Two More Nights Spent on Jazz Street

So, last night was the night I've been looking forward to for some time. My two favorite musicians in the whole world were going to be playing together for the first time as a new band. Joe Chiappone and Bill Tiberio, who were joined by Phil Lake on drums, Geoff Smith on bass and Scott Bradley on piano and trumpet, had their debut gig at the Big Tent at this year's RIJF. They were phenomenal, and this is not a biased opinion. The crowd was on its feet at the end and asking for "just one more."

Joe's guitar solo on the opening song was absolutely on fire, and all the guys played so well together. Each had amazing solos. Some of Scott's original compositions were featured, and they were all lovely. "Return of the King" brought me to tears. The last song, John Mayer's "The Heart of Life," also got me all misty; it was just so beautiful. Joe looked like he was transported and he took me (and everyone else) with him. All these guys are amazing musicians who both know, and love, what they're doing--that's obvious. What a delight.


Photo credits go to Gene Rogalski.

Tonight, I spent a couple of hours manning the WGMC 90.1FM booth with some of the DJs at the station. It was fun to represent them and meet lots of interesting people. The music being played on the free stage tonight was really quite good and was constant. It was the Eastman Youth Jazz Orchestra combo along with an occasional Frank Sinatra-type vocalist. It was enjoyable to listen to, and it sounded like they had quite an appreciative crowd.

It was cold. So cold, in fact, that I bought an RIJF pullover. It helped a lot, and it's kind of cute, too.

Don't forget, Afterglow with the Rick Holland Evan Dobbins Little Big Band goes on tonight at Tasteology. Maybe after I thaw out (if I haven't dozed off), I'll make it over there.

yours in music,
Tracy

Jazz Fest on Sunday Night

Well, I reviewed Howard Alden in my blog in the Insider, so I'm not going to repeat that here. Suffice it to say that he was fabulous, and I will definitely want to see him again.

As far as the rest of the evening goes, there was no music playing at all on the Jazz Street Stage when we were wandering around before the Alden show at the Montage. I thought some of the "scene" that IS the Jazz Fest was the constant availability of music on the streets. I wasn't hearing it last night at all. Oh, wait. There was the guy with the horn.

The Dancing Man (those who've been there know who I mean) was a little impatient for JazzKamikaze to get started so he could dance. In his trunks. (He's somewhat minimalist in his attire.) He did like my "ensemble," though, and was nice enough to tell me.

All for now . . .

yours in music,
Tracy

No Son of Rambow; Steve Greene instead!

Well, we walked into the Little a few minutes late having had a hard time finding parking because of the Jazz Fest. We just didn't plan enough time. So, as we were paying for the tickets, three heads popped up in the window behind the popcorn concessionaire--Bill Blind, Greg Wachala, and Dave Charneski--all musician friends of ours. So, we ditched the movie and joined them for the Steve Greene Trio (featuring Tina Albright) in the Little Cafe. Not a bad option at all. Steve was his ever-playful talented self, Bill and Tim kept him on the straight-and-narrow as much as humanly possible, and Tina sounded beautiful as always.

Might make it down to Abilene this afternoon to hear Hard Logic before dinner with my dad, but if not, we're headed down afterward to hear either Scofield or Howard Alden. I vote Howard. We'll see.

yours in music,
Tracy

Debut.

Yesterday was my blog's debut in the Rochester Insider Online. Yes, you read right, Rochester Music Scene (and Heard) is now running in two places--here and on the Insider. We'll see how that goes. I'm a little old for the demographic--hell, I'm old enough to be a mother to the young end of the Insider demographic. But I do get out, I do hear a variety of music, and I guess they liked what and how I write enough to take a chance on me. Either that or they're desperate! (I think I'll flatter myself and assume it's the first thing.) I'll try hard to keep up with both; the more places that I can write about our wealth of musical talent will, I hope, contribute to more people getting out and checking out the Rochester Music Scene.

I had a tour of the Little Theatre the other day; what an interesting place with such historical significance. I didn't know, or just didn't realize, that you can be a member of the Little Theatre Society. Membership fees are a big part of what keeps this theatre going AND growing. I think I'm going to join. I found out that one of the member benefits is that you can reserve the balcony for a movie at Little One, and that seems like a rather romantic idea!

Speaking of the Little, I think I'm going to bring Joe down there tonight to see Son of Rambow. I heard it was phenomenal. I will let you know.

yours in music (and stuff),
Tracy

Lucky me . . .

Just as I arrived at Canal Days and made my way through the throngs down to the parking lot behind Lickety Splits on the canal, I figured out that Mint Jam was just about ready to go on. I love this group. The leader of the band, Gabe Condon, is all of 16 or 17 years old, but plays with talent, finesse and personality far beyond his years. His band also includes his brother, Matt, on bass and Ray DeSalvo on drums. These kids kick ass.

Their schedule of upcoming shows is on their MySpace to which I have a link on the right hand side of my blog. Their covers include tunes by Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and Clapton to name a few. And their original material is absolutely amazing--mature and based on a solid foundation of the classics. Check them out; you won't be sorry.

Got to meet Sean Jefferson of The Mad Jazz Lab (again, check out the link to their MySpace), and I can't wait to see this group. They'll be at the Jazz Fest on a night that I am working at the 90.1 WGMC booth, so I will be sure to catch them. Sean was filling in on drums with the Bill Tiberio Group (Bill, Mel Henderson, Jerry Youngman) at the Gazebo today. BTG sounded great, as usual, even though they were melting. They played one of my favorites, Since I Fell For You, and it was a beautiful as ever. I haven't heard them in a while--everyone was on top of his game, and Jerry has a new keyboard. It's candy-apple red, and it sounds great.

Off to recuperate from the heat.

yours in music,
Tracy

Rockin' This World 'Til the Day They Die.

Go see Young@Heart at the Little Theatre-- a documentary film about a choir with an average age of 80 who rock out with songs from Sonic Youth and Coldplay as well as punk, R&B and more. These folks are fearless and beautiful and what I hope I am at that age. Check it out.

This weekend is Fairport Canal Days. There'll be music all around, so I think I'm going to blow off all the chores I have to do and get out of this hot house and meander on down there to scope it all out. Besides, there's cotton candy. How can I resist?

yours in music,
Tracy

Olives and Peter Geyer--Two Restaurants to Note

This weekend found me at Olives at 50 State Street in Pittsford and Peter Geyer Steakhouse at the Brookwood Inn, Bushnell's Basin.

Caroline and I had dinner at Olives on Saturday night. It's a tiny little "Greek taverna" in the lower level of a yellow house just inside the entrance to Northfield Commons and the whole "Schoen Place Experience." I've ordered takeout from there before--Greek salads and rice pudding--but had never been seated and enjoyed the ambience. It's decorated in such a way that you might feel like you have been transported to a little cafe in Santorini. This is not a "Greek diner" or family restaurant. The server answered all questions we had about the menu. Caroline ordered a small Greek salad and one of their thin-crust pizzas with artichoke hearts, peppers, garlic and Greek cheese. She raved! I ordered a special of the evening--vegetable moussaka--which came with a side salad. It was absolutely delicious. Caroline finished out the meal by eating half of the biggest baklava I have ever seen. She had to take half of that, as well as half of the pizza, home. She ate both the next day which is simply unheard of! That alone is evidence that Olives is a special place.

Sunday night, I took Joe to Peter Geyer's for his birthday dinner (finally!), and we had another wonderful meal there. I love the atmosphere--it is both "clubby" and romantic at the same time. The design is Arts & Crafts inspired--very Frank Lloyd Wright--and I love that look.

The waiter, Don, was professional, yet friendly. Joe ordered a Caesar salad which had crunchy little cheesy delicious bits on it and the rib-eye. I ordered the filet mignon. Both steaks were done exactly as we had ordered them. We had a delicious bottle of wine--a Francis Ford Coppola Claret--and a lovely apple pie with ice cream for dessert. Don was kind enough to serve it with a candle for Joe's birthday. Everything was delicious, and though Peter Geyer's is a somewhat expensive treat, it felt totally worth it.

So, two delicious dinners at two very nice restaurants two nights in a row--quite a feat, I think!

yours in music (and food),
Tracy