Ralph's Anniversary

Today is a difficult day for the many people who knew and loved Ralph Ortiz. One year ago today, he left this world to go and teach the Angels how to be funky.

We have lost many of Rochester's musicians over the past few years. That's one of the many reasons why creating the Rochester Music Hall of Fame is so very important - to honor those musicians who have passed on, so that they and their contributions to the Rochester music scene may never be forgotten. Another reason for the creation of RMHF is to honor those who are still here making music in Rochester as well as those from Rochester who have gone on to make music all over the country and all over the world.

Rochester has been blessed with an abundance of wonderfully talented musicians. Let's honor and celebrate them.

yours in music,
Tracy

Rochester Music Hall of Fame - How You Can Help

Since last spring, many people have been working very hard to get the Rochester Music Hall of Fame (RMHF) off the ground. Musicians, lawyers, professional consultants and friends of the Rochester music scene from all walks of life have been giving of their time, energy, talent and money.

Things have to happen in a particular order, and right now RMHF is very close to having its 501(c)(3) status which allows it to be a charitable nonprofit entity. This status allows anyone who donates to the Rochester Music Hall of Fame to take the donation as a tax write-off.

Right now, RMHF is less than $100 away from having enough money to file the final papers to get that 501(c)(3) status.

If you would like to help, please email me at rmhof2009@gmail.com and I will tell you how you can be a part of this exciting and very important endeavor.

yours in music,
Tracy

A Music Riddle

Can you guess which of the following three cities does NOT have a Music Hall of Fame? a) Buffalo; b) Rochester; c) Syracuse? If you guess b) Rochester, then you are correct! Ask me how you can help make the Rochester Music Hall of Fame a reality.

Prime Time Funk is at the Chocolate Ball tonight! I can't wait; the last time I saw them all together was at the freezing cold Lilac Festival. At least this gig's inside!

yours in music,
Tracy

Who are these kids, anyway?

Co-Existence was playing tonight in the village at Towpath Cafe, and my daughter suggested I go down and catch their show. We have their CD, and I do like it, so I decided to go down. Ryan Johnson on guitar, Danny Nguyen on sax, Colin Fleming on bass, and Dan Knorr on drums - that's who those kids are, anyway. "Co-Existence is an original musical project, blending aspects of funk, jazz, rock, and soul. The band hails from Rochester NY, and is comprised of students from SUNY Fredonia and the University of Buffalo." That's what their MySpace - http://www.myspace.com/coexistence07 - says. Check them out; they're worth a listen. They could be big someday.

yours in music,
Tracy

Bad news . . . again.

I found out late. Peter Grammatico died. At 40. With a wife and small child who is not even two years old. I didn't really even know him, but my heart breaks for him and for his family.

Peter reached out to me through my MySpace and asked me to come and listen to his band, Chasing Giants. I did. They were fun. I never even got the chance to have a conversation with him, though. He seemed like a warm and loving human being.

We are at a loss, again. My sympathies to his family and friends; may he be singing with the angels.

Tracy

A Little Sad to See RIJF 2009 End

Though I didn't have a Club Pass, the weather was more cooperative this year than last, and I had a great time on Jazz Street. Last night, I enjoyed hearing the Campbell Brothers and was thrilled to learn that my friend Cinnamon Jones was singing with them. It was great to see her - it's been a long time. Campbell Brothers were excellent and filled with life.

We stayed for about half of Robert Randolph, but were tired of being pushed and shoved and rudely stepped into, so we headed out of that fray and up toward Tower of Power.

Robert Randolph was the powerhouse I expected them to be, and if they come anywhere near here, I will be first in line to buy tickets to see them in a better venue than the free stage at Alexander and East.

We stood in a fog of cigar smoke not even close enough to really hear Tower of Power well. What is Hip was the last tune I heard before we tried to beat the crowd to Matthews Pub to get a late dinner and rest our weary backs, legs and feet. Matthews was pretty good - food was fine and the service was quick, pleasant and thorough.

I don't know that we'll be going back down tonight; there's really no one on my list to see, though I heard that Dwayne Dopsie and the Zydeco Hellraisers is supposed to be good. Don't know if I want to fight the crowd, the smoke and the rain. We'll see.

I kept hearing people say how great these nine days are every year and how the city feels "alive" and how they don't want to see it end. Here's my thought: if we could just get the RIJF folks to promote and support the local jazz scene all year round with the expertise they show during the Jazz Fest, then we'd really have something going on in Rochester!

yours in music,
Tracy

Bill Tiberio Band at RIJF

The boys were back in town! A year since their RIJF 2008 debut, the Bill Tiberio Band only gets better. With favorites they've been playing for a while - Watching the River Flow, Return of the King - and some new additions, BTB pleased the shoulder-to-shoulder crowd. There was not a chair to be had, and the street was packed with appreciative fans - old and new! The Bill Tiberio Band - Bill Tiberio, Scott Bradley, Joe Chiappone, Phil Lake, and Geoff Smith - finished their set to a well-deserved standing ovation.

By the way, the sound guys at the Jazz Street Stage did a great job with the volume and the mix.

yours in music,
Tracy