Let's Do It Again (FestivAll)

I going to say upfront and from my heart: this past weekend was one of the nicest that I've ever had, in part, because one of my lifelong dreams was fulfilled...to see music everywhere as well as cultural events.

This past weekend in Charleston the city held its first ever (and hopefully annual) FestivAll.
FestivAll is an event designed to bring out the best in West Virginia, in terms of the arts, and it did so in the grandest of fashion.Everywhere you looked there were musical events, cultural happenings, and people smiling broadly.
More than anything what I liked most of all, was that although the weather was sweltering, the Sun was beating down like Ahmed Solomon and Jupie Little together on the drums people at every event smiled and treated each other like old friends.
The only negative thing that I heard the entire weekend was that the weekend was coming to an end.
I want to take this forum and personally thank Mayor Danny Jones, Event Director Larry Groce, all of the many volunteers, and all of the musicians, artisans and participants for being at your best and bringing out your best.
I also want to issue a challenge to the people of the great state of West Virginia; if you were here over the weekend you saw first hand, the power and beauty of working together. We have put up a jewel in the rough with FestivAll, let's polish it and make it better next year...in short, let's do it again.
For all of the musicians artisans and partipants, give yourselves a hand because you were the best !!!

This post is dedicated to Mayor Danny Jones for having the courage to be a true leader and helping make the dream a reality...FestivAll lives !!
The post is also dedicated to Larry Groce who pulled off one helluva citywide party, and still managed to host Sunday's Mountain Stage...you get the Superman award.

Please, when the call goes up for next year's event, get involved, get involved, get involved, no matter how small, your help will be needed.
Come visit Wild Wonderful Charleston West Virginia, a Capitol city.

Lastly, watch for the coming of the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame

Something About St.Albans

Now I'm the first to admit that being from a large city is not all that it's cracked up to be.There's serious crime, unreal congestion, and the list grows everyday. Living in small town America can equally be as frustrating but the bottom line is that it is smaller.
I went to high school, not in my home city of New York, but rather in as small a town as you can get. I went to the only all Black military school in the world, St.Emma Military Academy in Powhatan VA. The day before my parents and my Sister and I left to go on my new adventure, my Father sat me down in my bedroom and gave me some advice that I'm still very happy to have and use today. He said "before you go thinking that because you're from New York, that you are one iota better than anyone from down there, think again. The only difference between you and anybody from Powhatan Virginia is that where you came from is larger, but you are no better than anybody, treat everybody that you meet with respect, and you'll be surprised at how many friends you'll have at the end of the day."
Wisdom indeed that I've used daily in my life.
The overall theme here was learn to love, like and or respect people, no matter where they're from.
Living here in St Albans has taught me about fortuitousness and real love. The community here just at times overwhelms me by how much they care...about everything.
Last night at the River's Edge Cafe, Jim Snyder and company held court, and the crowd in attendance was jubilant to say the least. Everybody there was simply in a great mood.
Over the last month or so I've been showing up and sitting in with the fellas, and they are as accommodating as possible.
I came to a realization last night that I want to share with you: there is something about St Albans... something uniquely wonderful. During these few weeks of hanging out I've gotten a dose of hospitality from these folks that if it were a drug, I'd be stoned forever !!!
It's taken me awhile to catch on ( I'm slow that way), but on my job at the library, here at River's Edge and just generally everywhere in this town you can find a warmth of spirit here that makes for a great life.
There was a young man who came up to play, and when he sat in it just ended up being very monotonous, he wasn't a bad guitarist he just put too much of his life into one note. Anyway, the fellas didn't shoo him away, or make him feel bad or anything, they were just respectful. I thought that was very nice indeed.
It's a very tough job to be a musician, and younger folks reading this post need to remember this one thing...don't wear out your welcome !!! All of us know what this dream is like for you, but don't act like big stars, before you are. Open your ears and develop a sense of togetherness, that you can only get when your part of the ensemble as opposed to the ensemble itself. Notice when the crowd is getting restless and as they say leave 'em wanting more.

I've really enjoyed hanging out with the River's Edge crew, you put the fun in Funky.
Catch Jim Snyder and friends locally and regionally.
Catch drummer/vocalist Jupiter Little with our band, the Carpenter Ants everywhere else.
To Dean Braley, thank you for your nice words of encouragement. Enjoy.

Support Live Music today, tomorrow and always.

Where Did Our Love Go...

Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday don't leave me. Ooooo please don't leave me, all by myself:
Just a little parody of the great song by Diana Ross and the Supremes...

Well, it seems that our regular show on the aforementioned night is all but shot through the heart. Last night almost scared me it was so empty (pun intened), we had one lady at the bar with a birthday, one man trying hard to ask her out, a couple of our regular cool crew , Ronnie, Sam and Ed ( our man at the door).
My Vickie came as did my neighbor Robin, and my pal Amy; it's always great when they're in the house.
Now let's talk about this shall we...
It's giving me a bit of a scare mainly because I don't want my guys to lose interest, nor to lose focus. Playing at the Empty Glass has always been fun, although it can at times be a challenge. Partly because, you know the saying, familiarity breeds contempt. People just plainly know us ( as a band) maybe a little too well, and I think that as a result, to some degree they feel that they don't need to see us every week,' the Carpenter Ants will always be there.'
Maybe there is some truth to that, but the truth is, for me, that I wouldn't want to take a chance on that reality because in a heartbeat that could change and through no fault of our own.
As huge a fan of NYPD Blue as I was/am, it's now gone, and despite the fact that there are many more stories to relate in New York then they could have written episodes for, my favorite show is now gone and the future landscape of television isn't looking too good to me.
So the same thing can happen with this music. Again, you need to understand that we aren't giving up but it makes it that much harder for us when no one is there.
The other side of this is we are resilient and we're also good at persevering . That says an awful lot about how much we believe in us and believe in what we can do. I have confidence in my bandmates, and in the people that follow us regularly, and really, I believe in my hometown.
So the cry is up, Charleston Charleston, where did our love go? And all of your promises, all the love forever more. I've got this burnin' yearnin', swirlin,' feelin' inside, deep inside me, that stings like a bee.
I've used this phrase before made popular by Larry Groce, and it bears repeating: "go out and catch some live music," but I'm going to insert this question before that statement..."where did our love go?"

A Vein of Gold...

This just totally cracked me up...
After Friday's unbelievable show in Winston- Salem NC, where we played to an audience of 6000, we returned home to do a show of maybe 12 tonight; the class reunion of George Washington High School class of 1980...they were few but they were mighty. Considering the fiasco that almost caused it not to happen, it turned out to be probably the easiest gig we've ever done.

As I sit during one of our breaks at this class reunion we're doing, a well dressed woman walks up and begins to pick my brain about the type of band the Carpenter Ants are... "well I've heard you all are an R and B band, I've heard you're counrty ( to picture her voice think, Thurston Howell III, from the TV show, Gilligan's Island !!), so I'm trying to establish here what's your deal." As I try to explain to her the types of music that we cover, she now wants to know individual history, so off in that direction I go, twists and turns abound.
Then she says that she wants to hire us to do a celebration of her husbands death ( you can't make this stuff up folks !!), she explains that the location of the event is to be held on a mountain top retreat, and that once we were there we wouldn't want to leave. She also explained that they (she and her late husband ) hired Bob Thompson (the great jazz pianist; look for a story on him soon, in the Spotlight On link) to play their wedding and she wanted something more festive in honor of the husbands death.
Now I'm completely certain that her intention for this is not in that way that it's being portrayed here, but it still just struck me as funny, especially after we went back to the stage to play and Jupie (our drummer, Jupiter Little) exclaims..." well now, we seem to have hit a vein of gold," and later in the drive home he says, "I started getting that Black Widow feeling."

I know, it's sick humor, but you gotta admit, this is the true essence of being in a band, and playing for a throng of 6000 one day and 12 the next, you have to make light of it...all.

This post is dedicated to James "Jupiter" Little, without a shadow of doubt one of the funniest men I've ever known.
It also goes out to Heather H ( the woman who inspired this story), please call or e-mail me soon, we'll be more than happy to play for your celebration.

Groovin' High on the River's Edge

Once again, I'm astounded by the fun I had at the River's Edge Cafe in St.Albans...this could very well be considered the Empty Glass of the western part of the Kanawha Valley. Great food, great folks and fun in abundunce.

Before I tell you about the night let me tell you that it almost didn't start out that way, as I went into a bit of a Diabetic shock during the first set. My blood sugar started to bottom out, which could have been disastrous for me, and quite nearly was.

...OK, the scare was over, now back to the music.
Jim Snyder in the house with his friends and they went for the jugular, with me in tow on the saxophone. It was really nice to see that many people having that much fun, consistently all evening long.
My wife Vickie came and hung out, met some really cool folks and spent the evening laughing and generally enjoying the music (that means alot to me).
Jim has got a nice thing going here, no muss, no fuss just pared down uncomplicated music with great vocals and big huge fun, featuring Jupiter Little and Rob Hamer ( a great bassist, and yet another funny man) Phil Ruby and Marcel Lazare. I don't know when I last had this many laughs all evening long, the spirit there is really high.
One of the nice things about St. Albans folks is that they really support live music, and going to River's Edge is proof positive of that, the place was packed all evening, and they let their hair down for real...dancing all over the place.
Its been a long time since I've seen people waiting in serious anticipation for their music, and the joint was abuzz before it all got started, but when it did everybody even came in from out on the deck area there to hear and enjoy.
During and after the show people kept yelling with favor toward my saxophone playing, and I hope that it was better than the last time I played, because it sure felt that way.
In a recent post that I wrote about playing at the River's Edge, I said that 'compliments go a long way in my book,' speaking about how folks just thoroughly enjoyed hearing the music, and have no problem telling you so; well this time they did one better, after the show many of the patrons came over to us to shake hands, thank us profusely, and implore us to return soon...To me that is a compliment of the highest order.
They're groovin' high on the River's Edge, and if you're reading this you need to set your course for St.Albans and sail on down here on most Thursdays, you won' t be sorry.

Again, as in last time, thanks go out to Jim, Jupiter, Rob, Phil and Marcel for an action packed fun filled evening.
To the River's Edge patrons and staff you make me proud to that I've chosen to be a musician.
Last but not least to the Notorious F.A.T. (aka Jerry ) thanks for trying to look out for me when I got sick...the bus is waiting and the tour starts soon.

The River's Edge Cafe
212 Main St
St. Albans WV 25177
(304) 722-6320

Giving A Name to the Sound...

During the course of writing these blog posts, I've had a unique opportunity to hear from many people that I might not have met or come into contact with otherwise.
Having a forum to do this is nice way to meet new friends and/ or possible fans directly involved in music either as participants or listeners.
Recently, I got a comment on one of my posts from a young man from the UK, whom I now consider a friend. His name is Joel Ison; and he is a fellow blogger, and an emerging musician who is also standing in the shadows of music. Joel is 17, but don't let his age fool you. As I'm finding out Joel is quite astute when it comes to his music and his life...he's very focused.
Joel and his bandmates have found themselves in a bit of a dilemma, and they've asked for my help and that of my readers. They have been functioning as a group without a name, and they are trying to come up with something that will help to define them and their music.
I'm going to post a link at the end of this post to Joel's blog and also, where I have my links on the right I'm posting a link to a poll for you to vote on a name for his band.
One thing that I'm certain about is that giving a name to the sound can be a defining moment for any band or musician, it can be a life changing thing for someone who is trying to edify and/ or entertain people, so while you're thinking of names please be cognizant of the fact that these are younger people who are trying to do the right thing...let's stand by them.

Joel, keep up the good work and keep trying, I hope to one day be able to meet you and enjoy your music face to face. Good Luck brother !!

Click here to access Joel's blog posts, from there relax, read...enjoy.

In The Shadow of the Shadow of Music

I know that you're reading the title of this and saying to yourself "what in the world..."
Last night was very strange to me, everything seemed very surreal and exaggerated. We had our post Mountain Stage Show, and although there were quite a few people in the audience, I felt like I was having an out of body experience. There were alot of mistakes being made from all of us, even Steve Ferguson who was sitting in with us struggled with his amp the better part of the night. At some point I yelled up to the stage for the guys to 'inject some energy up there.'
It was a very weird, nothing else to say... and even that's weird.

What Does It Take?

Saxophonist Junior Walker asked the musical question, "what does it take, to win your love from me? How can I make this dream come true for me."
I pose the same question to you ( my readers)...
I feel as though here in my adopted hometown of Charleston WV, it has become increasingly and considerably harder to render the music of my band the Carpenter Ants. Charlestonians seem be starting to give up on us. Wednesdays at the Empty Glass, people are non exsistent, Sundays at the post Mountain Stage show are a little better, but not much, so I want to know have the Ants lost our luster, is it all too familiar for you?
I know that at some point every band gets old, but that's the reason that some of them re-invent themselves. Herein lies the problem...to reinvent yourself you have to re-invent your crowd as well, which generally means that a band has to go someplace else and start over and redifine themselves as well. Is this really necessary?
I think that if we were given a real chance to accomplish our goals musically, playing a situation like Good Morning America's Concert Series, the Today Show, or the Early Show's, Second Cup Cafe' that we would represent West Virginia extremely well, but it's harder if there's no you, the audience. Without your support, you reduce us to just another struggling band.
Alot of the process that you don't realize has happened, we were signed to a record label, Gaff Music, and we gave them the rights to distribute our 3rd CD, but something happened and it has not been released, and now it's just sitting there collecting dust, and we're here trying to figure out our next move. It's a very difficult and trying process, but what would make it not so hard and at least more palatable is looking out and seeing Charleston pulling for us.
I also understand that it is a bit hard to come out for live music in the middle of the work week, but in the words of Ferris Buehler..."life moves pretty fast, sometimes you gotta stop and look around or else, you'll miss it ( from the movie: Ferris Buehler's Day Off)."
We're not giving up, but I'm making an empassioned plea with my hometown, don't give up on us, because we're not giving up on you, help us figure out what we can do to break into the industry. Let your friends and colleagues know about us and utilize us. You know that we'll work with you. E-mail us or inform us about musical events that we can tap into.
My e-mail address is: tuitt-charles@usa.net, and Michael Lipton's is: mlipton@gmail.com
Charleston, it's your turn to help push a band through the door of the industry, but what does it take? The answer is left to you.

Fergie's In The House

If you're a fan of Michael Lipton's guitar playing style, then this post is for you...
Steve Ferguson formerly of NRBQ, and also The Midwest Creole Ensemble fame is back here with us in Charleston, and it seems this time he may make a go of staying with us in this area.
Anyway, Steve came to the Empty Glass last night to play with us, and although there were a scant amount of people there, he still managed to dazzle me.
It's an interesting process watching teacher and student ( as in Steve and Michael Lipton) as one tears the very heart out of a solo, and the other goes about deciphering how that heart was torn out.
Michael I must say, is good student in that he picks up where Steve leaves off. It really makes for some exciting music, because it's almost like when 2 people finish each others' sentences. Now that may sound a bit strange, but in music I think that it's a good thing.
Music is so visceral and cerebral at once, that it's pretty easy to catch the nuances and subtleties in a mediocre player, but in a person of Steve's caliber it's much harder to detect mainly because, alot of their style and technique come from years and years of laboring over their instrument, so one has to really put some time in with person like that.
In my opinion Michael is one of the best "on the spot" arrangers that I've ever played with, couple that with that Ferguson technique and you can get some beautiful music, so imagine what it's like having Fergie in the house !!!
Of late at the Empty Glass it seems that no one has been coming out to hear much live music; so the place has been fairly empty (no pun intended). On Wednesdays anymore it feels like a ghost town, but we still try to plug away.
It's easy to get discouraged when you feel as though you're trying your hardest and there is no one there to hear you, but we just look at it as another chance to rehearse.
To find our voice is the most important thing, and it's great for us to be around people like Steve Ferguson, because his playing raises the bar for us as musicians.
I truly hope that anyone; no, everyone who reads my blog will make an effort to come and hear one of the greats. In a musical world filled with so many who are no more than flash in the pans it is very refreshing to see and hear a person like this because it can be an inspiration for those of us standing in the shadows of music.

A New Feature...Spotlight on

I'm attempting something slightly different with Standing In The Shadows Of Music. Along with what I normally write in this blog, I'm going do a periodic spotlight piece on some of the local musicians in the Charleston area.
My purpose still is to create dialogue among musicians, and hopefully by showcasing some of the people that I know and/or come into contact with we can continue this journey into and through the music business.
So sit back at your computer and take a musical trip with me and learn about some of the brilliant and phenomenal people who have chosen to make music their life's work.
On this my maiden voyage spotlight is on...Ms Janice Banks

I first met Jan here in the Charleston area at a private party that someone gave during the Christmas season in 1998. At the time she was the lead vocalist of a band called Production Company, and I don't have a clue what the band was playing at the time, I just remember going damn, that girl can SANG ( yes, I spelled it the way she did it...she sang, like the brothers would say !!!)
Although I didn't actually talk to her, I still remembered it well. Anyway, just about 2 years ago I ran into a college friend of mine Sonja Fullen, and she told me that she was becoming involved in music as a songwriter. Sonja had written quite a few wonderful songs, and asked if I would help her to get them produced and recorded, and I said sure. We exchanged numbers and she asked if I would also help to organize some people into a group to do her music.
When I arrived at the rehearsal among the ladies there was Jan ( I was a happy man).
Well as luck would have it I ran into some personal troubles and had to back out of the project for several months, but when I returned finally most of the songs had been worked out.
The song that was chosen for Jan to sing the lead vocal on was entitled "God Is Good To Me." It's a smooth, grooving jazzy piece that modulates ever so easy from the one chord to a series of moving 5 chords, and with each modulation the songs builds with slight intensity until it makes you want to explode out of your seat with jubilation for the Lord.
As I said before, Jan sang the HELL out of that song, and let me tell you Satan would not have a chance after hearing that.
Again, as I said also, I had been having some personal troubles and after hearing songs like that sung by people like Jan my troubles started to rise from me...she through song began inspiring me. I began to look at the trouble that I was having as non-exsistent, and after a time it became non-exsistent.
If you're feeling down and blue, find yourself some live musical performance somewhere and pray really hard that it features Ms. Janice Banks, 'cause baby, it'll do your body good.

If you'd like to know when and where you can catch Jan performing drop me an e-mail along with your comments on this blog post and I will pass them along to her.

Sista Jan, thank you for helping to reshape my life during my down period. May God continue to bless you with amazing talent and beauty.

With Dreams in Their Eyes...

This is a follow up to the last post, "Adventures In Country." It's also 2 separate stories in one, with the same conclusion.
First, I want to say that my band the Carpenter Ants did a superb job yesterday on all fronts. The performance for the St.Albans Library was a huge help to my boss Toni and our staff. Our Summer Reading kickoff did so in grand fashion. When I finally reached home last night I had gotten 12 e-mails from patrons saying how great and professional that they thought that we were, and how much they had a wonderful time.
At the second gig, I looked out a number of times and saw Ron Sowell's face and I could tell that he was extremely pleased with how well we do what we do, and before and after the performance, Jeff told me that he really dug us and wants to make a few trips to Charleston to play with us.

In the previous post I wrote that Jeff Stevens who is a Nashville songwriter, didn't know us from a hole in the wall, but wanted to have good musicians back him up to do his show. Well as it turns out, my bassist Ted Harrison not only knows him but also auditioned to be the bassist in Jeff's original band when he lived in West Virginia. Ted told me that things didn't quite work out but that Jeff and the other members of the band were completely nice and professional about their parting of ways...to which I say, lucky me, because Ted is mine now !!
At both performances yesterday, I spent alot of time just observing people. So much of how we feel is written on our faces, that it's probably more telling than sitting and talking to someone. There were alot of children and older people checking us out, both with same same intensity.
Many of the older folks were blown away with Michael's guitar playing and his ever present Steve Ferguson inspired nuances. A number of times I saw people pulling out their cell phones and calling their friends to tell them that they'd better get there because they were missing something special.
When I watched the youngsters, they seemed to be facsinated by the fact that wow, right in my own backyard we have people that are this good, this is something that I can aspire to.
To say the least I was just overly proud of my boys, and I was equally proud of Ron, Jeff and my boss Toni.
In the grand scheme of things we are all trying our best to bring something worthwhile to people...joy. Jeff drove here all the way from Nashville to play in front of a handful of people, and although it was a very worthwhile cause, there were still only a scant few people at best. Everybody involved though, gave their best. There were also a group of teenaged ladies who sang 4 songs from a CD that Ron produced that is helping to bring attention to the plight of young Appalachian women and girls who suffer abuses of all kinds... I was especially proud of that effort.
The one thing that I observed in abundance yesterday were people with alot of dreams in their eyes. Those who were in attendance were lilted by all of the great music and stories that they heard, and it catapulted them to better places. To me that is the catalyst for the life that we want. To be in a world where we can lay on the grass like I used to in my backyard in the Bronx growing up, like I saw so many do yesterday, watch the big cottony clouds roll by and just dream.

This post is dedicated to Jeff Stevens, keep on keeping on, your music and your wonderful outlook will put West Virginia on the world stage for the right reasons.
To Ron Sowell, your persistence and close attention to detail will be more help then you can dream of...God bless you.
To The St.Albans library staff, you all have no idea how proud I am of what you do everyday for our community; with little or nothing but hard work and diligence.
To the Carpenter Ants, when I die I want to be buried with our CD's in my casket because even in Heaven I want people to know the good work that you've done on this Earth.
To Randy Gilkey (my keyboardist) welcome home, you have been sorely missed.

Adventures in Country

All of you who know me know that I am a definite city kid. I mean room service, the subway, the Yankees, and everything non Green Acres.
Although, over the years that I've lived in West Virginia, I have developed a taste for some things country. This is not to say that life in the country is bad, it's really beautiful here, and I have even played with a couple of bands that are considered country.
For a good period of time I was the saxophone player in a band called County Line headed by a great frontman Darrell Ramsey, and including some phenomenal musicians John Ross, Tony Roacha, and Paul Billante' (the country Italian). Playing in the band with these guys will make you drop any misconceptions about country music.
All that has now lead me to this...this coming Saturday, the Carpenter Ants will be opening for and backing up an artist named Jeff Stevens who is originally from this area, though now living in Nashville. When I tell you this man's music is country, let me tell you that he put the "wang in twang."
As I listened to the material that he sent, I couldn't help but think that this kid from the Bronx has come a lonnnngggg way for his art. I'm certain that those who knew me in the Bronx would have real trouble with all this. Strangely enough though, I'm pretty philosophical about it all. I really do appreciate Mr. Stevens including us in his show. For all the bellyaching that I've done about being accepted in the music industry and getting recognized, here is someone who doesn't know us from a hole in the wall, but asked for good musicians to be his backup band and now here we are.
Like it or not, understand it or not, to me any victory is a victory...and I am still playing music; and who knows, while I'm on my adventures in country in a county where there aren't too many people who look like me; it does something for everyone involved ( I won't elaborate anymore on this point, but think hard and you'll see where I'm going with this).
I still feel lucky and grateful about being able to play music, and although I know that lesser men would crack, I not only have persevered, but also these experiences are leading me to my dreams.
Lastly, for all of those striving in music, remember: "learn to do one useful thing better than anybody and you'll not be out of a job."

One valuable lesson that I've learned from this is that people are people and good music speaks for itself. It would have taken me years to come to that conclusion had it not been for the help of a real friend...Darrell Ramsey, this post is for you.