Back in 99' I got back home to NYC just the way I like to...
In the height of the summer action!
Central Park Summer stage, concerts in New York's parks and the summer touring season, all good reasons to be there in summer as well as the fact that for me it has been more than 12 years since I have seen even a hint of snow, so I always travel home in the summer to keep that streak going.
But I had no Idea what kind of action I was in for!
I think it was a Thursday night and I was enjoying a drink or two with an old bud, when I unconsciously began thumbing through the current copy of "Time Out New York".
I always find the amount of things on in NYC amazing when thery're laid out in a magazine.
Hmmm...?
Jimmy Smith?
That's a good one for my birthday.
Buddy Guy in the park?
Oh yeah!
What's this...?
Charlie Hunter!?
All this week @ Joes pub?
Starting in 1 hour?
As I read the words my hands began reaching for my bag and my wallet to pay our tab, and after a short briefing to bring my bud up to speed we were on the street and heading downtown.
I was quite surprised to learn in the cab on the way, that my friend was not familiar with the incredible 8-string guitar work of Mr. Hunter.
I briefed him as best I could on the way... Knowing full well that the shock of seeing the Charlie Hunter Trio (which by the way consisted of only two players at the time) could cause some people to completely flip their wigs.
I explained how Hunter played an 8 string guitar strung with 5 guitar strings & 3 bass strings and also how he did double duty as guitarist& bass player simultaneously.
I added that I was not sure, but I had my suspicions that he had a few extra fingers.
He seemed incredulous.
I then went on to try to explain Chopek... The drummer and how I believed he was quite possibly hiding a 3rd arm somewhere on his person.
I laid out how Hunter was part of The disposable Heroes of Hip-Hoprocy with Michael Franti, and how this was gonna be a night of Groove so thick that it might take a day or two for our feet to stop tapping.
I've got to admit, that even as the words left my mouth I thought... "Even I wouldn't believe this hype!" that is if I had not seen it with my own eyes at The Continental in Melbourne.
Our cab pulls up outside Joes pub, some money is tossed in the general direction of the driver & we walk into the venue.
Look! A table is open right at the foot of the stage!
Score!
I order a scotch and a beer for my bud just as the band takes the stage.
It only takes 16 bars or so until the sound of jaws hitting the floor fills the room and every one there knows the truth...
These are some very funky brothers!
The "trio" played for a half hour or so and then invited some guest onstage, David Ellis on Sax & Skerik for additional percussion.
More jaws drop.
The band played 4 dates that week and I was there for all of em', sitting front of stage like a stalker soakin it all up.
So if Charlie Hunter is playing your town, or the next town over, or the one next to that, should you go?
Have Ya not been listening?
You bet your ass you should go!
Wednesday, July 06, 2005
Retro-Review: Headfake @ CBGB's- 1999
The place is CBGB's.
Circa 1999
This room was the scene of many a magic musical moment in my life.
The place where I saw The Talking Heads, The Clash, and Blondie not to mention hundreds of other seminal acts of the last two decades.
Tonight there will be an addition to that long list of great performances, for on this chilly, November evening the New York grapevine has informed me of a very special event.
The first performance of a new musical entity called Headfake!
You may ask... What's so special about this unknown musical unit besides a great name?
Well I'm glad you asked.
Headfake is made up of 3/4 of the band Living Colour!
That's right kids, Corey Glover (vocals), Will Calhoun (drums & percussion) and last but not least the amazing Douglas Winbush (augmented bass guitar).
That line up would have been enough for any night but on this night there was more... on guitar... Vernon Reid.
A piece of information that should be mentioned is that before Headfake took the stage an unknown band warmed us up and after another unknown took us out.
So really it was just another showcase night at CB's, which is probably what the boys from Headfake wanted.
The few people that had turned out for the gig (and there could only be a few people @ CBGB's cause the place is so small) had been chatting away about what to expect.
No one was sure what the set would be.
Would it be material from Corey's fantastic C.D. Hymns...?
Some thought that it could include stuff from the African Head Charge days or maybe Living Colour stuff, or since we all know from years of following these guys around NYC how prone they are to intense improvisations perhaps we would be treated to some next out shit!
What would it be?
Looking around the room I began to notice that there were no record company types to be seen, no big time hype, just musicians setting up gear (in Winbush's case lots and lots of gear) no guitar tech, or drum tech... Just the band.
The set starts and we all sense a little more about what this is going to be.
First we start with a four-minute bass solo that segues into Torn, a song from the Junglefunk album.
By the second tune, September we are all sure that this is a night we will not soon forget!
In this old room with it's chipping paint, wobbly tables, and tiny stage we were all about to receive the full soul treatment.
For my money Corey Glover has always been what a soul singer was meant to be.
It has never been much of an effort for me to trace the sound from Big Bill Broonzy to Sam Cooke to Rev. Al Green to Corey and tonight this band makes it that much clearer.
90 Minutes into the set and we have cleared all of the Jungle Funk material, and these guys show no sign of letting up so as a treat they drop two Living Colour tunes into the mix the fantastic but little known Sail Away (Bad Brains) and Leave it alone from Stain.
120 minutes from the start of the set to the finish and the crowds collective mind is blown!
We spill out onto the streets of lower Manhattan into the cold winter wind amazed at what 5 bucks can buy in this town.
Circa 1999
This room was the scene of many a magic musical moment in my life.
The place where I saw The Talking Heads, The Clash, and Blondie not to mention hundreds of other seminal acts of the last two decades.
Tonight there will be an addition to that long list of great performances, for on this chilly, November evening the New York grapevine has informed me of a very special event.
The first performance of a new musical entity called Headfake!
You may ask... What's so special about this unknown musical unit besides a great name?
Well I'm glad you asked.
Headfake is made up of 3/4 of the band Living Colour!
That's right kids, Corey Glover (vocals), Will Calhoun (drums & percussion) and last but not least the amazing Douglas Winbush (augmented bass guitar).
That line up would have been enough for any night but on this night there was more... on guitar... Vernon Reid.
A piece of information that should be mentioned is that before Headfake took the stage an unknown band warmed us up and after another unknown took us out.
So really it was just another showcase night at CB's, which is probably what the boys from Headfake wanted.
The few people that had turned out for the gig (and there could only be a few people @ CBGB's cause the place is so small) had been chatting away about what to expect.
No one was sure what the set would be.
Would it be material from Corey's fantastic C.D. Hymns...?
Some thought that it could include stuff from the African Head Charge days or maybe Living Colour stuff, or since we all know from years of following these guys around NYC how prone they are to intense improvisations perhaps we would be treated to some next out shit!
What would it be?
Looking around the room I began to notice that there were no record company types to be seen, no big time hype, just musicians setting up gear (in Winbush's case lots and lots of gear) no guitar tech, or drum tech... Just the band.
The set starts and we all sense a little more about what this is going to be.
First we start with a four-minute bass solo that segues into Torn, a song from the Junglefunk album.
By the second tune, September we are all sure that this is a night we will not soon forget!
In this old room with it's chipping paint, wobbly tables, and tiny stage we were all about to receive the full soul treatment.
For my money Corey Glover has always been what a soul singer was meant to be.
It has never been much of an effort for me to trace the sound from Big Bill Broonzy to Sam Cooke to Rev. Al Green to Corey and tonight this band makes it that much clearer.
90 Minutes into the set and we have cleared all of the Jungle Funk material, and these guys show no sign of letting up so as a treat they drop two Living Colour tunes into the mix the fantastic but little known Sail Away (Bad Brains) and Leave it alone from Stain.
120 minutes from the start of the set to the finish and the crowds collective mind is blown!
We spill out onto the streets of lower Manhattan into the cold winter wind amazed at what 5 bucks can buy in this town.
Bobby Six -Strings, The Metropolitan Museum, Crazy Guitars & Sofia Loren's Arse
Years ago...
It must have been 1989 or 90', long before I'd left NYC and came to Australia I had the great pleasure of sharing an evening with some of my favorite works of art.
Back then I spent my days working as a jeweler & my nights working as a guitar tech/ roadie/P.A. and much more, in exchange for lessons from my personal guitar oracle, let's just call him a player that I had a great amount of respect for at the time.
As I remember it, the oracle somehow scored a gig demonstrating a collection of guitars at the Met.
I guess the tie in for the Met was that these guitars were more art than instrument.
Some artisan had shaped them as "g" clefs, bass clefs & other odd shapes and created a group of guitars that were great looking but just barely playable.
Don't know if the oracle enjoyed the night but I had a chance to wonder around this incredible museum at a private function and take in all that wonderful art!
As it turned out there was not much time to wonder... I spent most of the time changing guitars for the oracle, he'd noodle through some Jazz tune, and while the applause died down I'd hand him the next guitar I'd been back stage trying desperately to tune.
You know I'm not quite sure how many guitars there were, but in due time we got around to the last and while the oracle took complements from guests and the artist responsible, I left the stage to take in some more of the museum and perhaps grab a drink or two.
Just as I got to side of stage he began playing again but this time on a exquisite arch-top, I stopped in my tracks as most there did, to hear the "truth" coming from this beautiful instrument.
As I stood there, listening I began to feel someone move up behind me.
A decidedly feminine presence, and wearing the most intoxicating fragrance, I didn't turn I just took it in with the music but I grew more curious as the time passed, until, by the end of the tune I could wait no longer to see this woman.
I turned and found myself looking at Sofia Loren!
In my mind all kinds of thoughts were running around, but I think the only audible sound I made was "eeep", and even I'm not sure what I meant by that!
She gave me a quick look that seemed to say "I get this all the time... And I'm so over it" and turned away talking to the man at her side.
As she turned I did what I have done so many times before in similar situations... I checked out her arse!
It was just then that she decided to turn and look back at me, she was probably concerned that I had swallowed my tongue.
So there I stood staring at her, staring at me staring at her ass... So very smooth.
There was nothing I could do... I was busted, so I shrugged my shoulders, smiled my "like I wasn't gonna" smile & waved goodbye.
It must have been 1989 or 90', long before I'd left NYC and came to Australia I had the great pleasure of sharing an evening with some of my favorite works of art.
Back then I spent my days working as a jeweler & my nights working as a guitar tech/ roadie/P.A. and much more, in exchange for lessons from my personal guitar oracle, let's just call him a player that I had a great amount of respect for at the time.
As I remember it, the oracle somehow scored a gig demonstrating a collection of guitars at the Met.
I guess the tie in for the Met was that these guitars were more art than instrument.
Some artisan had shaped them as "g" clefs, bass clefs & other odd shapes and created a group of guitars that were great looking but just barely playable.
Don't know if the oracle enjoyed the night but I had a chance to wonder around this incredible museum at a private function and take in all that wonderful art!
As it turned out there was not much time to wonder... I spent most of the time changing guitars for the oracle, he'd noodle through some Jazz tune, and while the applause died down I'd hand him the next guitar I'd been back stage trying desperately to tune.
You know I'm not quite sure how many guitars there were, but in due time we got around to the last and while the oracle took complements from guests and the artist responsible, I left the stage to take in some more of the museum and perhaps grab a drink or two.
Just as I got to side of stage he began playing again but this time on a exquisite arch-top, I stopped in my tracks as most there did, to hear the "truth" coming from this beautiful instrument.
As I stood there, listening I began to feel someone move up behind me.
A decidedly feminine presence, and wearing the most intoxicating fragrance, I didn't turn I just took it in with the music but I grew more curious as the time passed, until, by the end of the tune I could wait no longer to see this woman.
I turned and found myself looking at Sofia Loren!
In my mind all kinds of thoughts were running around, but I think the only audible sound I made was "eeep", and even I'm not sure what I meant by that!
She gave me a quick look that seemed to say "I get this all the time... And I'm so over it" and turned away talking to the man at her side.
As she turned I did what I have done so many times before in similar situations... I checked out her arse!
It was just then that she decided to turn and look back at me, she was probably concerned that I had swallowed my tongue.
So there I stood staring at her, staring at me staring at her ass... So very smooth.
There was nothing I could do... I was busted, so I shrugged my shoulders, smiled my "like I wasn't gonna" smile & waved goodbye.
Alomar, Montalvo, Peabody, Bowie & the Glass spider
Well to tell the truth this one is not really about live music, it's more about musicians.
In 1987 I was living in New York on 6th Ave next to Bryant Park, working as a jeweler on 19th Street & studying guitar very seriously with the Guitar oracle.
Now in this shop there were all types of people the one thing they had in common is that they were all professional jewelers, masters of the trade with their lives totally revolving around creating quality pieces of jewelry... The "traditional" way.
There were really only two that had devoted themselves to a different tradition, R. Montalvo & myself.
Montalvo was a family man in his late 30's at the time and was a bass player of high quality capable of pumpin' out slabs of Funk, loads of Salsa or buckets of Jazz all with equal authority.
We worked together and occasionally played together (though I was in no way playing at his level) and spent our lunch hour talking about music & life.
During one of these lunch hours Montalvo told me how he was actually very good friends with Carlos Alomar, for those that don't know, Carlos Alomar is and has been the guitarist with David Bowie for many years.
Now... I have never been the type to doubt the things my friends tell me, even back than at the tender age of 25 I knew that life can take you to all types of places, and do all types of things to ya' but... I must admit I thought to myself... "Yeah Right!"
87' was the year of Bowie's "Glass Spider" tour, the tour that feature Alomar on guitar as well as Peter Frampton?
Well as fate would have it while sitting in that shop and listening to WNEW on my headphones I heard that there would be a performance nearby @ the Cat Club @ 1:00 and it was open to the public!
I immediately turned to Montalvo and told him all about it and said I'm going & he should too, who knows he might be able to introduce me to Alomar.
As I think back that might have been a little cheekiness on my part.
We cleared it all with the man in charge and when 12:30 rolled around we started over to The Cat Club.
I have always been a big Bowie fan so I could feel my excitement building on the way over, but I had no idea what was in store!
We were about half a block from the entrance when Frampton comes out of the back stage doors & goes walking by... in full stage make-up and then 2 seconds later out pop Bowie and Alomar!
Alomar takes one look in our direction (probably wondering where Frampton was going) sees Montalvo and immediately sticks out his arms to greet his old friend.
I felt like I had been smacked across the face with a wet mullet!
They walk and talk their way back to the club doors where Bowie is waiting, with me trailing behind looking, understandably Gob smacked.
So now I'm standing in a man- circle with Alomar, Bowie & Montalvo.
Montalvo & Alomar are so busy catching up that I am left standing next to Bowie, talk about your uncomfortable silence.
I think, I finally said "I think they're old friends" or something equally as obvious while we waited, eventually they finished with old times and introductions were made we all talked about the show, the new music the conversation must've lasted 5 minutes then they were called back in.
After about five more minutes when I was able to speak again I apologized to Montalvo for ever doubting him for a minute, and that now if he wanted to tell me he was the first man on the moon I'd believe!
Don't know if Montalvo & Alomar ever saw each other again.
Oh... Yes the performance was great!
In 1987 I was living in New York on 6th Ave next to Bryant Park, working as a jeweler on 19th Street & studying guitar very seriously with the Guitar oracle.
Now in this shop there were all types of people the one thing they had in common is that they were all professional jewelers, masters of the trade with their lives totally revolving around creating quality pieces of jewelry... The "traditional" way.
There were really only two that had devoted themselves to a different tradition, R. Montalvo & myself.
Montalvo was a family man in his late 30's at the time and was a bass player of high quality capable of pumpin' out slabs of Funk, loads of Salsa or buckets of Jazz all with equal authority.
We worked together and occasionally played together (though I was in no way playing at his level) and spent our lunch hour talking about music & life.
During one of these lunch hours Montalvo told me how he was actually very good friends with Carlos Alomar, for those that don't know, Carlos Alomar is and has been the guitarist with David Bowie for many years.
Now... I have never been the type to doubt the things my friends tell me, even back than at the tender age of 25 I knew that life can take you to all types of places, and do all types of things to ya' but... I must admit I thought to myself... "Yeah Right!"
87' was the year of Bowie's "Glass Spider" tour, the tour that feature Alomar on guitar as well as Peter Frampton?
Well as fate would have it while sitting in that shop and listening to WNEW on my headphones I heard that there would be a performance nearby @ the Cat Club @ 1:00 and it was open to the public!
I immediately turned to Montalvo and told him all about it and said I'm going & he should too, who knows he might be able to introduce me to Alomar.
As I think back that might have been a little cheekiness on my part.
We cleared it all with the man in charge and when 12:30 rolled around we started over to The Cat Club.
I have always been a big Bowie fan so I could feel my excitement building on the way over, but I had no idea what was in store!
We were about half a block from the entrance when Frampton comes out of the back stage doors & goes walking by... in full stage make-up and then 2 seconds later out pop Bowie and Alomar!
Alomar takes one look in our direction (probably wondering where Frampton was going) sees Montalvo and immediately sticks out his arms to greet his old friend.
I felt like I had been smacked across the face with a wet mullet!
They walk and talk their way back to the club doors where Bowie is waiting, with me trailing behind looking, understandably Gob smacked.
So now I'm standing in a man- circle with Alomar, Bowie & Montalvo.
Montalvo & Alomar are so busy catching up that I am left standing next to Bowie, talk about your uncomfortable silence.
I think, I finally said "I think they're old friends" or something equally as obvious while we waited, eventually they finished with old times and introductions were made we all talked about the show, the new music the conversation must've lasted 5 minutes then they were called back in.
After about five more minutes when I was able to speak again I apologized to Montalvo for ever doubting him for a minute, and that now if he wanted to tell me he was the first man on the moon I'd believe!
Don't know if Montalvo & Alomar ever saw each other again.
Oh... Yes the performance was great!
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