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   Some people don't want to go home because people at home remember you cried when someone took your ball. People remember when you tried to dunk and the ball bounced 30 feet in the air off the rim. They remember when you ran the ball the wrong way and scored for the other team. They remember when you sang in that high school talent show and your voice squeaked. They remember those holes you had in the knees of your pants. People remember when you couldn't afford a haircut, when you fell on your face after that 5th hurdle, when your socks fell because the elastic bands were gone when they were your Brother's socks. 

  You stay away because that girl broke up with you after three days. When everyone else had cable, you had that antenna on the roof. You couldn't join the swim club, so you got squirted with the hose. People that are where you're from remember when you wore your sister's prom dress for yours, when you vomited from nervousness at the school Christmas play, when you had that crust in your eyes. They ALL remember what you did and what you didn't do, they remember it all. So if you feel like you've made it and all is good, go home and spend some time with these people and laugh over all of those Good Ol' Days. Then you'll appreciate where you are now. 

  I would like to talk about Phildelphia as a cultural breeding ground. Over the last thirteen years since I've become involved with the music scene in Philadelphia, I've seen Jazz clubs come and go. Some of these places may have only hosted the live music one night per week, but on that night, people came to fill the seats to see what's to come in terms of the local talent. From Fat Edna's in Manayunk, to Deetrick's in Jenkintown. I had a different place to venture to enjoy a different kind of the same music. Ortlieb's was my main spot for checking in on local talent and their Tuesday night jam session led by Sid Simmons, Mike Boone, and Byron Landham was thee best in town. For some reason, owner Pete Souders found it fit to depart from this environment. That was his choice and I'm sure he is a happier person for whatever his reasons were for leaving. The new owners found it fit to try to change the music, to try a 'New Thing', but the real fans knew better. You can't and shouldn't mess with a good thing. We all know where this story ends.

  Fast forward to 2011. Although there are a lot more places for young musicians to be tested, it seems that there is now a void in the music scene. There are some new clubs opening soon like Matthew Feldman's Lucky Old Souls Jazz Club in South Philly and Little Bar, also in South Philly. I wish the best for these new venues. We need more, more venues, more exposure, more everything. It was brought to my attention by Suzanne Cloud, that for Jazz Day in Philadelphia, they had Ron Carter at the head of everything. Let's be serious, out of all the musicians that live and play throughout the city of Philadelphia, Mayor Nutter or whoever, found it necessary to go somewhere else for a musician? Are there no seasoned musicians here that could represent what Jazz in Philadelphia is all about?

  I also would like to talk about a post on Facebook by Philadelphia pianist Orrin Evans. He expressed his concerns about how musicians are treated IN Philadelphia and OUTSIDE of Philadelphia. It's not good that when you are in your hometown, you're not even respected enough to get a free meal for bringing a vast audience in the doors. It's like the owner is acting like they're actually doing you a favor by 'letting' you play at their establishment. This has got to stop. If your place is packed with paying fans spending all kinds of money because of who you booked, then that band should be compensated as such. I give it up to the musicians that decided to stay in Philadelphia and stick it out no matter what. They show a loyalty that is un- appreciated and although they go to other countries, other continents, they always seem to come back home. But do they have to pay a price for that? No, they should be cherished and treated just like you treat those other musicians that you see in Down Beat and Jazz Times and try so hard to bring into your clubs. Those musicians don't care about the Philadelphia music scene, they just want that check. They play their hearts out for it, but it's all about the check. 

  For someone who decided to leave their hometown across this state and make Philadelphia their home, I commend them. I'm talking about a now local drummer Andrew Kirk (pictured above). I know this blog is about Philadelphia musicians who have given their heart to this city, but Andrew made a choice to come to this city and embrace what we have to offer. Some musicians may think he should get to the back of the line, but that's not what it's all about. "If you can play, you can play" to quote the Philadelphia native Robert Henderson, and Andrew can play.  

  We all need to stop having our own little cliques and come together as one group. Someone may be playing here, and someone may be playing there, but we as fans should go all over this town to support. If you stay only where you live, that's limiting your exposure, it's limiting crowd numbers, and it's not good altogether. Let's all get out and support this music. Go Out! Go Out! Go Out! Don't blame anyone else when that club two blocks from you closes because just like you want to stay nearby, so does someone else. That someone else is one less person that may attend an event near you.  If you live Uptown, go Downtown. If you live Downtown, go Uptown. Also support the photogrpahers, videographers, and sound men. Without them, there is no record of what you just played.

 

A lot of folks invite me to events and ask forthe photos the next day or e-mail me when I put them on my web site asking how they can copy them and such. If my work is worthy of copying, why don't I get any job offers? I'm sure you musicians don't like playing for FREE. If someone finds this post offensive, don't worry, I'm not talking about you, because if you do, maybe you should start playing every event you go to for free. If  'SOMEONE ELSE' would write something like this, they'd be getting 100 responses agreeing with them. Some of you know what I'm talking about too. I took some time and realized why I  was having an empty desire photographically and was compeled to write this. I started wondering if people were inviting me for to hear them play or for free pics.  I will end by quoting Malcolm X, "I don't care who likes it or not!"

If you haven't already been aware, this summer is truely a sizzler. With temperatures reaching the high 90's and well into the 100's, people are trying to deal with this heat the best they can, whether that's getting some water ice and finding a nice shady tree, taking a plunge in the pool, or just staying indoors with the air conditioner, it's what's on the menu. Every year we must be reminded to check on the elderly, double check that any children or pets are not left in the car, but every year it's the same story. While everyone is thinking of the cooler times of this past winter when they were stranded in the house from multiple Winter storms, don't be so quick to bring back the cold. Time and time again I hear "You can dress warm, but you can't dress cool", how much cooler will you be if you dressed less? At least during this heatwave you're still able to drive to the mall, go to the movies, and do all kinds of activities that will keep you cool for a few existing hours. In the Winter you can't drive out of your own driveway let alone go window shopping at the mall. Some people even get outright nasty because they shoveled out a spot and put a broom and chair there to protect it. I work outside 6 days a week in this heat and I do not welcome Winter weather. It not only slows everyone down, it hurts. People fall on ice, there are unnecessary car crashes, and businesses have to close. So the next time you leave your door and the heat index is over 102 degrees, just take a deep breath and enjoy the feeling of that sun on your skin, don't complain, and just have fun with it.

The reason I wanted to write about this subject is because all too often we hear about entertainers of today in the news that really haven't accomplished anything of any great value at all. Take for instance, Paris Hilton going to jail. WHO CARES! What has she contributed to anything besides saying "That's Hot". Brittany Spears is all over the news all the time for everything but music. Who cares that she shaved her head bald? I'm a big fan of Hip Hop music, but I don't want to be constantly bombarded with news stories about people being arrested and the personal battles they are having between each other.

If someone like Jackie McLean passes away and I don't hear about it, there's a problem. If Michael Brecker passes and there is little mention about him, and he's from Philadelphia, then there's a problem. I challenge the media to cover people who actually accomplish something. I don't need to hear about someone ripping up a ticket and throwing it back at the police officer. WHO CARES! Tell me about someone that contributed to America's Classical Music, Jazz. Tell me about the life they lived, the impressions they left on younger artists coming up. For once it would be nice see something on the news. Tell us more about his legacy so that others will want to continue being creative in this art.

Afterwards, I walked the streets to catch some nightlife. This, my friend, is another topic that may take up massive newtork space. I'll post some photos in the future of some of my different night strolls. To be downtown Philly between the hours of 10pm and 3am is in itself, a whole new expreience. People are heading to the clubs in a frenzy to meet their next score. Whether that be a male or female, or the next drink of choosing.

Either way, the pairing up ends up twisted and sick by the time club night is over. Drunkidness, silliness, and tiredness don't make a good blend! Afterwards, all is calm again....