Mark Zeger

Selmer Radial trumpet.

While “Miles Ahead” was a hot mess on several levels, Don Cheadle’s ability to mimic Miles’ playing was fantastic (far better than Denzel in “Mo Better Blues”), as was Keyon Harold performing the trumpet parts. Don worked with trumpet builder Dave Monette on horns & mouthpieces. Only one problem: Miles never played Monette equipment because it didn’t exist at the periods portrayed in the film. There are scenes where Cheadle is using a period correct Martin Committee…but with an incorrect Monette mouthpiece. It’s as if “Love and Mercy” showed Brian Wilson playing a CP70 is his sandbox. Also, “A Man Called Adam” has Sammy Davis Jr as a famous but troubled trumpet player. Nate Adderley did the playing for Sammy and Benny Carter wrote the music. Louis Armstrong had a supporting role along with Cecily Tyson and Ossie Davis.

The Round Midnight soundtrack was among the first CDs I bought. It won the film score Oscar in a field that included Morricone’s “The Mission” (one of the maestro’s finest). It’s great in spite of a woeful lack of top musicians: Herbie Dexter Ron Tony Freddie Wayne Cedar a couple of Bobbys, McFerrin & Hutcherson It gave us this stunning ballad.

Marvin Gaye - Let’s Get It On Marvin Gaye - Sexual Healing Marvin Gaye - I Want You

Francies, Pino, & Questlove? Damn! I heard Francies last summer at Newport with Chris Potter and in November with Pat Metheny. I can’t wait to hear him again.

This is the next great investment trend. After all, you can’t play FM EPs on a Bored Ape NFT, can you?

Can’t be real. Would have been stolen, probably many times.

Maybe the UK will have a Laurie Anderson rediscovery? If not Talking Heads, we’ve certainly been in a period David Byrne renewal for a while. Maybe it started with his great album & tour with St Vincent and continued ascending with American Utopia.

I hate my job? 😁

In the late ‘70s when deciding on a college path, I was strong in math, sciences, and music. I chose electrical engineering because I wanted to be the next Bob Moog, Tom Oberheim, or Dave Smith. I said that to my guidance counselor (and explained who they were). Though engineering was too great a challenge & I changed majors after 2 years, thank you, Dave Smith, for inspiring teenage me.

I grew up 30 minutes from The Chance. It remains my all time favorite venue. Of the many shows I’ve seen there, the most memorable was Stevie Ray Vaughan soon after his debut album. Others: Norah Jones in a Rochester restaurant. During an early year of the Rochester jazz festival, she was booked in January to play a restaurant as a venue. By the time of the festival in June, her debut album exploded & she was on the Tonight Show, Letterman, etc. The venue was WAY over the fire code. I got in through the kitchen. The Pat Metheny Group in 1981 in a small college gym and at The Chance in 1983. I have a copy of “Travels” the band signed between sets. REM was a warm up act for a concert in my college gym. Their first album was released that month. McCoy Tyner with Michael Brecker at a NYC club in 1995-96.

If you go by radio airplay or popularity, George Benson “Breezin’” was 1976 vs “Morning Dance” or “Feels So Good” a little later. If you’re looking at Mangione, his earliest albums are great examples of jazz-pop crossovers that could be considered smooth jazz. Here in Rochester, Chuck is revered. Every big band, including mine, plays early Mangione. I went to the sold out 40th anniversary concert of the “Friends & Love” live album on Memorial Day weekend 2010. Tony Levin & Steve Gadd reprised their places in the rhythm section. They’re in this clip from 1970.

Pre-smooth jazz The Birth of the Smooth Smooth 1.0

As a trumpet player in high school, I was crazy about Chicago. Now decades later, I’ve never seen them and lost interest now that so few original members are in the current band. For me, it’s almost like paying a premium to see a tribute group. I’d see Leonid & Friends if they were nearby. Maybe they were & I missed it.

Charles Kamen was in the helicopter industry before creating Ovation Guitars so maybe there’s a connection.

Seems like seeing The Musical Box is a far better choice than the Hackett show. I was fortunate to see Genesis on the Mama tour, the Peter Gabriel solo tour between the first 2 albums and later tours, Yes (with Anderson, Squire, Howe, Wakeman, and White, plus Drama & 90125 versions), the King Crimson Discipline tour, and others. Never had a shot at seeing ELP. The “music of my youth” itch isn’t there anymore. The Genesis farewell tour had no interest for me. I have no desire to see huge concerts where affordable seats mean watching on video screens. There is 1 performer I haven’t seen and would pay a premium to see in a large venue: Paul McCartney. I’ve heard his concerts are great. My wife would love it. He’s playing near me next month, there are good seats still available ($250-300) but we’re out of town for a wedding. Hoping there’s a next time.

For most of the 20th century, one of the largest US piano factories was in East Rochester not far from my house. They built Mason & Hamlin, Chickering, Knabe, and other makes. As a result, there are (were?) many good vintage pianos in the area. When we were shopping for our piano 30 years ago, I found a guy with a small warehouse of mostly old Mason & Hamlins which were fantastic.

We’ve all seen pianists who have been on fire, smokin’, burning’, red hot, etc. This happened last night. https://www.whec.com/rochester-new-york-news/piano-vassar-street-park-avenue-fire/6468901/

Many songs! Among those: Is She Really Going Out With Him? Stepping Out Breaking Us In Two It’s Different For Girls Be My Number Two Those are just the first 5 that came to mind.

Thanks for posting. Have never seen him and would love to but the closest date is just over 90 minutes away on a Wed. night. I’m old.

My parents are from an area where their nationality was Czech, they spoke Hungarian, and it’s now inside the western border on Ukraine. My mom made lecso every week. It was a favorite of my dad.

You are correct. Post revised. Not sure why but my brain often name-swaps Cindy & Kate.

Farfisa organ 1st generation: Louie Louie 96 Tears Wooly Bully 2nd generation: Steve Nieve on Elvis Costello “Radio Radio” Kate Pierson on The B52s’ “Rock Lobster” (correction made)

Greg Hawkes’ Prophet 5 hard sync on The Cars’ “Let’s Go”