I always love getting back out here, and now that the CD is available I can really get down to business! Looking forward to a performance tomorrow in Diamond Bar, CA with a 7-piece version of Pat Longo's Hollywood Big Band... then mid next week a rehearsal with full-force 16 piece (LOVE that). The rest of the week is promotion duties and meetings. Hope to have some video from the show and the rehearsal. Now that the weekday rehearsal is held at the nearby college instead of the Musicians Local rehearsal halls... we can video and record till our hearts content! (they don't allow recording at the Union hall).
And will also take in some touristy things here and there... maybe attend a talk show taping like "The Bonnie Hunt Show". Love her. Maybe I'll slingshot her a copy of my CD from the studio audience...
I am posting this from Hollywood, CA... but am very excited to finally announce the release of my "Alive & Swinging!" CD on Carbel Records! Many months of ups and downs went into this, but the result is great 15 swinging tunes. My hat is off to my friend and engineer Damien Montalto for working his magic way down under in Melbourne, Australia. Yes... a worldwide production! Pretty cool!
Well after a couple of months of delays (I seem to utter these words a lot) my radio show "Swinging Songbook" has finally seen daylight! This fun one-hour weekly program has yours truly in the DJ chair spinning my favorite upbeat standard hits by the classic artists, as well as us new swingers keepin' the sound alive.
The show premiers Friday October 16 at 1pm eastern time and enjoys an encore presentation the following Tuesday at 6pm. Catch it on www.thepenthouse.fm - a podcast will also be available in case you miss it altogether!
And this just in... Music Of Your Life Radio Network will ALSO be carrying the show very soon!!!
I certainly enjoyed entertaining the many folks that attended the New Chinatown 71st Anniversary Celebration this past Saturday! Myself, along w/ Pat Longo and His Hollywood Big Band and female vocalist and new friend Nancy Osborne... entertained for nearly 3 hours to an enthusiastic large crowd. Lots of great dancing and celebrating! I had the opportunity of unveiling a few tunes which I just began performing... was nice to send them out to such a great audience. A much overlooked Sinatra hit "Mr. Success" will certainly become one of my signature songs... terrific song! I also have embraced "Nothing But The Best", "Just In Time" and "Sunday In New York" just to name a few.
I also had the priviledge of working with actors April Hong (daughter of actor James Hong) and Ewen Chung. Ewen has popped up QUITE often on television including a guest role on "Bones". Super fine guy. I hope we can get together again while I am here and hang out a bit.
I had a very enjoyable time yesterday (Wednesday) doing an interview with WSAZ reporter Dave Benton. We performed the interview at a handful of locations in Huntington... when it was over he INDEED had a camera and a headful of material to utilize! We had some good laughs too. With some additional video footage I gave him, I am certain it'll be interesting when it airs Monday February 16th at 5pm on "First At Five". I will have it available here on the site for certain!
