loudest cheers of a very loud night. “What a magical evening,” Obama said to the crowd, who donated between $500 and $10,000 to his campaign and the DNC for tickets. “I just told Michelle backstage that the reason I’m running for president is because I can’t be Bruce Springsteen.” He went on to warn the crowd not to get “giddy” over his high poll numbers with less than three weeks left in the election. “Don’t underestimate the power of Democrats to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.”
One also can’t underestimate the ability of a ninety-minute set of Bruce Springsteen and Billy Joel hits to bring a theater packed full of middle age tri-staters to screaming fits of hysterical joy. “Good evening bridge and tunnel elite,” Springsteen said in the middle of an early show mini acoustic set. “I know you spent a lot of money, but like you did with the vice presidential debate: lower your expectations.” Three songs into Billy Joel’s set — when Springsteen, his wife Patti Scialfa and E Street Band keyboardist Roy Bittan joined Joel and his band for a rousing “10th Avenue Freeze-Out” — expectations were already exceeded. From here, an only-for-Obama supergroup was born. Springsteen stayed onstage for the next hour and a half, with the setlist rotating back and forth between Joel and Springsteen classics. Each sang big portions of each others’ tunes, often with their eyes focused on what was surely a teleprompter.
The pairing worked surprisingly well. When Springsteen sang “they’re closing all the factories down” in “Allentown,” it sounded like it could have been a Darkness On The Edge Of Town outtake. Likewise, Joel made the sweet nostalgia of “Glory Days” seem like one of his own. “Movin’ Out” was dedicated to Bush and Cheney, and featured Springsteen singing the verse about “Mister Cacciatore’s” and the “Cadillac-ack-ack-ack-ack.” Other highlights included “Thunder Road,” “A Matter Of Trust,” “Spirit In The Night” and “New York State of Mind.” If anyone on earth was ready for such an evening, it was Joel’s multi-instrumentalist Crystal Taliefero, who toured with Springsteen in 1992/93 tour. Whether it was playing the bongos on “River Of Dreams” or filling in for Clarence on the sax “10th Avenue Freeze-Out,” the woman knew what she was doing.
Earlier in the night John Legend and India.Arie played “Ordinary People” and U2’s “Pride (In The Name of Love)” during a brief acoustic set. They came out again at the end for a cover of “People Get Ready” and the grand finale of “Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours,” during which Barck and Michelle Obama stood center stage clapping and occasionally singing along. It was a great night — worth every penny — though there was much work to be done. As Caroline Kennedy told the crowd before the show while urging them to volunteer: “This is the last time you can have this much fun for the next twenty days.”
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On Saturday, Bruce Springsteen kicked off three days of Vote For Change concerts on behalf of Barack Obama with a powerful acoustic set that drew estimated 50,000 to the Ben Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia. Cutting a distinctly Woody Guthriesque profile in rolled up flannel, denim and tousled hair, Springsteen stood atop a 30 foot high stage emblazoned with the word “CHANGE” and belted out a seven-song, 45 minute acoustic set as a gift for Obama volunteers and a catalyst for the disengaged to register to vote. Plenty of people heard the call — according to the Obama campaign, some 21,000 new voters were registered as a result of the event.
“I’m not Barack Obama, but I’ll do my best,” said Springsteen, before wheezing his harmonica like an angry freight train launching into a tense, jingle-jangle reading of “The Promised Land,” his 1978 affirmation of faith in the ideal American in a time of dwindling opportunity and diminished expectations.
Four songs later — including a like-minded “The Ghost Of Tom Joad,” the obligatory “Thunder Road” and the rarely-heard “Does This Bus Stop At 82nd Street?” — Bruce spoke humbly about why he believes in Barack Obama. “I’ve spent most of my creative life measuring the distance between that American promise and American reality. The distance between that promise and that reality has never been greater or more painful. I believe Senator Obama has taken the measure of that distance in his own life and in his work. I believe as president, he would work to restore that promise to so many of our fellow citizens who have justifiably lost faith in its meaning.”
After a mournful rendition of Woody Guthrie’s “This Land Is Your Land,” Springsteen sent the people back out onto the streets with marching orders to take their country back from “those who who would sell it down the river for a quick buck.”
Set List:
“The Promised Land”
“The Ghost of Tom Joad”
“Thunder Road”
“No Surrender”
“Does This Bus Stop at 82nd Street?”
Speech
“The Rising”
“This Land Is Your Land”
Bruce Springsteen’s Speech:
“Hello Philly, I am glad to be here today for this voter registration drive and for Barack Obama, the next President of the United States.
“I’ve spent 35 years writing about America, its people, and the meaning of the American Promise. The Promise that was handed down to us, right here in this city from our founding fathers, with one instruction: Do your best to make these things real. Opportunity, equality, social and economic justice, a fair shake for all of our citizens, the American idea, as a positive influence, around the world for a more just and peaceful existence. These are the things that give our lives hope, shape, and meaning. They are the ties that bind us together and give us faith in our contract with one another.
“I’ve spent most of my creative life measuring the distance between that American promise and American reality. For many Americans, who are today losing their jobs, their homes, seeing their retirement funds disappear, who have no healthcare, or who have been abandoned in our inner cities. The distance between that promise and that reality has never been greater or more painful.
“I believe Senator Obama has taken the measure of that distance in his own life and in his work. I believe he understands, in his heart, the cost of that distance, in blood and suffering, in the lives of everyday Americans. I believe as president, he would work to restore that promise to so many of our fellow citizens who have justifiably lost faith in its meaning. After the disastrous administration of the past 8 years, we need someone to lead us in an American reclamation project. In my job, I travel the world, and occasionally play big stadiums, just like Senator Obama. I’ve continued to find, wherever I go, America remains a repository of people’s hopes, possibilities, and desires, and that despite the terrible erosion to our standing around the world, accomplished by our recent administration, we remain, for many, a house of dreams. One thousand George Bushes and one thousand Dick Cheneys will never be able to tear that house down.
“They will, however, be leaving office, dropping the national tragedies of Katrina, Iraq, and our financial crisis in our laps. Our sacred house of dreams has been abused, looted, and left in a terrible state of disrepair. It needs care; it needs saving, it needs defending against those who would sell it down the river for power or a quick buck. It needs strong arms, hearts, and minds. It needs someone with Senator Obama’s understanding, temperateness, deliberativeness, maturity, compassion, toughness, and faith, to help us rebuild our house once again. But most importantly, it needs us. You and me. To build that house with the generosity that is at the heart of the American spirit. A house that is truer and big enough to contain the hopes and dreams of all of our fellow citizens. That is where our future lies. We will rise or fall as a people by our ability to accomplish this task. Now I don’t know about you, but I want that dream back, I want my America back, I want my country back.
“So now is the time to stand with Barack Obama and Joe Biden, roll up our sleeves, and come on up for the rising.”
Billy Joel and Bruce Springsteen will reportedly team up for a Barack Obama benefit concert at NYC’s Hammerstein Ballroom on October 16th. The concert will be Obama’s last NY appearance prior to the November 4th election. Donors were notified about the concert today. The performance will be the first time Springsteen and Joel — two titans of the tri-state area rock scene — ever played the same bill. And while Joel recently sold out two nights at Shea Stadium and Springsteen is about to be broadcast to the millions at this year’s Super Bowl, their Hammerstein Ballroom will harbor a scant 2,500-person capacity. As if the concert wasn’t amazing enough, the show also promises more “exciting guests.”
Tickets range from $500 for the balcony to $2,500 for premium seats to $10,000 for “lounge tickets.” Springsteen announced on his website back in April that he endorsed Barack Obama. Bruce and Billy join artists like the Grateful Dead and the Allman Brothers who have come together for concerts to support the Democratic presidential candidate.
It’s official. Sources tell Rock Daily that the Grateful Dead will play a fundraiser for Barack Obama on October 13 at Penn State. The band, including Bob Weir, Bill Kreutzmann, Phil Lesh and Mickey Hart, are planning to rehearse next week to prep for the show in one of the more hotly contested presidential swing states with Warren Haynes on lead guitar. Phil Lesh’s son, an Obama volunteer, lined up the gig. “They are all totally committed to the show,” said a friend of Jerry Garcia. Once again, Obama has raised the Dead: The remaining members of the Grateful Dead regrouped for the first time in four years at a “Change Rocks” fundraiser for Barack Obama at Penn State Monday night. Guitarist Bob Weir, babying a set of broken ribs, joined bassist Phil Lesh and drummer Mickey Hart. Drummer Bill Kreutzmann, who did not play at the “Deadheads for Obama” fundraiser last spring, flew in from his Hawaiian holdout to join the band.
The crowd was an even mix of die-hard Deadheads and Penn State students, with the parking lot scene pretty standard, complete with tailgating, music blaring, Frisbees flying, and no hotel vacancies for 30 miles (students paid $30, non-students paid $50). The Allman Brothers started the show, giving the event a flashback to the days when the two bands shared bills at the Filmore in the late 1960s and early ’70s. However, without beer sales and zero-tolerance security, most of the students stayed out in the parking lot partying. Slowly, the seats filled as Derek Trucks and Warren Haynes traded licks and Gregg Allman worked the keys and sang with no signs of his illness that kept him offstage last spring. “It’s a beautiful night,” said Haynes. “It’s an historic night. Don’t forget to vote.”
Between sets, Obama volunteers and security wandered the floor of the sold-out 16,000-seat Bryce Jordan Center in State College, Pennsylvania as a video message from the candidate played: “For 20 months, I’ve been traveling this country from town to town — even developing a ‘Touch of Grey’ of my own,” Obama said. “On November 5th, I hope to announce that we ‘Ain’t Wasting Time No More.’”
After a photo opp backstage, with Kreutzmann grinning and Weir sitting with his chin pensively in his hand, the band took stage and electrified the crowd. The smoke billowed, glow sticks flew and the crowd roar crept up. For the first two songs — “Truckin’ ” and “U.S. Blues” — it seemed the band was set on giving a Dead primer, offering something everyone could sing to. Turning on a dime after two rock openers, the band suddenly jerked into weird spasms, odd jolts and spacey twangs filled with MIDI effects and dueling bass and guitar play. Pleasingly tweaked and twisted, they plunged into deep and dark waters with “Help On The Way/Slipknot!/Franklin’s Tower,” “Playing in the Band,” “Dark Star” and “St. Stephen.” They came up briefly for air with a gentle “Unbroken Chain,” and quickly sunk back into a vicious “Other One.” By “Throwing Stones” and “Touch of Gray,” the intensity lifted.
“People are just crazy nervous,” said one Obama volunteer. “There are people here that enjoy, you know, illegal things. And Barack doesn’t want to be connected to that. So, security is a little on edge.” Those worries go along with an endorsement by the Dead. The band approached Obama last year, offering their support and considerable influence over legion of Deadheads. “We’re all deeply into this, into Barack Obama and the thought of taking this country back in some shape or form, what’s left of it,” Hart said recently. “It’s probably one thing we can all agree on. It’s funny that an Obama event would do that, but that’s how important and critical this election is. It’s our call to arms, or call to music, which is the way we arm ourselves.”
Through the show, the remaining rhythm section leaned into one another and seemingly bonded once again. Weir, Lesh, Kreutzmann and Hart gave off a sense of genuine enjoyment. But don’t get too excited just yet. Spurning whispers of a possible reunion tour, longtime Grateful Dead publicist and historian Dennis McNally has cautioned, “They just want to see how it feels.”
The Dead Set List:
“Truckin’”
“U.S. Blues”
“Help On The Way/Slipknot!/Franklin’s Tower”
“Playing In The Band”
“Dark Star”
“St. Stephen”
“Unbroken Chain”
“The Other One”
“Throwing Stones”
“Playing Reprise”
Encore:
“Touch of Grey”/”Not Fade Away”
All things are pointing towards a major Inaugural blast, as a lot of people are planning on converging on Washington D.C for the inaugural and inagural party and balls.
Since the preceeding day is Martin Luther King Day, an official holiday and three day weekend, it should be a blowout now that there’s a young, black president with friends like Bruce Springsteen, Aretha Franklin, Billy Joel, the Greatful Dead, Will.i.am, Beyonce, Jay-z and Leona Lewis.
While born in Hawaii, he’s now from Chicago, and that’s no Don Ho, so we can expect the official Inaugural Band to include some Chicago blues and maybe even the Blues Brothers and the Purple Gang Rhythm Section.
The official Inagural Committee, a subcommitte of the Senate, has announced the inagural schedule, program and starting lineup of acts. Among those set to perform for the inaguration will be the US Marine Band, John Phillips Sousa's old group who used to be the house band at Congress Hall in Cape May, and peform on the porch.
Then there's Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul who you all remember as the gal who ran the greasey spoon joint in the original Blues Brothers flick.
Put together by Senate Inagural Subcommittee chair Dianne Feinstein, Obama and Biden, the Inagural show will also include Chinese American Cellist Yo-Yo Ma, Israli American virtuoso violinist Itzhak Pearlman, pianist Gabriela Montero, Anthony McGill on claranet and the San Francisco Boys and Girls Chorius.
They will reportedly perform a special song composed by John Williams ("Jaws" "Star Wars") who was at the Grant Park gig on election night.
As with Robert Frost at JFK's inaguration, Obama has invited Elizabeth Alexander of Yale to read a poem, while Joseph Lowery, of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference will speak and Pastor Rick Warren ("Purpose Driven Life"), host of a Obama-McLain debate in California, will lead a prayer.
More to come on the inagural acts and who will be performing at what parties and balls.
Consider for a moment, the Inauguration is on Tuesday, January 20, the day after January 19th, Martin Luther King Day, King’s birthday, now a national holiday and an official day off, creating a three day weekend that ends with the inauguration on Tuesday.
They say, what's the difference between MLK Day and St. Patrick's Day? On St. Patrick's Day everybody wants to be Irish. Well, MLK Day is the St. Patrick’s Day for black people and all minorities, and for once, it is a day everyone will take note because of the special historic occasion of the inauguration of a black president, something few people ever imagined would happen.
We all know black people have a reputation, like the Irish, for having fun and knowing how to party, and Obama’s early and eager supporters included Hollywood actors, New York entertainers and musicians, especially Bruce Springsteen and Will.i.am, who was inspired by Obama to wrote songs “Yes We Can” and “It’s a New Day.”
Springsteen, who made a number of solo acoustic appearances at Obama rallies in Philadelphia and Ohio, also wrote, “Working on a Dream,” which he premiered at a rally in Ohio and is on a new album set for release around the time of the Inauguration. Springsteen and the E-Street Band are also scheduled to play at halftime of the Super bowl on February 1, but that may be an afterthought following the Inaugural blast.
If you want to go, be part of the party and witness history, you’re not alone, as ten times as many citizens have requested some of the 240,000 free tickets to the inauguration as ever before, giving a good indication that this is going to be one Big Bash.
Only Senators and Congressmen can distribute tickets to view the inaguration, which will take place on the West Steps of the Capitol building, which faces the Washington Monument and the Mall, which will be open to the public for the first time to accomidate the four million people expected to attend. That's up two million from last month's projections.
Besides the reserved tickets that give you a view of the inauguration, the swearing in of the new president and his speech, more than 4 million people are expected to pack the mall and watch the proceedings on big screens, and line Pennsylvania Avenue as the new president rides or walks from the Capitol steps to the White House.
As for shear numbers, a lot will depend on the weather, as few people will bother if its too cold, or there’s a storm, but regardless, there will be at least a million and a half people expected, which is three times the number of people who were at Woodstock and a little less than the Philadelphia Phillies World Championship parade.
Which makes me think that if Philadelphia can put two million people together for a baseball parade, then DC can do better for Obama, so regardless of the weather, I say 2 mill easy, will pack the National Mall like Martin Luther King was giving a speech. And the new security numbers of up to 4 million don't seem too farfetched.
But the real action will not be the day of the Inaguration, but that night, when the official and unofficial Inagural Balls and parties will take place all over town.
First off, it really is a formal occasion, and if you swing an invite to say the MTV party, New Jersey contingent’s ball, or even if you intend to crash a party, you must dress the part – to the Nines.
And there isn’t just one official ball, but about a dozen of them, and your lucky to get an invite to any of them, with increasing significance attached to those who get to go to more than one and, like the new President and his wife, move around to different parties.
Of course, if you go, you have to make arrangements ahead of time, and first get a place to stay. Forget a hotel or motel, and think of a friend you went to school with who now works as a mid level government beauracrat who will let you stay on their couch, though be prepared to have to bid for the squatting rights, as other old friends are also thinking along these lines.
Once you secure lodging, then you have to consider whether to fly, drive, bus or train. For me, I’ve done it all, and the train is by far the preferred route, not only cost wise, but hassle wise, and comfort. Driving is a problem, not only the four hours getting there, but in parking once you get there and having to drive back after it’s all over. Unless there are three or more souls making this trip, the highway takes a back seat to AMTRACK.
And now they announce that Barrak and Joe will be taking AMTRACK too. Obama will be in Philly for Martin Luther King Day (of Service) and get on the train at 30th Street Station and head south to Wilmington and pick up Joe and take the train down to Union Station in DC for the Shindig.
See, did I tell you how to go?
Once you have acomidations and transport lined up, the tickets to the inaugural and the parties and balls, will come easier. If you are a regular Democratic Party stalwart then you should have no problem getting a free pass from your Congressmen, but if you just voted for him, well then you may have to put in a little squeeze and remind people about that favor you once did. There’s a real determination in Congress and the new administration not to allow these free tickets to be resold on ebay or the black market, but I’m sure a lot of people will be getting greedy as it gets closer to the day.
While tickets to the balls are easier to get because many of them actually cost money, and you have to be able to get there to use them, and have your tux or gown ready, best bet is to check in with your local Democratic Party boss and see about getting a ticket.
Once the accommodations, travel and tickets to the inauguration and the ball are all covered, the only thing left is where to eat. If you’re going to a ball, the food should be covered, as they usually put a out a pretty nice spread for all of the balls, high end or low. You will have a ball.
But it’s a long holiday weekend, there’s breakfasts, lunch and dinners for a few days that I’ll cover in more detail as we get closer to DC and the date.
In the meantime, MTV has announced that they will be having a party the night of the inagural.
MTV will be hosting a party with the theme “Be the Change Inaugural Ball” at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, where I was at the in last Inaugural Ball at a Hollywood sponsored bash, tickets compliments of Jersey Joe Piscopo.
According to their news release, MTV announced that it has partnered with ServiceNation to co-host the "Be the Change Inaugural Ball" in Washington, D.C., on January 20, 2009 — the same day President-elect Barack Obama will take his oath of office.
The event will celebrate the massive youth-voter turnout in this month's presidential election and an active commitment from America's youth to impart positive social change through volunteer service. ServiceNation is an organization that campaigns to increase support for expanding national service programs like the Peace Corps and Americorps.
A record 24 million people between the ages of 18 and 29 voted in the 2008 presidential election, accounting for 18 percent of the 133.3 million voters who hit the polls. It marked the third major election in a row with increased youth-voter numbers, and for the first time in 20 years, the number of young voters surpassed the number of voters over the age of 65.
The ball will be staged at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center and will feature several leading artists, celebrities and government officials (to be named later), alongside hundreds of young people who've been chosen to attend based on their demonstrated volunteerism.
The "Be the Change Inaugural Ball" will be televised live across all MTV platforms, including MTV, MTV2, MTV Tr3s, mtvU, MTV Hits, MTV Jams and MTV.com on the evening of January 20. Exact air times will be announced in the coming weeks.
The live television event will also include live broadcasts from other locations across the globe, where young people are completing major service projects. Leading up to the event, MTV will showcase stories of young people providing service within their communities on a daily basis, beginning on January 1.
"Over the last year and culminating in this election, we have seen a groundswell of engagement and a refreshed spirit of activism from young people," MTV general manager Stephen Friedman said. "ServiceNation is the perfect partner for this inaugural event, given that they encompass a broad coalition of youth service organizations. We want to celebrate young people across the nation who are answering the call and working to make changes in their communities and beyond."
http://www.nme.com/news/leona-lewis/41244
Leona Lewis has been asked to sing for US President-elect Barack Obama at his inauguration ceremony in Washington DC on January 20.
The singer, who yesterday (November 23) beat Dido to the Number One spot in the albums chart with a reissue of her album 'Spirit', is set to join Jay-Z and Beyonce at the ceremony
Millions are expected to convene in the US capital on inauguration day, while tickets to the ceremony are exchanging hands for thousands on auction sites.
Speaking before Obama won the US election, Lewis said: "I think Obama is amazing. He's just so cool and articulate. Nothing fazes him.
"It would mean everything for ethnic minorities in that country and every country around the world to have a mixed-race leader of America."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/11/06/beyonces-obama-joy-offers_n_141747.html?show_comment_id=17813008
NEW YORK — Attention, Mr. president-elect: Come Inauguration Day, Beyonce is at your service.
"I'm there. I can't wait. I feel like all of us, we're ready to do whatever we have to do. Whatever they want _ if they need me to volunteer, they need me to sing, I'm there, and I'm ready," a giddy Beyonce said in an interview the day after Barack Obama made history in becoming the nation's first elected black president.
The singer couldn't stop beaming after Obama's win over Republican John McCain on Tuesday. In fact, she was so inspired, she wore a blue suit and tie in honor of Obama _ with stiletto heels that were red, white and blue.
"I've never been so patriotic!" she laughed. "I'm just beyond excited."
Beyonce was supposed to be in Japan on Election Night to promote her upcoming album, "I Am ... Sasha Fierce," but decided to postpone it at the last minute.
"I said, 'What am I doing? I'm completely making a bad decision. I have to go home, I'm gonna kill myself if I'm not home in America,'" she said. "I knew I needed to be here."
After going with hubby Jay-Z, Diddy, Mary J. Blige and others to states like Pennsylvania, Florida, and Ohio just before the election, she watched the returns Tuesday night with family and friends in her home. She was not only inspired by Obama, but McCain's concession as well: "McCain's speech was so classy."
The 27-year-old said the win was particularly important for the inspiration it gave to African-Americans.
"My nephew, who is 4, when we say, 'You can do whatever, you can be whatever,' it's not cliche. You have no doubt that it's not true," she said.
The election even brought Beyonce to tears, though she says it was the good kind: "I fell asleep crying and smiling at the same time," she laughed. I woke up with mascara running and a smile on my face!"
http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/23605227/springsteen_jayz_lead_obama_swing_state_drive
From Bruce Springsteen leading 50,000-strong crowds in chants of "Yes we can!" to the Beastie Boys headlining a last-minute voter-awareness arena tour to Jay-Z putting a political twist on his full-band stage show, musicians are coming out in force for Barack Obama as the November 4th election approaches. It's a burst of enthusiasm that recalls 2004's Vote for Change Tour: Some events, including a Dead/Allman Brothers show on October 13th in State College, Pennsylvania, and a Springsteen/Billy Joel/John Legend concert in New York on October 16th, are official Obama fundraisers, held under the campaign's Change Rocks banner; others, like the Beasties' tour with the nonpartisan Rock the Vote organization, are focused on encouraging fans to show up at the polls.
"Ultimately, the mission statement is to get people out and voting," says Beastie Mike D, whose group is bringing along guests including Jack Johnson, Sheryl Crow, Ben Harper, David Crosby and Graham Nash. "But in my opinion, the America I love is in such a terrible state, and for the change that I would like to see happen, it's really crucial that people get out and vote for Obama."
Most musicians performing for Obama — ranging from the Dead to Devo — are focused on swing states including Ohio, Pennsylvania and Florida, where electoral votes are crucial to an Obama victory. "We want to be of as much use to the candidate as we can be," says Dead drummer Mickey Hart. "At this stage of the game, it's about consciousness and about getting out there and voting, and doing something on your own that makes a difference. The stakes are so high."
Some events — such as Springsteen's in Pennsylvania, Ohio and Michigan, and Jay-Z's in Michigan and Florida — are carefully targeted to areas in which newly registered voters are likely to vote Democratic. "If you're doing it in the right part of the state, most of the people who register are gonna vote the way you want," says Democratic strategist Joe Trippi. "Pennsylvania is a place where you could say Obama wasn't connecting with blue-collar workers. There's no one who connects more with those people than Bruce Springsteen."
In Detroit, Jay-Z fans picked up tickets at Obama's campaign office, where staffers encouraged them to register. "It was a way to pull in voters who maybe hadn't been part of the system before and get them registered," says Brent Colburn, Michigan spokesman for Obama's campaign. "You were able to see the breadth of Obama's appeal: Jay-Z's concert skewed younger, and the Springsteen show was on a college campus, so there were a lot of students but also a lot of working-class people." Both Springsteen and Jay-Z performed in the final three days before the Michigan registration deadline, with the Obama campaign coming away with 9,000 new registered voters in the Detroit area alone.
In Miami, Jay-Z looked out at a crowd of thousands and said, "I'm not telling you who to vote for. I'm telling you who I'm voting for: Barack Obama!" At another point, the MC alluded to Sarah Palin before launching into "99 Problems," with its chorus of "I've got 99 problems, but a bitch ain't one."
Springsteen, who performed on 2004's Vote for Change and made appearances with John Kerry, told crowds that he expects his efforts behind Obama to be more effective. "In 2004, I had the tequila all lined up on the bar," he joked during a Michigan performance of "No Surrender," which Kerry used as a theme song.
And Springsteen also made an impassioned case for Obama. "I've spent 35 years writing about America, its people and the meaning of the American promise," he said at each of his campaign stops. "I want my America back, I want my country back. So now is the time to stand with Barack Obama and Joe Biden, roll up our sleeves and come on up for the rising."
Shortly after a roof-raising version of “Born To Run” featuring Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel and key members of both their bands, Bruce turned to the back of the stage at New York’s Hammerstein Ballroom and said “We want to bring out the next President of the United States!” With that, Barack Obama took the stage to the loudest cheers of a very loud night. “What a magical evening,” Obama said to the crowd, who donated between $500 and $10,000 to his campaign and the DNC for tickets. “I just told Michelle backstage that the reason I’m running for president is because I can’t be Bruce Springsteen.” He went on to warn the crowd not to get “giddy” over his high poll numbers with less than three weeks left in the election. “Don’t underestimate the power of Democrats to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.”
One also can’t underestimate the ability of a ninety-minute set of Bruce Springsteen and Billy Joel hits to bring a theater packed full of middle age tri-staters to screaming fits of hysterical joy. “Good evening bridge and tunnel elite,” Springsteen said in the middle of an early show mini acoustic set. “I know you spent a lot of money, but like you did with the vice presidential debate: lower your expectations.” Three songs into Billy Joel’s set — when Springsteen, his wife Patti Scialfa and E Street Band keyboardist Roy Bittan joined Joel and his band for a rousing “10th Avenue Freeze-Out” — expectations were already exceeded. From here, an only-for-Obama supergroup was born. Springsteen stayed onstage for the next hour and a half, with the setlist rotating back and forth between Joel and Springsteen classics. Each sang big portions of each others’ tunes, often with their eyes focused on what was surely a teleprompter.
The pairing worked surprisingly well. When Springsteen sang “they’re closing all the factories down” in “Allentown,” it sounded like it could have been a Darkness On The Edge Of Town outtake. Likewise, Joel made the sweet nostalgia of “Glory Days” seem like one of his own. “Movin’ Out” was dedicated to Bush and Cheney, and featured Springsteen singing the verse about “Mister Cacciatore’s” and the “Cadillac-ack-ack-ack-ack.” Other highlights included “Thunder Road,” “A Matter Of Trust,” “Spirit In The Night” and “New York State of Mind.” If anyone on earth was ready for such an evening, it was Joel’s multi-instrumentalist Crystal Taliefero, who toured with Springsteen in 1992/93 tour. Whether it was playing the bongos on “River Of Dreams” or filling in for Clarence on the sax “10th Avenue Freeze-Out,” the woman knew what she was doing.
Earlier in the night John Legend and India.Arie played “Ordinary People” and U2’s “Pride (In The Name of Love)” during a brief acoustic set. They came out again at the end for a cover of “People Get Ready” and the grand finale of “Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours,” during which Barck and Michelle Obama stood center stage clapping and occasionally singing along. It was a great night — worth every penny — though there was much work to be done. As Caroline Kennedy told the crowd before the show while urging them to volunteer: “This is the last time you can have this much fun for the next twenty days.”
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On Saturday, Bruce Springsteen kicked off three days of Vote For Change concerts on behalf of Barack Obama with a powerful acoustic set that drew estimated 50,000 to the Ben Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia. Cutting a distinctly Woody Guthriesque profile in rolled up flannel, denim and tousled hair, Springsteen stood atop a 30 foot high stage emblazoned with the word “CHANGE” and belted out a seven-song, 45 minute acoustic set as a gift for Obama volunteers and a catalyst for the disengaged to register to vote. Plenty of people heard the call — according to the Obama campaign, some 21,000 new voters were registered as a result of the event.
“I’m not Barack Obama, but I’ll do my best,” said Springsteen, before wheezing his harmonica like an angry freight train launching into a tense, jingle-jangle reading of “The Promised Land,” his 1978 affirmation of faith in the ideal American in a time of dwindling opportunity and diminished expectations.
Four songs later — including a like-minded “The Ghost Of Tom Joad,” the obligatory “Thunder Road” and the rarely-heard “Does This Bus Stop At 82nd Street?” — Bruce spoke humbly about why he believes in Barack Obama. “I’ve spent most of my creative life measuring the distance between that American promise and American reality. The distance between that promise and that reality has never been greater or more painful. I believe Senator Obama has taken the measure of that distance in his own life and in his work. I believe as president, he would work to restore that promise to so many of our fellow citizens who have justifiably lost faith in its meaning.”
After a mournful rendition of Woody Guthrie’s “This Land Is Your Land,” Springsteen sent the people back out onto the streets with marching orders to take their country back from “those who who would sell it down the river for a quick buck.”
Set List:
“The Promised Land”
“The Ghost of Tom Joad”
“Thunder Road”
“No Surrender”
“Does This Bus Stop at 82nd Street?”
Speech
“The Rising”
“This Land Is Your Land”
Bruce Springsteen’s Speech:
“Hello Philly, I am glad to be here today for this voter registration drive and for Barack Obama, the next President of the United States.
“I’ve spent 35 years writing about America, its people, and the meaning of the American Promise. The Promise that was handed down to us, right here in this city from our founding fathers, with one instruction: Do your best to make these things real. Opportunity, equality, social and economic justice, a fair shake for all of our citizens, the American idea, as a positive influence, around the world for a more just and peaceful existence. These are the things that give our lives hope, shape, and meaning. They are the ties that bind us together and give us faith in our contract with one another.
“I’ve spent most of my creative life measuring the distance between that American promise and American reality. For many Americans, who are today losing their jobs, their homes, seeing their retirement funds disappear, who have no healthcare, or who have been abandoned in our inner cities. The distance between that promise and that reality has never been greater or more painful.
“I believe Senator Obama has taken the measure of that distance in his own life and in his work. I believe he understands, in his heart, the cost of that distance, in blood and suffering, in the lives of everyday Americans. I believe as president, he would work to restore that promise to so many of our fellow citizens who have justifiably lost faith in its meaning. After the disastrous administration of the past 8 years, we need someone to lead us in an American reclamation project. In my job, I travel the world, and occasionally play big stadiums, just like Senator Obama. I’ve continued to find, wherever I go, America remains a repository of people’s hopes, possibilities, and desires, and that despite the terrible erosion to our standing around the world, accomplished by our recent administration, we remain, for many, a house of dreams. One thousand George Bushes and one thousand Dick Cheneys will never be able to tear that house down.
“They will, however, be leaving office, dropping the national tragedies of Katrina, Iraq, and our financial crisis in our laps. Our sacred house of dreams has been abused, looted, and left in a terrible state of disrepair. It needs care; it needs saving, it needs defending against those who would sell it down the river for power or a quick buck. It needs strong arms, hearts, and minds. It needs someone with Senator Obama’s understanding, temperateness, deliberativeness, maturity, compassion, toughness, and faith, to help us rebuild our house once again. But most importantly, it needs us. You and me. To build that house with the generosity that is at the heart of the American spirit. A house that is truer and big enough to contain the hopes and dreams of all of our fellow citizens. That is where our future lies. We will rise or fall as a people by our ability to accomplish this task. Now I don’t know about you, but I want that dream back, I want my America back, I want my country back.
“So now is the time to stand with Barack Obama and Joe Biden, roll up our sleeves, and come on up for the rising.”
Billy Joel and Bruce Springsteen will reportedly team up for a Barack Obama benefit concert at NYC’s Hammerstein Ballroom on October 16th. The concert will be Obama’s last NY appearance prior to the November 4th election. Donors were notified about the concert today. The performance will be the first time Springsteen and Joel — two titans of the tri-state area rock scene — ever played the same bill. And while Joel recently sold out two nights at Shea Stadium and Springsteen is about to be broadcast to the millions at this year’s Super Bowl, their Hammerstein Ballroom will harbor a scant 2,500-person capacity. As if the concert wasn’t amazing enough, the show also promises more “exciting guests.”
Tickets range from $500 for the balcony to $2,500 for premium seats to $10,000 for “lounge tickets.” Springsteen announced on his website back in April that he endorsed Barack Obama. Bruce and Billy join artists like the Grateful Dead and the Allman Brothers who have come together for concerts to support the Democratic presidential candidate.
It’s official. Sources tell Rock Daily that the Grateful Dead will play a fundraiser for Barack Obama on October 13 at Penn State. The band, including Bob Weir, Bill Kreutzmann, Phil Lesh and Mickey Hart, are planning to rehearse next week to prep for the show in one of the more hotly contested presidential swing states with Warren Haynes on lead guitar. Phil Lesh’s son, an Obama volunteer, lined up the gig. “They are all totally committed to the show,” said a friend of Jerry Garcia. Once again, Obama has raised the Dead: The remaining members of the Grateful Dead regrouped for the first time in four years at a “Change Rocks” fundraiser for Barack Obama at Penn State Monday night. Guitarist Bob Weir, babying a set of broken ribs, joined bassist Phil Lesh and drummer Mickey Hart. Drummer Bill Kreutzmann, who did not play at the “Deadheads for Obama” fundraiser last spring, flew in from his Hawaiian holdout to join the band.
The crowd was an even mix of die-hard Deadheads and Penn State students, with the parking lot scene pretty standard, complete with tailgating, music blaring, Frisbees flying, and no hotel vacancies for 30 miles (students paid $30, non-students paid $50). The Allman Brothers started the show, giving the event a flashback to the days when the two bands shared bills at the Filmore in the late 1960s and early ’70s. However, without beer sales and zero-tolerance security, most of the students stayed out in the parking lot partying. Slowly, the seats filled as Derek Trucks and Warren Haynes traded licks and Gregg Allman worked the keys and sang with no signs of his illness that kept him offstage last spring. “It’s a beautiful night,” said Haynes. “It’s an historic night. Don’t forget to vote.”
Between sets, Obama volunteers and security wandered the floor of the sold-out 16,000-seat Bryce Jordan Center in State College, Pennsylvania as a video message from the candidate played: “For 20 months, I’ve been traveling this country from town to town — even developing a ‘Touch of Grey’ of my own,” Obama said. “On November 5th, I hope to announce that we ‘Ain’t Wasting Time No More.’”
After a photo opp backstage, with Kreutzmann grinning and Weir sitting with his chin pensively in his hand, the band took stage and electrified the crowd. The smoke billowed, glow sticks flew and the crowd roar crept up. For the first two songs — “Truckin’ ” and “U.S. Blues” — it seemed the band was set on giving a Dead primer, offering something everyone could sing to. Turning on a dime after two rock openers, the band suddenly jerked into weird spasms, odd jolts and spacey twangs filled with MIDI effects and dueling bass and guitar play. Pleasingly tweaked and twisted, they plunged into deep and dark waters with “Help On The Way/Slipknot!/Franklin’s Tower,” “Playing in the Band,” “Dark Star” and “St. Stephen.” They came up briefly for air with a gentle “Unbroken Chain,” and quickly sunk back into a vicious “Other One.” By “Throwing Stones” and “Touch of Gray,” the intensity lifted.
“People are just crazy nervous,” said one Obama volunteer. “There are people here that enjoy, you know, illegal things. And Barack doesn’t want to be connected to that. So, security is a little on edge.” Those worries go along with an endorsement by the Dead. The band approached Obama last year, offering their support and considerable influence over legion of Deadheads. “We’re all deeply into this, into Barack Obama and the thought of taking this country back in some shape or form, what’s left of it,” Hart said recently. “It’s probably one thing we can all agree on. It’s funny that an Obama event would do that, but that’s how important and critical this election is. It’s our call to arms, or call to music, which is the way we arm ourselves.”
Through the show, the remaining rhythm section leaned into one another and seemingly bonded once again. Weir, Lesh, Kreutzmann and Hart gave off a sense of genuine enjoyment. But don’t get too excited just yet. Spurning whispers of a possible reunion tour, longtime Grateful Dead publicist and historian Dennis McNally has cautioned, “They just want to see how it feels.”
The Dead Set List:
“Truckin’”
“U.S. Blues”
“Help On The Way/Slipknot!/Franklin’s Tower”
“Playing In The Band”
“Dark Star”
“St. Stephen”
“Unbroken Chain”
“The Other One”
“Throwing Stones”
“Playing Reprise”
Encore:
“Touch of Grey”/”Not Fade Away”
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Cape May Jazz Fest Fall 2008 Preview
Cape May Jazz Fest Fall 2008 Preview - By Bill Kelly
http://www.capemayjazz.com/
Fall 2008 Cape May Jazz Fest Retrospective – By Bill Kelly
Fifteen years down the line, thirty festivals, hundreds of shows, thousands of great performances and a youthful exuberance that indicates the show will go on.
It’s hard to believe that it’s been fifteen years since they held the first Cape May Jazz Fest, which featured a select few acts who started something that should continue, twice a year, indefinitely. Co-founded by Woody Woodland and Carol Stone, the Cape May Jazz Fest has become an important staple for the town of Cape May and east coast jazz fans alike.
Every festival kept getting bigger and better for the first decade, but eventually it leveled off to where it was no longer a matter of being bigger to be better, and this fest will be among friends, some of whom were there at the first fest, and some youngsters who will keep this thing going into the future.
Continuing the tribute to past jazz greats, the fall 2008 fest will spotlight the music of the late great Maynard Ferguson with Ed Vezinho and the Jim Ward Big Band with trumpeter Jon Faddis doing Maynard Ferguson impersonations on Friday night, and Denis DiBlasio and Bob Fergusion with their bands on Saturday, making for a heavy horn ensemble that will blow your socks off.
The Friday night show at Lower Regional HS Theater includes Jon Faddis, Jim Ward, Joe Scannella, Dave Kennedy, Mike Natale, trumpet; Ed Vezinho, Cliff Tracy, Skip Spratt, Bob Rawlins, saxophone; Denis DiBlasio, baritone fax; Joe Ziegenfus, Paul Arbogast, Rich Goldstein, Joe Jacobs, trombone; Demetrio Pappas, keyboards; Jack Hegyl, bass; Harry Himles, drums.
There’s also the return of Pieces of a Dream on Saturday, though since the Cape May Convention Hall is closed, the venue will also be the theater at nearby Lower Regional High School, a schoolbus ride away.
Back in 1975 Peaces of a Dream were just teenagers flush with talent when they were recognized and adopted by Grover Washington, Jr., the sax master who will be forever associated with them. Now they are accomplished journeymen, with James Lloyd on keys, Eddie Baccus, sax; Rohn Lawrence playing guitar; David Dyson on bass and Curtis Harmon, drums, Pieces of a Dream are living legends.
And between the Maynard Ferguson tribute and Pieces of a Dream at the main theater, there’s a dozen other acts that are often going on simultaneously at different clubs, so you have to pick and chose carefully, where you want to be and who you want to see. The only thing for certain is that wherever you are, there will be some really terrific jazz going on.
My preferred approach to the whole weekend would begin with the Fergusion tribute with Faddis, and then catch a bus back to Cabanas where my main man Frank Bey will sing up a storm. They’ve always fit in a good blues band during every fest and after a few years the blues bands began to settle into Cabanas, where you’ll find me if I’m making the circuit.
This historic building once housed Gloria’s Saloon downstairs and the culinary legend, Maureen’s upstairs, and you can still feel some of that history at Cabanas, especially when Frank Bey is in the house.
The Georgia-born Gentleman of the Blues, Frank Bey has a deep baritone voice that, as Carol Stone says, “mesmerizes and envelopes you.” Boy can this guy sing, and he can scat too. And if you miss him during the fest, Frank Bey will also be singing in the Boiler Room in Congress Hall on Saturdays, Nov. 29 and Dec 1, 20 & 27, throughout the holidays.
Jackie Ryan, a West Coast vocalist who sings in five languages, was recommended by WRTI’s Bob Perkins, performs down the street at the Grand Hotel Ballroom, while Chembo Corniel and Grupo Chaworo are in Carney’s Main Room and Michael Pedicin, Jr. in Carney’s Other Room next door. Chembo and Pedicin next door to each other.
Chembo Corniel and his Latin Rhythms play traditional Cuban music, rumba, salsa and traditional jazz with Chembo on congas, Ivan Renta playing tenor sax; Elio Villafranca doing the keys, Andy Eulau on bass and Vince Cherico, drums. They are hot, hot, hot, while Pedicin is just plane cool.
Having toured and recorded with Maynard's big band, Pedicin continues the Tribute to Maynard Ferguson, but he says his major influences are John Coltrane and Michael Brecker. His dad, Michael Pedicin, Sr., is still famous for playing “Shake a Hand” at Bayshores in Somers Point, where Junior played a toy sax on stage at his father’s knees.
A program notes that John Valentino was scheduled to play guitar, but couldn’t make it so Bob Ferguson joined the band on trumpet. Michael Pedicin, alto/tenor sax; Jim Ridl, keyboards; Andu Lalasis, bass; Bob Shomo, drums.
Since the Grand, Cabanas and Carneys are all there downtown on Beach Drive, it’s actually possible to catch all the acts if you move around between sets.
Things start early Saturday morning, with great breakfasts around town, with The Mad Batter being a favorite. Then mosey over to end of the Washington Street Mall for the workshops at the elementary school, which includes lessons and sessions with Monette Sudler, the First Lady of Jazz Guitar.
Monette first came to Cape May to play at the Old Shire Tavern, where many of the Philadelphia jazz acts played back in the 80s and early 90s. While the Old Shire is now a retail store on the mall, its liquor license was moved to the Boiler Room at Congress Hall, keeping the jazz vibs going.
Monette is just one of a dozen top flight jazz performers from Philly who played the Shire and now comes back routinely to play the jazz fest, either as a featured act or as part of the Saturday and Sunday afternoon jam sessions. And to not only get a load of her performing on stage, but sit down and have her show you how to pick a fret on the guitar, well that’s pretty awesome. I hope the kids appreciate it.
10am-11am beginners guitar -- Monnette Sudler 11am -12n advanced guitar -- Monnette Sudler 10am-12n improvisation workshop -- Doug Mapp, Brian Betz, Seth Johnson 12n - 1am saxophone workshop -- Tim Price 12noon - 1am Rhythm Jam -- Marc Jacopec, Jeff Hebron, Carol Sabo, Chris Jacopec Cape May Elementary School, 921 Lafayette St
The Cape May Jazz Fest is a non-profit enterprise, and all profits go towards established scholarships for local musicians, and they’ve already bankrolled some of the education of a number of young, professional musicians, who are actually earning a living playing jazz.
Extra credit classes begin Saturday at noon, at Carney’s with the Divine Jazz Combo in one room and the Eleazar Shafer Quintet in the other. Both will develop or degenerate into jazz jams that will continue until four in the afternoon.
Carney’s is one of the last of the real Jersey Shore beach bars, where you can walk in with sandy sandals and a bathing suit on one side, and sit down to a fine dinner in the other room, which they actually call the Other Room. That’s where Mrs. Carney could usually be found, sitting at the end of the bar next to the kitchen door. While the main room always featured rock & roll, famous for Sunday afternoon jams, Mrs. Carney brought in some Irish bands to play the Other Room, so you were bound to have a good time whatever your flavor. Mrs. Carney was a big supporter of the Jazz Fest and her family continues the tradition, especially the afternoon jam sessions, which are always the first tickets to sell out.
With the Sunday afternoon jams so popular, they eventually got around to having them on Saturday afternoon as well. While most traditional jam sessions are pretty spontaneous affairs, with long drawn out songs that give each musician a chance to play a solo, the Cape May sessions have become pretty competitive over the years, and now everybody tries to out-do each other, which only makes for some sensational music.
Trumpet master Eleazar Shafer opens the Saturday jam with Tryrone Shafer, keys, Irwin Hall III sax, Alex Hernandez, bass and Chris Beck, drums. “The Shafers have been performing at the jams for 11-12 years,” says Carol Stone, who remembers “when El was 9 and Ty 11, and extremely talented young men with fabulous quintet. Not to be missed.”
Beginning the jam in the Other Room is the Divine Jazz Combo a group of teenage musicians founded and directed by 16 year old sax teen Dahi Divine, who studies with Ray Wright at the Phila Clef Club. Dahi Divine, sax; Joseph Gullace, trumpet; James Santangelo, Jr., keyboards; Alex Claffey, bass; Devon Waring, drums
At the same time those guys are cookin’ at Carney’s, Alen Weber and the Frenz Blues jam will be mixing things up at the other end of the block at Cabanas, and Edgardo Cintron and Inca will be playing hot Latin rhythms over at the Grand Hotel Ballroom.
With Alan Weber on sax/flute, the Frenz Blues are Ursula Ricks and Ann Oswald, vocals; Perry Leondro, violin; Don Shaw, Frank Dinunzio, guitar; Walt Sapsah, bass and Mike Antol, drums. Ursula Ricks began singing the blues at age 5 and jives well with Weber, who picks up the alto, tenor, baritone and soprano saxophones and flute.
Carol and Woody didn’t have to go far to find Edgardo Cintron and his gang, as they hail from South Jersey, and have a standing invite to play this fest. The Latin Jam is in Grand Hotel 1st floor Ballroom, so there’s plenty of hardwood floor to shuffle around. Edgardo Cintron, timbales/percussions; Noel Cintron, congas; Bill Murray, sax/percussion; Roosevelt Walker, Jr., guitar; Doug Travis, lead vocals/keyboards; Mike Rivera, bass.
After four hours of intense jazz jams, its time to take five, or four, as there’s a four hour break for dinner that can be had at one of Cape May’s finest restaurants. There really is more fine, four and five star restaurants per square block in Cape May than anywhere in New Jersey.
Some of the restaurants are part of the jazz fest, and it’s always good to patronize the sponsors, but there are others that also support live music and jazz all year’ round, including the Ugly Mug and the Merion Inn, both on Decatur Street.
If you’re ready for a good oceanburger, cheesesteak or clams on the half-shell and a cold, draught beer, the Mug is the place go. Since the Merion doesn’t usually open until 5, I usually hit the Mug first anyway, and then go down to the Merion, where George Mesterhazy plays piano.
From Old Atlantic City, I remember George playing in the band at the Club Harlem on Kentucky Avenue, and after years playing the casino showrooms and on tour with legends, George has settled down quite comfortably at the Merion, where some of the musicians from the jazz fest always drop by to pay their respects to the master.
So besides getting a first class meal at Cape May’s oldest bar, you get to hear some great tunes and a real spontaneous jazz jam with George and whoever stops by, and no cover.
Now I learn that George has invited his old combo over to jam every Thursday night from 8:30pm through the holidays, a scene that deserves closer attention.
The official jazz resumes at 8pm with Pieces of a Dream at Lower Regional Theater and an hour later at the Boiler Room of Congress Hall. Things can get hot in the Boiler Room, downstairs at Congress Hall, where John Phillips Sousa once had the house band and some of the jazz fest perfomers can be found throughout the year.
Today Bob Ferguson plays his horn like his Ferguson namesake, with Dean Schneider, keyboards; Andy Lalasis, bass; Vic Stevens, drums, while at the same time, around the corner and down the block, Dennis DiBlasio, does Carney’s Main Room with Jim McFalls.
Being music director for Maynard Ferguson’s band for five years and the director of the Maynard Ferguson School of Music at Rowan University, DiBlasio is uniquely qualified to pay tribute to his old master. And you should get college credit just for hearing them play. Denis DiBlasio, baritone sax, with Jim McFalls, trombone, Jim Riddl, keyboards; Steve Varner, bass; Jimmy Miller, drums. McFalls is a regular member of the internationally renowned Capitol Bones and their larger counterpart, the Capitol Bones Big Band.
David Cole and the Main Street Blues keep the blues going at Cabanas on Saturday night while Pamela Williams is at the Grand and Antoinette Montague is at Carney’s Other Room, keeping the jazz going until 1 am in the morning. A favorite of the D.C. Blues Society Cole and the Main Street has a song list includes jazz as well as old school R&B. David Cole, vocals/guitar; Wes Lanich, keyboards; Emory Diggs, bass; Steve Walker, drums.
Pamela Williams plays sax with Patti Labelle. That’s all you got to know. Her 7th CD "The Look of Love" puts a different twist on 10 classic Burt Bacharach compositions, and has her own funky style. Pamela Williams, sax; Damon Bennett, keys; Stan Davis, guitar; Doug Grigsby, bass; James Rouse, drums. And they go late.
After a late breakfast Sunday morning, things start slow after Church, but Carney’s will start to come alive around noon with the Little Jazz Giants in the Main Room and Young Lions Jazz Quartet in the Other room, before the traditional Sunday afternoon jazz jam takes over at Carney’s and everything winds things up at around four in the afternoon.
Besides the duel jams at Carney’s, Xclusive picks up the blues beat at Cabanas. A 5 piece band with 3 vocalists Xclusive includes Big Walt Johnson, vocals/percussion; D. s. Nixon, vocals/tenor/baritone sax/ percussion; Ryan Gibson, tenor/baritone sax; Louie Beeks, keyboards/vocorder; Frank Greene, tenor/baritone sax/organ; Dave Peterson, guitar; Joel T. Williams, bass guitar; Rasheid Schnidmill, drums.
Little Jazz Giants, who open the Sunday Jam in Carneys Main Room are a group of young musicians from Camden who range in ages 9-13, and are directed by Jemal Sadiq, head of music department at Camden High School. Rebeya, vocals; Emanuel Garcia, alto sax; Arnetta Johnson, Dhalil Sadiz, trumpet; Khawan Wilson, trombone; Micah Johnson, drums.
The Young Lions Jazz Guartet has 13 year old Jordan Williams on keys and Manny Jimenez, trumpet. Jordan started on the piano at age 7 and taught himself to play "Afro Blue" by ear. He studies at the Philadelphia Clef Club and the Performing Arts. Jordan Isaiah Williams, keyboards; Emanuel Jimenez, trumpet; Devon Jamal Waring, drums; Jordan McBride, bass.
After the kids play for an hour keyboard wiz Robin VanDuzee will add some experience to the jam in Carneys Other Room, with Barbara Walker, Ursula Ricks, Lois Smith,vocals; Jesse Andrus, alto sax; Michael Pedicin, Tim Price, Alan Weber, Dahi Divine, tenor sax; Jim Fittipaldi, soprano sax; Bob Ferguson, Joe Breidenstine, Leaster Carnegie, Clifford Buggs, trumpet; Calvin Green, trombone; Geno White, Don Moore, Bruce Hector, guitar; James Lloyd, Robin VanDuzee, Tyrone Shafer, keyboards; David Dyson, Andy Lalassis, Rich Kurtz, bass; Austin Marlow, Curtis Harmon, Tony Day, drums.
Trumpeter Cliff Buggs, one of the original founders of the Jazz Fest, also coordinates the Coast Guard Band, and usually takes the lead for the grand finale in playing “When the Saints Come Marching In” and taking the point in the parade around the room.
And even though you don’t want it to end, they ring the bell and the music is over and all falls quiet and you after taking it all in you start thinking about next spring’s festival, and wondering what the theme will be.
http://www.capemayjazz.com/
Fall 2008 Cape May Jazz Fest Retrospective – By Bill Kelly
Fifteen years down the line, thirty festivals, hundreds of shows, thousands of great performances and a youthful exuberance that indicates the show will go on.
It’s hard to believe that it’s been fifteen years since they held the first Cape May Jazz Fest, which featured a select few acts who started something that should continue, twice a year, indefinitely. Co-founded by Woody Woodland and Carol Stone, the Cape May Jazz Fest has become an important staple for the town of Cape May and east coast jazz fans alike.
Every festival kept getting bigger and better for the first decade, but eventually it leveled off to where it was no longer a matter of being bigger to be better, and this fest will be among friends, some of whom were there at the first fest, and some youngsters who will keep this thing going into the future.
Continuing the tribute to past jazz greats, the fall 2008 fest will spotlight the music of the late great Maynard Ferguson with Ed Vezinho and the Jim Ward Big Band with trumpeter Jon Faddis doing Maynard Ferguson impersonations on Friday night, and Denis DiBlasio and Bob Fergusion with their bands on Saturday, making for a heavy horn ensemble that will blow your socks off.
The Friday night show at Lower Regional HS Theater includes Jon Faddis, Jim Ward, Joe Scannella, Dave Kennedy, Mike Natale, trumpet; Ed Vezinho, Cliff Tracy, Skip Spratt, Bob Rawlins, saxophone; Denis DiBlasio, baritone fax; Joe Ziegenfus, Paul Arbogast, Rich Goldstein, Joe Jacobs, trombone; Demetrio Pappas, keyboards; Jack Hegyl, bass; Harry Himles, drums.
There’s also the return of Pieces of a Dream on Saturday, though since the Cape May Convention Hall is closed, the venue will also be the theater at nearby Lower Regional High School, a schoolbus ride away.
Back in 1975 Peaces of a Dream were just teenagers flush with talent when they were recognized and adopted by Grover Washington, Jr., the sax master who will be forever associated with them. Now they are accomplished journeymen, with James Lloyd on keys, Eddie Baccus, sax; Rohn Lawrence playing guitar; David Dyson on bass and Curtis Harmon, drums, Pieces of a Dream are living legends.
And between the Maynard Ferguson tribute and Pieces of a Dream at the main theater, there’s a dozen other acts that are often going on simultaneously at different clubs, so you have to pick and chose carefully, where you want to be and who you want to see. The only thing for certain is that wherever you are, there will be some really terrific jazz going on.
My preferred approach to the whole weekend would begin with the Fergusion tribute with Faddis, and then catch a bus back to Cabanas where my main man Frank Bey will sing up a storm. They’ve always fit in a good blues band during every fest and after a few years the blues bands began to settle into Cabanas, where you’ll find me if I’m making the circuit.
This historic building once housed Gloria’s Saloon downstairs and the culinary legend, Maureen’s upstairs, and you can still feel some of that history at Cabanas, especially when Frank Bey is in the house.
The Georgia-born Gentleman of the Blues, Frank Bey has a deep baritone voice that, as Carol Stone says, “mesmerizes and envelopes you.” Boy can this guy sing, and he can scat too. And if you miss him during the fest, Frank Bey will also be singing in the Boiler Room in Congress Hall on Saturdays, Nov. 29 and Dec 1, 20 & 27, throughout the holidays.
Jackie Ryan, a West Coast vocalist who sings in five languages, was recommended by WRTI’s Bob Perkins, performs down the street at the Grand Hotel Ballroom, while Chembo Corniel and Grupo Chaworo are in Carney’s Main Room and Michael Pedicin, Jr. in Carney’s Other Room next door. Chembo and Pedicin next door to each other.
Chembo Corniel and his Latin Rhythms play traditional Cuban music, rumba, salsa and traditional jazz with Chembo on congas, Ivan Renta playing tenor sax; Elio Villafranca doing the keys, Andy Eulau on bass and Vince Cherico, drums. They are hot, hot, hot, while Pedicin is just plane cool.
Having toured and recorded with Maynard's big band, Pedicin continues the Tribute to Maynard Ferguson, but he says his major influences are John Coltrane and Michael Brecker. His dad, Michael Pedicin, Sr., is still famous for playing “Shake a Hand” at Bayshores in Somers Point, where Junior played a toy sax on stage at his father’s knees.
A program notes that John Valentino was scheduled to play guitar, but couldn’t make it so Bob Ferguson joined the band on trumpet. Michael Pedicin, alto/tenor sax; Jim Ridl, keyboards; Andu Lalasis, bass; Bob Shomo, drums.
Since the Grand, Cabanas and Carneys are all there downtown on Beach Drive, it’s actually possible to catch all the acts if you move around between sets.
Things start early Saturday morning, with great breakfasts around town, with The Mad Batter being a favorite. Then mosey over to end of the Washington Street Mall for the workshops at the elementary school, which includes lessons and sessions with Monette Sudler, the First Lady of Jazz Guitar.
Monette first came to Cape May to play at the Old Shire Tavern, where many of the Philadelphia jazz acts played back in the 80s and early 90s. While the Old Shire is now a retail store on the mall, its liquor license was moved to the Boiler Room at Congress Hall, keeping the jazz vibs going.
Monette is just one of a dozen top flight jazz performers from Philly who played the Shire and now comes back routinely to play the jazz fest, either as a featured act or as part of the Saturday and Sunday afternoon jam sessions. And to not only get a load of her performing on stage, but sit down and have her show you how to pick a fret on the guitar, well that’s pretty awesome. I hope the kids appreciate it.
10am-11am beginners guitar -- Monnette Sudler 11am -12n advanced guitar -- Monnette Sudler 10am-12n improvisation workshop -- Doug Mapp, Brian Betz, Seth Johnson 12n - 1am saxophone workshop -- Tim Price 12noon - 1am Rhythm Jam -- Marc Jacopec, Jeff Hebron, Carol Sabo, Chris Jacopec Cape May Elementary School, 921 Lafayette St
The Cape May Jazz Fest is a non-profit enterprise, and all profits go towards established scholarships for local musicians, and they’ve already bankrolled some of the education of a number of young, professional musicians, who are actually earning a living playing jazz.
Extra credit classes begin Saturday at noon, at Carney’s with the Divine Jazz Combo in one room and the Eleazar Shafer Quintet in the other. Both will develop or degenerate into jazz jams that will continue until four in the afternoon.
Carney’s is one of the last of the real Jersey Shore beach bars, where you can walk in with sandy sandals and a bathing suit on one side, and sit down to a fine dinner in the other room, which they actually call the Other Room. That’s where Mrs. Carney could usually be found, sitting at the end of the bar next to the kitchen door. While the main room always featured rock & roll, famous for Sunday afternoon jams, Mrs. Carney brought in some Irish bands to play the Other Room, so you were bound to have a good time whatever your flavor. Mrs. Carney was a big supporter of the Jazz Fest and her family continues the tradition, especially the afternoon jam sessions, which are always the first tickets to sell out.
With the Sunday afternoon jams so popular, they eventually got around to having them on Saturday afternoon as well. While most traditional jam sessions are pretty spontaneous affairs, with long drawn out songs that give each musician a chance to play a solo, the Cape May sessions have become pretty competitive over the years, and now everybody tries to out-do each other, which only makes for some sensational music.
Trumpet master Eleazar Shafer opens the Saturday jam with Tryrone Shafer, keys, Irwin Hall III sax, Alex Hernandez, bass and Chris Beck, drums. “The Shafers have been performing at the jams for 11-12 years,” says Carol Stone, who remembers “when El was 9 and Ty 11, and extremely talented young men with fabulous quintet. Not to be missed.”
Beginning the jam in the Other Room is the Divine Jazz Combo a group of teenage musicians founded and directed by 16 year old sax teen Dahi Divine, who studies with Ray Wright at the Phila Clef Club. Dahi Divine, sax; Joseph Gullace, trumpet; James Santangelo, Jr., keyboards; Alex Claffey, bass; Devon Waring, drums
At the same time those guys are cookin’ at Carney’s, Alen Weber and the Frenz Blues jam will be mixing things up at the other end of the block at Cabanas, and Edgardo Cintron and Inca will be playing hot Latin rhythms over at the Grand Hotel Ballroom.
With Alan Weber on sax/flute, the Frenz Blues are Ursula Ricks and Ann Oswald, vocals; Perry Leondro, violin; Don Shaw, Frank Dinunzio, guitar; Walt Sapsah, bass and Mike Antol, drums. Ursula Ricks began singing the blues at age 5 and jives well with Weber, who picks up the alto, tenor, baritone and soprano saxophones and flute.
Carol and Woody didn’t have to go far to find Edgardo Cintron and his gang, as they hail from South Jersey, and have a standing invite to play this fest. The Latin Jam is in Grand Hotel 1st floor Ballroom, so there’s plenty of hardwood floor to shuffle around. Edgardo Cintron, timbales/percussions; Noel Cintron, congas; Bill Murray, sax/percussion; Roosevelt Walker, Jr., guitar; Doug Travis, lead vocals/keyboards; Mike Rivera, bass.
After four hours of intense jazz jams, its time to take five, or four, as there’s a four hour break for dinner that can be had at one of Cape May’s finest restaurants. There really is more fine, four and five star restaurants per square block in Cape May than anywhere in New Jersey.
Some of the restaurants are part of the jazz fest, and it’s always good to patronize the sponsors, but there are others that also support live music and jazz all year’ round, including the Ugly Mug and the Merion Inn, both on Decatur Street.
If you’re ready for a good oceanburger, cheesesteak or clams on the half-shell and a cold, draught beer, the Mug is the place go. Since the Merion doesn’t usually open until 5, I usually hit the Mug first anyway, and then go down to the Merion, where George Mesterhazy plays piano.
From Old Atlantic City, I remember George playing in the band at the Club Harlem on Kentucky Avenue, and after years playing the casino showrooms and on tour with legends, George has settled down quite comfortably at the Merion, where some of the musicians from the jazz fest always drop by to pay their respects to the master.
So besides getting a first class meal at Cape May’s oldest bar, you get to hear some great tunes and a real spontaneous jazz jam with George and whoever stops by, and no cover.
Now I learn that George has invited his old combo over to jam every Thursday night from 8:30pm through the holidays, a scene that deserves closer attention.
The official jazz resumes at 8pm with Pieces of a Dream at Lower Regional Theater and an hour later at the Boiler Room of Congress Hall. Things can get hot in the Boiler Room, downstairs at Congress Hall, where John Phillips Sousa once had the house band and some of the jazz fest perfomers can be found throughout the year.
Today Bob Ferguson plays his horn like his Ferguson namesake, with Dean Schneider, keyboards; Andy Lalasis, bass; Vic Stevens, drums, while at the same time, around the corner and down the block, Dennis DiBlasio, does Carney’s Main Room with Jim McFalls.
Being music director for Maynard Ferguson’s band for five years and the director of the Maynard Ferguson School of Music at Rowan University, DiBlasio is uniquely qualified to pay tribute to his old master. And you should get college credit just for hearing them play. Denis DiBlasio, baritone sax, with Jim McFalls, trombone, Jim Riddl, keyboards; Steve Varner, bass; Jimmy Miller, drums. McFalls is a regular member of the internationally renowned Capitol Bones and their larger counterpart, the Capitol Bones Big Band.
David Cole and the Main Street Blues keep the blues going at Cabanas on Saturday night while Pamela Williams is at the Grand and Antoinette Montague is at Carney’s Other Room, keeping the jazz going until 1 am in the morning. A favorite of the D.C. Blues Society Cole and the Main Street has a song list includes jazz as well as old school R&B. David Cole, vocals/guitar; Wes Lanich, keyboards; Emory Diggs, bass; Steve Walker, drums.
Pamela Williams plays sax with Patti Labelle. That’s all you got to know. Her 7th CD "The Look of Love" puts a different twist on 10 classic Burt Bacharach compositions, and has her own funky style. Pamela Williams, sax; Damon Bennett, keys; Stan Davis, guitar; Doug Grigsby, bass; James Rouse, drums. And they go late.
After a late breakfast Sunday morning, things start slow after Church, but Carney’s will start to come alive around noon with the Little Jazz Giants in the Main Room and Young Lions Jazz Quartet in the Other room, before the traditional Sunday afternoon jazz jam takes over at Carney’s and everything winds things up at around four in the afternoon.
Besides the duel jams at Carney’s, Xclusive picks up the blues beat at Cabanas. A 5 piece band with 3 vocalists Xclusive includes Big Walt Johnson, vocals/percussion; D. s. Nixon, vocals/tenor/baritone sax/ percussion; Ryan Gibson, tenor/baritone sax; Louie Beeks, keyboards/vocorder; Frank Greene, tenor/baritone sax/organ; Dave Peterson, guitar; Joel T. Williams, bass guitar; Rasheid Schnidmill, drums.
Little Jazz Giants, who open the Sunday Jam in Carneys Main Room are a group of young musicians from Camden who range in ages 9-13, and are directed by Jemal Sadiq, head of music department at Camden High School. Rebeya, vocals; Emanuel Garcia, alto sax; Arnetta Johnson, Dhalil Sadiz, trumpet; Khawan Wilson, trombone; Micah Johnson, drums.
The Young Lions Jazz Guartet has 13 year old Jordan Williams on keys and Manny Jimenez, trumpet. Jordan started on the piano at age 7 and taught himself to play "Afro Blue" by ear. He studies at the Philadelphia Clef Club and the Performing Arts. Jordan Isaiah Williams, keyboards; Emanuel Jimenez, trumpet; Devon Jamal Waring, drums; Jordan McBride, bass.
After the kids play for an hour keyboard wiz Robin VanDuzee will add some experience to the jam in Carneys Other Room, with Barbara Walker, Ursula Ricks, Lois Smith,vocals; Jesse Andrus, alto sax; Michael Pedicin, Tim Price, Alan Weber, Dahi Divine, tenor sax; Jim Fittipaldi, soprano sax; Bob Ferguson, Joe Breidenstine, Leaster Carnegie, Clifford Buggs, trumpet; Calvin Green, trombone; Geno White, Don Moore, Bruce Hector, guitar; James Lloyd, Robin VanDuzee, Tyrone Shafer, keyboards; David Dyson, Andy Lalassis, Rich Kurtz, bass; Austin Marlow, Curtis Harmon, Tony Day, drums.
Trumpeter Cliff Buggs, one of the original founders of the Jazz Fest, also coordinates the Coast Guard Band, and usually takes the lead for the grand finale in playing “When the Saints Come Marching In” and taking the point in the parade around the room.
And even though you don’t want it to end, they ring the bell and the music is over and all falls quiet and you after taking it all in you start thinking about next spring’s festival, and wondering what the theme will be.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Billy Hector at the Hedger House
Billy Hector at the Hedger House - August 24 - 2008
After seeing Santana and Dylan I felt like I missed something, and maybe I did, but then I catch Billy Hector and I get it, and its great, and I think its not me afterall.
Billy's been playing irregularly at the Hedger House for some time now, and even though there's new owners, he seems to have came with the place, at least on some unlikely Sunday afternoons, outdoors, outback in the open barn, next to the bonfire pit.
The first couple times I caught Billy at the Hedger he played inside, where the accoustics are a little better, but in good weather the outdoor venue is just fine, even though Billy said he wasn't use to playing in the daylight, around the time he usually gets up after playing all night.
Billy's soaring guitar is backed by a power trio of drums and bass, usually a few guys who rotate shifts and fit in Billy's gigs whenever they don't have anything else to do, and this gig was special because it included Billy's old drummer Dan Hickey, along with standout bassist Winston Royce.
Billy was obviously glad to be back with Dan, who appears on some of Billy's recordings, and Winston seemed to be having a good time keeping up with them.
Kind of put off by Santana's Borgatta show earlier in the summer, expecting god inspired revelations, and after always being illuminated and being strangely disapointed in Dylan at the Electric Factory, a dose of Billy Hector is what I needed to get back into the grove.
You expect Santana and Dylan to reallly kick ass and take things to another level at the Big Time shows, and when it just doesn't happen, it's dissapointing, but Billy never dissapoints. He comes to play and put out.
With a repertoire of hundreds of classics, standards, blues, r & b and rock & roll tunes, you never know what he's going to do next, and it's always a good mixture, and doesn't get bogged down in any one style, however popular.
While the summer season is winding down, the Hedger House is just getting wound up. New owners, Neil and BJ Burns recently purchased the classic, historic roadhouse, and they're fixing up the joint. Opening up two doors from the main bar to what will be a new deck is the first thing you notice, but other things are happening behind the scenes.
If you notice, they're not only putting in a new deck, but the deck has an elevated stage that Neil promises will be utilized at least four nights a week. Niel's wife BJ, was a manager at the Atlantic City House of Blues (HOB) when they actually featured great blues artists, and she's booking the bands for the Hedger House. Maybe they can even put together a Hedger House Band?
The Hedger House is one of the oldest and most historic continously run businesses in the area. If you look at old maps of South Jersey, I mean going back to the 18th Century, you see vast areas of wilderness, and in the middle of it is the Hedger House. It must have been an early stagecoach stop, because it really has no other purpose for actually being there. Neil said that when he had a survey done and title search before buying the property, he was surprised at how far back it went.
It was also good to see some old friends who I never see anywhere else but at a Billy Hector show, where ever its at - John Cooch, his cuz Lisa and her friends, Jersey Central Iron club Prez Lutz, and music wiz Roger Beckwith, the editor of the classic RoadhouseReport.com, where you can keep up with Billy Hector and all the good bands that play live in South Jersey.
During a break I talked briefly with drummer Dan Hickey, who put on a show aside from the guitars, and he said he just got back from a tour of Europe with John Lewis Walker, an old bluesman who claims kinship with T. Bone. And Winston, the bassist, I understand, is playing in the orchestra in a Broadway play, so both of these sidemen are working hard.
At the end of his last set, someone requested "All Along the Watchtower," and having been dissapointed by Dylan, Billy, Dan and Winston got it going, and they were terriffic, and fixed my Dylan urgings.
And the Hector House, I mean the Hedger House, also featured $2 hot dogs and $3 burgers with cheese fries, and u-peel shrimp and other inexpensive muchies that will make going back there easy.
The Hedger House is back.
Billy will also be a featured attraction at this fall's Camp Jam in the Pines, Sept. 19 -20th, which I will update ASAP in a separate thread. But for the moment, it will feature, opening on Friday night, according to my man Cooch, Entrain playing Greatful Dead in reggae, as a spoof I suppose, before Billy Hector comes out and then Entrain as Entrain.
Having already boarded the train, I heard a recording of the laid back party band that hails from Martha's Vineyard and the Hamptons, and know a lot of people who grew up with Sam on trombone, whose from Linwood and went to Mainland HS, playing in the Mainland Mustang band. I was among those who lobbied to bring Entrain down from their usual haunts to play the Friday night beach concert in Somers Point, but they got caught on the Parkway and arrived real late. When they called down and said they were on the way, though waylaid, Nick Regine asked if there were any musicians in the audience. One guy had bongos in his car, another went home to get his sax, and pretty soon they had a neat jam going, and by the time Entrain got to town, they just joined the jam. Then they were asked to come back and play the Anchorage parking lot during a Bayfest, and they went pretty much under appreciated.
Also on the Camp Jam lineup are Corinne West, the Lovell Sistersw, the Ryan Montbleau Band and Ronnie Baker Brooks, the blues guitarist I seen at the Cape May jazz fest a few years back.
What a GREAT lineup!
Check it out at: www.campjam.org
And call for tix (856) 206-3787 or 206-2888
In the meantime, stay out of trouble and tune in to some good music.
That's it from the Jersey Pines,
BK
After seeing Santana and Dylan I felt like I missed something, and maybe I did, but then I catch Billy Hector and I get it, and its great, and I think its not me afterall.
Billy's been playing irregularly at the Hedger House for some time now, and even though there's new owners, he seems to have came with the place, at least on some unlikely Sunday afternoons, outdoors, outback in the open barn, next to the bonfire pit.
The first couple times I caught Billy at the Hedger he played inside, where the accoustics are a little better, but in good weather the outdoor venue is just fine, even though Billy said he wasn't use to playing in the daylight, around the time he usually gets up after playing all night.
Billy's soaring guitar is backed by a power trio of drums and bass, usually a few guys who rotate shifts and fit in Billy's gigs whenever they don't have anything else to do, and this gig was special because it included Billy's old drummer Dan Hickey, along with standout bassist Winston Royce.
Billy was obviously glad to be back with Dan, who appears on some of Billy's recordings, and Winston seemed to be having a good time keeping up with them.
Kind of put off by Santana's Borgatta show earlier in the summer, expecting god inspired revelations, and after always being illuminated and being strangely disapointed in Dylan at the Electric Factory, a dose of Billy Hector is what I needed to get back into the grove.
You expect Santana and Dylan to reallly kick ass and take things to another level at the Big Time shows, and when it just doesn't happen, it's dissapointing, but Billy never dissapoints. He comes to play and put out.
With a repertoire of hundreds of classics, standards, blues, r & b and rock & roll tunes, you never know what he's going to do next, and it's always a good mixture, and doesn't get bogged down in any one style, however popular.
While the summer season is winding down, the Hedger House is just getting wound up. New owners, Neil and BJ Burns recently purchased the classic, historic roadhouse, and they're fixing up the joint. Opening up two doors from the main bar to what will be a new deck is the first thing you notice, but other things are happening behind the scenes.
If you notice, they're not only putting in a new deck, but the deck has an elevated stage that Neil promises will be utilized at least four nights a week. Niel's wife BJ, was a manager at the Atlantic City House of Blues (HOB) when they actually featured great blues artists, and she's booking the bands for the Hedger House. Maybe they can even put together a Hedger House Band?
The Hedger House is one of the oldest and most historic continously run businesses in the area. If you look at old maps of South Jersey, I mean going back to the 18th Century, you see vast areas of wilderness, and in the middle of it is the Hedger House. It must have been an early stagecoach stop, because it really has no other purpose for actually being there. Neil said that when he had a survey done and title search before buying the property, he was surprised at how far back it went.
It was also good to see some old friends who I never see anywhere else but at a Billy Hector show, where ever its at - John Cooch, his cuz Lisa and her friends, Jersey Central Iron club Prez Lutz, and music wiz Roger Beckwith, the editor of the classic RoadhouseReport.com, where you can keep up with Billy Hector and all the good bands that play live in South Jersey.
During a break I talked briefly with drummer Dan Hickey, who put on a show aside from the guitars, and he said he just got back from a tour of Europe with John Lewis Walker, an old bluesman who claims kinship with T. Bone. And Winston, the bassist, I understand, is playing in the orchestra in a Broadway play, so both of these sidemen are working hard.
At the end of his last set, someone requested "All Along the Watchtower," and having been dissapointed by Dylan, Billy, Dan and Winston got it going, and they were terriffic, and fixed my Dylan urgings.
And the Hector House, I mean the Hedger House, also featured $2 hot dogs and $3 burgers with cheese fries, and u-peel shrimp and other inexpensive muchies that will make going back there easy.
The Hedger House is back.
Billy will also be a featured attraction at this fall's Camp Jam in the Pines, Sept. 19 -20th, which I will update ASAP in a separate thread. But for the moment, it will feature, opening on Friday night, according to my man Cooch, Entrain playing Greatful Dead in reggae, as a spoof I suppose, before Billy Hector comes out and then Entrain as Entrain.
Having already boarded the train, I heard a recording of the laid back party band that hails from Martha's Vineyard and the Hamptons, and know a lot of people who grew up with Sam on trombone, whose from Linwood and went to Mainland HS, playing in the Mainland Mustang band. I was among those who lobbied to bring Entrain down from their usual haunts to play the Friday night beach concert in Somers Point, but they got caught on the Parkway and arrived real late. When they called down and said they were on the way, though waylaid, Nick Regine asked if there were any musicians in the audience. One guy had bongos in his car, another went home to get his sax, and pretty soon they had a neat jam going, and by the time Entrain got to town, they just joined the jam. Then they were asked to come back and play the Anchorage parking lot during a Bayfest, and they went pretty much under appreciated.
Also on the Camp Jam lineup are Corinne West, the Lovell Sistersw, the Ryan Montbleau Band and Ronnie Baker Brooks, the blues guitarist I seen at the Cape May jazz fest a few years back.
What a GREAT lineup!
Check it out at: www.campjam.org
And call for tix (856) 206-3787 or 206-2888
In the meantime, stay out of trouble and tune in to some good music.
That's it from the Jersey Pines,
BK
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Tony Marts Reunion September 6, 2008
Tony Marts Reunion - September 6, 2008 - Stumpos, 8pm
Announcement from Somers Point councilman Sean McGuigan:
This Tony Marts Reunion thing is getting to be a twice annual affair, once in the early summer and then again at Stumpo's on the night of the Good Old Days Picnic. At least it's happened twice so far, they are now calling it an annual affair.
While I felt like I was at a nice wedding, rather than at Tony Marts, it's back to the ballroom at Stumpo's where last year we had a blast, with Terrence Simeon, the Zydaco King, dropping by after his hot show at the picnic and Bobby Campanell and Company jamming like the real good old days.
The Good Old Days Picnic at Kennedy Park, now in its 30th year, will feature three really good local bands of different colors - Hawkins Road, Bob Sterling and the Bubba Mac Blues Band, as well as Walter "Wolfman" Washington, who leads yet another hot New Orleans band.
Hawkins Road:
http://www.hawkinsroad.com/
Bob Sterling:
http://www.bobsterling.net/
Bubba Mac Blues Band:
http://www.bubbamac.com/
More on Good Old Days Picnic:
http://www.spgoodolddays.com/
The Tony Marts Reunion later that night will also feature, Walter "Wolfman" Washington and the Roadmasters, who will withoutadoubt make things happen.
They'll be playing tunes you know from Ray and Fats, and Bobby "Blue" Bland, who I remember seeing at the Club Harlem on Kentucky Avenue in Atlantic City and at the Academy Of Music in Philly, (both times with B.B. King). So I know the "Wolfman" is going to cover these guys great, and play some original tunes as well.
The Wolfman and the Roadmasters have won the Big Easy Award for Soul & Blues, and they continue to spread the New Orleans sound around, just as The Radiators did at the Picnic three years ago, and Terrence Simeon did last year, and I assume at a show I missed at the Ocean City Music Pier earlier this summer. Hey, I can't be everywhere.
You know, when Katrina hit, all those Big Easy musicians went on the road, and spread the word about the kind of music they play down there, and we've been lucky, thanks to Carmen and Nancy, to hear a lot of it at the Good Old Days and the Somers Point Beach on Friday nights.
For those who are going to New Orleans any time soon, you can catch the Wolfman play his guitar and howl at Tipitina's on occassion or more regularly at the The Bank Street Bar, where he has the Thursday night gig down pat, except when on tour, as they are at the moment. They're just getting back from the three-day Periguett Festival in France and the Jackson Hole Arts Fest, so they should be cookin'.
As one Cresent City reviewer put it, "Seeing Walter “Wolfman” Washington perform with his current outfit, the Roadmasters, is akin to taking a history lesson on black music in America with the exception that sitting down and taking notes is not an option. With his breadth of experience and seemingly endless repertoire, each of his highly danceable shows is one-of-a-kind. Like the greatest jazzmen, Washington channels his everyday life into his music. Depending on the setting, the band plays the blues, R&B, soul, funk, jazz and everything in between with pure heart."
What more can you ask for? If you're not yet convinced, check out:
http://www.walterwolfmanwashington.com/bio.html
As at all Tony Marts Reunions, besides really good music, there will be Tony Mart T-Shirts, a trivia and dance contest, full service bar and food available. Stumpo's Italian is great, as anyone whose done time in Cape May knows, and the Maryland Avenue Somers Point restaurant is convenient and has plenty of free parking (unlike Cape May).
Limited Reserved seating is $15, or general admission at $10. For reservations or more information call (609) 653-6069 or email Nancy and Carmen at TONYMARTO@AOL.COM.
And tell them you read about it at Bill Kelly's Jersey Shore Nightbeat Blog.
More to come on this one, when I get around to it, especially the headliners at the this year's picnic at Kennedy park that same day.
Announcement from Somers Point councilman Sean McGuigan:
It is with a very heavy heart that I issued the following:
The Good Old Days Festival Committee in conjunction with The Somers Point Office of Emergency Management has decided to cancel The Good Days Festival scheduled for Saturday September 6th in Kennedy Park. This decision was made after consulting with the Somers Point Recreation Commission and reviewing the forecast with The National Weather Service. There is severe weather forecasted for the duration of the day. There is no rain date at this time.
The “5K Walk/Run for Bud” that was scheduled for 9:00 AM Saturday will now be held at 9:00 AM on Sunday September 7th at Kennedy Park.
This Tony Marts Reunion thing is getting to be a twice annual affair, once in the early summer and then again at Stumpo's on the night of the Good Old Days Picnic. At least it's happened twice so far, they are now calling it an annual affair.
While I felt like I was at a nice wedding, rather than at Tony Marts, it's back to the ballroom at Stumpo's where last year we had a blast, with Terrence Simeon, the Zydaco King, dropping by after his hot show at the picnic and Bobby Campanell and Company jamming like the real good old days.
The Good Old Days Picnic at Kennedy Park, now in its 30th year, will feature three really good local bands of different colors - Hawkins Road, Bob Sterling and the Bubba Mac Blues Band, as well as Walter "Wolfman" Washington, who leads yet another hot New Orleans band.
Hawkins Road:
http://www.hawkinsroad.com/
Bob Sterling:
http://www.bobsterling.net/
Bubba Mac Blues Band:
http://www.bubbamac.com/
More on Good Old Days Picnic:
http://www.spgoodolddays.com/
The Tony Marts Reunion later that night will also feature, Walter "Wolfman" Washington and the Roadmasters, who will withoutadoubt make things happen.
They'll be playing tunes you know from Ray and Fats, and Bobby "Blue" Bland, who I remember seeing at the Club Harlem on Kentucky Avenue in Atlantic City and at the Academy Of Music in Philly, (both times with B.B. King). So I know the "Wolfman" is going to cover these guys great, and play some original tunes as well.
The Wolfman and the Roadmasters have won the Big Easy Award for Soul & Blues, and they continue to spread the New Orleans sound around, just as The Radiators did at the Picnic three years ago, and Terrence Simeon did last year, and I assume at a show I missed at the Ocean City Music Pier earlier this summer. Hey, I can't be everywhere.
You know, when Katrina hit, all those Big Easy musicians went on the road, and spread the word about the kind of music they play down there, and we've been lucky, thanks to Carmen and Nancy, to hear a lot of it at the Good Old Days and the Somers Point Beach on Friday nights.
For those who are going to New Orleans any time soon, you can catch the Wolfman play his guitar and howl at Tipitina's on occassion or more regularly at the The Bank Street Bar, where he has the Thursday night gig down pat, except when on tour, as they are at the moment. They're just getting back from the three-day Periguett Festival in France and the Jackson Hole Arts Fest, so they should be cookin'.
As one Cresent City reviewer put it, "Seeing Walter “Wolfman” Washington perform with his current outfit, the Roadmasters, is akin to taking a history lesson on black music in America with the exception that sitting down and taking notes is not an option. With his breadth of experience and seemingly endless repertoire, each of his highly danceable shows is one-of-a-kind. Like the greatest jazzmen, Washington channels his everyday life into his music. Depending on the setting, the band plays the blues, R&B, soul, funk, jazz and everything in between with pure heart."
What more can you ask for? If you're not yet convinced, check out:
http://www.walterwolfmanwashington.com/bio.html
As at all Tony Marts Reunions, besides really good music, there will be Tony Mart T-Shirts, a trivia and dance contest, full service bar and food available. Stumpo's Italian is great, as anyone whose done time in Cape May knows, and the Maryland Avenue Somers Point restaurant is convenient and has plenty of free parking (unlike Cape May).
Limited Reserved seating is $15, or general admission at $10. For reservations or more information call (609) 653-6069 or email Nancy and Carmen at TONYMARTO@AOL.COM.
And tell them you read about it at Bill Kelly's Jersey Shore Nightbeat Blog.
More to come on this one, when I get around to it, especially the headliners at the this year's picnic at Kennedy park that same day.
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