Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Robert hits it out of the park!!!...

Tonight I went to see a film at the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) [love the rotating sign]:



The film was called:Peter Matthiessen: No Boundaries
Wed, Feb 18 at 7:30pm


(2009) 56min
*Q&A and booksigning with Peter Matthiessen and filmmaker Jeff Sewald -- World Premiere
Produced, written, and directed by Jeff Sewald

But it wasn't just any film, my buddy Robert Weinstein composed the amazing original score. Here I am with the distinguished composer:



It's a film about an amazing writer named Peter Matthiessen. He is a prolific artist who has written both fiction and non-fiction. He is also a very committed activist, who has a lot of integrity, and puts himself on the line championing causes in a fearless way.

Robert talks with director Jeff Sewald at the reception:



Robert's music team:

Left to Right - Paul Butler: Woodwind master -- John Marshall: Percussion extraordinaire-- Unknown -- Composer/guitarist: Robert Weinstein

Robert and Good buddy Von Robinson:


A look back at the hall as I head back for Manhattan:


It was a truly special evening. Robert's music was perfect for the film, and certainly works on it's own as well. I felt this was an ideal project for him. He's a man who always waters the roots, in music and in life.

I owe a great debt of thanks to Robert for so warmly introducing me to his friends and colleagues, and being so supportive about my work in the process. It's a really good group. I could feel their generosity and support, even though they haven't heard a note of what I'm doing.

These last few years I've really had a feeling of joy in the community of musicians I now have around me, who have been so wildly supportive and trusting of me. Andy, Murray, Robert, and many others...my relationships have grown with all these people, who are amazingly talented. Being a musician ain't easy...unless you've got this kind of support!

For many years I dealt with folks who were more aloof, and now the tide has completely changed.

... and yes, I always harp on it...as I head back to the city in the subway train I just thought again of how blessed I am to live in this whacky town. From the comfortable hall of BAM's famous opera house, I descend into the subway for a long ride sitting next to a woman preaching apocalyptic religious views to the whole train. She's screaming at the top of her lungs: "You're all sinners" "The end is near", etc. No one paid any attention!! People sitting with their earbuds in, two friends discussing a show they had seen, a guy playing a game on his phone...everyone's oblivious. I love it. In the sticks, everybody would be freaked, there'd be swarming cops...

What a show!

NYers are special people - even the nuts. The funny thing is, they don't even know it...

I did also have the pleasure of meeting Mr. Matthiessen for a second, but I was so lost for what to say that I actually made _him_ nervous!

But no matter -- A good night in all!

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Late Night...9 shows left before the end of an era...


Yesterday Tom Bolling and I went to see a taping of "Late Night with Conan O'Brien".

See the episode here

Screen cap from the monologue, Tuesday February 10th 2009:


It's so 'New York' to go to these live tapings, see the teenieness of the studios (which don't seem at all teenie on TV), and the professional-ness of the way it all goes down. Very inspiring.

Also it's being in the presence of history to be there in 30 Rock (the main building at Rockerfeller Center).

The musical guest was Levon Helm. Real treat. He's getting along in years, but his musical style makes it suit him. Respectfully, I can't imagine Brittany Spears singing "Oops I did it again" at age 68. "The Weight" is better now somehow. He had an onstage band of 14. Very pleasant surprise.



They make the show very funny and welcoming. Letterman tapings are more perfunctory and unpleasant. I'm not sure I'd want to go back to Letterman. There are only 8 more tapings of Conan's show as of today. He heads out to LA to do the tonight show after this.

I go to Jon Stewart a lot as well.


Below are some pictures of our outing:

Tom in the Cab on the way up:


Tom in front of 30 Rock:

Self Portrait, near the ice rink having some food:


Leaving the show after the taping: