Podcast

Getting the Most Out of Your Wedding Band

Darren 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 on the Internet:

• Website
• Facebook
• The Knot
• Wedding Wire

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

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

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

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

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St. Louis Band Celebrates 40 Years of Making Music

Vincent 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

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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

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Tim 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

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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

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