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Live Music St. Louis

The Community for Live Music in St. Louis

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Podcast

Podcast

Episode 19 — Adam Jaschek, Whitaker Music Festival

Kim Massie performing to a huge crowd at the Whitaker Music Festival

Meet the man who programs St. Louis’ Most Popular Weekly Free Summer Concert

Adam Jaschek Whitaker Music Festival Missouri Botanical Garden imageThe world-renowned Missouri Botanical Garden hosts a summer concert series that boasts an average attendance of 56 thousand people for each 10-concert season, averaging over 5,600 per show.

The Whitaker Music Festival, a St. Louis summer entertainment favorite, features an eclectic selection of musical entertainment that is curated and managed by Adam Jaschek, the Garden’s Senior Events Coordinator. In addition to the Whitaker Music Festival, Adam manages special events including Chinese Culture Days, Japanese Festival, Best of Missouri Market® and More.

I interviewed Adam to get insight on how the bands are selected for the Whitaker Music Festival, why the series is so popular, and why the Botanical Garden features such events.

Visit FreeConcertSTL.com for the 2016 Whitaker Music Festival schedule.

Related Links:

  • Whitaker Music Festival on MoBot.org
  • Missouri Botanical Garden on Facebook
  • Missouri Botanical Garden on Twitter

Subscribe on iTunes and Stitcher.

Tagged:amphitheaterfree concertmissouri botanical gardenmobotmusicoutdoorst. louissummerwhitaker music festival

Posted by Romondo Davis on May 31, 2016

Tagged:amphitheaterfree concertmissouri botanical gardenmobotmusicoutdoorst. louissummerwhitaker music festival

Podcast

Episode 18 — Todd Mosby

Blends jazz, classical, and traditional Indian music

Todd Mosby playing the Umrat Guitar imageSt. Louis based Todd Mosby is a phenomenal acoustic musician who makes music magic, weaving jazz, classical and Indian genres.

He is the ONLY guitarist in the world, outside of the royal family in India, who has mastered the 20-stringed Imrat Sitar, an instrument he invented.

His newly-released album On Eagle Mountain will be featured at a concert on April 30th, 2016 at the Focal Point in Maplewood, Missouri.

For more information on his April 30th concert, click here.

Direct link for tickets for this show.

Todd Mosby on the Internet:

  • Website
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Vimeo

Subscribe on iTunes and Stitcher.

Tagged:classicaljazzst. louisstltraditional Northern Indianumrat guitar

Posted by Romondo Davis on April 26, 2016

Tagged:classicaljazzst. louisstltraditional Northern Indianumrat guitar

Podcast

Episode 17 — Darren George of Mirage Entertainment

Getting the Most Out of Your Wedding Band

Mirage Entertainment imageDarren George, Mirage manager and drummer, suggested we do an interview about the wedding band business, and how their clients can select and work with a band. We covered business and operational aspects of shopping and working with these bands to help assure the music for the event will be perfect.

Consider not only music that appeals to the bridal couple, but more importantly to the guests. A wedding reception will likely have guests ranging from teenagers to those 65 and older. Considering age diversity, a band that plays a wide variety of music will more likely keep the guests entertained and on the dance floor throughout the evening.

When you’ve decided on which band to hire, do it quickly. Many bands book 12 to 18 months out, so waiting may cost you to settle for your second or third choice.

Ask the bands you are considering if you can stop by a reception or event to listen and see the band live. While some engaged couples feel awkward stopping by a reception, it’s not uncommon; simply ask the band to coordinate the audition by asking the bride and groom for permission.

Include as many details as you’d like in the contract with the band. For example, are there clauses in the contract that cover:

  • Is there a charge for the band learning a few special songs for the evening?
  • How many breaks will the band take?
  • What type of refund policy does the band have for cancellation or moving the date of the reception?
  • What type of payment terms does the band offer including deposit, when is the balance due, checks accepted, et al?
  • Cost of overtime?
  • How does the band handle if a band member is unavailable the night of the reception?

Be certain to hire a band that is experienced in playing receptions. While hiring a “club band” may be appealing, there are many nuances to a reception that require previous experience. These include:

  • acting as the emcee (announcing the wedding party in, announcing the first dance)
  • assistance in planning the overall reception
  • familiarity with different venues and their acoustics
  • logistics of loading in and out

Mirage Entertainment at Faust Park image

Mirage Entertainment on the Internet:

  • Website
  • Facebook
  • The Knot
  • Wedding Wire

Subscribe on iTunes and Stitcher.

Posted by Romondo Davis on March 21, 2016
Podcast

Episode 16 — Tyler Stokes of Delta Sol Revival

Meet the 23-year-old blues phenom from St. Charles

Tyler Stokes and Delta Sol Revival image

The terms singer, songwriter, musician, and bandleader all describe Tyler Stokes, but I walked away from this interview thinking of him as an extremely wise and intelligent young man with amazing insight and vision. In Tyler I found a breed of musicians that defines a new generation, influenced at a young age by the best rock and blues artists the age of their parents, grandparents and older.

My friend Scott Laytham (The Scott Laytham and Karl Holmes Duo) recently suggested that I interview Tyler on my podcast. Not long after that I received a call from Tyler asking if I’d like to have him on my show. I accepted without hesitation, and I’m so glad I did. Tyler and I had a great time digging deep into his background, influences, and career, as well as a fascinating discussion of music therapy, especially as it’s applied in hospice care.

Hear Tyler talk about being discovered and encouraged at a very young age by two blues greats, Devon Allman and Marquis Knox. He also lists musicians he’s been privileged to be associated with: Dave Black, Tom Byrne, Yonrico Scott, Keith Robinson, Valerie Jo Kirchhoff, Dan Connor, and others.

Special thanks to Myles Kelly for letting us record at his studio, The Live Room.

Delta Sol Revival on the Internet:

  • Website
  • EP for sale on KingPeanut.net
  • Facebook
  • Tyler on Twitter
  • Delta Sol Revival Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Youtube

Subscribe on iTunes and Stitcher.

Posted by Romondo Davis on February 29, 2016
Podcast

Episode 15 — Peter Martin Jazz Pianist

St. Louis Based Pianist, Composer, Arranger, Educator, Entrepreneur

Peter Martin Whitaker Music Festival image

I’ve been following Peter Martin since 2009 when I saw him play at the Whitaker Music Festival at the Missouri Botanical Garden. I also saw his 2014 concert there. In this interview, he shared that the Garden is one of his favorite places to play in St. Louis, ranked at the top with Jazz at the Bistro where he’ll be performing May 18–19.

Peter is known for his collaboration since the late nineties touring and recording with jazz singer, Dianne Reeves. He’ll be performing with her this spring in the US and Europe. He has upcoming gigs with his trio — Greg Hutchinson on drums and Reuben Rogers on bass — in Tokyo and New Orleans. We cover some details of this busy concert schedule in this interview.

Peter also describes his very interesting upbringing which includes being raised by parents who were professional musicians, having Wynton Marsalis as a mentor and close friend, and his association with many of St. Louis’ jazz greats like Carolbeth True, the late Willie Akins, Freddie Washington, and others.

This interview isn’t all about music; we also discuss his life as an educator and entrepreneur. Several months ago, I started running into Peter at Venture Café, a weekly gathering of innovators and entrepreneurs. Naturally, I wondered why an accomplished musician would hang with a bunch of business types. I was surprised to learn that he is a leader in online music education. In the podcast he talks about how he founded and launched Open Studio Network, a business described as, “Built in Saint Louis. Made for the World.”

Peter Martin, Open Studio Network links:

  • Peter Martin Music website
  • Open Studio Network website
  • Peter Martin on Twitter
  • Open Studio Network on Twitter
  • Peter Martin Music Facebook page

Subscribe on iTunes and Stitcher.

Posted by Romondo Davis on February 14, 2016
Podcast

Episode 14 — Vincent Golomski of Fanfare

St. Louis Band Celebrates 40 Years of Making Music

Fanfare Vince Golomski Kittie Moler imageVincent Golomski of Fanfare Band is my guest in this episode of A Concert Pitch. He is founder, manager, and keyboard player of this popular dance band celebrating it’s 40th year.

Catch Fanfare Band February 13th at the Ritz Lobby Lounge.

Fanfare Band, with lead singer, Kittie Moller, performs all over St. Louis at commercial venues including the Ritz Carlton in Clayton and Dierbergs in Des Peres. They also perform private shows at local schools and retirement homes, and other private events all over the region.

I’ve heard this band at several free concerts in the area over the past four years including the St. Louis County Parks Department Food Truck Fest and Bridgeton’s Summer Concert Series. They have several such concerts scheduled for the 2016 summer concert season.

A significant fact about this band is their popularity with the dance community. Vincent describes their regular gigs at the Ritz where local dance clubs show up, and the phenomenon of people dancing in a supermarket when they do their gigs at Dierbergs. He shares the experience of doing programs at grade schools where the students and teachers are up dancing as they present a modern history of music, and the subtleties of performing for the residents of area retirement communities including Friendship Village and The Gatesworth.

We also explore in this episode the band’s history; their recordings; criteria for adding songs to the list; the background of the other musicians, drummer Lanny Boles and guitarist Charlie Delbert — and  why they enjoy doing free concerts.

Be sure to check the FreeConcertsSTL.com calendar for summer concerts that feature Fanfare with Kittie Moller.

Fanfare Band links:

  • Fanfare Band Website
  • Fanfare Band Facebook page

Subscribe on iTunes and Stitcher.

Posted by Romondo Davis on February 8, 2016
Podcast

Episode 13 — Songwriter Steve Williams

Co-writer of Redneck Yacht Club, recorded by Craig Morgan, reached #2 in Billboard, #1 in R and R, and is a certified gold record.

Redneck Yacht Club

Songwriter Steve Williams Redneck Yacht Club imageI was introduced to country music songwriter Steve Williams, through a friend, Myles Kelly, manager and keyboard player for Rockin’ Chair, a band that covers the Laurel Canyon sound of bands like Eagles; Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young; Poco and others. Myles contacted me recently after seeing high school buddy, Steve Williams, preforming with Wil Nance at Nashville’s The Listening Room.

Myles told me that Williams would be performing at a now sold out show with Nance in Festus on January 23rd and suggested I interview him for A Concert Pitch, so I did.

I’ve never been a big fan of country music, but I respect the genre for its popularity and production quality. My musical preference leans more toward the acoustic rock of my youth and, for the past 40 years, jazz. Nonetheless, I have a fascination as an amateur musician with how songs are written and how songwriters work with publishers and artists. This interview was a great opportunity to satisfy my curiosity talking to someone who is making a good living from writing songs, and claims two #1 songs (“Redneck Yacht Club” and “I Get To”) and has songs on 3 gold records!

Steve grew up in St. Louis and cut his musical teeth playing in bars in the area. He left town, played with several bands and ended up in Nashville. He describes how he climbed the ladder in that hub of musicians, venues, publishers, and promoters, then shares deep insights about writing, collaborating, and getting your compositions produced.

View the calendar event for the sold out Song Writer’s Showcase with Wil Nance and Steve Williams.

Steve Williams links:

  • Personal Website
  • Redneck Yacht Club Website
  • Personal Facebook page
  • Redneck Yacht Club Facebook page
  • Twitter

Subscribe on iTunes and Stitcher.

Tagged:country musicnashvilleredneck yacht clubsongwriter

Posted by Romondo Davis on January 19, 2016

Tagged:country musicnashvilleredneck yacht clubsongwriter

Podcast

Episode 12 — Randy Mayfield

Romondo Davis and Randy Mayfield image

Romondo Davis and Randy Mayfield

Randy Mayfield uses his gifts as a musician and songwriter to spread the Gospel. As Pastor of Missions and Outreach at Central Presbyterian Church in Clayton, Missouri, Randy leads missions in St. Louis, nationally, and in many foreign countries.

I’ve known and performed with Randy for over 27 years, and I’m proud to be included in his “All Star Band” of musicians in a concert at Central church at 7 p.m. on Friday, January 15th, 2015. In this episode, we discuss the concert, who’ll be performing, Randy’s background as an entertainer, his Christian ministry, and more.

The concert is FREE and is open to everyone! An offering will be taken to support Central’s Missions and Outreach.

A few days after this interview was recorded, Randy announced that Contemporary Christian Music legend, Scott Wesley Brown will also appear in the concert.

The band for the January 15 concert:

Randy Mayfield – Rhythm guitar/vocals
Sandy Weltman – Harmonica/Uke/Mandolin
Carl Sasse – Lead guitar/mandolin
Chris Sasse – Violin/fiddle
Tim Mauldin – guitar/steel/banjo
Mike Bradenstein – Bass
Romondo Davis – Guitar/percussion/background vocals
Pete Johnson – Drums/background vocals

Opening act: Susan & Patrick Crecelius

Randy Mayfield links:

  • Website
  • Facebook page
  • January 15 concert information
  • Randy’s music on CD Baby
  • YouTube channel

Subscribe on iTunes and Stitcher.

Posted by Romondo Davis on January 4, 2016
Podcast

Episode 11 — Tim Callihan

Tim Callihan of Spectrum Band imageTim Callihan is the leader of Spectrum, one of the premier private bands in the St. Louis Area. I met Tim four years ago at their gig at the Chesterfield Chamber of Commerce Summer Concert Series at Faust Park. I’ve been following and promoting Spectrum ever since.

Spectrum is so successful — they’re booked well into the future — that they have no time or need to play public events — aside from their Faust Park summer concert which they’ve been doing for 17 years. That’s great for corporate party planners and brides and grooms, but a shame for area residents who love quality music performances. The cohesiveness of the band as a unit, the musicianship of the individual members, the song selection, the arrangements, and their technical presentation are all top notch.

Perhaps we can convince Tim to book them for a show in a public venue like the Playhouse at Westport Plaza. No, too small and no dance floor. I’ll have to work on that. I mean these guys are good.

In this nearly 80-minute interview, we cover subjects including Tim’s recording studio, his career and retirement from Boeing, his support of local music — especially at Jazz at the Bistro, the history and makeup of Spectrum, going the extra mile to assure great sound and lighting, his views on the importance of music education, and his motivation for playing free concerts.

Spectrum Band links:

  • Website
  • Facebook page
  • Wedding Wire page
  • The Knot page
  • YouTube channel page

Subscribe on iTunes and Stitcher.

Posted by Romondo Davis on December 21, 2015
Podcast

Episode 10 — Dave Brubeck

Three years ago last week we lost a symbol of American music, Dave Brubeck, one day before his ninety-second birthday. Brubeck was a pianist and composer who helped make jazz popular in the 50s and 60s, and who’s song “Take Five” is one of the most recognizable jazz songs ever recorded.

With the anniversary of his passing, I was reminded that I had interviewed him twice, first in the late seventies when I was working at KWMU. He was in St. Louis for a performance at Our Lady of The Snows in Belleville, Illinois. The second time I interviewed him, the one you’ll hear in this podcast, was in 1982 when I was on staff at KSHO in Honolulu, Hawaii. He was there to perform a concert with the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra.

In this interview, Dave goes into great detail on subjects including his compositions, musicians he’s worked with, the state of music during that time — most of which is relevant today — and insights into performing in Asia and Europe, and at jazz festivals.

Our conversation begins with him describing the concert he was about to perform at the Honolulu International Center.

Brubeck was a 2009 Kennedy Center Honor recipient. I must say that interviewing Dave Brubeck was one of the highlights of my broadcasting career.

Dave Brubeck links:

  • Website
  • Facebook page
  • Wikipedia entry

Subscribe on iTunes and Stitcher.

Posted by Romondo Davis on December 13, 2015

A Concert Pitch Podcast

  • Episode 19 — Adam Jaschek, Whitaker Music Festival
  • Episode 18 — Todd Mosby
  • Episode 17 — Darren George of Mirage Entertainment
  • Episode 16 — Tyler Stokes of Delta Sol Revival
  • Episode 15 — Peter Martin Jazz Pianist
  • Episode 14 — Vincent Golomski of Fanfare
  • Episode 13 — Songwriter Steve Williams
  • Episode 12 — Randy Mayfield
  • Episode 11 — Tim Callihan
  • Episode 10 — Dave Brubeck
  • Episode 9 — Joe Mancuso
  • Episode 8 — Tony Viviano

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