The NAIL-ing List: Neil Alexander's News & Happenings from the world of NAIL
Welcome to the October 2016 issue of
The NAILing List
Neil Alexander's Performances, Workshops and other bits...
And Bang! We're in October. Fall hits and that cool weather is upon us. Here in the Hudson Valley it feels good after the hot summer. September seemed to fly by - I started my 25th year at the Conservatory of Dance at SUNY Purchase, and both the Thunderhead Organ Trio and my Wired Wednesday series at the Newburgh Free Library are in their 3rd years. Once again I am truly grateful for so many great opportunities.
This month I've sort of a landmark concert at theRitz Theaterin Newburgh. I'll be performing a mostly original music program with an 11 piece ensemble - my Jazz quartet, with a string quartet and special guests. Most of the music is being performed for the first time. I guess that makes them "World Premiers" or some such thing. There's a nice write up about it in this month's D & H Canvas newspaper, as well as the Hudson Valley Almanac.
In addition to that there are the usual suspects - Mr Gone,the Thunderhead Organ Trio and more. Here's what's up in October:
The Neil Alexander Quartet and featured guests are bringing a very special evening of live music to the Safe Harbors Lobby at the Ritz on October 15, at 8:00 pm. The concert will be in “Jazz Chamber Orchestra” format - a small ensemble featuring a core Quartet with the addition of strings, wind & percussion. The Neil Alexander Quartet is Peter Furlan, sax; Peter Brendler, Bass; Nadav Zelniker, drums; Neil Alexander, piano and synthesizer with guest artists Fung Chern Hwei (violin), Rachel Evans (viola), Dave Frankhuizen (cello), Cynthia Ligenza (2nd violin), Mark Frankel (percussion & marimba), Tom Reese (flute & Penny whistle) and local poet extraordinaire Mona Toscano (spoken word). I've christened this variable size ensemble the "X Ensemble". This concert is the premier.
The scheduled program includes the original piece “Cumberland Spring”, an arrangement of Gershwin’s “Lullaby for Strings” and a very special performance of Neil’s 2003 four movement Jazz Suite titled “Newburgh: An Urban Romance” written during his early days as a Newburgh resident. The concert will also premier two new works - “Gravity Well” for violin & piano and “The Inner Journey” (originally composed for choreographer Lindsey Fitzmorris) along with his jazz arrangement of Beethoven’s Piano Concerto #5 (2nd movement), plus several other original works. Tickets are $25($15 for Newburgh residents!). I hope you can join me for this landmark concert.
And there is of course the rest of the month to consider... :)
Sunday October 16th 6:00pm
Peter Furlan Quartet
will be appearing in the
Marcello's 30th Anniversary Concert
Lafayette Theater 97 Lafayette Avenue, Suffern, NY 10901
Marcello's Ristorante of Suffern presents it's 30th Anniversary Concert, featuring Jazz, Opera, & Pop at the historic Lafayette Theater in Suffern NY. The Jazz portion of the show will be the Peter Furlan Quintet featuring vocalist Alexis Cole. For Tickets clickHERE.
Once again, I'll be hosting the Wired Wednesday Workshop series at the Newburgh Free Library. Always the 3rd Wednesday of each month, and always free. This month's topic will be.... well, I don't know yet, but a FB Event will be posted and my Website will be updated when I have the info. You can also follow the Ableton HV Users Group on twitter at @abletonhv. Stay tuned.
Thursday October 20th 8:00 pm
THUNDERHEAD
Organ Trio
The Wherehouse
119 Liberty Street Newburgh NY
Our 3rd Thursday Thing continues. Nadav Z, Joe G and I will be blasting off around 8 pm for our usual tour around the outer reaches of the solar system. Come out and partake of the fine food & drink at the Wherehouse while having your mind blown by the sounds. :) No cover!
Saturday October 22nd 6 pm
INTERNATIONAL ORANGE
Dennings Point Distillery 10 Chestnut St. Beacon NY
International Orange is the brainchild of New York City veteran musicians and longtime friends Todd Isler and David Phelps. Gaku Takanashi provides melodic bass, and Dan Stein’s keys round out IO’s evolving personality. I’ll be doing keyboard duties at this particular show. The music is funky and organic. Should be a great time!
Friday October 28th 8:30 pm
Mr. GONE
Maxfield's On Main 713 Main Street Boonton NJ
Once again we bring you the magic of one of the world's greatest electric Jazz groups - Weather Report - Plus some tasty bits from the Headhunters. For this show we welcome our very good friend Todd Isler on drums, along with Peter Furlan (saxes), Ratzo Harris (Bass) and me (Neil Alexander) on keyboards. No Cover!
Nobel Coffee Roasters 3020 Rt. 207 Campbell Hall NY
Join songstress Lydia Adams Davis and I for a night of real country blues and original Folk classics, plus improvisations and more. I'll be playing my Lap steel guitar(!) and keyboards. No Cover, and lovely German pastries I'm told. Plus coffee!!
Next Month So Far...
11/3 Electronic Music Workshop/Jam - New Paltz NY
11/4 Cloudburst - Alley Cat Kingston NY
11/8 DON'T FORGET TO VOTE
11/12 Brian Kastan - Nick Zungolis Gallery Sugar Loaf NY
11/16 Wired Wednesdays - Newburgh Free Library
11/17 Thunderhead Organ Trio - Wherehouse Newburgh NY
11/19 Eric Hill Band - Pawling Tavern Pawling NY
11/26 Newburgh Open Movement w/Ophra Wolf - Ritz Theater Newburgh NY
As Always, CHECK THE CALENDAR (link below) -
New dates are getting added ALL THE TIME!
In the meantime,
Thanks for supporting Live Music.
Have a Lovely Fall Season!
Now you can download my entire CD catalog - that's ELEVEN releases (11!) - all at the same time on my Bandcamp site for ONLY $4 BUCKS! Cheap! Grab 'em now, not sure how long I'll keep this offer open for. :)
Latest CDs:
"SOFT INVADERS" - Physical CD's NOW AVAILABLE! Go To Music.nailmusic.com to order this limited edition CD in "ecologically neutral" packaging (a simple cardboard sleeve) for only $7.
Recorded live on "Music With Space" on WPRB radio in October of last year; as always, pay what you want - even free to download or order the disc!
"A SAMPLING OF WORLDS" - a retrospective collection featuring tracks from 18 years worth of recorded music. Also contains an unreleased track "Spring is Here", recorded live in 2010.
