For many people, November 11^th means the remembrance of Veteran’s Day.  It is a solemn day to remember those who fought and gave of their lives to serve in the United States Armed Services.  From the American Revolution to our conflicts of today, it is a day to honor those who paid the ultimate price for our freedoms.  This year, I have the joy of celebrating Veteran’s Day with a Thanksgiving Cantata held at The Resurrection Center in Wilmington, DE.  This year, the theme will be honoring all the branches of the military and is called “Spirit of a Grateful Nation”.  The Cantata begins at 5:30pm and is held at the church, which is located at 3301 N. Market Street, Wilmington, DE 19802. http://www.trclive.org/Events?fldMonth=11/1/2017&fldEventID=505345&fldOccuranceDate=11/11/2017

I began a relationship with this church in 2015.  I was contacted by Dion Lemond, music director of the cantata and asked to come down to be the lead trumpeter.  I had never been to the church and had no idea what to expect.  In 2015, they began hosting their Thanksgiving Cantata to give thanks to the Lord for all that we have.  I was honored to perform in their first ever event and it was an incredible experience.  The choir and soloists, consisting of almost 30 voices are incredible singers and perform with such great passion and joy to the Lord.  But, I had no idea when I got there that in addition to the great singers was a 20+ pc. orchestra to back them.  Wow, the only word I could describe the experience was Awesome!  It began as a gig I had to go to in Delaware to a very rewarding musical experience with great people who were there to give their praise to the Lord.

After this experience I was asked to perform in a Christmas Cantata in Dover Delaware in December.  It was another great experience.  I only wish it was a little closer to home so I could invite everyone to experience it.  I was also fortunate to be asked to perform in the cantatas again in 2016.  When you play in something like this, you can’t help but to meet great people.  One of the musicians I met is a saxophone player and vocalist named Chip Bailey.  Chip is a great guy with an even greater attitude on life.  He always had a dream to record his own live album.  Well, that came true on March 4, 2017. I traveled again to Wilmington to be a part of his project, a live CD and DVD recording for Chip’s first album.  I was so proud to be there to help him realize his dream and I cannot wait to hear the CD when I meet him again in November.

A cantata glorifying the Lord is always worthwhile to me. But, with this years cantata honoring those who served in the military it can only make it that much more special.  The arrangements we are performing are full orchestrations many of which come from the library of The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir.  They include America the Beautiful, You are Worthy, Faithful to the End and Spirit of a Grateful People to name a few.

Although the travel is too far for most locals to attend, if you wanted to be truly moved by a great experience, this would be it.  I am glad for experiences and opportunities to improve who I am and help to make me a better person.  I hope to share my thoughts and experiences from this event in the near future.

Now, while Gloria isn’t touring right now, the music of Gloria Estefan and the Miami Sound Machine is alive and well with the sounds of Gloria’s Miami Sound Tribute band featuring Nikki Torres. This tribute band is one of the hottest bands right now in the country.  Having just finished recent tour dates recently that included Texas, Chicago, New York, Arizona and Miami, this band is in demand and a total hit.  The band is fronted by Ms. Nikki Torres who has an extensive background singing all over the world with many artists. The drive behind the band comes from the leader and husband to Nikki, Bill Ciaramelli. Bill serves as the drummer and musical director and is constantly working to book the band nation wide.  Bill and Nikki have created the band which covers all of Gloria’s major hits including Oye Mi Canto, 1,2,3, Conga, Get on Your Feet, Coming Out of the Dark, Turn the Beat Around and Bad Boy to name a few.

I’ve had the pleasure of performing with this group and all I can say is…Wow!!  The music is a lot of fun to play and you can’t help but to feel the energy and passion of the music.  I’ve worked with Bill and Nikki in a wedding band in Philadelphia, Pa. and Long Island, NY and have really enjoyed getting to know them and performing with them.  The band is comprised of some of New York’s finest musicians and the overall product is just awesome.  Nikki is definitely one of my favorite singers and I could sit and listen to her sing all the time.  She very accurately approaches Gloria’s music in the same style and feel as it was originally intended to be.  It is very evident by their preparation and approach that this band is well thought-out and well rehearsed.

This show really is a must see.  Plus, they are now working on a Latin Explosion show, which is a tribute show to include other legendary Latin artists. With an anxious group of talented musicians, they are ready to play and bring a new level of excitement to any stage, venue or audience.  They do not let you sit and really want you to be involved.  They really, and pardon the pun, want you to GET ON YOUR FEET!!!

I would highly encourage anyone to check them out.  The band can be found at http://rhythmmachineband.com/ where you can listen to samples, watch videos and check out where they are playing next.

Here are a few video clips:

CONGA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-N-4ncUp0KI

DEMO VIDEO WITH A MIX OF SONGS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knsWv5NfTTk

The Jack Furlong Orchestra is a talented 12pc. big band that was formed in 2014. Although still relatively new to the scene, they have entertained audiences throughout Central New Jersey for concerts, weddings and private shows.   The band is comprised of some of the top musical talent you will find.  They play a diverse selection of music from the world of jazz, classic standards, and even a hint of pop and favorite television theme songs.  I know this is shaping up to be a great concert as there will definitely be something for everyone. It will be a great way to spend a summer night in August.  More information about this concert can be found at www.jackfurlong.com/orchestra

I have had the privilege of knowing Jack for many years.  I met him while he was a music major at Lafayette College.  I was hired, at the time, to full out the trumpet section for a few semesters.  I then hired Jack to be a member of the Vince Pettinelli Orchestra and have enjoyed his music and friendship ever since.  In addition to this ensemble, Jack is well known for the award winning Jack Furlong Quartet.  Since 2006, the quartet has recorded 3 albums (And That Happened, Jazzeration, and Bunnies in Limbo.) His most recent recording, Charity, is a duet with Sean Gough, piano and features Christian hymns performed in a jazz setting. The title of Charity was chosen because all the proceeds from the CD sales were donated to 3 local charities.

Music is not the only way where Jack spends his time.  He is an avid baseball fan and local baseball umpire. In 2013 he founded the OSIP Foundation.  OSIP stands for Outstanding Sportsmanship is Paramount.  Its mission is 1) To provide financial aid and assistance to those affected by acts of aggression due to poor sportsmanship and/or fanship, and
2) To raise awareness of the need for better sportsmanship in all capacities throughout sports.
Jack ultimately believes that all sporting events and competitions in life can be held without malice and with respect for all involved.  A very noble desire and foundation created by Jack.

The Howe Commons (www.howecommons.com) is a beautiful place to listen to a concert.  The property is made up of five spacious buildings with plenty of off-street parking that blended with the quaint Colonial feeling of the town. The finished product squared off the Commons, creating a dramatic town square that accentuates the historic center-piece of the property, the Abey Building – originally a residential mansion. These common areas heightened the aesthetic appeal and provide a beautiful backdrop for any performance.

I know the concert is going to be great and a fun way to spend a Sunday evening in August. If you are able to come, it is advised to bring a lawn chair.  If the weather is iffy that day and you are unsure about making the trip, give me a call and I can let you know if it is postponed or not. You can reach me on my cell at 908-619-4502.  I hope to see you there!!!

For well over 30 years, Ken Brader and his holiday brass have entertained audiences throughout the Lehigh Valley area.  Holiday shoppers at our various performance locations have been treated with a little extra holiday cheer as they make their way through the malls. As the member with the longest tenure in the ensemble, it has been a great pleasure to share this wonderful music with so many.  Due to the many logistical issues that arise when trying to schedule performances, the group only performs during the Christmas Season.  Because of such a limited schedule, it seems like there is always a lot of anticipation to play, but, once it arrives, is over so fast and we are left with anticipating the next year.

Since its inception, the membership of the ensemble has certainly grown.  In fact, over the past several years the range of members has been anywhere from 35-50.  But, with scheduling being a constant issue, it can be difficult to get everyone to play from year to year.  While everyone raves at the glorious sound created by the trumpets, flugel horns, baritone horns, trombones, and tuba, the entire show lasts only about 20 minutes.  It always leaves the audience wanting more.  After this past show schedule in December, another longtime member, Jeff Vacha, suggested to me that we create a professional recording of the group and make a CD.  We have no really good recording except those taken from a mall performance.  But, as you can expect, there is always extraneous talking and noise from the mall which gets captured on the recording.  I brought the idea to Ken and the group and it was met with a great deal of enthusiasm and excitement. We would finally be able to take this great sound into the studio and record a clean wonderful sounding CD of our music.  We settled on Saturday, July 15^th and scheduled the session in the Bethel Memorial Baptist Church in Easton, Pa.  We worked with D Freeman, engineer and owner of Sonlight Productions in Perkasie, Pa. Their website is www.sonlightproductions.net.  D is a consummate professional and was extremely great to work with.  He understood our needs and desires and made sure we were happy.  One of our members, Rachel Ewaniuk, works with D on projects and recordings so it was good to have a member who knows our music to play a key role in the recording.  It needs to be stated that the cost of the recording was generously donated by D and his studio.  We are so very thankful to D and everyone at Sonlight Productions for donating their time and service to our project.  We could not have done this without your generosity.

We were blessed with a great day and everyone was excited to be a part of such a wonderful project.  I believe you can never take life for granted.  The fact that this group has played for so many years and just now we are able to record it really is proof of how Ken and his music creation has stood the test of time.  The initial listen in the headphones really sounded awesome and I cannot wait to share the finished product with you.  The joy and camaraderie with everyone in the room was just such a blessing.  It was also a great day for Ken as he was also able to hear his music be recorded for the world to hear.  Although it took several hours, we are so happy to have a product that will last forever.

The goal of the project is not to sell the CD but to give them away.  We want to be able to share the joyful music with those who have been longtime supporters or those who are unable anymore to come out to hear our group.  Everyone in the ensemble will receive a copy and we will have copies on hand when we perform in December.  Stay tuned for more info as I will announce once the final edits have been made and the copies are ready.  A HUGE thank you to everyone who participated and sacrificed time on their Saturday to be a part of this!

Steel Stacks, Bethelehem, Pa. (www.steelstacks.org)

In the historic South Side of Bethlehem, the Steel Stacks building and Levitt Pavilion have really grown to offer a lot of choices and activities to any person or family.  By clicking EVENTS on the subheading on the home page you can see a wide variety of free and ticketed events.  Events such as Arlo Guthrie, Matthew Morrison and comedians Ben Bailey and Rob Schneider, to name a few, are slated for this summer and fall. But what is so nice about Steel Stacks is the amount of other non-musical entertainment available.  From tours, to family programming, any visitor or even local is bound to find something they will enjoy.

Sands Event Center, Bethlehem, Pa. (www.sandseventcenter.com/events/)

Located within walking distance of the Steel stacks property is the Bethlehem Sands Casino and event center. The event center has planned some eclectic and diverse entertainment this summer and is certainly worth checking out.  Or, you can go to the Molten Lounge in the Sands Casino and check out their weekly slate of free entertainment. (www.pasands.com/nightlife/molten.html)

MusikFest Bethlehem, Pa. (www.musikfest.org/lineup/)

I would be neglecting probably one of the biggest music festivals in the country if I did not mention MusikFest. With over 500 concerts in a 10-day festival, MusikFest offers a wide range of performances both free and ticketed for just about any musical taste. Click on the website and you can clearly see where and when your favorite act will be performing.

www.lehighvalleymarketplace.com/the-sounds-of-summer/

This website is a good general site which offers you a lot of choices and information for each choice and venue.  It is worth taking a look at.

www.mcall.com/entertainment/mc-summer-band-concerts-lehigh-valley-20170506-story.html

If you are into local bands of all types, there are a lot of choices for that too.  Click on the link above and you will find from Easton to Catasauqua, Bethlehem to Macungie, a large list of venues and scheduled performances.  This alone is enough to tire anyone out!

www.discoverlehighvalley.com/events/major-events-festivals/

If fairs and festivals are your thing, discover Lehigh valley has a list of 21 different events, which offer great food, music and activities for family, friends or just yourself.  This is a great resource for activity in the greater Lehigh Valley.

Mt. Airy Casino & Resort  (www.mountairycasino.com/entertainment/)

The Poconos are about 30 miles North of the Lehigh Valley and also feature a wide range of activity both indoors and out for you to take advantage of.  Perhaps my next blog will focus more on the Poconos and the treasure trove of great things the region offers. In the meantime,  Mt. Airy Casino and Resort is a hot spot with a lot of activity and entertainment nightly and including special event concerts.  If you are thinking family or doing something with friends, check out this website: www.poconomountains.com/things-to-do/adventure-bucketlist/summer/  The summer bucket list for the Pocono area gives you a list of cool activities available to you.

There is so much more I could list here. The greater Lehigh Valley and even a little further out, it is just filled with so many options of things to do.  If you ever say, “there is nothing to do tonight”, you probably aren’t looking because with just a little amount of searching, you can really open up a ton of possibilities. Plus, this is without mentioning any of the many shopping areas, food choices and parks.  Phew, I am tired just thinking of all these possibilities!

Best of luck in finding what you are looking for this summer!!

The group is comprised of myself on trumpet, Rick Case on drums, Joe DeMaio on bass, Oscar Duarte on auxiliary percussion and Jennie Tielman on piano.  Jennie was unable to make it so Linda Pettinelli (my sister) filled in quite ably for her. We played “Leaning on the Everlasting Arms” and “When the Roll is Called Up Yonder”.  This was the first time that our jazz quintet has performed outside of Bethel.  When the coffee house date was set, I thought it would be great to include this group to have an opportunity to perform for a different audience away from the church campus.”

The members of the group beside myself mainly only perform with the praise team at the church.  So, when this opportunity came along, I knew it would be a great chance to get out of our comfort zone. I’ve always believed that anytime an ensemble or performer has a chance to play outside of their regular spot, it can only strengthen them. When you go to a venue that is new, there is a sense of uncertainty and you don’t always know what to expect. It actually draws everyone closer because the only thing that you can rely on initially is each other.  It is natural if you are in an unfamiliar place to cling to what you are comfortable with.  So I thought from this aspect it would be a nice bonding experience for all of us.  Then, when you begin to perform you know it sounds a little different and that forces your ears to be even more focused to what is going on.  This is always my favorite part.  When you begin to hear your music and it sounds a little different than the way it usually does, it allows you to take more chances and develop more creativity.  I believe the members of the quintet did just that on Saturday.  I felt Oscar was playing more unique rhythmic patterns and whether he recognized it or not, was branching out and expanding on the parts he normally plays. The same was true with Rick. I felt his drumming had a different vibe to it as he added some neat new grooves to both songs.  Both added a nice touch to the music allowing us to really feed off of one another.  All of these experiences I believe, will help us in the future as we continue to grow and build on the success we are having. Overall, we are most happy to be able to Glorify the Lord through our music! We were very grateful to have the opportunity.

In addition to performing, I also had the privilege of running sound and lights.  I had recently purchased some new LED lighting so I was excited to be able to use them. Memorial Hall, which is used for Sunday school, the boy scouts and an occasional covered dish was transformed so nicely with the ambiance and feel of a real coffee house.

The night was awesome. Everyone had fun, loved the entertainment and enjoyed reminiscing with the trivia contest.  As I said, “It was a great night for the church”!  The mission aside, the fact that it was a miserable rainy Saturday and yet still drew a record crowd is a great sign of strength and growth occurring within Pilgrim.  As of now, there is talk of wanting to schedule another coffee house in October.  I am already looking forward to it with plans to grow the event even more.

More information regarding the Presbyterian Coffee Project of Equal Exchange and Fairly Traded Coffee can be found on the website http://equalexchange.coop/pcusa

There are many times when there is just nothing to do on a Saturday night. You may look for something, but, there is always a catch or something holding you back. So, you just end up staying home. Well, look no further! If you want a great opportunity to enjoy music, food and fellowship all in a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere, then you really need to consider coming to the The Redwood Café Coffee House held at the Pilgrim Presbyterian Church in Phillipsburg, NJ on Saturday, May 13th from 6:30pm-8:30pm. This is the third coffee house hosted by the church. The evening features musical performances from church and community members as well as a trivia competition all along with light refreshments and great coffee or tea. The two they held previously have been packed and drew great praise for such a wonderful evening. Not only did it give people a chance to enjoy a night of awesome music, but it also served as a great night for the church. I have been a part of this event since the beginning as I provided sound and lighting for the first two as well as assisting with the musical presentations. I am happy to say that I will be joining in on the fun and performing this time. I will be playing with the jazz ensemble from the Bethel Memorial Baptist Church as we have a few traditional hymns set in a neat jazz style.

The event, which is titled “The Redwood Café” was started in 2015 to provide a great night of gathering and fellowship for the church and local community. But, it also served a great mission called The Presbyterian Coffee Project. The mission offers a special link between congregations and communities around the world. Churches can now reach out to neighbors overseas not only with the prayers and offerings, but with the goods and products we purchase. A warm cup of coffee (or tea) in our hands is perhaps the most tangible daily connection we have with farmers around the world. It represents warmth, hospitality, fellowship, hard work and life’s pleasures both fine and simple.

Buying ‘fair trade’ through the Presbyterian Coffee Project ensures that more of the money we spend on coffee reaches the hardworking farmers who actually grow it. Fair trade far surpasses the temporary assistance provided to farmers through charity. Instead, the ongoing business of long-term, fair trade relationships consistently contributes to the living conditions of farmers, their families and their communities. Cooperatives use profits from fair trade coffee sales to establish community development or improvement programs such as schools, health clinics and training in areas such as leadership development. Fair trade farmers tend to use environmentally friendly growing practices — such as organic farming, composting and shade growing (interspersing coffee trees among other plants) — all of which benefit the farmers, the land and the quality of the coffee.

As you can see, this is a great mission. Fair Trade coffee will be for sale that night as well as an opportunity to purchase. Snacks will be available as well. There is a free will offering which helps to support this mission. If the first two events are any indication, you will definitely have a great time. I would strongly urge you to tell your friends. You won’t be disappointed.

Saturday, May 13, 2017
6:30 – 8:30 p.m.

Pilgrim Presbyterian Church
750 Belvidere Rd., Phillipsburg, NJ
Free Will Offering

Join us for an evening of
Live Music
Food, Fellowship
& Love for Social Justice

Fair Trade Coffee and Tea will be available.
Fair Trade Coffee is a Presbyterian Mission used to aid overseas farmers
in helping them and their community grow.

If you would like more information, please call the church at 908-859-1052

www.pilgrimpcusa.org

PLEASE MARK THIS DATE ON YOUR CALENDAR!!
••IT WILL BE A GREAT NIGHT••

I had never met nor had the opportunity to work with Dave Liebman. But, I was well aware of his awesome reputation and status in the jazz community. It is not everyday that you have a chance to work with a man who played with Elvin Jones and Miles Davis! Needless to say, he certainly did not disappoint. His tone on the soprano sax was like I had never heard. Smooth and warm and his jazz lines were intoxicating to the ears. He played on Coltrane favorites-Impressions, Moment’s Notice, Naima, India and also Walt’s Waltz arranged by student musician Patrick Kerssen. Each of his solos left you wanting more. My favorite was the small group song India. India is one of John Coltrane’s world jazz compositions. You didn’t need to be a jazz aficionado to appreciate how well he can play. The “feel” that he established was obvious to everyone. The small group backing him was locked in and played so well in harmony. When Dave was playing his solo, it was as if you felt transported to the area of where the song was written. A true jazz master Liebman is and also a very gentle man as well I had a chance to greet him and feel like a better musician today for the experience of playing with him. He is joining us again for a performance in May and I am very much looking forward to it again.

I have had the joy of working with Neil Wetzel for several years and I am always impressed with him as a leader. He has a strong rapport with the students and mixes in humor and a great deal of energy to instruct and educate. Whenever I have played in the big band, his concerts always feature an eclectic music spanning several generations. He really does a great job in exposing the band to all styles of swing and jazz. It is not just about what is most current and popular on the collegiate level. It is to educate his students on the styles so they can be able to pass it on one day when they are band directors. The energy and confidence he has a director transferred very nicely to the band as they played with a sense of pride and determination throughout the night.

Over the past several years, the Moravian Jazz program has really grown. With a great faculty and cooperation with the Pennsylvania Jazz Collective (www.pajazzcollective.org), it is no wonder why the big band keeps reaching new levels.

In addition to this concert, I am excited to be joining the band again for two more great shows. On April 30th, we will be playing from 5-8pm at the Deer Head Inn in Stroudsburg, Pa. It is a great opportunity to play at one of the most historic jazz clubs in the country. We will also be playing on Sunday, May 7th for the Allentown Jazz Fest from 3-4:30pm at the Zion UCC “Liberty Bell” Church. (www.allentownjazzfest.org) This concert will again feature Dave Liebman.

I am happy to be working with Neil and his band. It is always great to get a chance to play with a group of very talented students. If you are in the area for the upcoming 2 dates, and have a chance to stop by, you won’t be disappointed.

More about Vince Pettinelli orchestra

He had a date set for March 4th and about two weeks before got in touch with me to make sure I was still good to play. The session wasn’t just a studio album recording. It was a Live video recording as well. He was actively advertising it on Facebook and other social media and tickets were selling pretty well. He sent me the music for the first song called “I’m Excited”, a song speaking to his excitement for the purpose of the recording session.. Glorifying God. It was a really good song with great horn parts. I had no idea it was an original of his or that he had that much talent to compose! I received other music from him all original music. Each was just as good as the next if not better. I have worked with artists who have their own music and you usually get a mix of good and bad. But, Chips music was all inspiring of praise to the Lord and you could sense his passion in each song.

When I arrived at The Resurrection Center on March 4th for the recording you could feel a sense of excitement throughout that today was going to be something special. I also learned that it was also his 30th birthday!! As I met the other horn players, one who was his brother, I learned that everyone had known Chip previously and were all equally excited to be supporting him on this project. He put together a nine-piece band and a six piece back up vocal ensemble. He also had two special guest groups to sing as a warm up act and intermission act. He also featured his mom, Glenda Bailey, who is an accomplished national recording artist herself. Wow, a full recording was in store for everyone.

The recording began at 6:00pm and the sanctuary had well over 100 people ready to support him and show praise to the Lord. It was very obvious that this was a long time dream of Chip’s and today was the culmination of that goal. Chips’ energy was infectious to us all and there was a great sense of togetherness and synergy in the room. We were all there to support his vision of praise and worship and I couldn’t be happier with just how well everything went. He was a dynamic performer and so appreciative to everyone who was a part of it. But, it was all of us who were so appreciative of him for letting us be a part of his special day.

Since it was a Live recording, video and audio recording were strictly prohibited so I could not record any clips or take any photos on my phone. But, as soon as the recording is ready for release, I will certainly pass it on to everyone. You won’t be disappointed.

Maria is considered one of the most in demand jazz composers of our time and is regarded as an innovator with her creative harmonic ideas and rhythmic structure unlike what you will ever hear. Her music is sometimes called avant-garde with flares of contemporary and classical styles peppered in.  The mixture of the varied styles is probably what makes her music as unique as it is.

Originally from Minnesota and now based out of New York City, Maria has managed to establish herself as the premier composer in an arena that has predominantly been dominated by men for the past 60 years.  She was named Best Composer, best Arranger and Best Big Band in Down Beat magazine from 2006-2012 and again in 2016.  In 2007 she won the Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Composition, “Cerulean Skies“, and Best Classical Vocal Solo Winter Morning Walks.  In 2016, her album The Thompson Fields won the Grammy Award for Best Large Jazz Ensemble.  Needless to say, her accomplishments have not gone unnoticed.  Her music is now considered standard jazz literature for many top notch college jazz programs and she is very much in demand as a clinician and composer for many institutions.

If you talk to many jazz artists, you might hear that Maria is considered the top and most popular arranger on the East Coast and Gordon Goodwin the most sought after composer and arranger on the West Coast  The fact that we had someone of such high stature was a great experience for everyone involved.  Having the chance to hear exactly how a piece is supposed to played from the person who actually wrote it was a surreal experience.  She was very kind to work with yet had a way of demanding the best from everyone not accepting less than your best.

For everyone who was a part of her 3 days in the Lehigh Valley, there was definitely something to learn.  The concert was awesome and a great experience for the students.  Some of them may not yet realize the impact of someone like Maria being a part of their musical development. But, one day they will look back and realize that they had a chance to play under the direction of a legend!