Hot Shot Video Extravaganza!

Jazz Age Lawn Party this Sunday!!!

WARNING: DO NOT MISS THIS

THE 4TH BI ANNUAL

JAZZ AGE LAWN PARTY

with

Michael Arenella and His Dreamland Orchestra

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 27TH, 2009

11:00 AM TO 6:00 PM

ADMISSION $5 (Children Under 7 Free)

In the event of heavy rain, the rain date is Sunday, October 4th

...

Grab a pinic blanket, some sandwiches and lemonade, and head out to Governor's Island this Sunday! There will be live music provided by Michael Arenella's Dreamland Orchestra, a 1920's motorcar exhibition, charleston lessons by lindy-hop legend Roddy Caravella, vintage clothing and milliners, Tug O' War, Parade of Hats, a Pie Recipie Conest, food provided by Cerle Rouge, and cocktails served by St. Germain Elderflower Liquer. Mmmm.

Check out the ferry schedule.

Cangelosi Cards Go To Europe!

Here are some pictures, courtesy of George Yi, a wonderful dancer, dance teacher, photographer, and traveling companion. I was only traveling with the band through Sweden, but he stayed on for Iceland, Lithuana, and a few other countries. He is the only one to have documented their tour in almost complete entirety! You can contact him through his website: www.shortygeorge.com.

The band plays at Bar Bedlam at Herrang Dance Camp

Tamar, Mimi, and Naomi

The band plays the stage in the ballroom.

Aaron and I sell CDs outside the ballroom.

The first busking spot in Stockholm.

The band plays a square in the old city in Stockholm.

The Cards play the Chicago dance studio in Stockholm.

Traveling through Iceland...

A second installment is in the works. It takes so long to format this stuff!

The Scandinavian Half-Breeds

It has come to my attention, that a new band in town, called the Scandinavian Half-Breeds, is awesome. I will keep you updated on their movements. In fact, they too have a new CD.

IN THESE VIDEOS

Matt Davidson (guitar, mandolin, vocals)

Jordan Hyde (guitar)

Ben Fox (bass)

Pete "The Blur" Pezzimenti (drums)

The Mona's release..."Live At Mona's"!

The Mona's, a traditional jazz band that plays at Mona's (Avenue B btwn 13th and 14th) every Tuesday night (10:30 pm-3 am), has released an album entitled Mona's Hot Four: Live at Mona's. The record was, obviously, recorded at Mona's.

For those of you unfamiliar with the Mona's phenomenon, the band is made up of bandleader Dennis Lichtman (clarinet), Gordon Webster (piano), Nick Russo (guitar, banjo), and Cassidy Holden (bass). Yes, three out of four of these incredible musicians are members of the Cangelosi Cards. The music is early jazz, but don't expect a Cangelosi sound, the band's style is strictly their own. jazzier and less folky.

This video is for listening.

The gig is run as a jam session, and after a certain quota of serious-let's-play-just-us time, other musicians start sitting in. On any given night, you might find two or three upright basses playing at once, several horns, an assortment of different vocalists from Katie Hasty of Numbers and Letters to Jesse Selengut of Tin Pan, to Tamar Korn of the Cangelosi Cards. 

Musicians of all ages and musical persuasions drop by, from incredible slap-bass legends, to young musicians just discovering the scene, to greats such as Dan Levinson (and even once, Vince Giordano!).

In a reflection of this diversity the record has some special guests: Tamar Korn of the Cangelosi Cards, Dan Levinson of the Nighthawks, and Rob Adkins and Jesse Selengut of Tin Pan.

You can currently find this record only at Mona's on Tuesday nights. 10:30 til 3.