The Dean’s List

In This Issue 2007-November-15

Thu, 15 Nov 2007 23:18:55 -0600

5th Anniversary POPS Concert Tonight!
Aloha!: Klingensmith Arrives
HSPVA Fall Concert
Local Artist Spotlight: Larry Slezak
Appearances This Week
Big Shows

5th Anniversary POPS Concert Tonight!
Aloha!: Klingensmith Arrives
HSPVA Fall Concert
Local Artist Spotlight: Larry Slezak
Appearances This Week
Big Shows

In This Issue 2007-November-06

Tue, 6 Nov 2007 09:59:37 -0600

Pershing Middle School Band NY-Bound
Aloha!: Sebastian Johnson Arrives
In Concert: Greg Osby
Local Artist Spotlight: Catie Hickey
Dean’s List Hijacked
Coming VERY Soon: Kristine Mills CD
WANTED: Cruising Buddies
In The Playlist: Robert Plant & Alison Krauss
Free Stuff: Cat 5 Cable
Appearances This Week
Big Shows

Pershing Middle School Band NY-Bound
The mighty wind ensemble of Pershing Middle School has been invited to perform at Carnegie Hall....are you hearing this right? Carnegie Hall! The pinnacle of success. I’ve never even walked in, much less performed at. Maybe I could do a last-minute audition on contrabass clarinet...

But hey, they’re not gonna get there on their good looks. That might get them as far as....oh, maybe Bowling Green. No, they’ll need some serious cash for this one.

Enter arguably the most successful musician in Houston. Scott Gertner has had a track record unsurpassed by anyone in this crazy music business. His band has consistently been a powerhouse, featuring the absolutely pinnacle of musicianship and vocal chops. Scott Gertner’s SkyBar remains packed every night, with a line out the door being a constant part of the scenery.

Scott Gertner & Band will be performing a benefit concert tonight at Pershing, with all proceeds being donated by Scott and his band to Pershing Middle School for Carnegie Hall Trip 2008. This is a huge gesture, and here’s hoping all of you have an opportunity to hear this mega-band, and help these kids arrive at their dream destination.
3838 Bluebonnet 7pm
Pizza By The Slice 5:45-6:45pm
http://www.pershingms.org/main.html
http://www.pershingms.org/documents/Scott%20Gertner%20Flyer.pdf

Aloha!: Sebastian Johnson Arrives
Check out that photo! What a charmer...Sebastian Johnson made his earthly debut November 2nd, 5:47am, 5 lbs., 11 oz. Sebastian’s mommy, Daphnee, is a tremendous cellist, and mentor/instructor/guru to our own Chandler. Daphnee & Sebastian will be taking time during the holiday to get to know each other a little better, so keep an eye out for these two as they begin a wonderful journey together.
http://kuhf.convio.net/images/content/photos/large_257947.jpg

In Concert: Greg Osby
The enormously gifted saxophonist Greg Osby will be performing this Friday, once again courtesy of the great folks at DaCamera. Greg will be joined on stage by vocalist Sara Serpa, pianist Adam Birnbaum, bassist Chris Tordini, and Houston’s own Reginald Quinerly on drums. Don’t miss it!
http://www.dacamera.com/artist_15.html
http://gregosby.com/

Local Artist Spotlight: Catie Hickey
Houston is very fortunate to play host to a wonderfully talented trombonist. Catie Hickey is in town doing graduate work at Rice University, and making a big splash on the local music scene. Her improvisation skills are formidable, with a very fresh perspective on the instrument.

A Chicago native (Cubs fan from birth), Catie is an alumni of several distinct schools & ensembles:
Eastman School Of Music (where she did her undergraduate work with Mark Kellogg), Henry Mancini Institute @ UCLA, Buffalo & Rochester Philharmonics, & The Youth Orchestra Of America.

Catie will be out for the holidays, so don’t miss any opportunity you can to hear this terrific musician perform. Check out the audio clips on her myspace site, sign up to be a friend, and maybe gently prod her to update her performance calendar...
http://www.myspace.com/catiehickey

Dean’s List Hijacked
Speaking of Chandler...that little hooligan broke into my vast security measures, and managed to commandeer The Dean’s List for his own nefarious purposes. Basically, he wanted to let you know that his web site *almost* has an update. The tension in the air is palpable. Venture into his domain with much trepidation...
http://web.mac.com/kellydean/Deans_List/The_Deans_List/Entries/2007/11/3_Ultra_Super-de-Duper_News_Bulletin_Part_1.html

Coming VERY Soon: Kristine Mills CD
It’s been a long time coming, but the new Kristine Mills recording is scheduled to arrive November 14th. “Playing With The Big Boys! Live at Cezanne’s” features the Ken Ward Trio, with special guests Barrie Lee Hall on trumpet & Rocky White on drums, both alumni of The Duke Ellington Orchestra. David Craig & Paul Chester complete the ensemble. You can listen to some snippets on Kristine’s site, and catch her frequently at Truluck’s.
http://kristinemillsmusic.com/

WANTED: Cruising Buddies
When this holiday season ends, I’ll be ready for a break! Rhonda will too, so we’ve plunked down our dinero, and booked a five day cruise in January. How about you? Ready to disconnect from the grid for a few days? We’d love to have you join us, and the best part is it’s mega cheeep. Prices start at $379. For five days. Meals included. You can’t get a hotel room for that price! Give super agent Janie Holland a ring, and let’s get away from it all.
Janie @ Vacations To Go: (713) 974-2121 x.291
http://vacationstogo.com/fastdeal.cfm?deal=20140
http://vacationstogo.com/ship.cfm?shipid=21

In The Playlist: Robert Plant & Alison Krauss---Raising Sand
This oughta be a trainwreck....bluegrass ingenue paired up with rock screamer. Is this somebody’s idea of a joke? And yet....and yet, it works so beautifully. Plant dials it back, Alison steps up to rock it out a little, and in the able production hands of T-Bone Burnett the result is a compelling slice of eclectica. They managed to bump Chaka Khan off the playlist, which I was beginning to think might never happen...

Free Stuff: Cat 5 Cable
Don’t say I never gave you anything....if you’re wiring your house or business up for the internet, and that WiFi gadget that the kids are talking about is not to your liking, you’ll need this. I probably have 500+ feet of the stuff, as well as connectors and a crimper. Just remember: Orange/White, Orange, Green/White, Blue, Blue/White, Green, Brown/White, Brown...
http://www.lanshack.com/make-cat5e.aspx

Appearances This Week
Truluck’s Tues/Wed/Friday. For the Friday late shift, I’ll travel down Westheimer to Sullivan’s, and join Sound Advice for an interesting mix of Journey, ZZ Top, or whatever else shows up in the tip jar...
Truluck’s 5:30-9:30 (Tues, Wed), 5:30-7:45 (Fri)
Sullivan’s 9pm-1am
http://trulucks.com/
http://sullivansteakhouse.com/
http://soundadviceband.com/

Big Shows
Tuesday
Pamela York & Warren Sneed @ Timpano, solo piano 6-8, duo 8-11pm
Mike Wheeler w/ Chris Cortez @ Crabby Daddy, 8pm

Wednesday
Tianna Hall, Richard Cruz, Steve Brown @ Timpano, duo 6-8pm, add bass 8-11pm
Mood Indigo @ Bistro Calais
Diane Landry/Art Fristoe Duo @ Tommy’s Westheimer

Thursday
Tianna, Marsha Frazier, Steve Brown, Henry Darragh @ 57 West Jazz Cafe
Mike Wheeler/Matt Lemmler Duo @ Tommy’s Westheimer

Friday
Tianna/Richard/Steve @ Timpano, duo 6-8pm, add bass 8-Midnight
Matt Lemmler/Erin Wright/Warren Sneed/Daleton Lee, duo 5-7:30pm, add sax/bass 8-Midnight

Ultra Super-de-Duper News Bulletin Part 1

Sat, 3 Nov 2007 22:54:56 -0500

All right. Chandler, son of Kelly (AKA That Annoying Kid) here, with an ultra Super-de-Duper Announcement. My website and company, shocking productions, is going to go through a complete overall makeover and revamp to celebrate the (super belated) first anniversary of the website. So, keep your eyes peeled for some talkin’ here about it in The Dean’s List Exclusive Step-by-step coverage. In each update, I will reveal what ultra amazing things will happen.

Here’s one of ‘em:

GOOGLE ADS

Everyone loves google ads, right? They aren’t annoying and obtrusive at all!

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See?

Anyway, the google ads will simply be used to fund Shocking Productions and allow us to do more projects and stuff using google’s hard earned cash.

Website Relaunch: Soon

-Chandler

In This Issue 2007-November-02

Fri, 2 Nov 2007 11:19:35 -0500

The Revelators Arrive
Local Artist Spotlight: Ellis Johnson
Red Cat Report
In The Playlist: Chaka Khan...Chaka Khan Chaka Khan
Sayonara: Joe Zawinul, Marchel Ivery, Kenneth Whalum
Appearances This Week
Big Shows
Coming Next Week: Kristine Mills CD, Son Boricua Trio

The Revelators Arrive
It’s like one of those Supergroups....Asia, Velvet Revolver, Cream...folks, it’s The Revelators. Start with the prodigiously talented Skip Nallia on keys. Mix in the potent sax of Mike Reed. Stir up some soul stew with the talents of stellar sidement Steve Hitt on guitar, Dan Smith on bass & Jerry Chambers on drums. Now beat. Well. Heck, it takes two pages to fit all the bios of these guys. Click around on their site, and be sure to check out the fresh grooves on their myspace page:
http://www.revelatorsband.com/
http://www.myspace.com/therevelatorsband

Local Artist Spotlight: Ellis Johnson
Drummer Ellis Johnson & I have almost played countless gigs together. I recently saw him laying it down for blues legend Trudy Lynn. He currently hosts a steady Thursday happening under the nom de plume “Ellis Johnson & The Foundation.” It all happens Thursday evenings at Diallo’s, 3338 Dixie, 6:30-9pm.
http://www.jazzhouston.com/venues/about.jsp?key=318

Red Cat Report
The big time keyboard work of Darrell Lavigne will showcased on Monday nights at The Red Cat Jazz Cafe, 7pm. This coming Monday will be his trio, and then all following Monday’s they will host an open mic jazz jam session. No Cover! Saxophonist Kyle Turner will be mixing it up frequently.

On Wednesday nights, the spotlight hits the marvelous vocal cords of Werner Richmond! Definitely worth the drive to hear this man sing.

And...did I read that right? Ronnie Laws November 23-24th? Blimey! I may have to stop by and pay for some of the dozen+ licks I stole from him...
http://www.redcatjazzcafe.com/

In The Playlist: Chaka Khan...Chaka Khan Chaka Khan
Once again, a CD comes along that gets welded to my ears. Chaka Khan’s latest release, “Funk This!” has been in hyperdrive around here. In the car, the gym, the grocery store, I’ve been taking it everywhere. My personal fave is her take on Jimi Hendrix’s “Castles Made Of Sand.” Whew....Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis went in their wayback machine producing this one. It sounds like right out of 1974---no big reverb, Wurlitzer keyboard everywhere, and the baddest tones ever from CK.

Sayonara: Joe Zawinul, Marchel Ivery, Kenneth Whalum
The band Weather Report was a huge influence for me, opening up possibilities and tearing down music barriers. Keyboardist Joe Zawinul was 50% of the team, and his synth sounds, compositions, and improvising made the whole thing a mesmerizing joyride. He continued his musical journeys with his group The Zawinul Syndicate, and every recording was a great adventure. Joe departed September 11.
http://www.zawinulmusic.com/

Saxophonist Marchel Ivery was 69 when he died this week. He was a part of the “Texas Tenor” crew that includes Arnett Cobb, Illinois Jacquet & David “Fathead” Newman. He probably would’ve been as famous as all of them, but he decided to call Dallas home, and became a local pillar there.
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/ent/stories/DN-ivery_1031gl.ART.State.Edition1.422af52.html

Rev. Kenneth Whalum Sr. also passed away recently. Folks may know him best as the father of saxophonist Kirk Whalum. We wish the Whalum family peace during this time of mourning and the celebration of life.
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2007/oct/28/of-god-family/

Appearances This Week
Tonight: Truluck’s 5:30-7:45, and then I hightail it to Sambuca to play with The Mark Dini Group
http://trulucks.com/
http://markdinigroup.com/

Big Shows
Vocalist Diane Schuur, backed up by The University of Houston Jazz Orchestra, at Miller Outdoor Theatre, for free. Am I missing something? Get here!
http://www.milleroutdoortheatre.com/schedule/calendar.asp?Mode=CalendarViewDetails&date=11/26/2007&ID=366
http://www.dianeschuur.com/

Friday & Saturday
Kim Prevost w/ Matt Lemmler, Erin Wright, Daleton Lee @ Tommy’s Westheimer (Diane Landry on Saturday)

Pianist Robert Boston Returns! Former Houston fixture comes back, appearing w/ Thomas Helton, Richard Cholokian & April Koester. Swap April for Bob Chadwick on Saturday

Coming Next Week: Kristine Mills CD, Son Boricua Trio

In This Issue 2007-October-26

Fri, 26 Oct 2007 13:07:01 -0500

Funfest Tonight
Aniversario Feliz: Truluck’s!
Podcast Activity
Local Artist Spotlight: Frank Battaglia
Appearances This Week
Big Shows
Coming Next Week:

Funfest Tonight
Hey kids, tell Ma & Pa that you want to go to Parker Elementary’s Funfest tonight! It’s the big event of the weekend, with tasty vittles your folks will enjoy too. 4-7pm tonight:
http://www.kellydean.net/parker/2007-10-08-funfest.html

Aniversario Feliz: Truluck’s!
In the blink of an eye, 365 days have passed, and I find myself in utter amazement that my steady employment at Truluck’s restaurant has just crossed the one year mark. Big thanks to Ken Ward for ushering me into the place, and to Dave Mattern for not showing me the door....
http://trulucks.com/

Podcast Activity
Bad news is a constant part of our lives, but once in a while a story just won’t let go of you. This was the case when I read the tale of Army Spc. John Austin Johnson, stationed out of Ft. Bliss. After surviving four separate IED blasts, the fifth one really rang his bell, and he returned to the U.S. for brain injury treatment. His family journeyed from their home in El Paso, but a big gust of West Texas wind forced his wife to over-correct the wheel. The tragic results: 5-year-old Ashley & 2-year-old Logan died at the scene, while 9 year old Tyler Johnson is still clinging to life, almost two weeks later.

Truly this is more than one human being can bear. Help has been pouring in from various agencies, and a fund has been established at Bank Of America. I walked into my office, sat down at the keyboard, and an hour later “Peace For Bliss” was finished. All I could think of while writing and recording this were my own precious children, and how crushed this young family must be. I really don’t know if they’ll ever hear this song, but if they do, my wish is that just 1% of their burden be lifted.
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/stories/DN-soldierfamily_26met.ART0.West.Edition1.4357a25.html
http://myspace.com/kellydeangroup

In happier news, the virtual tape was rolling at the birthday party last month, and some pretty compelling audio resulted. Guy Minervini, a true blast from my past, came down from Dallas, and used his digital doohickey to capture the moments. He’s recently edited a couple of tracks: “Do It Again” & “The Chicken,” both of which I’ve added to the podcast, “Live @ Kel’s Garage.”
http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=110469408

Local Artist Spotlight: Frank Battaglia
Musician. Doctor. Lawyer. Web Antagonist. Frank Battaglia is nothing if not controversial, but his skills as a saxophonist are undeniable. As a doctor & lawyer I have no 1st hand experience---but I might have recently suffered a shoulder injury during a traffic accident. Whadda ya’ say Frank...sue them & heal me? Catch Frank Friday @ Cézanne, Saturday @ Cézanne...? is that right? Both nights, two completely different bands. I guess that means he can leave his stuff set up....
http://www.jazzhouston.com/venues/about.jsp?key=7

Appearances This Week
Tonight: Year #2 begins at Truluck’s, 5:30-7:45pm, and then the fun continues downtown @ Sambuca w/ The Shapeshifters. Rock you like a hurricane...
Tuesday, Wednesday: Truluck’s 5:30-9:30pm. I got stumped by a request for The Smiths last week..strange dead spot in my musical memory banks. What have you got for me?

Big Shows
Galveston’s Sparky Koerner will be logging frequent driver miles over the bridge this week. Tonight his group performs on the island @ Café Madrid. On Tuesday, he trades his trumpet in for a baton, and heads over to Texas City, where he will conduct the College Of The Mainland concert.
http://www.sparkykoerner.com/

Friday
Tianna Hall, Richard Cruz & Steve Brown @ Timpano
Kim Prevost w/ Matt Lemmler, Erin Wright, Daleton Lee @ Tommy’s Westheimer
(Mac OSX 10.5 Leopard Release @ 6pm...yummy!)
Owensongs Quintet (Mike Owens, Kit Reid, Frank Battaglia, Thomas Helton) @ Cézanne
Collector’s Item Band @ Martini’s & More...get the funk into yo face...
http://ciband.org/

Saturday
Andrew Lienhard Trio w/ The Tims (Solook & Ruiz) @ Louie’s Raw Bar & Grill
Diane Landry w/ Matt Lemmler, Erin Wright, Daleton Lee @ Tommy’s Westheimer
Pamela Stonebrooke Group (w/ M. Owens, F. Battaglia, T. Helton, Bob Adams @ Cézanne

Coming Next Week
Log in to JazzHouston for info about The King Biscuit Halloween Jazz Jam, and the triumphant return of pianist Robert Boston! Nicely done, Cézanne!
http://www.jazzhouston.com/events/