Hoppin at the Kitano!

The Kitano Hotel - New York, NY, Marc 2nd, 2012

Gil Parris and Thierry Arpino

Jazz at the Kitano is a warm restaurant and bar nestled on the second floor of the Kitano Hotel.  Views of Grand Central Terminal compliment a glowing Chrysler Building with sprinkles of racing headlights up and down Park Avenue.  The scene transitions from blaring car horns to a sultry saxophone solo, from loose change falling on the cold wet side walk to the taps of a high hat, from the rat race to foot bouncing tempos by each of the professional Jazz musician who stop in.  The Kitano is the most intimate hot spot to experience Jazz just inches away from some of the highest acclaimed Jazz musicians today.  Jazz at the Kitano is hosted by artist manager, Gino Moratti, welcoming visitors from around the world to have a truly rare music experience very up close and very personal.

Bernie Williams

This weekend Jazz at the Kitano welcomes Grammy Nominated Guitarist Gil Parris and New York Yankee Great Bernie Williams.  The two music all-stars friends are backed by world renown and award winning musicians Thierry Arpino on drums and Harvie S on stand up bass and electric bass.  This star studded mash up gears up tonight to color the night with awe inspiring sound that will be heard by the very few select who attend.  The music includes original music by both Gil Parris and Bernie Williams including a smooth rendition from the Fraiser TV theme song and a playfully sarcastic cover of “Ev’rybody Wants to Be a Cat” ("Aristocats" - 1970 Walt Disney Production).  Bernie Williams and Gil Parris showcase their connection through unique guitar conversations with each song.  The spirited friendship between these two music artists is evident in their playful and sometimes comical stage antics.  Bernie Williams stumps Gil Parris with a minor solo in which Gil replies back with the "Charge" baseball riff opening the room up in laughter.  

Drummer - Thierry Arpino

“You never know what to expect when BW and I (Bernie and Gil) get together with an equally talented back line (Harvie S and Thierry).  We play every week at our jam in White Plains with amazing musicians and we meet more and more as each week.  Tonight and tomorrow night are rare.  Nights like tonight do not happen often when everybody is touring, in a recording session, or are tied up with other events.” Parris said during a sit down.  This coming from Gil's Parris's recent tours Bobby Caldwell.  “This year has been eclectic in my music career including the drop of a new album I recorded and co-wrote with a ferocious drummer/singer, Josh Dion and now I have two nights with my closest friends here Jazz at The Kitano, I'm having fun.”  Gil Parris is headlining at BB King's on March 22nd, but tonight is all about two friends sprightly teasing each other with each other's music.

Bernie and Gil Share A Laugh

If the sound check is a testimony what to expect from tonight you will participate in a savoir-faire of living breathing music provided by two men whose separate paths crossed one faithful night after a New York Yankee loss and a small White Plains music jam win.  “The transition from baseball to music wasn't a shocker, especially to my former teammates who I played for on bus rides between stadiums.  The Lazy Lounge Jam gave me a great relief from the pressures of playing major league baseball and no one treated me like a super star.  I was just another guy with a guitar playing the same notes as they were.  I miss baseball and my time as a Yankee, but I’m able to concentrate now on what I was dreaming about as a young boy in Puerto Rico.  I’m jamming and touring as a guitarist and my friends are here to back me as I continue to evolve my guitar skills and as I expand my knowledge about writing music.”  Williams explained in his hotel room.  “People know me as a New York Yankee first and that’s ok with me.  I have been blessed and fortunate with two highly successful careers that came to surface for me and they both brought me to this very night along with one of my closest friends on guitar.  How could I not admire Gil's fluid ability to play guitar?  After all he has his own Reverend signature guitar.

Bassist - Harvie S

Jazz at the Kitano has as much flavor coming from the music it highlights as it does coming from the menu it serves, but the house special tonight will be Gil Parris and Bernie Williams sharing the cozy corner under the spot lights, backlit by cityscape views, refreshed by fine wine and dining.  Gil and Bernie’s friendship and success is a living testimony just how two of the most unlikely pair can find each other at their highest peaks of success in their individual careers and yet arise even higher as a team.  No matter how big the stage or how large the audience, when the lights go up and the music starts up you are ushered to sit in on a music set where Williams and Parris connect, share, and passionately play aloud for the pure love and enjoyment of playing.  You can take part every Wednesday night with Gil Parris and Bernie Williams at the Lazy Lounge Jam in White Plains, but for tonight and tomorrow night the place to be for true Jazz enthusiasts is at Gino Moratti’s "Jazz at the Kitano."

The Father, The Son, and The Holy Sh*t, It’s Judas Priest!

The parishioners gathered outside in their biker bests and long raggedy hair ready to raise hell in the eyes of Judas Priest. The star studded event went beyond the pierced jugulars, faded tattoos, and ritual beer chugging baptism of one Judas Priest first timer. Everywhere you glanced another head banger was parading through the cigarette butt lined walkway with a holier than thou commandment boldly printed across the chest such as, "I (heart) Big Fake T**ts" and "Find a face and sit on it." The not-so-virgins lured these men like the Silicon Sirens trying to lure Ulysses on his ten year journey home form the Trojan War. The only sign of the trojan war here were a few wrinkled packets stuffed iin the baskets as free giveaways. The Godfathers of metal chose this night at the Seminole Hard Rock to be the setting of their most historic recording to date. For the 30th anniversary celebration of their 1980 release, "British Steel," Judas Priest chose to honor the anniversary by capturing this one performance on video to be released on DVD in the near future.

The celebrities came out from the metal yard including Lita Ford, Nicko McBrian (Iron Maiden - Drummer), and Jim Florentine (Comedian) who co-introduced the metal salute to Judas Priest along side of Eddie Trunk (SIRIUS Radio/VH1 Host). After an "Eddie is Sexy" chant from the arena and followed by a metal breaking sound check, the lights blacked out and the pandemonium ripped through the crowd as the cameras began to roll. Seconds later the massive canvas draped in front of the stage came crashing down and the clergy of carnage appeared amongst the chaos of lights, rock horn salutes and camera strobes. The uproar of the fans, the turbulence of the sound, and the bedlam of the entrance made Judas Priest abundantly clear. Any disbelievers who think a band this vintage should hang up their jackets and perish, croak or give up the ghost need to succumb to their own conviction.

The Priest brought out all the guns for this show. Rob Halford has stood the test of time with his quasi-operatic vocal style and high-pitched screams rumored to hit an ear piercing G#6. He is living proof that a man can remain a Metal God among his fans no matter what his preferences are sexually, faithfully, or otherwise. As a songwriter, a performer, and now the label owner of Metal God Records, Rob encompasses the true definition of "living the dream," but it's with the Priest-hood he shares the stage with that Rob exemplifies as a leader manifested by his band. Glenn Tipton and K.K. Downing ravaged their fans with guitar thrashing riffs while Ian Hill underlined the motion with his bass and Scott Travis detonating the drums. The explosive performance gathered tremendous acknowledgment and astonishment from the fans, the music professionals, and especially this photojournalist on what will forever be a monumental evening for Judas Priest.

The tour is winding down and if you have any chance to get to either of the remaining four shows then do it. Reading this review, watching an internet clip, or waiting for the DVD to be released is in no way shape or form comparable to the feeling you could receive from over 1 million watts of pure metal energy condensed into infuriated sound, bursting through the blinding light show, and exhaling voice that is Judas Priest. The closest experience I can even imagine will take place ions from now when the universe collapses on itself and history is reborn. It is just what happened last night at the Hard Rock Live. Judas Priest "British Steel" was reborn and it was fantastic. Thank you Metal God for this honor. Your worshipers are rejoicing this morning to your sons, Judas Priest.

It's A Hard Rock Life For John Legend

The Hard Rock Seminole Hotel & Casino was the hotspot for big card hands last night as the dealer sent this journalist home with more riches than he imagined working in with only twenty dollars for parking, a maxed out credit card, and debit card recently replenished by unemployment. I walked into the Hard Rock Live! arena to the bittersweet songs of Michael Jackson flowing throughout the energized venue. The tickets sold out and the awaiting crowd inside paid homage to Michael Jackson in dance. The venue playlist spanned Jackson's career from his earliest days with the Jackson Five through to his last recordings on "Invincible." One surprise track of Jackson's that played over the crowd was "Another Part of Me" which premiered in the late 1980's Walt Disney 3-D action adventure movie "Captain EO" at Disney's EPCOT Center exhibit "Journey Into Imagination." The music interrupted by the cheers from the crowd as one woman became possessed by the King of Pop and danced furiously without missing a beat in front of the sold out arena. The classy venue served up a fine spirit for the guests to sip. The audio popped off, the crowd bubbled, and a new face walked alone to front and center stage with her acoustic guitar strapped to her glass figure body.

Porsche Smith is a new singer/songwriter hitting the circuit now increasing her fan base seven fold as the recently proclaimed grand prize winner of John Legend's "Be Legendary Radio One" Competition. Porsche is one music visionary whose self written music and performance is purely from the heart. Her one song set was a flush of hearts to astonished crowd seemingly ready to Simon Cowell the new singer off the stage. This natural and undiscovered artist received a well deserved applause from the audience reassuring an awaiting John Legend that his contest winner was the best choice and a person who will carry his name and reputation well and proudly. Her poise and bravery to step so calmly onto the Hard Rock Live! stage and opening for John Legend is one huge pill to swallow. I can only imagine she is resting well this morning knowing that she climbed and conquered her own Mount Everest and the most spectacular view ever. I will be definitely be paying close attention to Porshe Smith as she continues to adventure forward in, what I hope will be, a long and enriched career as a music artist. As fast as Porsche entered onto the stage she exited but she excited accomplished and one step closer to her goal to play and share good music from the heart for those who are open to listen.

The stage cleared and the crowd hustled to their feet when the lights went down signaling the arrival of my favorite spice, India.Arie. Rob Lewis (Musical director, Music arranger, Record producer, Music composer, Keyboardist) listed off a resume fit for a queen with his booming voice and the crescendo of his keys. The anticipation of India.Arie's appearance on stage ended when the spot light popped highlighting a very colorful India.Arie wearing a flowing gown with a top that accented her curvaceous body and warm inviting smile. The connection between artist and fan was instant and India.Arie walked forward, mic in hand, with the greatest of ease. Her voice filled my ears with such delight and her presence on stage warmed me deep within. My yearning of wanting to see India.Arie live on stage started when I first exposed in 2001 to her first music video titled "Video." Since that time India.Arie has proven herself to the music industry as a force to be reckoned with and really earned mediocre recognition that I truly believe she well deserves. It just proves to me that the state of the music industry in 2001 and currently still doesn't understand the definition of good music. India.Arie is nothing less than masterful and pure.

India.Arie accepted the invitation to join the John Legend tour this summer and since then has added such depth and beauty to every show. Her forty minute set could have extended longer. Her fans were very vocal with thunderous appreciation after each song including "The Heart Of the Matter" where India.Arie metamorphosed from singer to elegant pixie. She walked up center aisle through the adoring crowd wearing a brilliant colored dress and a pair of waving wings that tinted delicate shades of color onto her bare bronze skin. The lightning of flashes strobed and captured the singer in a flip-book like motion with her hands reaching out and making contact with fans who stretched out as she walked by. My experience at this show was well worth the wait to encounter her live performance. It was less then one month ago that India.Arie fell ill, but she was in full health for this show and she laid down a full house at the Hard Rock Seminole Hotel & Casino.

John Legend. Need I say more? John Legend was the sure bet as the ace in the hole for the evening and how could he not be? Center arena became center stage when John Legend was illuminated in before the dazzled crowd. He opened his set with the most soulful and alluring rendition of Bob Marley's "Redemption Song" adding new meaning to Bob Marley's album "Legend." John was accompanied by an army of security who more or less reminded me of the defensive line of the 2009 Pittsburgh Steelers. The fans reached out as far as they could hoping to feel so much as a breeze when Legend passed by. He reached back connecting with every hand that broke through the security wall and making his way slowly to the stage. The fans elevated the temperature to sweltering and I was taken back by the enormity of John Legend's voice bellowing out into the galvanized arena. It's a whole new respect and admiration for John Legend, who has come miles from his days in his University of Pennsylvania co-ed a cappella group, "Counterparts." His success, since his discovery by the cousin of Kanye West, has inspired a nation to take note that good music isn't a thing of the past, but is here now and it's coming to a city near you very soon. John Legend is touring in support of his latest release "Evolver" which is his third release and has once again grasped his fans in frenzy of sold out venues. Commandeering such a feat is becoming more difficult during a time of economic uncertainties, but John Legend has created a tour line up perfect for the fans feeling the financial squeeze and providing his fans with the perfect medicine. A night of feel good music during a not so feel good time. John Legend closed the night out at Hard Rock Seminole Casino & Hotel with a royal flush on the stage.

The John Legend tour is not to be missed as it continues touring around the U.S. throughout the North East and making it's way West before heading to Ontario, Canada.