New England

[BayviewSax]

I saw somebody here from New Hampshire. I'm in Maine (go figure). Do tell, anybody else from Northern New England (North of Boston)?

[mutha potamus]

I bet there's more snow on the ground where I'm at...

BTW, why must I95 be so far south?

[BayviewSax]

Probably now, but I know my friends in Winterport swore I had twice the snow here in the south. I-95 *is* pretty close for me, though. Do tell, what part of the great white north do you hail from, my reed-bearing friend?

[arsenic87]

I'm in New hampshire, close to Exeter. Ron.

[mutha potamus]

I'm in Presque Isle, where the gigs are as plentiful as Ferraris...practically non-existant.

[SopranoSue]

Half the year I'm in Lawrence, MA and the other half in Marlboro, MA. North and West of Boston.

[BayviewSax]

Mutha Potamus: Presque Isle, home of the Maine singer/songwriter. Amazing the musicians, writers, and other creative people I've learned of from PI. Yet to meet a Jazz musician, are you the first? As for gigs, I'm right next to Portsmouth, NH and there is just a shade more than nothing. And all I'm looking for is a jam or something. Sad.

SopranoSue: So which is the vacation home, Marlboro or Lawrence? :twisted:

[HonkBopSax]

I used to live in Shrewsbury, just outside Worcester, then in Cambridge. Recently moved to Pittsburgh...:(

[BayviewSax]

Ouch... I feel your pain. Lived in the Burgh for 8 months. It's no place for a guy from the east coast. :shock:

If you get the chance, there's a couple of good little-known clubs in the Hill District (Buzzy's?)

[HonkBopSax]

It's funny, but I grew up in Pittsburgh, went to college here, etc., and moved to Boston 2 years ago. I was pretty fortunate in that I was playing 4 nights a week with some touring R&B bands, got to meet a lot of people, and really took my practicing and playing into overdrive. Then, I was accepted into a masters program and moved back to Pittsburgh. I now play 4 times a month. So as soon as I finish, it's back to Boston!

[BayviewSax]

Just because I'm nosey, what school? My wife is a CMU grad.

[HonkBopSax]

I graduated from CMU in May 2001, and am now at the University of Pittsburgh. I did a lot of playing through New Hampshire (mostly Portsmouth) and up into Bangor, Waterville, Camden, etc. Where do you play?

[BayviewSax]

Mostly in my basement! :wink: I suffered from small-house-itis for awhile and didn't play much. Just got back into it and rewarded myself with a new horn which I can't put down. I've been playing some open-mic nights in the Sanford area. I also teach music and have an acoustically nice room to play in at the school. Not a paid player, though. What bands did you work with?

[Mike Cesati]

I'm from Haverhill,Mass right on the NH border. If anyone is around I have a gig Sunday April 27th @ 7 PM. The gig is in Haverhill at the CHITCHAT LOUNGE 103 Washington St. Haverhill,Mass. Its a jazz show with my quartet. I also play there Thursday nights in a funk thing. Come on by and say hi. I would love to meet some of you SOTW folks.

[Mike Cesati]

PS, to Mainesaxman,there is a nice jam on Tuesday nights at the PRESSROOM in downtown Portsmouth NH. It starts about 8PM. Good players,hosted by pianist Larry Garland.

[BayviewSax]

I wondered if that was still running. I found the listing (old) on the web, but when I e-mailed Al Chase about possible jams, he didn't mention that one. Thanks for the input. I hope to have a chance to get down there on the 27th, I'll check with the boss.

[arsenic87]

Mike C, is there a cover charge for the show you are playing on the 27th? I might try to get down there and see it, have to check with "the boss". maybe if i clean my room or mow the yard or something, she will let me do something fun!

[Mike Cesati]

Chit Chat Lounge has no cover. It's a nice club,small with a nice stage. Right in downtown Haverhill ,Mass.by the train station.hope to see some of you.

[arsenic87]

If you are within driving distance of Dover, the is a lecture put on by the Seacoast Jazz Society about the BlueNote label. It is at the library at 7:30, more info here: http://www.seacoastjazz.org/events.ihtml

Ron.

[Bill Mecca]

It's funny, but I grew up in Pittsburgh, went to college here, etc., and moved to Boston 2 years ago. I was pretty fortunate in that I was playing 4 nights a week with some touring R&B bands, got to meet a lot of people, and really took my practicing and playing into overdrive. Then, I was accepted into a masters program and moved back to Pittsburgh. I now play 4 times a month. So as soon as I finish, it's back to Boston!

HPS, did you use a coupel different handles on the old forum?

that itinerary sounds familiar.

[HonkBopSax]

Yup, usedto be Father Ray. HonkBop is a nickname I got when I worked in Boston. It's stuck!

[Mike Cesati]

I should have known when I saw 9* Link with 5 reeds. That can only be 1 man. Father ray has resurfaced as Honkbop. I can dig it.
For all you Heavy Hitters ,Bergonzi and Garzone will be squaring off at the Regatta Bar Weds night. Gargonz is the band name. That sounds like an out take if you catch my drift. these guys are definitly masters.

[HonkBopSax]

Yeah, the Gargonzi thing right? Or was it Gargone? I can't remember what they were calling it? Man, I saw them a few times when iw as still in MA and they were killer!

[BayviewSax]

Did I reed {sic} correctly?!?!?! 9* Link and #5???? Holy Jumpin' Ben Webster, your lip muscles must look like Lance Armstrong's thighs!!!!!!!

[HonkBopSax]

Well, I admit, I've moved back down to Rico Royal 4's. Or Rico Jazz Select 3M's or 3H's. The Jazz selects are a little brighter, but the Rico Royals are fuller and a bit louder. So, I guess it depends on the band.

[BayviewSax]

*phew* I was concerned. Actually, I use #4s, but I use the plasticovers, which tend to burn out too fast in the lower numbers. I forgot about that when I started playing again and decided to try Van Doren's. I ordered 4s (Java). Now THAT was stupid. My lower lip was hitting the steering wheel!

[HonkBopSax]

I've never been able to use Vandoren reeds, but I hear so many people that sound great on them! The Rico Royal 4s and 5's tend to play the same, though the 5's all sound stuffy at first...I soak them, let them warp, then soak them again. After that, they start to firm up and play well. So, it's like they are 4's at that point. THe 5's worked well when I was playing 3-4 nights a week. Now that I'm no longer in New England, and I play 3-4 times a month, the 5's can be a bit difficult. I just bought a box though and am going to give them another chance.

[Bill Mecca]

must be something in the atmosphere in Beantown.. Sax Gordon plays a very similar set up, I think an 8 and 9 Link with Rico 4 or 5's. whatever floats your boat, right little junior? ;-) some things stick Father HonkBopSax ;-)

[HonkBopSax]

It is something out there. And yes, I think I did use the handle 'Little Jr' for a while. But i actually got started using harder reeds because of another saxophonist, Scotty Shetler. I was on a gig with him, having problems with putting too much air through the horn. He asked me what I was playing, which was a Rico Royal 2.5. He gave me a brown box 3.5 and that kind of got me started.

[HonkBopSax]

Gordon uses a 9 most of the time. The greatest musician I've ever played with.

[Bill Mecca]

Let's see if you played with Scotty and Sax Gordon, have you played with my buddy AC? great guy. Oh, and I used to work with the WB's anchor man Jeff Barnd ( at least he was there last I checked) and a couple of other behind the scenes TV people. small world and gettin smaller

[HonkBopSax]

I never did get to play with Andrew Clark. I talked to him a few times on the phone, but the one time I was supposed to gig with SaxAttack, I was out on the road with the Love Dogs and couldn't make it. Scotty was great to play with though. There are so many great musicians in Boston...I can't wait to move back!

[Mike Cesati]

The Chit Chat Lounge still has Jazz every sunday. I also play there with other gruops. My jazz quartet will be there June 29th. The Chit Chat Lounge is located at 103 washington st in Haverhill,Mass. Jazz starts at 7:30 PM on sunday nights. check out www.chitchatlounge.com

[larry]

Silversax (in Salem, MA) and I (in Burlington, MA) are recruiting other players to get together for a quartet - he plays pretty much everything (favors bari - right, SS?) and I can do tenor and soprano. Anyone else out there interested?

Initially, just for fun and to scare the dog, but who knows where it could go!

contact me at lmgelberg@rcn.com and let's see what happens...

[silversax]

Actually, I favor alto and soprano, but the bari works too.

[BayviewSax]

Fun and scaring the dog sounds blissful. I favor the tenor, dabble w/soprano, own an alto and have a bari in the mail. What sort of tunage?

[silversax]

I have a decent library of jazz and classical quartets (SATB and AATB), plus a few pieces for larger sax ensembles.

[BayviewSax]

I'm pretty much of a full-fledged Jazz guy (questionable reader) and I have a whole hayloft full of sheet music. Any interest in arranging some of your own stuff?

[silversax]

Bayview, I think we're all mainly jazz guys. See my email. I'm interested in our own arrangements. A hayloft of sheet music?? Sounds interesting.