If you remember earlier in the fall we were approached by a Danish speaker company called Dali. Their slogan is “nothing added. nothing subtracted.” It’s a cool idea. They say that besides being excellent technical builders of speakers they are equally just passionate about great live music. The speakers should reflect the natural sound that the musicians produce.
They captured a great photo of us and are running a little feature on us on their web site along with some other street musicians.
Tin Pan in central park as captured by the photographers from Dali - click for full size image!
One very important note about the photo: The day they took the photo Steve Lewis was subbing for Clifton Hyde on guitar. The Dali web site lists Clifton’s bio information but shows a photo of Steve. Rats. I’m gonna see if they can make a note of that on their web site as well.
They say that they will be checking in with us over the next few years to track our progress as a band. Let’s see how the relationship develops!
I used to live up in Ithaca where there were many more crunchy hippies than any New Yorker could cast a superior glance at. I remember once being out in the woods around Ithaca at a friend’s house for a party. I’m thinking this was in Spencer, New York. There was a fascinating calendar on the wall in that it listed five distinct seasons! The fifth season lasted from the winter solstice until New Year’s day. I just spent about a half hour surfing this internet of ours to try to find more information about this. Was it the Druids? This Wiccans? The Ancient Greeks?
I still remember this because it seems to match my experience of how time works. This feels particularly true to me this year. All the musicians that I normally play with are leaving to be with their families. There is really no work to speak of and I find myself not wanting to leave the house at all! The fifth season, the inner season, is when one reflects on the year that has passed and begins to fathom what could possibly lay ahead. A season outside of time where one can reflect on our timelines and what transpires.
I feel as though I am still in the reflective mode about 2008 and I wanted to share my year in review with you. Overall I couldn’t be happier. Last night Clifton, Stefan, Rob and I finished a private party here in the neighborhood. It was one of our better gigs – the sweet fruits of an active year. The whole room was dancing, and smiling and each song had so much communication and telepathy, groove, passion, drive and appeal. Afterwards, we all repaired to my apartment to drink the holiday wine, listen to music and celebrate a great year together. Soon it will be time to plan again, but right now is the hour to collect and relish our achievements, gather from our regrets, and share in the warmth of our successes together.
From the most holistic and big-picture perspective I can take, I can report that the source of my happiness comes from living in alignment with a simple philosophy; do what you love. I feel that if you can do what you love and by some miracle of the universe you can make a living at such endeavors than you have won the biggest game that there is to play. For the realization of this truth I am moved to joy, tears, gratitude, levitation, superlatives, giggles, drinking wine, and making more and more music!
Tin Pan the band has exceeded almost every goal we have set for ourselves. If you are interested in the details of this than please read on. Early this year I made a very focussed and detailed business-plan type document just to wrap my brain around my dreams. I have learned that merely the act of creating well formulated goals is a huge step in moving towards what is possible.
WARNING: The following is very detailed and expresses a very left-brained focus that I sometimes surprise myself with. Ultimately I find that it is fun to measure success!!
Let’s start with the bottom line. Compared to the income I wanted the band to earn we overshot our goal by 15%. The average amount that we earned each time we played out in the street would up being a full 20% higher than we had intended. It was even higher than I imagined we would be three years from now! In terms of number of engagements we were slightly less busy than I had figured but because the street income was so much better it did not effect our bottom line.
PRESS: We had hoped for two mentions in major press and we just blew that away: our association with MUNY has been huge in this regard. The New York Times, The New York Post, The Daily News, and New York Newsday all ran photos and content about our successful auditions. We also appeared with a performance clip and an interview on NY1.
CD SALES: were through the roof more than I expected. We sold more than 5500 CD’s this year which puts us in a very select percentile of groups that actually ever need to reorder a CD from a manufacturer no less three times in a six month period! One of my manufactures says that we have ordered more CD’s from him than any other band that he has worked with.
FESTIVAL PERFORMANCES: We hadn’t thought that we would be able to any this year but we did manage to perform in two local festivals: The MUNY Jazz Festival and the HOWL Festival
PRIVATE PARTIES: The one area where we fell a little short was private parties. We had hoped to do a few more. We were 5% shy of the goal I had set but our hourly rate was 13% higher than I expected so it all worked out.
RECORDING: We had hoped to release one CD this year but we actually wound up releasing two. Hound’s Tooth just made it under the wire. Hopefully this will prove to be a seasonally smart thing to do: that is, work up a repertoire over many, many performances in the street and when we truly have a unique way to perform the music we can record it at the end of the fall.
OVERALL: We had 186 different paid engagements in 2008 and really gelled together as a band with a unique, raw sound and a seasoned delivery. (Individually I wound up performing professionally on 370 different occasions thanks to many and various side projects! There were many days in which we all played a show in the park with Tin Pan and then went to a different gig at night! What a year! Wow!!)
THE UNQUANTIFIABLE: Over the time we have also had many soul searching discussions about our individual roles and the role our music has in the culture at large. I’d say that, in general, we are much more interested in “just doing what we do” but there are moments of deep thinking and reflection where we make sure that we’re all in this for reasons that are meaningful and important to us.
Stefan and I have really been able to produce some amazing sectional sounds. We know each other’s bags, tastes, and skill sets so well that we can finish each other’s musical thoughts. For example: we were at Moto last week playing “Putting on the Ritz” Every second we are making choices wether to play the song the way we always play it or take divergences into only imagined territory with varying degree of risk and continuity. Moment after moment passed and we decided the same way on an amazing list of referenda! If there were a running commentary it would sound like this: “Let’s play that note really rough and the next part of the phrase very soft. This next two bars we’ll play in quarter note triplets even though we’ve never done that before. When we get to the second half of the bridge, flip the second part of it so that the line keeps ascending instead of falling back down.” Of course, we are making these decisions spontaneously and in tandem. I have my eyes closed a lot of the time. It just seems that we are that close in taste, humor, and weirdness to come to the same conclusions in the same way. When we got to the last part of the bridge like I described above – we almost couldn’t finish because we had started to laugh and our smiles were effecting our embouchure. It’s a very joyful thing to feel that connected! This is also happening between Clifton and Rob in their own rhythm section way, perhaps even more intimately as they need to connect on every single beat and accent. This is the intangible result of that many performances together – that kind of bond. THIS IS A HUGE ACCOMPLISHMENT!
MUSICAL IMPROVEMENT: Another great achievement is the musical growth that has occurred in the space of just one season! Perhaps Clifton and Rob are already more established in what they do so it less noticeable. For Stefan and I, it is very noticeable. We basically learned new instruments this year. Stefan learned how to play the clarinet – before this year he was just a dabbler with a primary focus on the saxophone. For me, I learned how to sing. I have been playing the trumpet since I was a boy and professionally and consistently for at least a decade but the singing thing happened just this year. The improvement between “Alice” and “Hound’s Tooth” from both of us is astonishing.
From the most holistic and big-picture perspective I can take, I can report that the source of my happiness comes from living in alignment with a simple philosophy; do what you love. I feel that if you can do what you love and by some miracle of the universe you can make a living at such endeavors than you have won the biggest game that there is to play. For the realization of this truth I am moved to joy, tears, gratitude, levitation, superlatives, giggles, drinking wine, and making more and more music!
Last night we had the pleasure of playing at The Guggenheim Museum Main Rotunda for the staff’s holiday party. It was a great experience on many levels. The environment (obviously) the folks we met, and even the sound equipment rental company all worked together to make a memorable evening.
I arrived at the appointed time and incomparably sweet Meara McGinnis was waiting outside for me to help usher me through security. In all my dealings with what seems like an enormous institution such is the Gugg, Meara has seemed like an understated master of the bureaucracy in which she operates. What a joy. She brought me through the staff entrance into the main loading area for the museum. This reminded me of when I visited the Met Opera on a school trip as a kid. The behind-the-scenes areas are vast and completely disorienting. Last night, this scene was abuzz with caterers, security, bar-staff and staff/guests showing up for the party. It wasn’t until we popped out into the main rotunda area that I had any clue where we were. The beauty that Frank Lloyd Wright has conceived was even more heightened by the fact that so much back-stage is so cleverly concealed by the architecture itself. It is so close and so hidden.
Our stage was set up tastefully with a black backdrop and some white painted branches. The demure, petite and wonderful Laura had single-handedly taken all the audio gear and brought it to the stage. Thanks, Laura! This left me a relaxed bit of time to figure out how the heck I was going to make this cavernous space sound good.
I want to take a minute here to thank the folks over at 5ohm who rented us the equipment. Everything was delivered on time, well organized, easy to put together, and very well thought out. They included extra of everything I might need and had even included some brand new gear on the job. What a treat! You can imagine how wondertful it may be when you get to a gig and all rental gear works or has been perfectly maintained. The cables were rolled great, none of them were sticky (this is gross and it happens too often) and there was plenty of everything!! Thanks Graham! Thanks Brian! I’m gushing about this because it really does make a difference.
In a nutshell, I had a great 45 minutes setting up the rig and running cables and getting the room sounding as good as it could. In short order the band showed up and we did our sound checks, got some drinks from the lovely bar staff and were feeling good and relaxed.
What can one say about the music itself except that it was fun. There were over 300 people filling the space and of course its their holiday party so they are there to chat and drink and socialize. We are there to be an ambiance enhancer but we are aware that we are not the main attraction. That much being said by the time of our second set – by the time the salubrious effects of the flowing bar had adequately lubricated the assembled masses, we did get some dancing and some cheering and some singing along.
Our view from the stage
Everyone we talked to at this party was so supportive and wonderful. Part of the deal we made with the museum was that we would receive some free passes! So happy we did. I have loved going to this fabulous space over the years and it feels good to participate, if even in a small way, with the wonderful activities and art presentation that goes on here. Glad to be included and brought in as something more than a mere spectator! Please check out their website. If you live in New York and haven’t been to the Guggenheim in a while or ever (!!) do yourself a favor and go. It’s just beautiful there.
Oh yes! So glad this party is happening. Tin Pan as the house band, of course…
an underground speakeasy cabaret surfaces for New Year’s Eve . . .
you are most cordially invited to the last installment of “shanghai mermaid in exile” of 2008.
please join me for a scandalous evening of entertainment and debauchery from another era . . . 1930’s shanghai, 1920’s paris, weimar berlin, early gangster and jazz age new york . . .
$35 advance tickets. $40 at the door. doors open at 8pm. performances start shortly thereafter and will be scattered throughout the evening until the wee hours. the party is 21+ only. seating at tables is limited. costume is strongly encouraged. dust off your fedoras, your feather boas, your sequin gowns, flapper dresses, oriental attire . . . i can’t wait to see you all.
for the location of the new year’s bash, and to buy tickets in advance, please go to shanghaimermaid.com. advance tickets are encouraged as space is limited. whether you come early, or very late, there will be performances and glamour for you to enjoy.
xo, juliette
This just in – if you are of the digital persuasion and don’t care for a jewel case you can now purchase our new album from digstation. The album went live today so it is now available! The whole album costs just $9.99 this way and unlike iTunes, digstation (somehow) doesn’t take any off the top!
For a hard copy or for it to be on iTunes we’ll have to wait a little longer. I’ll let you know.
UPS are my friends. I just got 10 boxes of 100 copies each of our newest CD, “Hound’s Tooth”!!! It looks great. Sounds terrific. I love it! So happy!
In a few days it will be available on CDbaby and then a few weeks later for download from iTunes and other digital outlets. For now, I’m content to celebrate by uploading the lead off track for you all to listen to. “If The Sea Was Whiskey” by Willie Dixon. Big-ups to my man Petway for turning me on to this tune earlier this year.
Well, what can I say. I knew that there was no guarantee we’d be on but the fact that they filmed us for 45 minutes made me feel like they would certainly use something. Oh well. A reminder to only talk about things if they are 100% confirmed. Sorry if I got you excited and then let down. That’s how I feel too.
Stefan, Rob and Jared and that Long Island Sound
Yesterday we took to the trains again playing at Penn Station over in Long Island Railroad land. Stefan, Rob, and I were joined by Jared Engle from Baby Soda on the banjo. He did a really good job. We actually had a good time and did pretty well with the crowds there. I gave the boys a wierd kind of “pep talk” before we started that actually got our heads on straight for the gig. “OK, let’s not try to hard. Take it easy. No need to push.” People come and go based on when their train is posted so the idea of building a flow or a set or even maintaining people’s attention for a whole tune is out of play. Best for us, psychologically, to just do our thing in an easy relaxed manner. It totally worked to our advantage and we won the day.
Moto tonight… Come on by – I found this post about their date cake.
As some of you know Rob Adkins and I went to Boston this weekend to play a swing dance event with Gordon Webster. This was the second time that the two of us have joined Gordon for an out-of-town run. Safe to say we had a blast and here’s my side of the story.
The trip part of the trip was a little grueling but just for the rushing and shlepping and waiting for the overcrowded 6 train here in New York and the overcrowded and super slow green T-line in Boston. 3 hours to go a total of 10 miles on the subway and 4 hours to go over 200 on the bus. The bus itself was a lot of fun on the way up and what made the bus a fun ride was the company. We wound up planning a little posse to take the bus together. Gathered were dancer and blogger, Eve Polich, who we saw at Moto the previous night. She brought along Cara Wolinski who is always seems to be smiley good company. Michelle Long was in town to visit with dancer Steven Mitchell and she decided to join us as well. Michelle helps run many of the dance events up in Rochester and she is a wonderfully high energy person who loves to talk about music and dance. FYI: Tin Pan will be performing at Stompology in Rochester in April, 2009.
Eventually we got to the gig after 7 hours door to door (oy!) and did a quick run through of some songs with Naomi Uyama, who was going to be singing with us at the event. Everything felt rushed to me and the sound in that room was so so boooommy without anyone in there. I hadn’t eaten. I was being asked to play music I wasn’t super familiar with. And perform it with musicians with whom I don’t normally play (Rob excluded, of course). Long story short: cranky Jesse. I eventually found some Chinese food and calmed my nerves and felt up to the challenge. I got into my suit and suddenly felt 100% prepared and confident. (more…)
I just got back to town from Boston on the China Town bus. How come it costs me $22 to take a cab to LaGuardia but it only costs $15 to get to Boston? Anyway, I plan to write about our trip but maybe tomorrow.
For right now: Here is a video that Bill Phelps over at Moto took on his little camera last Friday. The audio isn’t great but you definitely get a sense for what it’s like at Moto . . . warm, cozy, old-time. It always feels like such a special place to me: like a slice of some romanticized Old New York.
The song is “Blue Nature” off our Alice McNulty album:
One more thing: Now that I’ve set that goal to have thirty new songs for the band come February, I’m writing a lot more. I was sleeping at Rob’s parent’s house near Boston and I actually dreamed another tune. It was the last dream I had as I was waking up and the music was real clear to me. I wrote it down right away and finished it up on the bus ride home. I love that!
I had the pleasure of performing with Stephane Wrembel at the Empire Hotel last night. Stephane plays gypsy jazz guitar in the style of Django Reinhardt. As slow as Tin Pan can play a blues is how fast Stephane plays almost every dang song! Wow. It’s is an exhilarating experience to play with him in that every song is a kind of challenge. He is an amazing virtuoso of the instrument and his ideas seem almost endless. To play with him is just to commit to pouring out a string of ideas at a break neck pace. Towards the end of the gig I was beginning to feel like I could just relax and the stuff pour out of me. Afterwards I felt like I’d been talking for 16 hours straight with nothing left to say!
Both Stephan and Pascal, the bassist – also very gifted and being articulate at 90,000 mph – are native French speakers. By the end of the night my French brain had caught up to speed and I felt that I could converse without needing to translate in my mind between english and French.
The club itself is very elegant. It’s on the 12th floor of a building right across from Lincoln Center over on 63rd Street. We were inside but there is a very nice patio set up and when the Spring time rolls around again there is going to be some fun to be had in the evenings up there. It’s a stunning space. Here’s the view from the patio…
I used to live up in Ithaca where there were many more crunchy hippies than any New Yorker could cast a superior glance at. I remember once being out in the woods around Ithaca at a friend’s house for a party. I’m thinking this was in Spencer, New York. There was a fascinating calendar on the wall in that it listed five distinct seasons! The fifth season lasted from the winter solstice until New Year’s day. I just spent about a half hour surfing this internet of ours to try to find more information about this. Was it the Druids? This Wiccans? The Ancient Greeks? 
Last night we had the pleasure of playing at The Guggenheim Museum Main Rotunda for the staff’s holiday party. It was a great experience on many levels. The environment (obviously) the folks we met, and even the sound equipment rental company all worked together to make a memorable evening.
Our stage was set up tastefully with a black backdrop and some white painted branches. The demure, petite and wonderful Laura had single-handedly taken all the audio gear and brought it to the stage. Thanks, Laura! This left me a relaxed bit of time to figure out how the heck I was going to make this cavernous space sound good.
