Monday, January 30, 2012

Danny Hull Newsletter: Musically This Week Vol XIV, No 21


Hello friends.  Buffalo legends...
Tuesday, 1/31/2012 at the Iris Restaurant     7:30 - 10:30
The Kipler Brothers
Mickey Kipler, tenor saxophone     Jimmy Kipler, guitar     Paul Zap, bass     your host, drum set

The Kipler Brothers may be the only jazz artists that we have ever presented who are also Rock Royalty.  They were known as The Rebels in 1959 when they were asked by WKBW radio personality Tommy Shannon to record his theme song.  Wild Weekend was an east coast hit, and prompted Dick Clark to invite the band to appear as The Buffalo Rebels on American Bandstand.  On May 5, 1960, Mickey & Jimmy Kipler made history.  Maybe we'llevenplay Wild Weekend just for fun, but the music you'll hear this Tuesday will reveal the jazz roots that gave rise to these accomplished musicians, now a bit removed from their spirited teenage years.  The Kipler Brothers are beloved in Buffalo, and we are both proud and privileged to present them to their hometown audience.  Our tradition continues.  The Iris Restaurant in the Maple-Ridge Plaza, at the intersection of Maple & Sweet Home Roads in Amherst.  Good music, good food, good people, chilled spirits, and a great hang.
next Tuesday, 2/7/2012 at the Iris Restaurant     7:30 - 10:30
Phil DiRe' & Buffalo Bop
Phil DiRe', tenor saxophone     Bobby Militello, alto sax & flute     Richie Marlo, trumpet & flugelhorn     George Caldwell, piano     Sabu Adeyola, bass     your host, drum set
upcoming at the Iris Restaurant...
Tuesday, 2/21 Jay Bianchi & Mike Kaupa
Tuesday, 2/28 Vince Ercolomento
Tuesday, 3/13 Dave Schiavone
Tuesday, 4/10 Rick Strauss
Tuesday, 5/15 Bob Sneider
Tuesday, 6/19 Barbara Jean
links...

Nostalgia ain't what it used to be...
People have this obsession.  They want you to be like you were in 1969...because otherwise their youth goes with you.  It's very selfish, but it's understandable.
 - Mick Jagger

In 2012 and beyond...
Health,
Hope,
Dialogue,
Respect,
Tolerance,
and Friendships.
dan

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Danny Hull Newsletter: Musically This Week Vol XIV, No 20


Dr. Dick Judelsohn
Greetings everyone.  It seems fitting.  We're featuring one of Dick Judelsohn's favorite local artists this week.  Dr. Jazz would have approved.  He loved Laurie.  He invited her on his program once for an extended interview.  And no illness could stop him from introducing her to a Sunday audience at the Art Gallery two summers ago.  We have lost yet another irreplaceable friend, and too soon.  Dr. Dick Judelsohn's contributions to the jazz community and the musical art form he revered were equaled only by his contribution to pediatrics.  Thank you Dick, for 35 years of inspired jazz broadcasting and for all that you shared on Bebop and Beyond.  Thank you for your 13 years of support for our Tuesday night effort.  Thank you for the summer parties in your courtyard.  Thank you for your dignity, your warmth, your cheer, and your genuine and humble persona.  You will be missed.  But you cannot be replaced.  Rest in Peace.
Tuesday, 1/24/2012 at the Iris Restaurant     7:30 - 10:30
Laurie Bordonaro
Laurie Bordonaro, vocals     Michael T. Jones, piano     Sabu Adeyola, bass     your host, drum set
And if there is anyone who can pay tribute to our friend Dick with an inspired performance, it is Laurie.  For like Dick Judelsohn, Laurie too is genuine.  She'll offer her relentless energy and her musical esprit, and Dick will be digging it from his place in eternity.  And another bonus is the long awaited return of Michael T. Jones.  Our friend Mike has been taking some coursework that was meeting on Tuesday nights last semester, so we haven't had the pleasure since last August.  But Laurie's trio is now reunited, and we offer it all to the memory of our friend.  Our tradition continues, now at the Iris Restaurant in the Maple-Ridge Plaza, at the intersection of Maple & Sweet Home Roads in Amherst.  Good music, good food, good people, chilled spirits, and a great hang.
Wednesday, 1/25/2012 at the Iris Restaurant     7:30 - 10:00
Buffalo Brass rehearsal
You're invited.  The Buffalo Brass is rehearsing biweekly at the Iris Restaurant.  Come in and witness how Phil works the band through his arrangements.  It's an inside "hear" on how a modern big band unites and serves the music...
upcoming at the Iris Restaurant...
Tuesday, 1/31 The Kipler Brothers
Tuesday, 2/7 Phil DiRe'
Tuesday, 2/21 Jay Bianchi
Tuesday, 2/28 Vince Ercolomento
Tuesday, 3/13 Dave Schiavone
Tuesday, 4/10 Rick Strauss
Tuesday, 6/19 Barbara Jean
links...

Rest in Peace Dick.  You are missed...
There is no cure for birth and death save to enjoy the interval.
 - George Santayana  (1863-1952)

In 2012 and beyond...
Health,
Hope,
Dialogue,
Respect,
Tolerance,
and Friendships.
dan

Monday, January 16, 2012

Musically This Week Vol XIV, No 19

Hello friends.  OK, so it's a bit brisk.  But it won't be this Tuesday.  We've got connections...
Tuesday, 1/17/2012 at the Iris Restaurant     7:30 - 10:30
Miles Tucker, tenor saxophone     Wayne Tucker, trumpet     Tom Larsen, guitar     Walter Stinson, bass     your host, drum set
We've got a little more of the Eastman pedigree this week, and a lot of the Purchase variety.  If you've been into the club on any regular basis, you likely know saxophonist Miles Tucker.  He's been featured a time or two over these last few years, and he'll often come by to sit-in when he's not on the gig.  Miles is for real.  He brings a passion, an intensity, and a modern conception to the music that is at once futuristic and steeped in the blues.  In good company, Miles the Eastman graduate will be outnumbered by our three Purchase representatives this week.  Guitarist Tom Larsen & bassist Walter Stinson were both colleagues of Wayne Tucker's while Wayne earned his degree at Purchase, and their musical collaborations have continued beyond their college years.  This is truly going to be an inspiring night of spontaneous playing and stimulating musical conversation.  Try to make it if you can.  Miles is around, but Wayne and his friends are coming in from New York just to do this gig and hang with Miles.  We really can't promise when they'll be back.  Our tradition continues, now at the Iris Restaurant in the Maple-Ridge Plaza, at the intersection of Maple & Sweet Home Roads in Amherst.  Good music, good food, good people, chilled spirits, and a great hang.
upcoming at the Iris Restaurant...
Tuesday, 1/17 Miles & Wayne Tucker
Tuesday, 1/24 Laurie Bordonaro
Tuesday, 1/31 The Kipler Brothers
Tuesday, 2/7 Phil DiRe
Tuesday, 2/21 Jay Bianchi
Tuesday, 2/28 Vince Ercolomento
Tuesday, 3/13 Dave Schiavone
Tuesday, 4/10 Rick Strauss
Tuesday, 6/19 Barbara Jean
links...

Advice for the ages...
Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.
 - Plato

In 2012 and beyond...
Health,
Hope,
Dialogue,
Respect,
Tolerance,
and Friendships.
dan

Monday, January 2, 2012

Danny Hull Newsletter: Musically This Week Vol XIV, No 17

Hello friends.  Thanks for being there last week.  Yikes!  The place was packed!  Here's the thing about the new owners:  A) They hung with us.  They could have come in, cleaned house (which they did), and moved on with their agenda.  Instead, they patiently adopted a wait and see posture, and accepted the value of our contribution to their business model.  We not only survived, we now have an opportunity for growth.  B) They are committed to improving the physical plant, both for the comfort of our audience, and for the pure listening experience.  From the beginning at this location I've received complaints that unless you sit at a table close to the bandstand, you can't hear the band.  So with some input from Phil DiRe, whose intellect and artistry command respect, Vinnie Lesh agreed to tie my sound system into the house.  Now you can sit wherever you'd like and hear the music, not for volume, but for presence.  And that's what I'm talking about with these guys.  If you make a suggestion, your opinion is taken seriously.  Our next goal is to simply take over where the Tralf left off.  More on who we're bringing in as we get closer...

And this week...
Tuesday, 1/3/2012 at the Iris Restaurant     7:30 - 10:30
Colin Gordon, alto saxophone     Chris Ziemba, piano     Danny Ziemann, bass     your host, drum set
Again, the Eastman School...  This week's featured artist comes to us courtesy of this week's rhythm section.  Eastman graduate Chris Ziemba & Eastman student Danny Ziemann actually did my job for me this week.  They unselfishly got together at a local brew pub in order to brainstorm.  Imagine the sacrifice.  After much contemplation, (and likely a serious tab), Chris & Danny narrowed their artistic choices down to Eastman graduate student Colin Gordon.  So we again enjoy the distinct privilege of presenting yet another talent new to our Savvy & Informed audience.  I haven't met Colin, so the onus is on me to hang with these guys.  But sometimes the other kids will let you play if you bring the ball.  So please join us.  Hear a young saxophonist new to your ears.  Hear as well the direction the music is taking, for it is the responsibility of youth to challenge the status quo, and to direct the music in ways fresh and creative.  With every 20-something that has come to our stage from the Eastman School, the commitment to time, feel, lyric, and harmonic cohesion are there.  We hear the history of the music insofar as the standards and jazz canon are concerned.  But we hear too how the music sounds to them today, and what it may sound like tomorrow.  Join us, and hear the future.  Still, the Iris Restaurant, in the Maple-Ridge Plaza.  Maple & Sweet Home Roads.  Good music, good food, good people, chilled spirits, and a great hang.
upcoming at the Iris Restaurant...
Tuesday, 1/17 Miles & Wayne Tucker
Tuesday, 1/24 Laurie Bordonaro
Tuesday, 1/31 The Kipler Brothers
Tuesday, 2/7 Phil DiRe
Tuesday, 2/21 Jay Bianchi
Tuesday, 2/28 Vince Ercolomento
Tuesday, 4/10 Rick Strauss
links...

File your flight plan...
The bad news is time flies. The good news is you’re the pilot.
 - Michael Altshuler

In 2012 and beyond...
Health,
Hope,
Dialogue,
Respect,
Tolerance,
and Friendships.
Happy New Year.
dan