Monday, May 26, 2014

2014 Pocket Funk Jazzkeller Party

*WATCH THE VIDEO HERE: 2014 Pocket Funk Jazzkeller Party Jon's archive http://ia802503.us.archive.org/3/items/2014PocketFunkJazzkellerParty/2014%20Pocket%20Funk%20jazzkeller%20Party.mp4 Pocket Funk by Jon Hammond - Jon's annual musikmesse Warm Up Party in the world famous jazzkeller - almost complete take shot by Aurelia Natalini with camera direction by Tino Pavlis - Giovanni Totò Gulino drums, Peter Klohmann tenor saxophone, Joe Berger guitar, Jon Hammond at the Sk1 Hammond organ ©Jon Hammond International ASCAP http://www.jonhammondband.com Youtube http://youtu.be/voVWs_Ijbn4 Blip TV http://blip.tv/jon-hammond/2014-pocket-funk-jazzkeller-musikmesse-warm-up-party-jon-hammond-band-6896262 Vimeo http://vimeo.com/96350283 CNN iReport http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-1136752 Jon Hammond Band Facebook https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10152081821677102&l=6125458100668631798 Early Morning Downtown San Francisco -- Have a good somber Memorial Day folks - Jon Hammond America's Pride - Blue Angels: https://hammondjazz.wordpress.com/2013/09/11/tribute-to-911-w-americas-pride-blue-angels-get-back-in-the-groove/ Tribute to 9/11 w/ America’s Pride Blue Angels “Get Back in The Groove” *WATCH THE VIDEO HERE: Tribute to 9 11 w America’s Pride Blue Angels Get Back in The Groove Tribute to 9/11 with America’s Pride The Blue Angels and Music “Get Back In The Groove” by Jon Hammond Band “America’s pride The Blue Angels here at SFO to perform fearlessly in honor of Fleet Week - http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151618410852102 Youtube http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151618410852102 Youtube http://youtu.be/2C3KtLtMVm8 Hammond's Bolero http://laterent.blogspot.com/2014/05/hammonds-bolero-album-track-from-jon.html Listen to Album Quality Audio HERE: Hammond's Bolero album track from Jon Hammond http://youtu.be/xRCG3wt6ARY most high quality Audio: Hammond's Bolero track 1 title track from Jon Hammond http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/hammond This is Jon Hammond's inspired all-original trio album played with the intensity of a live performance. It features great saxophone work by Alex Budman and the sophisticated funky sound of Ronnie Smith, Jr. on drums. Accordion and guitar embellish several tracks, and the overall sound is very musical and unusual. Lots of powerful groove drives some really great Jon Hammond compositions such as "Soon I Will Be Free", "Cannonball 99 (One More Time!), "Six Year Itch", "Jennifer's Song" and "9/11 Tribute." Artist: Hammond, Jon Trio Title: Hammond's Bolero Format: CD Label: HAM-BERGER-FRIZ RECORDS Catalog Number: 103 UPC Code: 601637970522 Price: $9.98 (All prices include domestic shipping.) Genre: JAZZ City Hall Records Catalog Independent Record Distribution since 1973 Album Notes Letter to the Listener from Jon Hammond: November 28, 2002 Dear Listener! This record marks a new beginning for me, and I would like to dedicate it to all those who like myself are striking out on their own and going it alone. Don't be afraid to follow your dreams. I did and now this record is for you! On November 5th, 2002 at 11:00 hours I entered in to Studio "D" of UNIQUE RECORDING STUDIOS in Times Square NYC with my producer/engineer Joe Berger along with S.F. Bay Area musicians Ronnie Smith (drums) and Alex Budman (tenor sax). I had just come back from performing in Shanghai at the first MUSIC CHINA. My mission was clear...because of all our busy schedules and logistical problems, we had a 4 hour window to play down 13 of my original compositions live to Pro Tools recording format with Joe Berger at the controls, ably assisted by Heath Aiken. From the first tune I knew that this would be my best record ever. Twelve of the tracks made this record and the 13th will be on the next record! As I was telling the musicians...on this record each of us is larger than life. I am very proud to feature the undeniable pocket feel of Ronnie Smith, the great left-handed funk drummer from East Oakland. Also it is my pleasure to feature one of the finest and most musical tenor saxophonists to come out of the Bay Area in a long time: Alex Budman. The incredible guitar work features my long-time partner Joe Berger (Ham-Berger Productions). Joe has played with John Entwistle, Vangelis and many greats, plus he is responsible for the fine sound of this recording and mastering. Joe joined the band on tracks 1 & 3, title song Hammond's Bolero and Cannonball 99. Bobby and Joanne Nathan's Unique Recording Studios was the perfect studio and environment for our live recording. Special thanks to Bobby and Joanne and the Unique staff! I fired up the house HAMMOND organ and felt right at home immediately. Although we cut these tunes in one session, (a new speed record at Unique Recording Studios!), it took my whole life to refine my songs and get to this point where I was ready to record them...and ALSO to select musicians who could not only play their asses off, but are very nice cats who play my music with much enthusiasm and uplifting spirit. Like all bandleaders I have had more than my share of nightmare situations with "difficult" musicians so I am always happy when I can record and play with trouble-free musicians on the band! These are the guys. This was Ronnie's first trip to New York City. The night before our session he and Alex went to hear the Village Vanguard Monday Night Bigband while I stayed home in my Times Square apartment preparing the music for the session. There is a story behind every one of these compositions. The title track "Hammond's Bolero" (track #1) means literally Romantic Music. Even if you are not a dancer you'll want to dance to this track! As on every track all the musicians are featured with the addition of the totally amazing guitar work of JOE BERGER. He does some "terrible things" to the strings on his guitar ladies and gentlemen! Guitar Heads and even Carlos Santana...look out!! On every one of my albums I like to do something original that has never been done before. On this record the very first sound that you will hear is the sound of me popping the cork out of a very nice bottle of Red Bordeaux wine! I have always thought this to be a "happy sound", so kick back and enjoy a glass of Bordeaux with my music if you have the possibility to do so. Also I announce the title of every one of my songs. The reason I do this is because so often on the radio song titles are not announced...well, I fixed that! I recorded the cork and my voiceovers on my new acquisition, which is a fine Chinese manufactured Tube Microphone from SUPERLUX in Shanghai. My EXCELSIOR tonechamber accordion has custom SENNHEISER microphones in it with a very slick modification by main man ALEX of Alex Accordions Guitars shop around the corner from Unique Recording Studios on W. 48th St. in New York (on the famous strip of music shops). This was my first outting using the electronics in my hand-built accordion and I was very pleased with the natural sound we got on the recordings. Track #2, "Jennifer's Song" I wrote for my girlfriend Jennifer. Once you have heard "Jennifer's Song" you'll never be able to get it out of your mind. Melody is King! Perhaps you will hear my Russian/Hungarian heritage coming from this melody. "Cannonball 99" (One More Time!) #3 is a rollicking shuffle that I would like to dedicate to all those out there on the superslab with the hammer down driving cross-country. "Cannonball" means non-stop, coast to coast. I have driven more miles than most people will ever live to drive. I've seen 18 wheel trucks drive off the side of a mountain in black ice...drivers falling asleep at the wheel and angry people driving like idiots. Buckle up for safety, keep a CB radio and a cell phone in the car and please drive safely out there everybody! JOE BERGER joins us for a rockin' solo on this one, ala ZZ TOP. He's been cannonballin' on the big-time tour busses with everybody from The WHO's JOHN ENTWISTLE who we unfortunately lost last year, to boy band DREAM STREET. We call him the "Berger-meister"! You might see me out there one more time...my handle on the CB radio is: "T-Bone Steak". They'll be playing the hell out of this one down in the Bayou on my friends' radio station www.KBON.com in Eunice Louisianna...laissez les bon ton roulette, Cannonball 99...One More Time! This next song, (#4) "Soon I Will Be Free" is sure to be the theme song for a future TV show or movie! Ronnie's Gospel and Shuffle beats are undeniable. I wrote the tune in D flat (5 flats)..the tonality of the bass lines I played on my MZ2000 CASIO monster bass keyboard will shake the china in your neighbor's kitchen! Smokin' track...dig the accordion I layed down and soulful saxophone playing from Alex. This one will make you snap your fingers until they're too sore to snap no more! "Thing In C Minor" (#5) is a serious 3-way jam featuring Ronnie with an East Bay Funk groove and solo in the middle. We jam so hard at the end that when we hit the final slam together, I think you'll agree when I say that this track has one of the greatest endings ever recorded! (the other greatest ending is on Czechoslovakian Salsa Song..track #9!) "Cosmo Lane" (#6) was a song I wrote while looking out of the window at my San Francisco apartment. There is a little street called Cosmo Lane where the pigeons shit and the crackheads smoke and whatever else they do. I often would face my keyboard out the window and play while looking at this little street. Soon after I wrote the song a friend of ours in Germany named his new son "Cosmo". I thought...oh that is pretty cosmic, because how many Cosmo's do you know?! Only one I can think of was on the old TV show "Topper". And now the hotel around the corner has changed it's name to "Cosmo Hotel"...and last week when I played for first time in Osaka Japan, there Jennifer and I were in a fine hotel on Cosmo Place! So here it is for you..."Cosmo Lane". The guys think this would be another good one for TV show theme. Pocket Funk, Memorial Day, Downtown San Francisco, SFO, Frankfurt, musikmesse, Funky Jazz, Blues, Hammond Organ, Local 802, Musicians Union