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

Rain, rain, go away . . .

Bill Tiberio Band on the Jazz Street Stage at 6:00 pm tonight - be there!

SMV THUNDER!!!!

What an AMAZING show last night at Eastman Theatre - Stanley Clarke, Marcus Miller, and the incredible Victor Wooten! I don't think one person left that building in anything less than amazement and appreciation for the talent of those three men. Two full hours of melodic bass, accompanied by drummer, Derico Watson, and keyboardist, Federico Pena, each holding his own beautifully.

I'm sure some people were thinking, "Three bassists . . . all you're going to here is, well, bass." No, no. We heard melody, harmony, soul - MUSIC. It was a real treat and one of the all-time best shows I've ever seen.

yours in music,
Tracy

"Your love of music will be an important part of your life." Bo's Fortune Cookie Message

There were three fortune cookies sitting on the dining room table. My daughter and I decided to share them and include the dog, Bo. She let him pick first. He got the fortune that was clearly meant for me. I got one about a distant relative calling me.

Jazz Fest Day One - For starters, I got to meet Kathy from the Rochester Music Hall of Fame planning committee, and I received some promotional cards to hand out along my Jazz Fest travels. If you see me there, you will get a card! This project is the brainchild of Karl LaPorta, and I'm delighted to be able to help him and his planning group in any way that I can. I posted a link to the site; check it out.

I saw Bill Frisell last night. I enjoyed the last 45 minutes. The first half-hour was, as I told Joe, complete "monkey-torture" for me. It sounded like a bunch of kids at Northfield Music Studio trying out all the effects pedals and "noodling" around. It made me very tense. I was not enjoying it at all, and the second piece went on forever. I was waiting for it to end so I could answer a text message I knew had come from my daughter. As the piece ended, I left the Kilbourn auditorium area so I wouldn't disturb anyone. I was followed by a herd of people who also were not enjoying the "music."

However, upon my return, Mr. Frisell found a melody. I think it was Danny Boy or something that sounded like it, but he made it his own. There were still plenty of effects, but there was melody. And it was beautiful. And each piece after it had a melodic base to it. Finally, the concert was enjoyable for me. Had the whole concert been like that, I would say I loved his playing. He is clearly a good player. Too bad for the herd of people who left, I think they would have enjoyed the last 45 minutes. I did.

Tonight, SMV Thunder Tour!!!!

yours in music,
Tracy

News!! Rochester Hall of Fame has a Website - Check it out!

http://www.rochestermusic.org:80/

Rochester Music Hall of Fame!

Stay tuned for more information.

April 26, 2009 - Remembering Ralph

Rochester's Music Community Remembers Ralph Ortiz
April 26 event will feature more than 70 musicians

Rochester, NY – More than 70 area musicians will come together for a nine-hour benefit concert to honor Rochester bassist Rafael "Ralph" Ortiz, who passed away February 2, 2009 after a short battle with cancer. Remembering Ralph will take place at Water Street Music Hall (204 N. Water Street) on Sunday, April 26 from 1 to 10 p.m., and will feature 11 bands and many guest appearances on alternating main and club stages at Water Street Music Hall. Tickets are $20 and will be available this Friday, March 20 at: WSMH, Northfield Music, House of Guitars, Record Archive, The Bop Shop, Sound Source, Abilene Bar & Lounge, Murray Street Station (Newark, NY) and Irene's Coffee & Jazz House (Geneva).

The line-up for the April 26th event will feature the following bands and special guests
(subject to change):
· Chet Catallo & the Cats, with special guests Eli Konikoff and Peter Chwazik
· Prime Time Funk, with special guests Todd East, Jeff Cosco and Trevor Neumann
· Steve Greene
· Joe Brucato
· Atlas
· Don Maracle & Dave Hanlon
· The Buddahood
· Me & the Boyz
· Po Boys Brass Band
· The Legendary Dukes
· Dan Schmitt & the Shadows
· Mint Jam

"Incredibly, Ralph played with most of the musicians participating," says Prime Time Funk co-founder and best friend, Jim Richmond. "Some he taught, and the rest are fans who wanted to play with him but never got the chance."

The event will also feature a silent auction of special items including one of Ralph's basses, guitars donated by Northfield Music and House of Guitars, and two club passes donated by the Rochester International Jazz Festival. The sale of food and concessions will also benefit the Rafael Ortiz Memorial Fund, which will help to pay medical and other family expenses as well as fund two music scholarships in Ralph's name: one for a graduating senior pursuing music studies from Ralph's alma mater, Newark High School, and the other for bass lessons at Northfield Music in Pittsford, where Ralph taught for 20 years.



www.primetimefunk.com
www.thedrumcorner.com
www.myspace.com/hotsweetsmusic

See you later, Ralph.

The rooms and hallways of Falvo Funeral Home were filled to capacity last night with people who had come to honor their friend, their teacher, their fellow musician - Rafael (Ralph) Ortiz. The shock and pain, the disbelief and sadness were palpable; but so, too, was the love, the light and the beautiful energy that Ralph brought with him everywhere.

I've been to many Hot Sweets and Prime Time Funk gigs, and I have seen and heard Ralph play dozens of times. It never gets old. He always has some way to amaze. His vocals, harmonizing with Jimmy on Sweet Baby James and others, were so sweet. At the last gig I went to, I mentioned to him how beautiful his voice was and that I hoped he'd start doing more singing. My favorite Ralph tune is Ain't No Sunshine (When She's Gone). Each time I heard it, it was better than the time before. And after the gigs, I would tell him how awesome he was, and he'd get that sheepish "aw shucks" look that was totally genuine. His humility, as he accepted my compliments (or anyone's compliments), only served to add his beauty as a person and as a musician.

The musical community, and the community as a whole, has suffered an incredible loss in the death of Ralph Ortiz. It might be that it could have been avoided if we, as a nation, honored our musicians and artists the way they should be - with a livable wage and health insurance. But that is fodder for another post.

I know that it is going to be hard for the guys who have been playing with Ralph for decades to get up on a stage and play without him. I know it will be a shock to look over to where he always stood and not find him there. And I know their hearts will be heavy for a long time. But Ralph has left a legacy of love and light and music in each of his bandmates, his students, his friends and family. He will be with us always.

Look out, angels; Rafael Ortiz is going to teach you about funk!

yours in music,
Tracy

For anyone who might still be reading . . .

Joe and I are getting ready to head out to California next week for the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) show. I now have a laptop, so I plan on doing some blogging from there should I be lucky enough to hear some good music. (If the past two years are any indication, I will!) After NAMM, we are heading to San Diego where we might do a little "clubbing" and hear some music there. I will blog about anything particularly interesting. Frank Gambale is scheduled to be at the Baked Potato in LA during NAMM and Robben Ford in San Diego when we are there. Hopefully, we will see them both.

yours in music,
Tracy