Merry Christmas

Quincy Mumford & The Reason Why - Stone Pony 12/17/2016

      Quincy Mumford's Annual Holiday concert was held at the Stone Pony this past weekend. This was the 5th straight year the benefit show has been presented, all at the Pony.

       As with the other years, the show is a benefit with proceeds going to Mary's Place By The Sea in Ocean Grove New Jersey, a respite home for women going through cancer treatment.
       As in previous years, the first half was original Quincy Mumford material, and the second half was the "Super Jam" with many local artists helping out. Quincy's band was augmented by a 4 piece horn section and backing vocalists.
       All patrons were also given a copy of Quincy's new CD, which by what was heard on Saturday will be great.

        I hope a good amount was raised for a very good cause, and that their good work will continue to be carried out.

       Here is the setlist.

                    Soul Music

                    It's Just Love

                    Hey Morning

                    Living In Between

                    Shifted

                    Under the Covers

                    You Girl

                    Helping Hand

                    Stay

                 

                    Love & Happiness(Al Green cover)

                    Feelin' Alright(Traffic cover) w/Remember Jones

                    September(Earth, Wind & Fire cover) w/Remember Jones

                    You Make My Dreams Come True(Hall & Oates cover) w/Nick Iannelli on Vocals and Brian Gearty on bass

                    Feel Good Inc.(Gorillaz cover) w/Little Stranger

                   Mercedes Benz(Janis Joplin cover) w/Taylor Tote

                   Natural Woman(Aretha Franklin cover) w/Emily Grove

                   Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough(Michael Jackson cover)

                   I've Been Blessed(J.T. Bowen song) w/J.T. Bowen

                   (You're Love Keeps Lifting Me)Higher & Higher(Jackie Wilson cover) w/J.T. Bowen

                  Soul Power(James Brown cover) w/J.T. Bowen

                  Uptight(Stevie Wonder cover)-w/Kadesia Mohammad

                  1999(Prince cover) w/Remember Jones & J.T. Bowen

                  Let's Dance(David Bowie cover) w/Remember Jones, Michael Ghegan, J.T. Bowen

Remember Jones

Taylor Tote

 

J.T. Bowen

 

              

Rainforest Foundation Benefit Concert - Carnegie Hall 12/15/2016

         The now biennial Rainforest Foundation Benefit was held last night at Carnegie Hall in New York City. Sting is the architect of the show each year and his wife Trudie Styler is the producer.

        This years show was titled Baby It's Cold Outside. This years show featured Performances from Sting, James Taylor, Bruce Springsteen, Idina Menzel, Darlene Love, Ronnie Spector, Chris Botti, The Manhattan Girls Choir, Vittorio Grigolo and special guests Jennifer Nettles and Gina Gershon.

        The massive house band included musical director Narada Michael Walden and Will Lee and Felicia Collins from the CBS Orchestra(Former Band for Late Night With David Letterman).

        The show opened with an extended version of Carol of the Bells from the house band. The arrangement was reminiscent of the Trans Siberian Orchestra version. After that, the artists came out to perform, more often than not, a song and then introduce the next performer. Sadly, there were very few moments where the artists shared the stage together, which was very common in the early years of the benefits.

        Chris Botti and James Taylor did perform together after the initial opening, and Mr. Botti left after that having a performance that night at The Blue Note. Mr. Taylor once again shared the stage with Indina Menzel for Baby It's Cold Outside, and Bruce and background vocalist Lisa Fischer sang Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out together.

 

        After Bruce, Jennifer Nettles performed Do You Hear What I Hear? where all the artists joined her midway through.

        In earlier years, it was very common for one artist to share vocals or add instrumental accompaniment for another artist. It may have been limited rehearsal time which accounted for this.

        Overall it was a very good show and one for a good cause, so there is not much that you can complain about.

       Here is the setlist:

                     

              Carol of the Bells - All Star Band

              Winter Wonderland - James Taylor & Chris Botti

              Soul Cake - Sting w/Gina Gershon on juice harp

             

              Speech by Trudie Styler

             Let It Go - Idina Menzel w/Manhattan Girls Chorus

             River(Joni Mitchell cover) - James Taylor

             The Cherry Tree Carol - Sting

             Aria from Pagliacci - Vittorio Grigolo

             Empty Chair - Sting

             Nessum Dorma - Vittorio Grigolo w/Manhattan Girls Chorus

             Frosty the Snowman - Ronnie Spector

             I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus - Ronnie Spector

             Last Christmas(Wham cover) - Sting w/Backing Vocalists

             Christmas(Baby, Please Come Home) - Darlene Love

             Baby It's Cold Outside - James Taylor & Idina Menzel

             Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree - Darlene Love

             I Wish it Could be Christmas Everyday(Wizzard cover) - Sting

             Santa Claus is Comin' to Town - Bruce Springsteen

            Merry Christmas Baby - Bruce Springsteen

            Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out - Bruce Springsteen & Lisa Fischer

            Do You Hear What I Hear? - Jennifer Nettles & All

            Joy to the World - All

   

             

Chapecoense

            
                   Our hearts go out to all those who lost their lives, and to their friend and families. Rest in Peace.

ARW - Count Basie Theatre 10/26/2016

    Back in 1984 I saw my one and only Yes show at the Garden State Arts Center in New Jersey. The tour was in support of their album 90125.This was their most commercially successful album in what has been a remarkable career. Yes has gone through, and continues to go through many personnel changes.

     On October 26, an offshoot of Yes came to the Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank New Jersey. What is unique about this  band ARW, is that it includes 3 of the most influential members of Yes,
     The band consists of keyboard whiz Rick Wakeman, glorious cape and all, Trevor Rabin on guitar, who helped bring Yes their biggest commercial success, and the unique voice of Yes, Jon Anderson.
      This lineup made in possible for them to touch on music from their early prog rock days to their later more poppier albums, and also a cut from the Anderson Bruford Wakeman and Howe album,
       The band was rounded out with Lee Pomeroy on bass and Louis Molino III on drums, both remarkable musicians.
       What is kind of amazing is that there are more members of Yes in ARW than are currently in Yes. ARW sounded great and seemed to be having a great time. Jon Anderson's voice has aged remarkably well, and Trevor Rabin's guitar playing has seemed to have gotten better through the years, if that is possible, Rick Wakeman is, well, Rick Wakeman.
        Sadly, the sound mix was a little off at first but improved from Lift Me Up on.
        Here's hoping ARW continues to perform and maybe even record some new music,
        Here is the setlist:

            Cinema
            Perpetual Change
            Hold On
            I've Seen All Good People
            Drum Solo/Lift Me Up
            Happy Birthday-Sung for Jon Anderson
            And You and I
            Rhythm of Love
            Heart of the Sunrise
            Changes
            Long Distance Runaround
            The Fish(Schindleria Praematurus)

            The Meeting(Anderson Bruford Wakeman and Howe song)
            Awaken
            Owner of a Lonely Heart


            Roundabout                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

Jon & Rick

Trevor Rabin

Happy Halloween

                                        Happy Halloween  

Gene Wilder - In Memoriam

                                                                      Rest in Peace