Improvisations on Reality

Guys, I have to hand it to you… You have been great in checking out my CD 101.9 post. Thank you – and keep on reading.

I should tell you this another time: once you get on HD radio, that station still lives and breathes. And if the packed Spirit Cruises are any indication, jazz is not going anywhere.
This, in fact, has been the biggest, best, and busiest season I’ve seen in NY since the CD 101.9 days. And WBGO 88.3FM has been picking up the slack big time. Eulis Cathey, you rock. Keep it up, my cat.

And a little something extra for you… the first Craig Chaquico piece I heard. And ten year after I heard it first, I still love it.

K.G.

1. Change up one of the Fresh Scenes in Chapters 4& 5. There needs to be one more minor plotline adjustment…

2. Shilts comes home to NYC!!! Friday night!

3. Jonathan Butler on Wednesday…and thank you so very much to Ken Levinson, Sam Kimball & Bill Zafiros, for making this possible. Cheesecake and hugs for all.

4. …Brubeck. By hook or crook, I need to reserve that ticket. Gato Barbieri…maaaybe… and I’ll see about Botti.

But, quite simply, I need to write. I need to write because I feel myself slacking, and Book 3 is easily the turning point in pretty much the plotline as it is. I need to get back into it, stat.

K.G.

I believe the groan you’re hearing is my poor wallet suffering.

I booked my ticket for a Peter White Christmas with my favorite people: Mindi Abair of the alto sax, and Rick Braun of the trumpet. And then I started going back to the Blue Note schedule, and saw that Dave Brubeck is back for the ripe price of $75, and Gato Barbieri is in town, and…Chris Botti.

I absolutely love a good trumpet, and Chris Botti is definitely on that list. So when I saw that Chris is at the Note for New Year’s, I started looking to get a ticket.

$195 table seating.

WTF?!

Again, the groan you’re hearing is my walletectomy. OUCH. I’m sure that’s table only, because I severely, severely doubt that the Blue Note does package pricing.

…I want to, but…there’s just some things that I need to listen to reason on, and this one is it. I’d rather shell $75 for a Christmas Eve concert, but $195? Ow. Ow ow OW.

That’s not counting the $75 I’m shelling for Brubeck.

K.G.

Today I went to J&R to see Euge Groove demonstrate Beamz Interactive, which is – no joke – one of the coolest pieces of technology that I’ve seen to date. It looks like a plastic/electronic version of Poseidon’s tripod, and in reality is a photocell-and-laser activated play-along/DJ system. Euge demonstrated it by breaking down his own tracks on a demo computer, and demonstrated how to work the various composite pieces of the track by hand movements. A flick of the finger will activate a single instrument track and keeping it there keeps the track playing, a swipe will turn that track on or completely off, and it has every possibility of being used akin to a DJ turntable.

My inner geek was happy like you wouldn’t believe. Seriously, wow.

Now, I had a day off yesterday, and did what I always do: get to walking!

I was originally going to head out to Philadelphia to hang with my ladies and see Boney James, but I was recovering from a case of pinkeye. Of all the times for me to get pinkeye, that had to be the absolute worst. Moreover, why now? I wore contact lenses for seven years without any issues whatsoever and now – hello, good morning. I’m grateful to whoever invented organic and antibiotic eyedrops.

But I digress.

My walk took me to Long Beach, the part of Long Island I love the most thanks to its 4-mile-long boardwalk, clean beach, and cheap-but-awesome diners. Two hours of baking in the sun and doing a full walking round on the boardwalk is my idea of heaven. And by the by, the shape-ups? They work. I felt like I did those two hours on the Stairmaster.

After this, I stopped by Queens to do some more walking there. That lasted two more hours, after which I hunkered down and buried my nose in the Kindle…and when I got up, I realized that having a facsimile of four hours on a piece of cardio equipment is not at all a good idea.

Whoops. Overkill.

No worries, though, because despite the aftereffects, it was truly a lovely Day Off. I got to decompress and relax, catch some sunlight, hear music, hang with friends, and generally relax. This doesn’t happen often.

In better news, because of the season, I can think of a few gorgeous NY neighborhoods (an *ahem* to a reader of this blog, you know who you are!!) that look stunning with the foliage turning colors. Before I go a-cruising, I will go a-photographing. :)

Wanderingly yours,

K.G.

And you say, “Why-

Does it have to be tonight?

Can’t we make a long goodbye?”

There’s a reason I’m starting this particular writeup off with song lyrics, and that is because they are quite appropriate to this particular writeup. Unless my luck turns yet again, and I score a pair of tickets to either Jonathan Butler sailing or the Angela Bofill cruise, then tonight, I have disembarked my last sailing of the Spirit Cruises concert series.

And what better way to wrap this up than with the lovely Mindi Abair.

If you are a child of the nineties, then I’m pretty sure that this name rings a bell, but if you are a jazz fan, then you definitely know what to expect when she struts onto the stage: a lot of laughs, a lot of spunk, and an alto sax that’s as full of spirit and attitude as its proud owner. Mindi and the silver-plated horn both have enough spunk and style to win over the harshest of critics.

With a fresh record out, one inspired by vintage recordings – and appropriately titled In Hi-Fi Stereo – Mindi wasted no time in opening with Down for the Count off that CD – a rousing blast of pop-infused melody, which brought the audience to a good bit of chair-dancing.

You know, there’s one thing that I absolutely love about Mindi A’s shows. She has an utter blast with every audience that she gets; she had the Celebrity Theater on the Century eating out of her hand in the first 10 minutes of the set, and she had the Spirit Cruise audience’s full attention with just the first song. The gloomy outdoor skies had nothing to do with the fact that every eyes was on her; she is utterly dynamic in person. And sometimes, I don’t know what on earth she’s doing in LA, that stylin’ of hers would be perfect in NYC. But that’s just my bias, thinks I.

Now, what’s a Mindi show without Smile? Much like Peter White playing Bright and eliciting a reminiscence because the song was intended as such, Smile has the same effect as its name. Mindi’s voice sets the pace for a light, bubbly piece that neither loses its punch, nor goes off track as the alto sax takes over. It carries the same nigh-unexplainable urge to smile and dance as Michael Lington’s Show Me.

“You know, some songs are just so cool you have to play them. Now are there any Rolling Stones fans?”

That’s when I had to grin. Mindi doesn’t usually do covers, but when she asks this of her audience, I know that Miss You isn’t too far behind and yes, right there – that familiar melody taken to the horn and the trippy line across the bass strings – there we go. A great take on a classic song.

Now, remember what I mentioned about being a child of the nineties? I certainly am a 90s kid, and before I discovered CD101.9 – and even after – one of the first songs that has ever stood out to me was a ballad of sorts. I shouldn’t really call it a ballad, I’ll be honest, it has better pacing than a ballad, and its lyrics are not your typical love song. To me, though, it’s a nice one, and you don’t really hear it, well, anywhere anymore.

I refer to Save Tonight by Eagle-Eye Cherry, and, although I like the original, this is the way I like to hear it.

And also, what is a Mindi show without some stadium jazz? While I have no lighter, and the Flashlight app on my iPod is a poor substitution, the only thing remaining to do when Bloom starts up is to simply enjoy it – on the dance floor, mid-crowd. I’m not quite sure if Mindi noticed it – though she certainly noticed the Statue of Liberty out the window before – but the storm clouds outside loosened to let through just enough sunlight to color the sky in a light purple, with fiery tones where the cover was a bit more loose.

It wasn’t until I went downstairs to mingle with the post-show crowd that I realized: this is the last one of the season for me. Jonathan Butler is next week to wrap up the season officially, and Phil Perry will join Maysa in the Angela Bofill sailing encore, but for this music-chaser, the season has wrapped up.

And what an excellent season it was! Down to the Bone was a perfect reminder of how I fell in love with this music to begin with. Spyro Gyra was a great “happy anniversary” for me coming aboard the Spirit Cruises. And, of course, Guitars and Saxes – a reunion with my guitars, and a chance to see my favorite sax players live for the first time. Memories, connections, friendships… Everything I could ask for, I got this past two months in stereo. Hi-Fi Stereo, if I have to be more precise (couldn’t resist :P )

There are off-season shows, of course, which I will do my best to attend and write about. Nonetheless, there’s nothing quite being aboard the Spirit. Something about being right there, a combination of great music that you just don’t hear much outside HD or Satellite radio and the sight that is NYC at sunset or at night – something about just being on that boat at that season makes me feel like I could leave my concerns on land for a while, and simply, for the lack of better words, come home.

…well, if I’m going to get sentimental… :)

Let’s wish away the morning light,

Keep this distance out of sight…

…’Cause the stars are out tonight.

-Mindi Abair, Stars

And so wraps up the Spirit Cruises season. Next year, same time, same place – I will be there.

Special thanks are to Sam and Bill of Marquee Concerts, to Ken Levinson for making great things happen, and to everyone that I met and reunited with aboard these cruise concerts. I could not have asked for a more amazing season.

Until next time my pen is put to paper, and until the next time the music strikes up…

K.G.

..it just HAS to be said.

—

Dear Murphy,

You and that law of yours are buying yourself a one-way ticket to Hades if this goes on. I hope you have your last will and testament written out, Charon is waiting, especially after what you did the past 48 hours.

Seriously, this is too much.

Really now, Murphy. Not once have I consented to this treatment from you. I Respect The Law. Let’s put it like that. This is no excuse for The Law to go bonkers on me the past 48 hours. I was willing to tolerate a lot…right up until this little development. Messing with me in this fashion is not excusable.

Kindly cease and desist this course of action, lest I’m forced to take more forcible measures.

No love what-the-fuck-soever,

Me.

Yesterday was a day full of torrential rain, in which I got inadvertently caught and soaked to the bone. The risk of getting sick (as I tend to do after storms like these!) aside, this summer storm was a little different. Maybe it was the evening, maybe it was the fact that suddenly, it didn’t seem as humid, or maybe it was simply the fact that I wanted nothing more than a towel at the time, but something felt a little away from ordinary.

And that’s when I remembered: it’s late August. Autumn’s afoot. This wasn’t a summer storm, but a fall storm, rather, and it wouldn’t be too long before I’ll be seeing foliage turn colors. Walking in Brooklyn Heights will get much more picturesque in coming days, and part of me wonders, when the hell did that happen?

Even now, looking at Firefox’s Forecastfox plugin kicking out the temperatures, I’m caught off guard. This year went almost a little too fast. It was only last month, in my mind, that tax season came to an end, and not that long beforehand that I was smiling and saying my hellos to the people at Berks Jazz Fest. It was only yesterday that I was lining up at the pier alongside The Lovely Nikki to see Down to the Bone. At least, that’s what it feels like, especially now that the middle third of the year is almost at a close.

When did time fly by so fast?

A huge part of me wants to rewind the clock by a year. At this time last year, I have just released Book 1 of The Index and there’s a lot to be said for the road that it’s taken me on into this year. And where it has taken me to indeed! I learned a lot about the book-publishing business the old-fashioned way, and learned exactly how much work it takes to keep everything going. I would still not have it any other way.

So, this little bit of nostalgia aside, onward we go! Book 3 remains to be touched up a good bit, and there’s still Miss Mindi Abair in 48 hours. It will be tres awesome.

Notabene to my contest winners…soon! I just need to be able to, erm, afford postage first? :)

K.G.

I should have done the first one earlier, but there were certain circumstances that involve an armada of cleaning supplies, an empty apartment, and a war of “me versus the kitchen” that have delayed this installment.

So, let me start of with…

The Blue Note, and the Red Guitar: Lee Ritenour, Dave Grusin, Joel Rosenblatt, and Melvin Davis.

The Note doesn’t fail me, ever. If I ever think, “Geeze, time to see a show I won’t catch for a LONG time otherwise”, I go straight towards that lineup. Fourplay with Chuck Loeb? Check. Dave Brubeck, even though I missed that one? Chuck Mangione, missed it too? Check and check. Lee Ritenour, original Fourplay guitarist? Oh, definitely not missing that one. Check!

That’s what I was thinking at the time that I booked Lee Ritenour and Dave Grusin. Definitely a duo that goes back before my time; these two have been in the business longer than I’ve been alive. And I am very much a guitar-and-piano girl, so when Dave and Lee came to the Note, I wasn’t going to miss it.

I will confess that the reason I like Ritenour’s style is because it’s a step away from what I normally listen to, and a fair bit of a throwback to Antonio Carlos Jobim. Indeed, Lee’s take on Stone Flower was excellent. The way he plays is true to form and thoughtful, almost contemplative. Similar can be said for Stolen Moments, another clear favorite of mine.

One of the highlights was Dave’s signature: an excerpt out of his score for The Firm.While not a fan of the movie, having the score – all in a crisp piano – played in a cozy place like the Note was something else. I was able to focus a lot more at the intricacy of the score, and the almost casual movements of his hands across the keys.

A brief funny moment: when Lee was introducing some tracks off Six String Theory, Melvin Davis was sitting by him with the seven-string bass. The following exchange took place:

Lee: The Six String Theory project was put together with some great people. Paul Brown… *lists the names*

Melvin, off the mic: …Shaddup.

Priceless. But Lee does tend to not share the mic. :)

Nonetheless, Lay it Down was a fantastic track and, dare I say, so was the rest of the album. And, upstairs, Lee commandeered the gift shop counter right along the salesladies for conversations, autographs, and the token “Great show!” that came from everyone as they ventured his way.

The following week, there was…

Spirit Cruises and the Rippingtons.

Not my first time seeing this show – I saw them last year too – and I was happy to be aboard the ship again. Russ Freeman and Jeff Kashiwa are both on my Favorites List for other projects: Jeff was charming with Hyde Park, and Russ Freeman teamed with David Benoit for The Benoit-Freeman Project, I and II. I have a particular affinity to the first one. But I digress.

Need I even say it, though? Amazing show, and a fantastic song selection. Of the featured favorites, there was Black Diamond from the CD of the same name. Their take on Indian Summer, a good deal more tropical-themed than the variations I know from other artists. Jeff Kashiwa, who made the rounds with the sax on When It Feels Good – not too mellow, just that side of casual, and still seamlessly integrated with the more fast-paced Ripps sound that we all know and love. And – also newly iTuned and into my collection – Modern Art, also from the CD of the same name. Something about that track is an instant feel-happy effect, and lo! – the smiles were everywhere.

Of course, Russ Freeman loves his inner rocker, which got released – and how!! – with the finale. I could have sworn, though not offhand, that South Beach Mambo was what clicked in my memory. I do love my guitars aplenty, and Freeman confirmed exactly why.

I know, not as long of a writeup as I usually do, but because I’ve fallen behind – argh! – and because I’ve had my hands quite full with non-blogging matters, it is not as detailed. There will be other shows, though, which I will take you along with me through my own words.

A happy birthday to Billy Heller, the keyboardist to the Ripps, and here’s to chasing music yet again!

K.G.

Dear Writer’s Block,

Seriously? When I’m in the middle of a two-fer writeup?

DIAF, thanks.

No love,

Me.

Hoo boy. When I bite off more than I can chew, I pull out all the stops!
So you guys know I like jazz vacations. Natch, I absolutely adore jazz vacations. My first was the All Star Cruise 2009, also known as the Smooth Music Cruise, put on by the now-defunct Haven Entertainment. Then, I ventured to Montego Bay, mon, for Jammin’ in Jamaica 2009, the inaugural event by Warren Hill. And then I hit up Berks Jazz Fest, and am now aboard for the Capital Jazz SuperCruise, which I affectionally address as CapJazz here.

A friend of mine…ahem!…convinced me to try the Smooth Jazz Cruise, which is by Jazz Cruises, LLC. It’s a major event, and as I found out, the early bird does get the worm. The singles cabins are booked. And the price for the buyout of a regular cabin is, to say the least, exorbitant. I do not have $4,000, especially after the purchase of CapJazz. And the interesting thing is…I’m still considering.

Enter Dave Koz and the Alaska cruise of 2011. With open single cabins.

You can see my dilemma in a nutshell, can’t you?

I know there is a reason that Alaska is the #1 destination for cruises. Believe you me, I know. And the lineup that Dave put together is stellar: Chris Botti, Warren Hill… David Benoit, whom I’d be very happy to see play again. But when someone tells me “Jazz cruise” – I’m thinking tropics.

Still…Alaska, the mountains and the scenery, and the glaciers…and the music…

AGH.

I don’t know how I’m going to do this, but where there’s a will…

K.G.