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Archive for the ‘Five Firsts’ Category

Five Firsts: Jeanne O’Connor of the New Standard

Friday, August 27th, 2010

Jeanne O'Connor NAME: Jeanne O’Connor
BAND AFFILIATION: Jeanne O’Connor and the New Standard; String of Pearls jazz vocal trio; Jeanne O’Connor jazz groups
INSTRUMENT: Voice

1. THE FIRST ALBUM I EVER BOUGHT WAS … I think it was Joni Mitchell’s “Ladies of the Canyon,” which came out in 1970. So many gals who liked to sing back then wanted to BE Joni, myself included! After a musical life mostly devoted to jazz, I’m returning to the great songs and songwriters of my youth with my New Standard group. We’re re-interpreting Joni, Carole King, Burt Bacharach and others, and it’s such a blast.

2. THE FIRST CONCERT THAT I EVER SAW WAS … I believe it was John Sebastian at C.W. Post College on Long Island. I adored him. So cool that he’s still playing.

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Tags: Caffe Lena, Jeanne O'Connor, Saratoga Springs
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Five Firsts: Paula Bradley of Girl Howdy

Wednesday, August 25th, 2010

Girl Howdy

NAME: Paula Bradley
BAND AFFILIATION: Girl Howdy
INSTRUMENT: Piano

1. THE FIRST ALBUM I EVER BOUGHT WAS … I bought a LOT of 45′s before I ever bought an LP, but I’m going to guess it was “The Monkees” – their first album. I spent all my allowance on records. I lived in the local record store.

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Tags: Girl Howdy, Hudson, Hudson Harbor Fest, Paula Bradley, South Hadley, Town Common Gazebo
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Five Firsts: Ted Hennessy of the Doornails

Tuesday, August 24th, 2010

The Doornails

NAME: Ted Hennessy
BAND AFFILIATION: The Doornails, Shakin Bakers and formerly of Scotty Mac and the Rockin Bonnevilles
INSTRUMENT: Harmonica and vocals

1. THE FIRST ALBUM I EVER BOUGHT WAS … Yikes! Well, I might as well just get this off of my chest: It was Queen – “A Night at the Opera.” I’ll try to save some face here, and tell you that my first blues record was Sonny Boy Williamson’s “This is My Story.” I picked up a used copy of that gem at World’s Record on Central Ave for three bucks back in ’79-’80.

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Tags: Ted Hennessy, The Doornails, valatie, Valatie Community Theatre
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Five Firsts: Machan Taylor of David Malachowski & the Woodstock Allstars

Monday, August 23rd, 2010

NAME: Machan Taylor
BAND AFFILIATION: David Malachowski & the Woodstock Allstars
INSTRUMENT: Vocals, guitar

1. THE FIRST ALBUM I EVER BOUGHT WAS … It’s hard to remember that far back, but I think it was actually a single of a Beatles song. I recently uncovered a box of 45s out of my mother’s attic, and there are some great singles from the early ’70s – the Beatles, Rare Earth, the Rolling Stones. It’s a great little collection I forgot all about. I’m sure my first record is in there.

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Tags: Athens, David Malachowski, Kaplan Farm, Machan Taylor, Millerton, Riverfront Park, the Gathering of Friends, Woodstock Allstars
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Five Firsts: Matt Maguire of the Lawrence/Maguire Quintet

Tuesday, August 10th, 2010

NAME: Matt Maguire
BAND AFFILIATION: The Lawrence/Maguire Quintet
INSTRUMENT: drums

1. THE FIRST ALBUM I EVER BOUGHT WAS … so long ago that I forgot. It may have been “Crosby Stills & Nash” (with “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes”) or CSNY’s “Deja Vu” (“Woodstock,” “Our House,” etc.)

2. THE FIRST CONCERT THAT I EVER SAW WAS … Probably the Young Rascals at the University at Albany. Or the famous early-’70s Chicago concert at SPAC, which drew a big crowd that was then unprecedented. My mom sat next to me the whole time with her hands over her ears – and says to this day she loved that concert even though it was too loud.

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Tags: Albany, Lawrence/Maguire Quintet, Matt Maguire, The Orchard Tavern
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Five Firsts: Mark Calkins of the Providers

Thursday, August 5th, 2010

NAME: Mark Calkins
BAND AFFILIATION: The Providers
INSTRUMENT: guitar, harmonica, accordion etc.

1. THE FIRST ALBUM I EVER BOUGHT WAS … “Sgt. Pepper”
2. THE FIRST CONCERT I EVER SAW WAS … Buffalo Springfield (I was 10.)
3. THE FIRST INSTRUMENT I EVER OWNED OR PLAYED WAS … Fender acoustic
4. THE FIRST SONG I EVER PERFORMED IN PUBLIC WAS … I seem to have blocked that out.
5. THE FIRST BAND I WAS EVER IN WAS … The Pirana Brothers (with two of the Providers)

As part of Albany’s First Friday arts walk, Mark Calkins and the Providers will be playing at the Broadway Art Center at 6:30pm on Friday in conjunction with an exhibit by the East Bank Art Alliance. The band will also be performing at American Glory in Hudson at 8:30pm on Saturday. Admission is free for both performances.

Tags: Albany, American Glory, Broadway Arts Center, Hudson, Mark Calkins, The Providers
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Five Firsts: David Gleason of Sensemaya, etc.

Wednesday, August 4th, 2010

(photo by Niki Rossi)

NAME: David Gleason
BAND AFFILIATION: Sensemaya, Soul Session, Keith Pray’s Big Soul Ensemble
INSTRUMENT: Keyboards

1. THE FIRST ALBUM I EVER BOUGHT WAS … Hmm… I don’t think I can remember the first cassette tape I ever bought. I do remember the first CD I ever bought was “Billy Joel’s Greatest Hits.” I listened to it a bunch, and I had the piano/vocal book that went along with it. I learned a lot about harmony by comparing the chord symbols with the written music and the album.

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Tags: David Gleason, Freedom Park, Jay Street, Schenectady, Scotia, Sensemaya
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Five Firsts: Mike Campese

Monday, August 2nd, 2010

NAME: Mike Campese
INSTRUMENT: Guitar

1. THE FIRST ALBUM I EVER BOUGHT WAS … “Black Sabbath.” Their first release.

2. THE FIRST CONCERT THAT I EVER SAW WAS … My sister took me to see Rod Stewart, and then the second concert I went to was the band Yes.

3. THE FIRST MUSICAL INSTRUMENT I EVER OWNED OR PLAYED WAS … Guitar

4. THE FIRST SONG THAT I EVER PERFORMED IN PUBLIC WAS … Some of the first tunes I played in public were some originals I came up with in my first band, and I believe some of the first cover tunes in public were “Diamonds and Rust,” “Paranoid,” “Rainbow in the Dark,” etc.

5. THE FIRST BAND I WAS EVER IN WAS … Divine Malace

Mike Campese and his band head into Putnam Den in Saratoga Springs at 9pm on Thursday to celebrate the release of Campese’s seventh CD, “Electric City.”

Tags: Mike Campese, Putnam Den, Saratoga Springs
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Five Firsts: Phil Drum

Tuesday, July 27th, 2010

NAME: Phil Drum
BAND AFFILIATION: Saratoga Acoustic Blues Society, Bluesology and solo
INSTRUMENT: Guitar

1. THE FIRST ALBUM I EVER BOUGHT WAS … This is a bit hard for me to remember cause I’m so old. But probably the first one I owned at least, was one I received in May 1964 as a Confirmation present: Bob Dylan’s “The Times They Are A-Changin’” – and, boy, were they ever! At the time I was … 2 …. nah, 11.

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Tags: Davidson Brothers, Glens Falls, Phil Drum, Saratoga Springs, The Inn at Saratoga
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Five Firsts: David Caldwell-Mason

Monday, July 26th, 2010

NAME: David Caldwell-Mason
BAND AFFILIATION: The David Caldwell-Mason Trio
INSTRUMENT: Piano

1. THE FIRST ALBUM I EVER BOUGHT WAS … Either Bill Evans’ “Portrait in Jazz” or the Counting Crows’ “August and Everything After.” I got ‘em both about the same time.

2. THE FIRST CONCERT THAT I EVER SAW WAS … Sweet Honey in the Rock

3. THE FIRST MUSICAL INSTRUMENT I EVER OWNED OR PLAYED WAS … an old beat-up upright piano

4. THE FIRST SONG THAT I EVER PERFORMED IN PUBLIC WAS … not sure, sorry

5. THE FIRST BAND I WAS EVER IN WAS … the Paul Trapanese Quartet, then Larry Lewis and Solid Smoke a little bit after that.

David Caldwell-Mason will be performing as a duo with bassist Kellen Harrison at the Stockade Inn in Schenectady at 7pm Thursday, as well as at the Castle Street Cafe in Great Barrington at 8pm Friday. The duo will be bumped up to a trio with the addition of a yet-to-be-named drummer at 74 State in Albany at 8:30pm Saturday.

Tags: 74 State, Albany, Castle Street Cafe, David Caldwell-Mason, Great Barrington, Schenectady, Stockade Inn
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