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On March 1, 2006, after seeing the Dharma All Stars' monthly performance at D.J. Rider's
(then the Funky Munky Lounge in Oceanside, New York, I had my picture taken with
keyboardist Bill Heller. Bill is also the keyboardist for the Rippingtons, and has produced and
performed on guitarist Steve Briody's two albums, "Steve Briody" and "Keep On Talkin'."
(then the Funky Munky Lounge in Oceanside, New York, I had my picture taken with
keyboardist Bill Heller. Bill is also the keyboardist for the Rippingtons, and has produced and
performed on guitarist Steve Briody's two albums, "Steve Briody" and "Keep On Talkin'."
On April 29, 2006, at IMAC, the Dharma All Stars and the Matt Marshak Band played one
after the other. However, they are tied together by the fact that most of them know each
other. In particular, saxophonist Mario Cruz has a band called Natural Selection ("Original
Music for an Evolved Species"). Bill Heller of Dharma All Stars is in that band. I am pictured
here with Mario Cruz.
after the other. However, they are tied together by the fact that most of them know each
other. In particular, saxophonist Mario Cruz has a band called Natural Selection ("Original
Music for an Evolved Species"). Bill Heller of Dharma All Stars is in that band. I am pictured
here with Mario Cruz.
On May 5, 2006, following a performance by Special EFX at IMAC, I got to meet keyboardist
Jay Rowe. Along with Special EFX, Jay has performed with artists like Ken Navarro, Marion
Meadows, and Nelson Rangell. He has a few albums of his own, the latest being "Red, Hot &
Smooth." I recorded an interview with Jay on August 7, 2006, which aired August 16. On
October 6, Jay returned to IMAC as part of Nelson Rangell's band, and was there again on
November 17 with Marion Meadows.
In the months since our interview, Jay and I have become great friends.
Jay Rowe. Along with Special EFX, Jay has performed with artists like Ken Navarro, Marion
Meadows, and Nelson Rangell. He has a few albums of his own, the latest being "Red, Hot &
Smooth." I recorded an interview with Jay on August 7, 2006, which aired August 16. On
October 6, Jay returned to IMAC as part of Nelson Rangell's band, and was there again on
November 17 with Marion Meadows.
In the months since our interview, Jay and I have become great friends.
On May 27, 2006, I played a very important role in WCWP 88.1 FM's live broadcast from Bar
Beach Park in Port Washington, New York. I provided the music for the show, I co-hosted two
of the four hours of the broadcast with DJ Eli W. Sen, and in the third hour, I conducted an
interview with North Hempstead Town Supervisor Jon Kaiman. Here we are following the
interview. This picture was taken by one of the Producers of the broadcast (I was also among
the Producers) Joe Manfredi, WCWP's then Director of Operations.
Beach Park in Port Washington, New York. I provided the music for the show, I co-hosted two
of the four hours of the broadcast with DJ Eli W. Sen, and in the third hour, I conducted an
interview with North Hempstead Town Supervisor Jon Kaiman. Here we are following the
interview. This picture was taken by one of the Producers of the broadcast (I was also among
the Producers) Joe Manfredi, WCWP's then Director of Operations.
On May 31, 2006, I went to Il Piatto in Oyster Bay, New York, to see Mario Cruz's band Natural
Selection ("Original Music for an Evolved Species"). In between sets, Mario and his
bandmates stood (and I crouched down) for a group picture. From left to right, Bill Heller on
the keyboard, Mario Cruz himself on the tenor and soprano saxophones, Lee Finkelstein on
drums, Jack Knight on bass, and Steve Briody (BRY-dee) on guitar.
Selection ("Original Music for an Evolved Species"). In between sets, Mario and his
bandmates stood (and I crouched down) for a group picture. From left to right, Bill Heller on
the keyboard, Mario Cruz himself on the tenor and soprano saxophones, Lee Finkelstein on
drums, Jack Knight on bass, and Steve Briody (BRY-dee) on guitar.
On July 14, 2006, as you can see above (and in the MikeChimeri.com wallpaper on every
page), I saw David Benoit for the fifth time, the second time at IMAC. He had quite a group
backing him up: David Hughes on bass, Dave Karasony on drums, and on saxophone...
page), I saw David Benoit for the fifth time, the second time at IMAC. He had quite a group
backing him up: David Hughes on bass, Dave Karasony on drums, and on saxophone...
...Eric Marienthal. After I spoke with Eric, I told him to say hello to his Rippingtons bandmate,
and my fellow acquaintance, Bill Heller. He told me that Bill had been backstage during the
show. So, Eric took me back inside the theater to say hi to Bill. It was quite a night at IMAC.
and my fellow acquaintance, Bill Heller. He told me that Bill had been backstage during the
show. So, Eric took me back inside the theater to say hi to Bill. It was quite a night at IMAC.
On July 28, 2006, I saw Guitars and Saxes perform. On the guitars were Peter White and Jeff
Golub. On the tenor saxophone was Richard Elliot, pictured above with me following the very
exciting IMAC concert. And on the alto saxophone was...
Golub. On the tenor saxophone was Richard Elliot, pictured above with me following the very
exciting IMAC concert. And on the alto saxophone was...
...Gerald Albright, seen above with yours truly. Gerald actually played the bass at one point
during the concert. I had no idea he also played bass, which I was telling him as we posed for
the picture. Thanks to Gerald, Richard, Peter, Jeff, and all others involved.
For those of you keeping score, that's three saxophonists in a row that I'm pictured with.
during the concert. I had no idea he also played bass, which I was telling him as we posed for
the picture. Thanks to Gerald, Richard, Peter, Jeff, and all others involved.
For those of you keeping score, that's three saxophonists in a row that I'm pictured with.
On August 18, 2006, I went to IMAC--for the ninth time overall--and saw the Rippingtons.
This was part of their 20th Anniversary tour. I am pictured above with percussionist Steve
Reid, who was very energetic in his playing, especially during one of the songs where he had
an extended solo. Along with Steve, there was Russ Freeman himself on guitars, Kim Stone
on bass, Dave Karasony on drums, Bill Heller on the keyboard (it was Bill's birthday as well as
David Benoit's, Kim Cattrall's, and my father's), and on saxophone was...
This was part of their 20th Anniversary tour. I am pictured above with percussionist Steve
Reid, who was very energetic in his playing, especially during one of the songs where he had
an extended solo. Along with Steve, there was Russ Freeman himself on guitars, Kim Stone
on bass, Dave Karasony on drums, Bill Heller on the keyboard (it was Bill's birthday as well as
David Benoit's, Kim Cattrall's, and my father's), and on saxophone was...
...Jeff Kashiwa, seen above. At the end of the show, the first song of the encore was "Tourist
in Paradise." During the song, Jeff came up into the audience and (would you believe?)
walked up to the row I was sitting in and played within a few inches of my seat. Not only that,
he was facing my direction. I did not bring that up when I saw him after the show. Instead, I
told him who I was, that I had interviewed him before, and that I spoke to Dan Siegel (a good
friend of his) the week before.
in Paradise." During the song, Jeff came up into the audience and (would you believe?)
walked up to the row I was sitting in and played within a few inches of my seat. Not only that,
he was facing my direction. I did not bring that up when I saw him after the show. Instead, I
told him who I was, that I had interviewed him before, and that I spoke to Dan Siegel (a good
friend of his) the week before.
On September 7, 2006, the Dharma All Stars were once again at the Long Beach Jazz
Festival. This time, they were at City Hall Plaza, and this time, there was a sax player. From
left to right in a picture taken afterward: Chieli Minucci (guitar), Carl Fischer
(trumpet/flugelhorn), Mike Chimeri, John Favicchia (drums), Bill Heller (keyboard), and John
Scarpulla (tenor sax). Jack Knight (bass) is not pictured because he had to leave shortly
before this picture was taken. It was another great performance. Thanks as always, guys.
Festival. This time, they were at City Hall Plaza, and this time, there was a sax player. From
left to right in a picture taken afterward: Chieli Minucci (guitar), Carl Fischer
(trumpet/flugelhorn), Mike Chimeri, John Favicchia (drums), Bill Heller (keyboard), and John
Scarpulla (tenor sax). Jack Knight (bass) is not pictured because he had to leave shortly
before this picture was taken. It was another great performance. Thanks as always, guys.
On October 6, 2006, I went to IMAC--aren't I always there?--to see Nelson Rangell. Nelson is
pictured on the left, and his long time friend and bandmate Jay Rowe is on the right. (I'm not
on fire; it's just the artwork behind me.) Nelson's band also featured Dave Livolsi on bass,
and Trever Somerville on drums. I was blown away by their performance. When either of
them had a solo, they played the heck out of it. And they did the same as a whole.
Nelson was actually the first jazz musician I saw in concert when he opened for David Benoit
at Planting Fields Arboretum on July 12, 2003. So, to steal David's most recent album title,
seeing Nelson brought me full circle.
You've seen me pictured with Nelson and Jay, but below, I am pictured with Nelson only.
pictured on the left, and his long time friend and bandmate Jay Rowe is on the right. (I'm not
on fire; it's just the artwork behind me.) Nelson's band also featured Dave Livolsi on bass,
and Trever Somerville on drums. I was blown away by their performance. When either of
them had a solo, they played the heck out of it. And they did the same as a whole.
Nelson was actually the first jazz musician I saw in concert when he opened for David Benoit
at Planting Fields Arboretum on July 12, 2003. So, to steal David's most recent album title,
seeing Nelson brought me full circle.
You've seen me pictured with Nelson and Jay, but below, I am pictured with Nelson only.
On November 17, 2006, for my 25th birthday, I went to Birdland in Midtown Manhattan to see
the band Yellowjackets perform. Like me, in 2006, the band turned 25 (for the record, the
band members are older than 25) and commemorated that on their CD/DVD entitled "Twenty
Five."
The show was fantastic! The current members are Russell Ferrante on piano and keyboard
(whom I'm pictured with above), Jimmy Haslip on bass (I'm with him below in a picture that
Russell took), Bob Mintzer on the tenor saxophone and EWI (Electronic Wind Instrument), and
Marcus Baylor on drums. At one point, Marcus' wife Jean came out to sing a song called
"The Hope." Outside of that, the instruments did the singing. Thanks to all of you, and as I
told Russell at the end of my interview with him, here's to another 25!
As an interesting side note, Russell and Jimmy appeared on Nelson Rangell's "My American
Songbook, Vol. 1" album.
the band Yellowjackets perform. Like me, in 2006, the band turned 25 (for the record, the
band members are older than 25) and commemorated that on their CD/DVD entitled "Twenty
Five."
The show was fantastic! The current members are Russell Ferrante on piano and keyboard
(whom I'm pictured with above), Jimmy Haslip on bass (I'm with him below in a picture that
Russell took), Bob Mintzer on the tenor saxophone and EWI (Electronic Wind Instrument), and
Marcus Baylor on drums. At one point, Marcus' wife Jean came out to sing a song called
"The Hope." Outside of that, the instruments did the singing. Thanks to all of you, and as I
told Russell at the end of my interview with him, here's to another 25!
As an interesting side note, Russell and Jimmy appeared on Nelson Rangell's "My American
Songbook, Vol. 1" album.
| People I've Met: 2006 |
On December 7, 2006, I went to my second straight "A Peter White Christmas" concert at
IMAC. This year, I finally met Rick Braun. Nice guy. And, of course, I got to meet Peter White
and Mindi Abair again. It was nice to see them, as always.
I am pictured below with Mindi, with Rick (I'm half-blinking in that picture), and with Peter,
Mindi, and Rick together.
IMAC. This year, I finally met Rick Braun. Nice guy. And, of course, I got to meet Peter White
and Mindi Abair again. It was nice to see them, as always.
I am pictured below with Mindi, with Rick (I'm half-blinking in that picture), and with Peter,
Mindi, and Rick together.
Click here to see whom a thinner Mike Chimeri has met in 2007 and 2008.