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ICEPACK ILLUSTRATED: Zankel, Blavat, Checker, Hop Sing, Le Bec Fin, Ink Masters and more
Saxophonist Bobby Zankel's large scale Warriors of the Wonderful Sound is gearing up to premiere a new piece written exclusively for his band by legendary pianist/composer Muhal Richard Abrams, who will conduct the ensemble during its April 28 premier at Montgomery County Community College.
ICEPACK ILLUSTRATED: Zankel, Blavat, Checker, Hop Sing, Le Bec Fin, Ink Masters and more
My man pots and pans Jerry Blavat is celebrating the first anniversary of hosting his weekly Wednesday Sugar House dance jamboree and, last night, got Chubby Checker, the Trampps and writer Rich Podolsky (The Man with the Golden Ear, about the man behind Rock Concert, producer Don Kirshner) to join in the fun. Congrats on year one.
Surprisingly a small group of folk didn’t get the connection between seeing Shola Olunloyo at the first-night test run of Hop Sing Laundromat, the vials of unknown content before him, and the fact that he’s renowned for molecular gastronomical culinary marvels (amongst other things) and not drug running. I would’ve thought it was more of a hassle that there was a cell phone on his table (a no-no at HSL) and not vials. Whaddayooogonnado?
Saxophonist Bobby Zankel’s large scale Warriors of the Wonderful Sound is gearing up to premiere a new piece written exclusively for his band by legendary pianist/composer Muhal Richard Abrams, who will conduct the ensemble during its April 28 premier at Montgomery County Community College.
For those who thought the slice of Chestnut Street real estate that held Jolly’s Dueling Piano Bar would stay vacant for too long (it has been a minute), the Insider writes that realtor/first time saloon owner Anne Frey took over 2006 Chestnut so to build 1 Tippling Place, a comfy, parlor-like room that will “appeal to clientele of a certain age.” If a “certain age” means over 55, the number that Sammy Hagar can’t drive beyond, that sounds pretty fabulous.
Speaking of adults, guitarist Marc Silver makes grown-n-sexy bluegrass-y country steel-guitar-laced brand of music that local hillbilly kids can dig as well. For California Avenue, his fourth CD since 2007, Silver & The Stonethrowers have set a date at Johnny Brenda’s on March 9 after having watched this new record get the bulk of its money from the fan-funded Kickstarter drive. “That cash allowed us to record in Larry Gold’s amazing studio space off Callowhill,” says Silver.
The other day I wrote about Aldan, PA, tattoo artist/Chris Isaak-lookalike Shane O’Neill and his time on Spike TV’s Ink Master. Looks like O’Neill won the series finale challenge and nabbed the $100,000 prize moolah.
Sexy Jason Cichonski will bring the Root, the Snap and the Rhuby (those are Art in the Age’s small-batch bottles) to bear on his March 13 food-n-booze five-course dinner pairing at Ela on Bainbridge St.
Scarlett Alley — the Old City tchotchke shop — has stocked its shelves Yes, their Carolina Amato texting gloves are back in stock for cold-blooded text-mad types like me. Then there’s John Wind of Maximal Art who just dropped off his brand new silver and gold sorority initial charm bracelets. Swell.
If you’re looking for booty of a more musical kind, Randy Now (late of City Gardens) is opening his Man Cave & Consignment Shop this weekend, March 10, in Bordentown, NJ (15 Park St.). Along with hosting performances at night, Now’s store/cave will be open until 8 p.m. and selling rawk memorabilia like the buncha-Beatles stuff (1965 USA tour tix stubs, autographs, Butcher LP covers) he’s got in stock at present Yeah yeah yeah. Oooh.
Stephen Starr chef juggling: Barclay Prime’s Stephen Wambach is now (well, not right now) at Azure in Atlantic City’s Revel Hotel. Alma de Cuba just posted with Foobooz that it’s looking for an executive chef.
Settlement Music School received a $250,000 grant from the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation for its Widening The Stage program to enroll kids from 8 to18 of local lower-income families in music prep classes. Huh bah.
On March 13, George Manney’s Clutch Cargo ensemble (synth/singer Su Teears, glockenspieler Rocc Notte, bassist Dave Humphries) offer up its version of Paul McCartney’s “Mull of Kintyre” with partial proceeds benefitting the Philadelphia Police and Fire, Pipes & Drums Band. “We chose the McCartney single for two reasons,” says Manney. “First of all, it features bagpipes and we are trying to help raise funds for the Police & Fire Pipes and Drum band. Secondly, as a fitting tribute to Sir Paul, we chose Philly pioneer Charlie Gracie to cover McCartney’s hit since Sir Paul covered Gracie’s 1957 hit, ‘Fabulous.’” Ha cha. Along with Gracie, the Police pipers, The Hooligans’ Luke Jardel, Skip Denenberg and Birdie Busch join the Clutch. Download it here or here. (PS. Birdie Busch got the kinda-esteemed gig opening a bunch of dates for her pals in Dr. Dog. They’ll be in Philly the weekend of March 24.
WHOWHATWHERE: Jacky BamBam isn’t just Philly’s most notorious jock with a rooster hair-doo. The 93.3 WMMR 3rd Shift Vampire hosted Free Pancake Day at the IHOP on Delaware Ave. and collected cash for the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. “The staff there made us a Vampire Pancake,” says Bam Bam, who could also be found roaming the alleys of Wells Fargo Center during Van Halen’s set (see my VH review here), hanging out at his studios with Philly’s own Skid Row and practicing splits with his Golden Sunrise Mummers club.
Before John Legend’s buddy Estelle and Rick James’ brother Luke James played World Café Live on Monday night, they hit Power 99 and WDAS studios, respectively, in Bala Cynwd. Maino too visited with Power 99’s Eddie F at Power 99’s Xfinity Performance Theater. For those paying attention to last Thursday night’s Jersey Shore, you can just make out Icepack Illo photographer Scott Weiner roaming around Seaside Heights shooting The Situation. Now back in Philly, Weiner caught up with Jersey Shore meatball Deena when she stopped by Q 102’s studios and taught on-air personality Maxwell how to do the Jersey Turnpike. Then there’s yours truly. Glamorosi and I hung out and ate during the last night of Le Bec Fin. So did the New York Times, who not only dropped this story yesterday put placed a page two photo of the missus and me staring into space.
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