But it’s pretty, that’s for sure. It’s been a residential urban community since the 1820s, and it’s stayed a residential urban community to this day, so you get a melange of styles and developmental trends covering the bases between then and now. The earlier ones tend to set the tone for me (but that’s no surprise). The Village was already heavily built up by the 1850s and so it lacks the uniform brownstone look you’ll find in some other neighborhoods further north, or in Brooklyn. Instead you get a lot of modest Federal and Greek Revival buildings, many under three stories tall. They’re so quiet looking and cozy that it hurts, especially when I consider that fifty years ago the whole area was still known for its cheap rents. You might have heard about it – how the Village was the Bohemian center of the United States for a little while. You can kind of take your pick of famous artistic types that spent some time here.

Myself, I’ll pick Dylan, comma, Bob (of course!). He lived in a studio apartment at 161 West 4th Street, above Bruno’s Spaghetti Shop (long gone), from December of 1961 until some time in ‘64. He shared the place for awhile with his girlfriend Suze Rotolo – the rent was $60 a month, which in 2009 dollars would be about $420. Do you know how much you’d have to work to split a $420 rent? The answer is: not much! The location put him right down the block from the various folk venues lining West 4th and MacDougal Street. He shot the cover for his “Freewheelin’ Album”, with Suze, walking down Jones Street right nearby. Both Jones and Cornelia Streets are the rare exceptions in Manhattan, each running just one block long, between West 4th and Bleecker Street. You wouldn’t guess that the bustle of Sixth and Seventh Avenues were right around the corner.

Although that bustle wasn’t always there. Seventh Avenue used to begin at Greenwich Avenue, a few blocks below 14th Street. It wasn’t extended south until 1917 with the creation of the west side IRT subway line, plowing through and over the existing Village streets. Sixth Avenue followed the same pattern: originally it began right above Bleecker Street. In 1926 it was extended all the way below Canal, in part to aid the construction of the Eighth Avenue IND subway line, in part to alleviate traffic coming out of the newly opened Holland Tunnel. Both avenue extensions displaced a lot of people, and tore up some of the removed, village feeling of the Village.

But hey, you still can find it in bucketfuls today. And I suppose the neighborhood has always been a compromise of sorts between its own desires and the larger city’s. Today West 4th Street crosses West 10th, 11th, 12th, and 13th Streets. Any of those intersections can be held up as an example of the separate character of the Village, and its confusing geography – where else in Manhattan do numbered streets intersect each other? But all of those streets existed before the grid (or a semblance of it) was placed on top of them. West 4th Street was originally called Asylum Street after the Orphan Asylum Society, which stood on Asylum and Bank Street. 10th Street was Amos Street, 11th Street was Hammond Street, and 12th Street was Troy. Those all happened to be the streets that lined up with the grid east of Sixth Avenue, and so eventually their names were changed. Should I mention that Bob Dylan was born Robert Zimmerman, in Hibbing Minnesota, before we went on to change his name also? Maybe he got the inspiration from Hibbing’s namesake, Frank Hibbing, who was himself born in Germany as Frans Dietrich Von Ahlen. Or yeah sure, maybe he took it from Dylan Thomas, who ten years earlier had drank himself to death at the White Horse Tavern down the street from W. 4th and Cornelia. It does have a nice ring to it; I can see the appeal. I think if I was gonna change my name I’d go with Christopher Bob Dylan.

(Originally posted Nov. 6th, 2009 on Takethehandle.com)

Looking out the airplane window as the New York City skyline appeared through the clouds, I was smitten. Seeing the famous skyscrapers, the bridges, the rivers, the sheer size of this city of 8 million was awe-inspiring. It reminded me of how I felt on my first trip to Paris when I was in college. I wanted to experience all the city had to offer—art, entertainment, food, architecture, culture, history and more.

Compared to Paris, which has a history that goes back more than 2,000 years, New York is a youngster, less than 400 years old. Yet it has an energy I find immensely appealing. I love the bustle, the crowds, even the traffic. There’s always something around the next corner to see or do. Even though I didn’t buy one of the ubiquitous T-shirts proclaiming my sentiments, my visit to the Big Apple earlier this month confirmed it:  I  ♥ NY.

I traveled there with my dear friend Ellen, and we managed to pack a whole lot of fun, food and frolic into four short days. Ellen had planned to celebrate her birthday with her daughter, Liz, who lives there. Being shy like I am, I hinted that I’d like to join her since I’d never been to New York before. And when that didn’t work, I flat-out asked her if I could tag along. Not only did Ellen graciously say “yes,” but Liz planned an awesome itinerary for us.

Our first day in town was a whirlwind. Ellen had purchased tickets for the NBC Studio Tour at Rockefeller Center for us ahead of time. It included a tour of the sets where “The Dr. Oz Show” and “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon” are taped. The set for “Saturday Night Live” was being reworked during its hiatus to be used for Summer Olympics coverage, so we could not walk through it. I had hoped to see my idol, Tina Fey, while there. No luck. But the page who was leading our tour group was happy to dish about Alec Baldwin, her co-star on “30 Rock.”

After the tour, Liz had made reservations for her mom’s birthday dinner at the classy Glasshouse Tavern. We had a wonderful table looking out on the street, and our entrees were delish! Ever thoughtful, Liz had requested a birthday candle in Ellen’s warm chocolate cake. Even though we were full, we managed to polish off our desserts before heading to “a really big show.”

Liz is the stage manager for the Broadway show “One Man, Two Guvnors” at the Music Box Theater and had arranged great seats for us. The British comedy was nominated for 7 Tony Awards. James Corden, a master at improv, interacts with the audience and makes each performance feel fresh (though he’s been performing it since April.)  He kept us in stitches with his quick retorts and witty asides.  Less than a week after our visit, Corden won the Tony for best actor in a leading role in a play. And Liz mentioned that at a recent show, Corden got Donald Trump on stage to help move a heavy trunk. When Trump couldn’t budge it (because Corden was standing on it,) Corden said, “That was so rubbish, Donald. You’re fired!”  The crowd went wild.

While Corden gets the lion’s share of attention, there are outstanding performances by his equally funny fellow actors (too many talented men and women to mention), great music by The Craze, and a brief but hilarious appearance by Liz, who also is an understudy. (Did I mention Liz is über-talented like her mom? A singer and actress, she performed nationally with the “Hair Broadway Tour.” Prior to that, she made her New York debut with her award-winning performance of Prossy in “A Minister’s Wife” at Lincoln Center.  She originated this role for the show’s premiere at Writer’s Theatre in Chicago and took home the Jeff Award for Best Supporting Actress. She’s amazing!)

We had heard that Jane Fonda was expected at the show the same night we were there. She was ill and didn’t attend. But Ellen and I were determined to spot someone famous. When we didn’t, we played the celebrity game—something we often play when we go out. The rules are simple: find someone with a remote resemblance to a well-known person/movie character and whisper the name. (For example, any dark-haired male under 20 with round eyeglasses is Harry Potter.)

So the distinguished gentleman walking up the aisle was former U.S. Senator Bill Proxmire (yes, we know he is no longer with us.) The smiling grandmotherly type to our right was Angela Lansbury. (Well, at least she’s performing on Broadway, so it could’ve been her!) And the kinda scruffy guy two rows ahead of us with long hair secured in a ponytail was the singer Meatloaf, of course.

At intermission, we learned “Meatloaf” really was a celebrity, just not the one we had imagined. It was Mario Batali, Food Network chef, cookbook author and restaurant owner. Heck…meatloaf…Italian chef…we were close!

Liz had made reservations for us at a speak-easy called “Bar Centrale.” There, we spotted a few celebrities, and I had a personal moment with a star (wow!), which I will write about later.

At this point, Ellen and I had been on-the-go for more than 20 hours, so we ended our first night with a ride home in a cycle rickshaw (pedicab.) Our driver was a charmer and apparently flustered by our beauty (ha!), because he underestimated the rate before our ride and asked for more money when he dropped us off.  As the French say, “C’est la vie.”

As you can tell, it’s my nature to share every experience in painstaking detail, but I’ll try to give just the highlights of our remaining three days in town (no guarantees):

· Ellen and I put on more than a few miles exploring beautiful Central Park. I hadn’t realized how extensive it is (843 acres) or that it has so many attractions, including the Bethesda Fountain and Terrace, Belvedere Castle, the Great Lawn and Turtle Pond. It fondly reminded me of the public parks and gardens in Paris, such as Jardin du Luxembourg, Bois de Vincennes and Jardin des Tuileries. Magnifique!

· We spent a few hours at the Museum of Modern Art.  We made a point of viewing famous works by Andy Warhol, Jackson Pollack, Henri Matisse, Vincent van Gogh, Claude Monet and others. But it was MoMA’s special exhibit by photographer Cindy Sherman that still haunts me. Her show is not for the faint of heart. It has been described as interesting, disturbing, bizarre and thought-provoking. And I have to agree. The exhibit ended June 11, but the link on MoMA’s website was still working when this was posted. If you click here to learn more, be forewarned that some of the images are graphic.

· We enjoyed a delicious Italian feast at La Mela in Little Italy, with Liz and her charming boyfriend, Michael, who recommended the restaurant. While our food was being prepared, Ellen danced with our waiter to music by a strolling guitar player. The courses were served family-style, and the four of us dove right in. We indulged in fresh mozzarella with tomatoes and basil, a platter of antipasti (roasted asparagus, red peppers with olives, stuffed mushrooms and fried mozzarella) and three types of pasta—gnocchi, tortellini and rigatoni. We were so full, we decided to skip the main courses and go straight to dessert, which included cannoli, tiramisu, tartufo (ice cream balls) and zabaglione with strawberries and bananas. Pure heaven!

· After our fabulous Italian feast, we headed to the Empire State Building, currently the third tallest completed skyscraper in the United States and the 15th tallest in the world. At the top, we admired views of the city lights under a full moon. Amazing!

· When your son’s name is Dylan, you have no choice but to visit Dylan’s Candy Bar on the Upper East Side. Owned by Dylan Lauren, daughter of designer Ralph Lauren, the store carries more than 5,000 kinds of candy. I had special requests from Dylan and Jamie for Angry Birds candy and bacon and s’mores flavored chocolate bars.  Yum!

· After I left the store with more treats than two boys could ever eat, we headed to Quatorze Bis, a superb French bistro nearby. Michael, the restaurant’s manager, joined us for a relaxing dinner. One of the perks of dining with the manager is that his recommendations are spot-on. I ordered the brook trout sauteed with almonds because when Michael suggested it, he mentioned the fish was served with the head intact. I knew that would impress my boys. It definitely looked impressive and tasted even better. Enjoyed with a glass of French chardonnay, I could’ve been at a bistro on the Left Bank of Paris. Fabulous food, fabulous company….you can’t get much better than that!

· On the one rainy day during our visit, Liz had fortuitously scheduled the three of us for a “Sex & the City” bus tour. We saw many of the places Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte and Samantha frequented during the HBO series and movies. We sipped cosmos at Onieal’s bar in Soho—the bar that Aidan and Steve opened named Scout in the series—and did some window shopping on Bleecker Street in Greenwich Village. (Hello, Jimmy Choo!)

· We walked through Chinatown, marveling at the fresh markets while seeking a dragon souvenir for Dylan. Like markets in Paris, some shop keepers don’t want tourists handling the merchandise. In one in particular, the owner yelled at every tourist who picked up a T-shirt to check the size. When a person in our party (who shall remain nameless) suggested the owner post a “do not touch” sign, she was kicked out. The owner suggested she open her own shop where she could do things however she wanted! Ahh, just part of New York’s charm!

· Knowing the Statue of Liberty is closed until the end of the year as it undergoes a year-long renovation, we took a round-trip on the Staten Island Ferry, so we could snap photos of Ellis Island and Lady Liberty.

· We strolled through nearby Battery Park, which features many memorials and sculptures. Among them are: “The Immigrants” sculpture, which celebrates the city’s diversity and the struggle of immigrants; the East Coast Memorial, whose massive eagle looks out on eight walls inscribed with the names of American servicemen who died in the Atlantic Ocean during World War II; and the New York Korean War Veterans Memorial, a striking granite monument with a cut-out of “the Universal Soldier” which honors military personnel who served in the Korean Conflict.

· Battery Park also is the temporary home of the 25-foot bronze sculpture “The Sphere.” It once stood in the plaza between the World Trade Towers. It survived the 9/11 attacks with only dents and holes and is considered “an icon of hope and the indestructible spirit of this country.” With an eternal flame burning in front of it, it is a memorial to all those who lost their lives in the World Trade Center attacks. Leaving the park, we walked to Ground Zero, where we could see progress on the construction of 1 World Trade Center. When its shimmering glass curtain walls and towering antennae are complete, the building will “soar a symbolic 1,776 feet skyward to become America’s tallest building.”

· We also admired jewelry at Tiffany’s (where special lights must be installed because the diamonds seem extra sparkly), strolled through Times Square,  gobbled up delicious slices of pizza, happened upon the presidential motorcade (President Obama was in town for a fund-raiser) and took photos of the fire station where the movie “Ghostbusters” was filmed.

Whew! I think that’s most of it!

If I missed any “must-see” items on your Big Apple list, let me know! I intend to visit again, and I’d love your suggestions for places to visit, sights to see and restaurants I must try!

Want to know more about my 47 and fearless project? Check out my first post.

Need of pastels and a dreamy atmosphere? Enjoy delicious cupcakes and a good coffee in the heart o the Greenwich Village. Magnolia Bakery, one of the most famous New York’s bakery, still keeps that american 50s look that of course we love!

Happy b-day Joy!

Magnolia Bakery - 401 Bleecker Street, New York

Photo by {x²=-1}

To secure the greatest accessibility to the sights, spring for a Midtown hotel. You’ll pay a premium price, but you’ll get your money’s worth by saving time—the most precious commodity when you have only one weekend.


FRIDAY
6 p.m.—Times Square

Times Square is best seen at night. Photo by Charish Badzinski.

Take the subway. Just do it. Photo by Charish Badzinski.

Grimaldi’s in Little Italy in Manhattan. Photo by Charish Badzinski.

Locals enjoy the brew at McSorley’s Old Ale House. Photo by Charish Badzinski.

The croque madame at Pastis in New York. Leave the diet at home. Photo by Charish Badzinski.

The Staten Island Ferry is free, and offers views of Lower Manhattan and Lady Liberty. Photo by Charish Badzinski.

View of the Brooklyn Bridge and the Manhattan Skyline from Brooklyn Bridge Park. Photo by Charish Badzinski.

The Brooklyn Bridge. Photo by Charish Badzinski.

Enjoying a cocktail and the lights as seen from The View at the Mariott Marquis hotel in Midtown Manhattan.

A brisk day on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan…weather-wise, and for business. Photo by Charish Badzinski.

Central Park in Manhattan. Photo by Charish Badzinski.

12 p.m.—Central Park


Rest your weary soles, at last, while wrapping up your trip in high style with a ride in a horse-drawn carriage waiting on 59th Street. It’s the ideal way to regain your strength before heading to the airport after your whirlwind weekend.

This story was originally printed in Coulee Region Women magazine and is reprinted here, in part, with permission. Read the entire article here (page 42).  




Like this post? You might also like: 

• Random Travel Photo of the Week: Midnight Snack in Times Square, Manhattan
• Can This Vacation Be Saved? Travel Foodies Versus Food Camels
• Brooklyn in Bloom: A Tour of Brooklyn Botanical Garden in Spring

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Join our community of travelers and enjoy exclusive content by liking us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/RollerbagGoddess

Charish Badzinski is an explorer, foodie and award-winning travel and food writer. When she isn’t working to build her blog: Rollerbag Goddess Rolls the World, she applies her worldview to her small business, providing strategic communications, media relations and writing support to individuals and organizations. 

Find Charish on Twitter: @charishb

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Rollerbag Goddess Rolls the World by Charish Badzinski is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

Based on a work at rollerbaggoddess.blogspot.com.

“Granita” is the only case where it is acceptable to enjoy espresso in a paper or plastic cup.

Vito made the best espresso granita. He was able to compress an incredible amount of caffeine and coffee flavor into a single cup. I don’t know how this was possible. I imagine him in his secret granita lab, shooting ice and coffee against each other, and observing them melting and reshaping in a new type of element: espresso granita. The scientist at the CERN in Geneva, should consult him on how to improve the performance of their particle accelerator.

His granita didn’t need any improvements: it was molecules of iced coffee melting in your mouth. The whipped cream was only unneccessary noise. If you had a cup of that granita in a summer night, you knew that you’d stay awake until the morning of the next day. That was a much better way to stay wake than drinking a can of redbull or other similar drinks.

Even though Grom’s granita does not reach Vito’s heavenly peaks, it is still the closest and best espresso granita experienced in New York (so far). The ice is thinly shaved and blends seamlessly with the espresso. The espresso is too sweet, perhaps a concession to the tourists that line-up at the Bleecker Street location. That’s a pity: the contrast between the whipped cream and the unsweetened espresso can be memorable. I also found some melted granita at the bottom of my cup, probably because it was the end of the day and the granita was not perfectly frozen.

Lucky for me, I can be at work in only 2 blocks time. But in my race to arrive on schedule, and as I exit my apartment and pull the door to slam it shut, my flimsy full length mirror slides from its unstable perch and falls to the floor.

Cracked.

I have 200 tiny little pieces and seven years of bad luck to contemplate. As I painstakingly pick up the shattered slivers, I start to wonder about the reality of that old wives tale. Legend leads us to believe that a mirror not only reflects our outfits, but actually steals our soul. And when we New Yorkers run around with no time to spare and crowd our oh-so-tiny abodes leading to living room liabilities– we not only bump into and break our mirrors but we damage our destiny in the dealing. Since our cells and our souls are said to regenerate every 7 years, I may have several seasons of unseemly events to sort through.

Feeling like I could use a little luck, I went in search of a cure to combat my curse. I had hoped for a Ladybug landing or even a penny in my path, but no such luck. And unfortunately, the only wishing well I know is 2 hours east of here on Mill Race Road in my hometown of Hampton Bays. Finally, I found a food that would force my good fortune to return. Ancient Chinese tradition hints at the historical significance of rice as a source of good luck – which is one of the reasons we sprinkle the seed ceremoniously on the bride and groom. To combat my 7 years of instability, I must attempt to harness the healing and restorative recources of rice. But in my Italian neighborhood of Greenwich Village, the only suitable starchy seed to secure is the one found in the rice-centric Sicilian Arancini.

I spent last Thursday making Italian Rice Balls at Faicco’s Pork Store at 260 Bleecker Street. And without that full length mirror to monitor my appearance, the 10 hardworking and honorable hunks at Faicco’s must fill the gap. Indeed, Faicco’s is the only place I know that a self conscious single girl can walk into feeling a little uneasy and alone and, after a few supportive smiles, can walk out feeling like the loveliest lass in the village – and without a mirror in sight.

Internationally known – and for good reason – sandyhechtman.com

With my luck ready to run out and a rainstorm about to arrive, I step into Faicco’s small space and walk safely over the sawdust covered blue and white checkered tile floor. The soft yellow streamers hung from the ceiling serve to brighten this grey day. I’m compelled to step further into Faicco’s by the calling of the clear glass cases featuring house-made sausages in Sweet Italian, Hot Italian and Plain Sweet Italian – although there is nothing plain about the sweet Italian on the other side of the counter.

The streamers change seasonally. The customers stay the same.  Photo by Sandy Hechtman – sandyhechtman.com

SWEET, HOT, ITALIAN Sausages - Photo by Sandy Hechtman – sandyhechtman.com

Sweet Italian from Sorrento - Photo: sandyhechtman.com

At Faicco’s, you’ll never feel like a piece of meat-sandyhechtman.com

I have entered an old time meat market that has been holding its own for over a hundred years. I am the only female in sight and the staff seems eager for my arrival. I have never felt more welcomed. Judging by the line of ladies that forms around lunchtime for Faicco’s famous Italian Special Sandwich, I am not the only one who feels at home here at Faicco’s.

Awaiting my arrival – Photo by Sandy Hechtman – sandyhechtman.com

Carefully sidestepping the considerate compliments from Faicco’s baby-blue-shirted cast of lovable characters, I immediately go to work– hoping my rice ball creation will revive my fortune. I walk past the display cases filled with Pork Chops and Pinwheel Steaks and skip over the shelves lined with everything from anchovies to artichokes and escape to the secret space in the back of the shop. As I round the corner I get a glimpse of the coveted rice ball propped up like a pyramid behind the old-school-style sign. I only hope my rice ball preparation will yield equally appetizing results, and provide a little luck to spare.

Everything you need is in this tiny shop - Photo by Sandy Hechtman – sandyhechtman.com

The pride of Faicco’s – Photo by Sandy Hechtman – sandyhechtman.com

In fact, I’m already starting to feel just a little luckier than I did a few hours earlier. I’m about to be schooled by the chief of the shop. In a city of shiny facades and false fronts, and with so many avenues filled with awnings advertising the names of absentee or non-existent owners, here at Faicco’s, there actually is a Faicco - and his name is Eddie. By my side to teach me the tricks of his inherited trade is the ever popular Eddie Faicco – leader of the pack and owner of the shop.

Eddie Faicco – Photo by Sandy Hechtman – sandyhechtman.com

Coffee and our classroom – Photo by Sandy Hechtman – sandyhechtman.com

Behind the scenes and below the degrees- Photo by Sandy Hechtman – sandyhechtman.com

Watching & learning – Photo by Sandy Hechtman – sandyhechtman.com

Tricks of the trade-Photo by Sandy Hechtman-sandyhechtman.com

Faicco’s sells nearly 600 rice balls on their busiest day so I’ve got 600 chances at salvation. I have no time to waste. Eddie advises me as we combine our cheese-lovers trifecta of fresh ricotta, chopped mozzarella and grated romano. We mingle the mix together and add a sprinkling of seasoning: salt, pepper and parsley. Next, I suffer through the long process of laboring over 10 pounds of long grain carolina rice. Julio and I keep the flame low and the mixing to a steady speed. If we burn the bottom, our entire pot of rice is ruined and we’re all out of luck. For 15 minutes we steadily stir as each turn of the wooden paddle becomes a struggle to complete. Our only saving grace is the timed 10 minute break while we wait for our rice to thicken. Julio and I return to our mixing madness, combining the cheese trio with our ready rice. Eager to glean some luck from each grain – and while Julio isn’t watching – I sneak a taste as I bring the fantastic formula into the fridge where it will cool and become ripe for rice ball formation.

My lucky rice getting ready – sandyhechtman.com

The magical flavors mingle – sandyhechtman.com

Harder than it looks – sandyhechtman.com

While no one is looking, except for: sandyhechtman.com

Hoping the luck will rub off – sandyhechtman.com

It’s 10 minute resting place – sandyhechtman.com

With Julio on hand for advice, and Eddie always an earshot away, it’s time for Franco and me to mold each ounce into a full tray of 85 perfect portable bites. We drench them in egg wash, shower them with bread crumbs and dip them in the deep fryer. 85 down and 215 to go to complete today’s rice ball requirements. Franco works fast and he works hard. But according to him, he has a debt to repay to the ‘best boss in the world.’ As we round off those rice balls, Franco – with the passion of an Italian – fills me in on how he is forever indebted to Eddie Faicco. When Franco asked Eddie for a job, it became instantly clear that he didn’t need anyone new. But since Eddie has the biggest heart on all of Bleecker Street, he took him on anyway. Maybe these rice balls are lucky after all? Not only does Eddie take on the lost, lonely and unlucky, but he buys us breakfast every morning as well. In these tight quarters in the back basin of Faicco’s, it’s difficult to tell where one worker ends and another begins. They finish each others task and do so with speed and a smile. I’ve rarely seen 10 guys so talented and attentive. But then again, the father of this ‘family’ is worth working hard for.

Julio, finding my inabilities humorous – Photo by Sandy Hechtman – sandyhechtman.com

Getting the size right with an ice cream scoop – sandyhechtman.com

Almost edible – Photo by Sandy Hechtman – sandyhechtman.com

Teamwork at Faicco’s: Franco and me – Photo by Sandy Hechtman – sandyhechtman.com

Not quite perfectly round – Photo by Sandy Hechtman – sandyhechtman.com

Franco enjoying my still flawed rice balls – Photo by Sandy Hechtman – sandyhechtman.com

Perfectly round rice balls ready for breading – sandyhechtman.com

Hoping for no shells – sandyhechtman.com

A quick dip in the bread crumbs only adds to the flavor sandyhechtman.com

215 to go for today – Photo by: sandyhechtman.com

Almost complete – Photo by Sandy Hechtman – sandyhechtman.com

Final fryer phase – Photo by Sandy Hechtman – sandyhechtman.com

Eddie Faicco’s family arrived in America in 1897 and they opened Faicco’s Pork Store 4 years later. Eddie’s Great Grandfather (Edward) passed the store down to his Grandfather (Joseph) who handed it to his Dad and Uncle (Joseph and Edward) who proudly passed this shop and their Brooklyn store  on to Eddie and his two brothers. And if you arrive at Faicco’s on a Saturday afternoon, you might just see the next generation ready to force Eddie into early retirement: daughters Jillian and Gianna are always eager to stock the shelves and serve the sea of customers.

Just like his daughters, Eddie started his work behind the counter at age 7.  He began with one simple task: to crack open their Green Sicilian Olives with a wooden mallet. It was an all day affair. He’d place the olives upon a butcher block, which was worn down from repeated use, and crack each one of the 100 pound pail. Olives are often cracked so that they can absorb the curing materials faster resulting in a fuller flavor. After all that cracking, Eddie’s olives were bathed in oil, fresh garlic, chopped parsley and crushed red pepper. And since they’re cracked open, all that goodness can seep inside.

Cracked Olives – Eddie Faicco’s first job in the family business – sandyhechtman.com

I started thinking about my cracked mirror back at home and the poor luck that was predicted. The word cracked reminds us of broken-mirror-bad-luck and of step-on-the-crack-break-your-mother’s-back childhood rhymes. And looking deeper, I discovered the mid-15th century meaning of the word cracked to be defined as Mentally Unsound, Unstable, and Insane. But after one bite of Eddie Faicco’s Cracked Sicilian Olives, I started to think that cracking up and breaking the mold might not be so bad. I may have some shattered shards of glass waiting for me back home and I may not always follow a predictable path free of zig-zag nooks, crannies and cracks in my timeline, but in my mind and for my life, these dents and seams seem to provide the most flavor.

Faicco’s seems to support this very same philosophy. A few cracks and seams in it’s only-timely atmosphere only make for richer rewards. And while their sandwiches and other italian specialties are always top notch, Faicco’s sees no need for a shiny new makeover. This shop is one of the few you’ll find in New York City that is still filled with warm souls not fake smiles, real people not unnecessary artificial attitudes. Here you’ll find a personal touch as evidenced by the handwritten signs hanging everywhere and the absence of many modern technologies and corner cutting techniques. Faicco’s serves as a model for so many newly opened shops attempting to appear old fashioned. But this deli is the real deal. Faicco’s is one of the few in NYC that has achieved an utterly effortless authenticity, absent of any pretension or pomposity.

Equally appealing: The meat and the men at Faicco’s-Photo by: sandyhechtman.com

A little break with one of my Faicco’s favorites - Photo by Sandy Hechtman – sandyhechtman.com

Hand written with heart - sandyhechtman.com

Ladder

Lord knows you can’t avoid it sometimes,
you need to walk under a ladder –

but what about the bad luck?
Try this, if you have faith:

They say spit on your shoes and let the spit dry
and you are safe to walk on through.

I believe it. Sort of.
Do you?

 

My new friend, Wicki – Photo by Sandy Hechtman – sandyhechtman.com

Spreading the Poem in Your Pocket message for all – Photo by:  sandyhechtman.com

50.5 Million Can’t Be Wrong

By Mike Bloomberg – For Poem In Your Pocket Day

Hey there, fella! Lady, hey!
Didja hear? It’s “Poem in Your Pocket Day!”
Tenth anniversary—the bubbly’s flowing
People are cheering… yelling… Tebowing

Where best to celebrate this whole affair?
The Crossroads of the World—Times Square
Historic site of many a saga
And on New Year’s Eve… one Gaga

From across the globe, they visit here
50.5 million last year
Wanting to see all they’ve anticipated
Just follow directions—it’s not complicated

Bronx Zoo? (Take the 5 or the 2)
Rockefeller Center? (Walk 6 blocks, then enter)
Empire State? (Bus to Fifth, then go straight)
Ferry to Staten? (At the tip of Manhattan)
Unisphere in Queens? (Get there via several means)
NY Aquarium? (Too far for kids to walk. Just carry ‘em)
“Mamma Mia”? (Right behind you. See ya.)

So on this big birthday of PIYP
Have a fantastic day in NYC
Take in the town—there is so much here to do!
(Just have a Poem in Your Pocket when you do)

 

The well known & much loved Faicco’s Italian Special Sandwich/sandyhechtman.com

~Rice balls and story brought to you… lovingly… by Amy Bandolik.

http://archive.org/details/JamesAndWesBitterEndBluesJonHammondBand

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UThzX4hJLGg

Jon Hammond Band Late Set Showcase at The Bitter End Cafe kicking it off with James and Wes featuring Todd Anderson tenor saxophone, Joe Berger guitar, Ray Grappone drums, Jon Hammond at the new Hammond Sk1 organ as seen on Cable TV! The Jon Hammond Show is in it’s 28th year – original musicians from the recording sessions which happened in 1983 in Intergalactic Studios the same studio where John Lennon did his last recordings.
Jon Hammond is now playing the incredible New Hammond Sk1 organ designed by Jon’s friends at Suzuki Musical Instruments in Hamamatsu Japan. Swinging Funky Jazz and Blues. All 4 members of The Jon Hammond Band are members of Local 802 Musicians Union American Federation of Musicians New York City, congratulations Local 802 on 90th Birthday! *Note: This performance was streamed live on the world wide web, special thanks to John Acer and Clifford Schwartz of NuMuBu in Montreal Canada for the broadcast report. http://www.jonhammondband.com/

Jon Hammond Band Local 802 Musicians Union Sk1 Organ Suzuki Musical Instruments Swinging Jazz Blues — with Jon Hammond Band, Jon Hammond Organ Group, Joe Berger and Todd Anderson at The Bitter End.

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10150788592872102&set=vb.558692101

http://www.facebook.com/v/10150788592872102

Jon Hammond International Powered by WebTV MSNTV *LINK: http://community-4.webtv.net/laterent/JONHAMMOND/

JON HAMMOND International, Inc.

Official Website of JON HAMMOND *As seen on MCTV THE JON HAMMOND SHOW

World renowned musician/composer host of The Jon Hammond Show. Accordionist, Piano, Bandleader TV/Radio personality and Voice Over Artist. Member: American Federation of Musicians Union-Local 6 and Local 802, ASCAP Artist. To send mail to Mr. Hammond: POB #754 Times Square Station, New York, NY 10108 USA JON HAMMOND ™ American Jazz Accordionist Excelsior Accordion Exclusively Mr. Hammond’s clothing by DG William Uniform & Clothing Shanghai *New HammondCast radio shows, Listen *here:http://www.jonhammondband.com/music-29.htmlhttp://www.jonhammondband.com/music-26.htmlhttp://www.jonhammondband.com/music-25.htmlhttp://www.jonhammondband.com/music-24.htmlhttp://www.jonhammondband.com/music-23.html

My Moscow story with Igor Butman

Moscow Story : BLUES IN THE MOSCOW WHITE NGHTS

JON HAMMOND MUSIKMESSE 2004 PARTY Info link

Winter NAMM 2004 Pics

IAJE 2004 Pics by Jon Hammond

1970 Jon Hammond *image & George Clinton w/JH

IAJE 2005 Pictures by Jon Hammond

Russian Festival 2005 San Francisco

www.jonhammondband.com official site launched Feb. 22, 2005!

HammondCast Magnify.net

JON HAMMOND SHOW PODCAST HAMMONDCAST Program is Launched !!

Jon Hammond Show Podcast Hammondcast is now launched on Apple HammondCast Blogger URL: http://laterent.blogspot.comHammondCast 8 now on-the-air! *With Igor Butman, Cindy Blackman, Wallace Roney, Marc Baum and more, at:http://www.jonhammondband.com/music-15.html orhttp://www.ourmedia.org/node/66942HammondCast 7 now on-the-air! With Bernard Purdie, HADES, EDDIE MONEY and more from the archives going back to 1971! *click:http://www.ourmedia.org/node/63901 *Don’t forget to click “Play” button..crank it way up these are very old recordings!http://www.jonhammondband.com/music-14.html http://www.jonhammondband.com/music-13.html http://www.jonhammondband.com/music-12.html Live from Jazzkeller Frankfurt-Jon Hammond Band *a word from Eddie Money on Jon Hammond Show Podcast HammondCast: http://www.jonhammondband.com/music-11.html and http://www.jonhammondband.com/music-10.html http://www.jonhammondband.com/music-9.html and http://www.jonhammondband.com/music-8.html andhttp://www.jonhammondband.com/music-7.html Many more shows to follow so check back frequently. *Special Thanks: Leo Laporte of This Week in Tech Podcast show! Check out Leo’s live show from Apple SF Store:http://aolradio.podcast.aol.com/twit//TWiT0021H.mp3 and check out: http://thisweekintech.com/21?PHPSESSID=9851c2e9b47b3d8870e73cefc4e37efd ! *See Jon Hammond Guest Host on CNN:http://www.ourmedia.org/node/60726 !

My first band in 1966!

Tour de Force 1966! from left – right: John, Jon, George, Ringo, Paul Unfortunately 2 of the fellows have passed away now, but I’m doing better than all of them! www.jonhammondband.com

Jimmy Smith at 2005 IAJE

*Note: A sad note about the passing of Jimmy Smith, Feb. 9 2005 in Scottsdale AZ just one month after receiving NEA Jazz Masters Award. Jon Hammond said about Jimmy Smith: “He played more organ with one hand tied behind his back than many others!” His left side had been compromised for some time but he still out-grooved with right hand. For Jon Hammond’s 2005 IAJE jazz educators pictures:http://community.webtv.net/HammondsBolero/IAJE2005Picturesby

ALL JON HAMMOND RADIO…ALL THE TIME! Jon Hammond uses T-Mobile Sidekick II

http://community.webtv.net/laterent/ALLJONHAMMONDRADIO September 22, 2004 Jon Hammond puts the new advance release T-Mobile Sidekick II unit to work. “It’s awesome!” check it out at www.tmobile.com

Photo link

Link for black and white photos of Jon Hammond by press photographer TEDDY FUNG

JAZZ MAN by Maria Ciaccia

Jon Hammond’s first Billboard article, March 17 1984

™ Alternative To Clips On Cable – Billboard Magazine by KIM FREEMAN

Jon’s Bip.TV

Behind the Beat: Artist Feature by Steven Rosenfeld

Behind the Beat Artist Feature

Late Rent ASCAP Feature

MARK YOUR CALENDAR! Special Announcement! JUNE 22 & 23, at Shoreline Ampitheatre!! **Updated JON HAMMOND Itinerary International:

Where’s Jon?! Current itinerary dates at bottom, scroll down. Announcing to the people at Shoreline Ampitheatre that we have been invited back to be on the program of NEW ORLEANS BY THE BAY FOOD AND MUSIC FESTIVAL again next year by the Bill Graham Presents people in San Francisco, Cal. JUNE 22 & 23 at Shoreline Ampitheatre-NEW ORLEANS BY THE BAY FOOD AND MUSIC FESTIVAL!! Be sure and catch Jon Hammond & Band at John Lee Hooker’s BOOM BOOM ROOM Aug. 14 Outside concerts: Sept. 29-Boedeckker Park, Tenderloin SF Oct. 5-Yerba Buena Garden-SF Sept. 13- in San Jose Airport Southwest Airlines Boarding Area Oct. 10-Manhattan Plaza, New York City Oct. 31-Halloween Party, Laguna Honda Hospital Nov. 30-Boom Boom Room w/ James Brown’s drummer Erik Hargrove Dec. 5- Opera Plaza, S.F. Dec. 8- Laguna Honda Hospital Dec. 9-11 OLYMPIC VOYAGER Dec. 25- HHRC Club Jan. 8-11- Westin Rio Resort Puerto Rico March 7-11- Frankfurt Musikmesse 2001 March 9 & 10th- Jazzkeller Hofheim 15 jahr Jubilee Party! *Note: Special Thanks to the musicians…Erik Hargrove of James Brown Soul Generals, Kevin Mauder, Tyrone Starks, Christian Munchinger, Steven King, Tony Horowitz, Lee Oskar (WAR), and especially main man Robert Hutya of Mozarteum Orchestra Salzburg and brother Otmar Hutya for helping to make the shows at Musikmesse 2001 a big success!! **And Marco Galeazzi, Donatella and the Excelsior CEMEX team…Special Grazzia!! FRITZ Magazine-Manuel Schreiner, Joachim “Jo-Jo” Tucksen and Jazzkeller Hofheim team, Yucel “ALI” Atiker-Frankfurt, Jennifer Frizzell United Airlines, Scott Cooper-Universal Video Studios, Joe Berger-B.E.A.M. Audio. March 19th, 2001 Manhattan Plaza (my own birthday party with special friends!) June 23 & 24th, Shoreline Ampitheatre-New Orleans by the Bay Food and Music Festival March 2002- Musikmesse 2002 (16 year JUBILEE!) *March 2002…Return to the Jazzkeller Hofheim! BIG PARTY!! April 28th, 2001-Laguna Honda Hospital, 2 hour walkaround the wards with accordion April 30th, John Lee Hooker’s BOOM BOOM ROOM in San Francisco June 2-Laguna Honda Hospital, Clarendon Building June 9th 2001, Opening ceremonies for Emeryville California CITY HALL! June 9th pm-Fairmont Hotel, grand piano June 10th-Hotel Pierre, San Francisco June 15th-Laguna Honda Hospital, Clarendon Building *note! June 23 and 24th Shoreline Show with Bonnie Raitt and The Funky Meters! July 1-Boom Boom Room, S.F. July 10-Manhattan Plaza July 13-NDR Radio Broadcast Hamburg Germany July 17th-NOON TIME SHOW outside at 1275 Market St. San Francisco! August 25th-solo accordion at Laguna Honda Hospital, Clarendon Building August 29th-*NOTE! This show canceled NOON TIME SHOW outside at 525 Market St. San Francisco…don’t go. Sept. 20th: Taping: The Jon Hammond Show-big band arrangements of music of Led Zeppelin conducted by trumpeter Bill Warfield at Local 802 hall on W. 48th St. Manhattan **tune in on Time/Warner MNN TV! Sept. 30-Oct. 8th Hamburg Germany Oct. 27th-Laguna Honda Hospital Psych Ward, solo accordion in wards Oct. 27th-clubdate SF Nov. 3rd-Laguna Honda Hospitals, “doubles” 4 hours of continuous accordion music in the wards Nov. 5th-12th, recording sessions New York City Nov. 18th-Boom Boom Room, S.F. Dec. 12-Opera Plaza private holiday party Dec. 14-private christmas party Alfred Hitchcock bldg. Dec. 15-doubles in Laguna Honda Hospital Dec. 19-SF County Women’s Jail “Pod E” Women’s Jail Facility Dec. 21-Laguna Honda Hospital Dec. 27-Kwaanza Celebration with Ronnie Smith-drums at Laguna Honda Hospital Dec. 31-New Years party with Larry Schneider San Francisco HAPPY NEW YEAR 2002! Jan. 17 and 18 Jon Hammond at NAMM Anaheim! Jan. 19-solo accordion Laguna Honda Hospital Jan. 26-solo accordion in locked wards Laguna Honda Hospital Jan. 27-doubles in Laguna Honda Hospital Feb. 4th-Jury Duty New York City! March 1st-Smiley’s Schooner Saloon and Hotel, Bolinas CA with Barry Finnerty guitar March 4th-Jon Hammond Funk Explosion at Boom Boom Room SF March 14-Cafe KLEMM-Frankfurt March 15 + 16th-Jazzkeller Hofheim (Germany) March 30-solo show in Psychiatric Ward of Laguna Honda Hospital SF April 8-American Legion Post Building, 248 132nd St. Harlem NYC April 11-Cobb’s Corner-S.F. April 13-doubles at Lagua Honda Hospital April 25-Laguna Honda Hospital May 4-Laguna Honda Hospital May 10-Chicago-Green Mill + Chicago Brauhaus May 12-New York-American Legion Post 132nd St. Harlem May 18-Solo Piano FOUR SEASONS HOTEL S.F. May 19-Doubles: Laguna Honda Hospital S.F. June 1 – Doubles: Laguna Honda Hospital, solo on Casio MZ2000 June 6 – Bruno’s Nightclub and Restaurant S.F.,, trio on Hammond B3 organ June 7 – Bruno’s – trio gig and Police Sound Check pursuant to S.F. Police Commision Hearing June 12- solo piano at Bruno’s Nightclub June 14- organ trio at Bruno’s Nightclub SF. June 22 and 23-SHORELINE AMPITHEATRE-the 14th annual NEW ORLEANS BY THE BAY FOOD AND MUSIC FESTIVAL..opening show for Taj Mahal and Delbert McClinton! July 6- American Legion Post, Harlem NYC 132nd St. July 9- Recording session with Joe Berger NYC July 13- wedding in Nevada City CA July 19- Laguna Honda Hospital SF July 25- East Park Apartments’ “Tony” the maintenance man’s retirement luncheon S.F. July 25- Bruno’s Nightclub S.F. – organ trio Aug. 17- Wedding gig Central Park NYC Aug. 24- doubles accordion gig at Laguna Honda Hospital Aug. 25- Cotati Accordion Festival Aug. 27- Jon Hammond Trio at Bruno’s SF Sept. 6- session with guitarist Bill Wurtzel NYC Sept. 9- production meeting with Bernard Purdie Sept. 11- 9/11 United Airlines / Amercian Airlines Memorial Tribute to the Heroes in Washington Square Park NYC Sept. 19- 2 hour accordion concert Times Square Subway sation Sept. 22- recording session with Ronnie Smith and Alex Budman in Local 6 hall San Frandcisco Sept. 28th- Doubles accordion gig in Clarnedon Hall, Laguna Honda Hospital S.F. October 16-19 MUSIC CHINA Shanghai China! Oct. 16th evening, Jon will perform at the Shanghai Grand Theatre- Opening Night Reception of Music China with FangLin the phenomenal 14 year old accordion champion of China! While in Shanghai Mr. Hammond is a guest of the Renaissance Yangtze Shanghai Hotel: (0086).21-627.50000 Oct. 28- Laguna Honda Hospital, “doubles” solo Oct. 29- Recording at Local 6 hall SF Oct. 29- Bruno’s SF with Ronnie Smith/Alex Budman *spcl. guests: Michael Rinta & Joe Rodriguez Nov. 5/6- recording new record- Unique Studios Times Square NYC w/Alex Budman, Ronnie Smith and Joe Berger at the controls. Nov. 16- taping for TV: “Alice in Wonderland” show with Igor & Ilona Kisil and Company at the world-famous Odessa Nightclub in Brighton Beach Brooklyn Nov. 23- Osaka Japan-Rug Time w/ Midori Ono Nov. 27- Photo Shoot for cover: “Hammond’s Bolero” Brennan’s and train track Berkeley CA Nov. 30- Doubles Laguna Honda Hospital- SF Dec. 3, 4, 5- Studio sessions w/Joe Berger- NYC Dec. 10- Opera Plaza Christmas event- S.F. Dec. 16- SF County Jail #8, “Pod E” Dec. 21- Doubles Laguna Honda Hospital- S.F. Dec. 25th – Christmas show Laguna Honda Hospital Dec. 30 – Session with saxophonist Don Pender and drummer Bob Ramirez at Local 6 Union Hall Dec. 31 – New Years date CANCELED Horizons Sausalito…band replaced with gay dj “party”..don’t go! I’ll be flying to New York City just in time to catch the ball drop in Times Square. HAPPY NEW YEARS 2003! 2003 Gigs: My new album “Hammond’s Bolero” is coming out Jan. 9th! *info:http://community.webtv.net/laterent/HAMMONDSBOLERO It’s out now! Available directly from me. Jan. 16- NAMM Anaheim Jan. 21- Frankfurt Germany Jan. 22/23 NDR Radio Hamburg Jan. 24- Hamburg Germany- Birdland Jazz Club with Lutz Buchner- tenor sax, Heinz Lichius- drums *note: Birdland gig was packed!! **Hamburger Abendblatt newspaper wrote: Ob Doors-Liebhaber oder Baseball Freak: Sie alle lieben die SCHWEINEORGEL besser bekannt als Hammondorgel Ein Meister am Erzdamon der Musikinstrumente ist nomen est omen – Jon Hammond. Der Tastengott und TV – Pionier ist zurzeit mit Lutz Buchner, Ed Harris, und Heinz Lichius unterwegs, um Groove-Jazz mit maximaler Ausdrucskraft zum Besten zu geben. Am 24.1. (21Uhr) macht Jon Hammond Station im Birdland (Gartnerstrasse 122). Eintritt 9 Euro Feb. 1 – Laguna Honda Hospital solo show Feb. 14 – Happy Valentine’s Day everybody! My cd just went on sale at NYC’s oldest record store: COLONY RECORDS ! Broadway & W. 49th St. Feb. 15 – American Legion Post, 248 132nd St. Harlem NY with trumpetist Sheldon “The Big Dipper” Sweeper! Feb. 28 – Live on radio KPOO 89.5FM with JJ! March 1 – 4pm-Tower Records SF (Columbus & Bay St.) in-store party/concert with food and special guests! To promote new cd HAMMOND’S BOLERO with Jon Hammond Trio live March 5-9 Musikmesse Frankfurt Germany March 7th/8th-Jazzkeller Hofheim (near Frankfurt) Musikmesse party/concert with Harry Petersen-sax (HR Radio Band) and Heinz Lichius-drums (NDR Radio Band) *plus special guest LEE OSKAR March 17th-Radio appearance on Pete Fallico’s DOODLIN’ LOUNGE show at KUSP FM:www.KUSP.org streaming worldwide! March 29th-doubles Laguna Honda Hospital SF *Note: Canceled due to War: April 3-20th nightly show aboard world’s fastest cruise ship Royal Olympia Explorer Ft. Lauderdale to Portugal, Casablanca, Tunisia, Venice, Piraeus Greece April 20th- Easter Jazz Brunch at ROTH’S STEAKHOUSE W. 93rd & Coumbus New York City with Bill Wurtzel-guitar 12noon-4pm April 28th, 8.30pm-Release Party/Concert with Joe Berger and band at Le Bar Bat NYC on W. 57th St. May 3, 2.30pm – release party/concert with Alan Hall-drums and Alex Budman-tenorsax at RASPUTIN RECORDS on Telegraph Ave. Berkeley. Free Fantastic Food! and 1 hour concert! May 10- Laguna Honda Hospital, doubles May 22-Pumpkins, Brooklyn NY in trio with Clarence “Tootsie” Bean-drums, Bill Saxton-sax, Jon on XB-2 June 7-Irish Cultural Center with Jimi James 45th and Sloat San Francisco June 8-Laguna Honda Hospital June 9th at 3pm Pacific Time – live in-studios of KCSM radio with program director Jesse Chuy Varela! listen worldwide on stream! *click wwwKCSM.org June 21/22- First time in Moscow Russia! with incredible tenor saxophonist Igor Butman and Eduard Zizak-drums! – Le Club Moscow Hammond’s Bolero now on WBGO Rotation Playlist! June 27- WBGO visit with Gary Walker June 29- Special guest at WBGO Members Party June 30- 9:30pm East Coast time: worldwide streaming broadcast of The Jon Hammond Show tv show! channel 56 at www.MNN.org July 8- Crossroads in Garwood NJ, WBGO’s Stan Meyers hosting July 19- Jazz Brunch 12-4PM: Roth’s Westside Steakhouse NYC with Bill Wurtzel-guitar, Rudy Lawless-drums July 22- Roth’s Westside Steakhouse NY with guitarist Bill Wurtzel July 31- recording session w/Larry Newcomb-gtr. at Local 802 hall Aug. 6- Private Party Opera Plaza San Francisco Aug. 7- Virgin Megastore SF (Market/Stockton) in-store party/concert at 1PM with Ronnie Smith Jr.-dums, Marc Baum-tenor sax, jh-Hammond org. Aug. 8, 9, 10, 16- Laguna Honda Hospital Aug. 15- Radio interview taping with Louie Bellson at Jazz Nouveau San Francisco Sept. 6- American Legion Post, Harlem NYC 248, 132nd St. NY with Sheldon “Big Dipper” Sweeper-trumpet and special guests Sept. 8/9- Eddie Money Portland Maine Sept. 18- Guest of Jazz At Lincoln Center “Moscow Nights” concert with Igor Butman Bigband together with Wynton Marsalis’ Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, Alice Tully Hall Sept. 25th, CANCELED: 12Noon-1:30PM San Francisco Opera Plaza Fountain Sept. 27/28- Laguna Honda Hospital Oct. 2/4th- Laguna Honda Hospital Oct. 9- Featured on Voice Of America Radio (VOA) “Border Crossings Show”! Oct. 15-18th- Music China Shanghai China Oct. 17 & 18th- Portman Ritz Carlton Hotel Shanghai with drummer Danny Woody! saxophone tba Oct. 25th- Duo with Marc Baum- Fairmont Hotel Venetian Room SF for Lowell High School Sports Foundation Oct. 28/29th- 2 nights with Eddie Money! at Iron Door Saloon, Groveland California Oct. 29th- Solo at Hole #1 tee-off of Eddie Money Celebrity Golf Tournament, Pine Mountain Lake benefit for Tioga High School *Condolences to the Barsotti Family on the tragic death of Bettike Barsotti, she and surviving husband Peter are proprietors of Iron Door Saloon. Oct. 31-campaign work for relection of SF District Attorney Terence Hallinan, 724 Van Ness SF Nov. 1- Solo show at Laguna Honda Hospital Nov. 6- Cancelonie Nov. 15- Jazz Factory- Louisville Kentucky Nov. 19-23- Castelfidardo Italy Excelsior tour Dec. 4- Post Net one year anniversary party-Vallejo CA Dec. 9- SF County Jail #8 women’s facility Dec. 10th- Private party Opera Plaza San Francisco Dec. 11th- Laguna Honda Hospital Dec. 13th- secure psych ward gig Dec. 18-25- sessions in New York City Dec. 24th- Roth’s Westside Steakhouse Christmas Eve Show! 93rd & Columbus New York City Dec. 31- New Years at Hotel Charlotte Groveland CA 2004 Schedule: Jan. 7- Live KPOO 89.5 “Blues w/Noel Show”, 9-11AM…worldwide atwww.KPOO.com ! Jan. 8- Laguna Honda Hospital main building 7PM Jan. 15-18th- NAMM Show Anaheim Calfornia Jan. 21-25- IAJE Hilton Hotel New York City Feb. 2- 20th Anniversary of The Jon Hammond Show! which has run uninterrupted for 20 years. Cocktail reception at Roth’s Steakhouse Feb. 4- Trio with Bill Wurtzel and Rudy Lawless 6-10PM Feb. 5 & 6- Guest of James Brown Band at BB King’s NY Feb. 11th- Press Conference: Laurie Anderson “New Sound…New York” Feb. 12th- Session: Pumpkins Brooklyn, NY with Clarence “Tootsie” Bean, George Braith, Greg Lewis Feb. 18- Berklee College of Music workshop Feb. 20- Guest of Sons of Champlin, McNear’s Mystic Theatre, Petaluma CA Feb. 21- Laughing Duck Winery, Ukiah CA Feb. 22- Laguna Honda Hospital Feb. 22- Hilton Hotel Reno Nevada Feb. 23- Penn Valley, CA Feb. 23- Jon Hammond Show TV: Jazz Factory special from Louisville KY Feb. 28- Laguna Honda Hospital March 11- Guest Appearance with drummer Tootsie Bean at Pumpkins, Brooklyn NY *Carol Sudhalter-saxes March 12- Photo Session with Sheldon “Big Dipper” Sweeper and Dido the drummer at St. Nick’s Pub, 149th St. Harlem March 22- Roth’s Westside Steakhouse with guitarist Bill Wurtzel 6-10PM March 25 & 28- Laguna Honda Hospital March 31-April 4th- Musikmesse Frankfurt Germany April 2/3- Jazzkeller Hofheim Musikmesse Party! *with: Heinz Lichius-drums, Kevin Mauder-tenor sax, Joe Berger-guitar Mini-tour in North Germany *with: Heinz cLichius-drums, Gabriel Coburger-tenor sax, Joe Berger-guitar, Jon Hammond-organ April 5- Blue Montag: Ham-Berger Band in Harburg at Schnulze! April 7- Blue Moon Bar, Bremen Germany April 9- Birdland Hamburg Ham-Berger Band! with Heinz Lichius, tenor sax: Gabriel Coburger April 16- Laguna Honda Hospital San Francisco April 29- WBGO 25 Year Anniversary Celebration participation www.WBGO.org May 3- Guest with Jon Paris at BB King’s New York City May 6- Special Guest of Cirque Du Soleil Musicians at opening night Alegria at Randall’s Island NY May 14- Special Guest of Eddie Money at Northern Lights Albany/Clifton Park NY May 24- The Jon Hammond Show TV First-Ever All-Digital Broadcast! May 19, 21, 22, 24, 25, 26-WBGO studios fund drive June 5&6- Millennium Theatre Brooklyn: Filming Igor Butman Bigband & Larisa Dolina for Jon Hammond TV Show June 8- Birdland NYC: Filming Igor Butman Bigband & Larisa Dolina for Jon Hammond TV Show June 24- Hipbone Records’ studio session July 9- Rondure Music Club, 24 Prince St. (Soho) New York City, duo with saxophonist Tim Armacost July 17 & 18- Concerts in Moscow-CANCELED-Le Club with Igor Butman & Eduard Zizak July 24 & 25th- Laguna Honda Hospital July 28- KPOO Radio broadcast on “Blues With Noel Show” 10AM-2PM July 29&30th- Jon Hammond Quartet at Grant & Green in North Beach San Francisco Aug. 5- Laguna Honda Hospital SF Aug. 7- Laguna Honda Hospital SF Aug. 13- Duo with saxophonist Tim Armacost at Rondure Music Club/Restaurant NY www.rondurenyc.com www.timarmacost.comAug. 21- Jazzkeller Frankfurt returning after many years! with Kevin Mauder-tenor sax Joe Berger live DVD filming, join the party! Aug. 27- Schnulze, Harburg-Hamburg Germany Sept. 4- 19 Broadway Fairfax Cal. JH Band Sept. 19- Jazz Ambassadors Tour adjudicating-Canceled Sept. 17,18, 20,21, 22- WBGO 6AM Sept. 22- receiving first Sidekick II unit Oct. 2- Postponed: Accordion sub: Fiddler On The Roof on Broadway NYC Oct. 8- Guest of Joe Berger/David Marx, Huckapoo debut concert at Town Hall www.huckapoo.com Oct. 12- Laguna Honda Hospital SF Cal. Oct. 15- Laguna Honda Hospital Oct. 17- Fly to Shanghai China Oct. 19- Play at Ritz Carlton Hotel Shanghai with Danny Woody and shows at Music China through Oct. 23rd Oct. 28th- AES Berklee College of Music Alumni Night Oct. 30- Laguna Honda Hospital SF Oct. 31- Fly to New York Nov. 2nd- DON’T FORGET TO VOTE…For Kerry! Nov.3rd- VOA Radio 15:00 UTC Nov. 6- Cleopatra’s Needle NY Jon Hammond Quartet with Matt Smith-guitar & Tootsie Bean-drums & Brett Ryan-alto sax Nov. 13- Tunica Miracle Tour with Larry Liddell, Tunica Mississippi Nov. 14- WROX 1450 AM Blues radio appearance, Home of the Blues! Clarksdale Mississippi www.wroxblues.com Nov. 14- Guest at Aretha Franklin concert-Horeshoe Casino, Bluesville Robinsonville/Tunica MS *Special thanks: Larry Liddell Tunica Miracle! Nov. 22- Jon Hammond Show TV Show broadcast from Cleopatra’s Needle Club Nov. 25- Happy Thanksgiving! Turkey dinner on United Airlines flight Nov. 27&28th- Laguna Honda Hospital Dec. 6- Jon Hammond Trio live in SF County Jail #8, 4th year! Dec. 7- Laguna Honda Hospital Dec. 8- Live for 1 hour at 1PM on KCSM 91.1 Jazz Radio with Chris Cortez Dec. 11- Laguna Honda Hospital Dec. 12- Guest at Bobby Blue Bland concert, Diamond Hall SF Sunday Blues & Jazz Club Dec. 15- *note: Canceled, harpist hired: Private party: Opera Plaza SF Dec. 17- Laguna Honda Hospital Christmas Party Dec. 20- Microsoft’s *new MSN TV2 & Jon Hammond go online, streaming worldwide at the speed of light! Dec. 31/Jan. 1-Happpy New Years 2005! Times Square NY European tour support by Hammond Deutschland, Michael Maier Falkenstein: Hammond-Germany@t-online.deand Excelsior Accordions 2005 SCHEDULE: Jan 1- New Years Eve in Times Square NY! Jan. 3- Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse San Francisco Jan. 5-8 IAJE Convention Long Beach CA Jan. 6- ASCAP/IAJE Commissions Gil Evans Fellowship, Terrace Theatre Jan. 7- NEA Jazz Masters Awards Jan. 9- Laguna Honda Hospital Jan. 10-14- Macworld San Francisco Jan. 11- Meeting with Apple’s Steve Jobs ! Jan. 18- Laguna Honda Hospital Jan. 18 James Brown show, House of Blues Anaheim CA CANCELED Jan. 20-23 NAMM Anaheim CA Jan. 29- Laguna Honda Hospital Jan. 31- Local 6 Union Meeting Feb. 2- 21st year anniversary of Jon Hammond Show TV Show! Beginning 22nd year. Feb. 6- Laguna Honda Hospital Feb. 9- Laguna Honda Hospital Feb. 11- Laguna Honda Hospital Feb. 12- Laguna Honda Hospital March 12- EDITH PIAF CAFE-Paris France! March 14- ONE WAY CAFE- Paris France!-Canceled! (by me) March 17-funeral- Suisun Valley CA March 18- Laguna Honda Hospital SF CA March 28- Flying to Germany! Arrive Hamburg 3/29 Mar. 31- Multimedia with Michael August ILLUSTRATORP at VILLON in Hamburg by Hauptbahnhof! April 1 & 2- Hamburg Germany/NDR Radio April 5- Jazzkeller Frankfurt : Musikmesse 2005 Party! JON HAMMOND BAND April 6-9- Frankfurt Musikmesse April 15- Cleopatra’s Needle Club-NYC Tax Day Party! April 27-CANCELED! Promoter is out of there! Smith’s Restaurant Bar-NYC 44th St. May 28- Laguna Honda Hospital May 29- Laguna Honda Hospital June 4- Guest-Aretha Franklin Gospelfest June 4- late night: Guest- Igor & Illonka Kissil at Odessa in Brighton Beach Brookly June 5- WBGO Volunteers Party June 7- Southwest Airlines BWI Interview June 25- Laguna Honda Hospital June 27- Laguna Honda Hospital July 4- Laguna Honda Hospital (doubles) July 4- Guest- Shoreline Amitheatre 4th of July San Francisco Symphony Orchestra & Fireworks! produced by Mick Brigden July 6- Laguna Honda Hospital July 9- Laguna Honda Hospital July 23- Berklee College of Music Alum Songwriters Workshop July 27- Nursing Home show-NYC Aug. 27- Laguna Honda Hospital Aug. 28- Laguna Honda Hospital Sept. 5- Laguna Honda Hospital Sept. 6- Laguna Honda Hospital Sept. 16- Cleopatra’s Needle NYC Sept. 22- Nursing Home show-NYC Oct. 18- Music China Warm Up Party-Shanghai Ritz-Carlton Dec. 2-4 NDR Radio Studio 1 Hamburg Germany Dec. 8- Nursing home show NYC Dec. 19- Laguna Honda Hospital morning show Dec. 19- San Francisco County Jail #8 Pods D & E with JH TRIO: Marc Baum-t.sax, Jon Otis-drums Dec. 20- Laguna Honda Hospital Dec. 22- Las Vegas Mirage Hotel private party Dec. 24- Laguna Honda Hospital

Igor Butman & Gary Walker (WBGO Program Director/Host)

March 5th 2004, Friday morning bright and early at 7 in the morning, Igor Butman and I met at Port Authority Bus Station and I took Igor out to WBGO radio studios to be a special guest on Gary Walker’s morning broadcast. Here they are pictured outside the WBGO www.WBGO.org studios located at 54 Park Place in downtown Newark NJ. Gary had such a good time interviewing his old friend Igor that he stayed on the air 15 minutes past the normal end of his show. Later Igor and I spent a good part of the day kicking around the music stores on W.48th St. where Igor stocked up on supplies for his bigband members back in Moscow before his quartet gig in the evening at Birdland. I’ll be back in Moscow to play with Igor this coming July *link:http://community.webtv.net/GoldenPenMan/BLUESINTHEMOSCOW * SPECIAL THANKS from JON HAMMOND to the following people on my new LATE RENT remastered audiophile quality release of my greatest hits:http://community.webtv.net/ExcelsiorAccordions/SPECIALTHANKSfrom listen for it on radio WBGOwww.wbgo.org listener supported radio!

International Kultur and Multi Media Productions BackBeat Productions, New York USA San Francisco, Times Square office New York, New Yorklaterent@webtv.net www.callasong.de/hammond http://community.webtv.net/laterent/TheWorldsFastestwww.laterent.de European Tour Manager-ROBERT HUTYA r.hutya@web.de

Jon Hammond-RESUME Born: Chicago 1953 Instruments: Organ, Accordion, Piano Attended: Berklee College of Music, Boston 1974. Currently studying International Business on Internet at City College of San Francisco under Professor Bruce Lilienthal Languages: English, German Musician: Jon has played professionally since age 12. Beginning as a solo accordionist, he later played Hammond B3 organ with a number of important San Francisco bands. His all-original rock group “Hades” opened shows for Tower of Power, Quicksilver Messenger Service and Michael Bloomfield. Eddie Money and Barry Finnerty became musical associates. Moving east, he attended Berklee and played venues as diverse as Boston’s “Combat Zone” and the exclusive Wychmere Harbor Club in Cape Cod, where he was house organist and developed a lasting friendship with House Speaker Tip O’Niel. He also toured the Northeast and Canada with the successful show revue “Easy Living”, and continued his appearances at nightclubs in Boston and New York. Subsequently Hammond lived and traveled in Europe, where he has an entusiastic following. TV/Video Producer: In 1981 Jon formed BackBeat Productions. Assisted by Lori Friedman (Video by LORI), the innovative TV show became a Manhattan Cable TV favorite. Jon’s “Live on the Street” video style included news events, as well as live music/video clips of Dizzy Gillespie, Paul Butterfield Jaco Pastorious, John Entwistle, Sammy Davis Jr. and Percy Sledge. The weekly show ran uninterupted for 21 years and influenced the broadcasts of David Letterman and others. Billboard Magazine hailed Jon’s show as “The Alternative to MTV”. The Jon Hammond Show can be seen worldwide at various times from www.MNN.org on Channels 56 and 108 in Manhattan. Media Personality: Host and narrator of his TV show, as well as co-host of numerous radio braodcasts, Jon has defined a musical and personal style that is unmistakable. As Musical Director, Producer and Host of The Jon Hammond Show, Mr. Hammond formed a unique multi-media music group. This spring they will return to Europe to perform at the Frankfurt Musikmesse for 22nd year Jubilee! Hammond has produced a live Sennheiser Microphone CD release, and played throughout Germany, France, Austria, Switzerland and Czech Republic. October 16th 2002 Mr. Hammond performed in duo together with FangLin, the Chinese accordion champion sensation to inaugurate the new international trade show-MUSIC CHINA at the official opening reception in Shanghai China! Description: “The Jon Hammond Show” is a funky, swinging Jazz instrumental revue, featuring notable international soloists and reflecting the influences of The Crusaders, Miles Davis, and Jimmy Smith. The show has universal appeal. Members of the “Jon Hammond Show” house band have included David “Fathead” Newman, Bernard “Pretty” Purdie, Alex Foster and Cornell Dupree. Member local 6, local 802 and ASCAP contact: JON HAMMOND International, Inc. kontakt: Hammond Suzuki Deutschland Michael Maier-Falkenstein: (011).49.7345.919.293 fax 294 SF/New York/FRA Jon’s music is currently getting radio play in 13 countries.

Jon Hammond Spokesperson for Musikmesse on American Forces Network TV!

Mr. Hammond hosting a special tour and promotion of the International Musikmesse in Frankfurt on American military tv! American Forces Network Radio/TV provides programming to the men and women of the American Forces around the world where ever they are. Jon Hammond has broadcast live on the military band on the “Powerlite Show” with in-depth interview and live playing in-studio with his band. And as special host on AFN TV’s “Profile Show”!

Jon playing the World’s Largest Hand Built Accordion!

Jon is playing the World’s Largest Hand Built Accordion at the Musikmesse 2002, Frankfurt Germany. It was built by the legendary accordion craftsmen of Castelfidardo Italy.

BOB POPYK of AFM’s INTERNATIONAL MUSICIAN Magazine profiles JON HAMMOND in his monthly motivational column: FOCUS ! Focus International Musician, July 2005 Whatever Happened to Those Jazz Clubs on Every Corner? I live in a city of about 250,000 people. Vinnie Falcone, a member of Local 369 (Las Vegas, NV) who played and conducted for Frank Sinatra, and now works with Steve & Eydie and Robert Goulet, used to live and work here. That was about 35 years ago. When he wasn’t selling pianos for a local Hammond/Steinway dealer, he probably played in almost every club within a 20-mile radius of here at one time or another. There were tons of them. Falcone and I talked about this just the other day. We came up with the names of the clubs that used live music five to seven nights a week. They could be found on almost on every street corner. Now they are all gone. Jazz groups, blues bands, singles, duos, and trios were always working; and if you came up with a new group you could, in all likelihood, find a club owner who would give you a shot. Unfortunately, that is no longer the case. It’s tough to make a living as a jazz musician today. But É you can make a living if you work at it. Like most things, I think it’s just a matter of wanting it badly enough. One thing I’ve found out from the readers of this column is that musicians seem to be divided into two segments: 1) musicians who won’t play anything they don’t like or any venue that doesn’t suit them; and 2) musicians who need to work because they need to pay their bills and find all kinds of ways to fill their calendar. I still get occasional letters from readers who say that it’s not their fault that they are not getting enough work. I guess then the logical question would be: whose fault is it? I really appreciate the insight of those musicians who have creative and interesting ways of finding work, and I sympathize with the musicians who need to get out there and find gigs just to pay the rent. I don’t have all the answers, but a lot of our fellow AFM members have some very good answers. One in particular is Jon Hammond, a member of Local 802 (New York City) and Local 6 (San Francisco, CA). Hammond has found a way to get his own TV show broadcast on Time Warner Cable and RCN cable access, he has produced a CD that gets airplay on jazz radio stations around the world, and he plays at Music Performance Fund (MPF) gigs on a regular basis on both coasts. He has booked himself on several European tours, played jazz clubs in Germany and many other locations in Europe, year after year, and has found a way to obtain instruments from national manufacturers for endorsements, advertising, or trial. Hammond is also a perfect example of “success being in the mind of the beholder.” When he put together his first self-booked German tour 20 years ago, he saved up enough money to fly to Europe on Pakistan Airlines. He only had $50 in his pocket when he landed there. Hammond came home 10 months later with $150 in his pocket. He was able to pay for rent, food, and everything he needed during his time on the road in Europe. He wasn’t rich, but he was happy–and he firmly believes it was also a terrific learning experience. Over the ensuing years Hammond has performed with some of the world’s top jazz musicians, and he now lives in midtown Manhattan and plays any and every job he can, on either coast. Money is not his prime motivation. He just loves to play. He makes it work, through sheer hard work, and he prides himself on being a union musician. If you are a jazz musician, perhaps you might like to ask him some questions of your own, and share some ideas. Hammond is very approachable. Ask him about how he put together his TV show, how he successfully gets radio airplay, how he lands MPF gigs, and how, through it all, he always keeps money coming in to pay the rent. He’s found a way to do state-funded programs in prisons, nursing home gigs, and casual dates in clubs. (He’s scrambled so much over the years that his new CD is called Late Rent.) Hammond does not play for free. He finds ways to get paid. He agrees that the only thing you get out of playing a free gig is the opportunity to do another free gig. I know jazz musicians can have a tough struggle, and it’s true that there simply are not as many places to play as there once were. But that is not to say that jazz players can’t find work. Venues have changed, clubs have closed, but people still want to listen to cool sounds. Jazz festivals in major cities are still popular. Radio stations still offer jazz programs. PBS stations showcase jazz artists in their programming. It’s just not as easy to make money at it as it once was, but you can still make a living. I don’t have all the answers. I think Hammond has some. I bet if you brainstorm with your fellow AFM members who specialize in jazz, you can go one better and come up with a lot of other ideas yourself. A positive attitude is obviously going to play a big part, but if you want to play jazz and make a few bucks, there are certainly ways to do it. It really is a matter of wanting to be a jazz musician badly enough. –Bob Popyk is a member of Local 78 (Syracuse, NY) and Local 47 (Los Angeles). BACK

*NEWS FLASH: Jon Hammond Trio appearing first time in Russia’s top jazz venue: Le Club Moscow-June 21/22! **JON HAMMOND NEWS FLASH: Hammond’s Bolero now available on Apple iTunes Store! New for 2004 Jon was presented by the great Russian tenorsaxophonist Igor Butman and Faina Antonova for his very first appearance in Russia at supper jazz club “Le Club” in Moscow Russia June 21/22, 2003! Nastarovya! *Moscow story: http://community.webtv.net/GoldenPenMan/BLUESINTHEMOSCOW

Trio with TONY LAKATOS Hungarian saxophonist

Solo, Duo, Trio, Quartett or BIG BAND everything to fit your Budget Needs!!

artist rep HAMMOND SUZUKI DEUTSCHLAND, EXCELSIOR ACCORDIONS Musical Styles: swingin’ Funky Jazz and Blues, Bossa Nova, Ballads, ROCK and Ethnic 39th year in business.

THE JON HAMMOND SHOW is a Music and Travel Soft News Program, featuring Top International Soloists. 17 years Time/Warner TV New York The show has Universal Appeal Stay tuned for JH SHOW coming your way soon, streaming on the World Wide Web!

Jon Hammond uses Sennheiser Akkordeon Amplification Microphone System… evolution series,,,defining sound “The FINGERS….are the SINGERS!”

JON HAMMOND-EXCELSIOR 940/SENNHEISER

The classic sound of Excelsior 940 Tone Chamber Accordion through house system of Shoreline Ampitheatre utilising the custom Sennheiser Akkordeon Amplification System at the 12th annual New Orleans by the Bay Food and Music Festival

Together again with THE JON HAMMOND SHOW DANCERS!

Catch the Jon Hammond Show-Music and Travel Soft News Program on Time/Warner Cable TV New York

Jon Hammond & Willie Brown

Mayor Willie Brown (San Francisco) came to see his good friend Jon Hammond of SF’s Local 6 play with Danny Woody at Portman Ritz Carlton Hotel Shanghai CHINA (SF/Shanghai Sister Cities)

Jon Hammond

Live at Shoreline Ampitheatre!

S-Bahn to FRANKFURT!

I never ride BLACK!

My setup for Shoreline Ampitheatre Shows

The Hammond B3 that I’ve had since 18 years old. XB-2 on top Excelsior 940 Tone Chamber Accordion at right

Putting the Hamburger on the Grill!

“The FINGERS…are the SINGERS!”

HAMMONDNOISE…HAMMOND EXPLOSION!

HAMMOND EXPLOSION in COOL MONDAY Zurich, Switzerland. The posters were all over town when we got there!

Duo with MARC BAUM-sax

I actually went to Kindergarten with Marc Baum and played in first bands together age 13. The only one who knows me longer than Marc is my mother!

Jon Hammond Show Image

Image seen on DiamondVision Times Square screen 80 times daily for one year (3.5 minute clip)

Jon Hammond Show image

From Private Eyes reel New York City

JON HAMMOND : JAZZ MOSCOW RUSSIA!

Celebrating the Diplomatic Power of Jazz

Jon Hammond Show image

Coils by LORI

Barry Finnerty and Jon

In Lubeck, Germany with long time musical partner BARRY FINNERTY on guitar..that’s history now!

T-Bone Steak Mobile

My first days in portable broadcasting mobile on tour-New York 1980

JOE BERGER Link-up page

JOE BERGER, known in the biz as “The BERGER-MEISTER” has been an integral part of JH Show since 1986. He has mixed records and played with the Who’s Who..including JOHN ENTWISTLE of the WHO…that’s right!! JOHN ENTWISTLE….OF THE WHO!!! THIS IS YOUR LUCKY DAY! go to Joe’s website:www.jbimpromptu.iwarp.com http://jbeam.s5.com The Berger-Meister can be contacted directly atjoeberger_10001@yahoo.com He is currently touring with the new sensational Atlantic Records act DREAMSTREET, coming your way soon on their Mall Tour. Seen above: Berger and Hammond performing at Frankfurt Musikmesse-The HAM-BERGER BLUES BAND! put the Ham-Berger on the grill…or in your CD Machine!

Classic Hammond Sound in a Suitcase Seminare

Hammond doing the famous CLASSIC HAMMOND SOUND IN A SUITCASE SEMINARE at MUZIKA trade show PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC

Hammond with Bernard Purdie and Moms…

That’s me with my mom Edythe, Juanita Escovedo (Mrs. Pete) and legendary studio drummer Bernard Purdie. Juanita is Sheila E’s mom. We are at Pete’s club in Berkeley Cal. called Mr. E’s..recently moved to Alameda.

Hammond in Reinach/Aargau Switzerland!

JH with Tommy Schneider of Hammond Times, Herbert from Hammond Nostalgie Club and drummer Andreas Neubauer…1959 B3 inside van!

Hammond Live At CITY HALL SAN FRANCISCO

This show was sponsored by City Hall and Bank of America. Definately had to break out the B3 there!

ShowTime at the Shoreline Ampitheatre with the Late Rent Session Men!

from left to right: Barry Finnerty-guitar Larry Schneider-saxes James Preston-drums Marc-BGP sound mixer Jon Hammond-organ/accordion leader

Poster Boy for Kart-a-Bag USA!

If you go to the Kart-a-Bag website, it is possible to WIN a Jon Hammond Model Super 600 Kart-a-Bag! Exactly like the one on the poster with me that I have used on my world tours.

Classic Beetle Bug!

Hammond with classic VW Beetle in Steinebach in Bayern. On right, Barry Finnerty & Otmar Hutya

COOL MONDAY SHOW, Zurich Switzerland

Hammond on stage with Christian Muenchenger and Barry Finnerty in Club Xtra COOL MONDAY Show Zurich. Tommy Schneider brought the B3 for me.

Original Entwistle Beatle Art!

Original piece of Beatle Art done for me and signed by John Entwistle…of the WHO!

Jazz Kneipe on Berliner Str. 70, Frankfurt Germany

I played 207 gigs in Jazz Kneipe Frankfurt, until Regina finally closed the doors for good! Was the coolest after hours club on the Frankfurt Jazz Scene. On tenor sax Sgt. Al Wittig U.S. Air Force. Barry Finnerty-guitar. JH on XB-2 Hammond Organ

Tower of Leslie Power!

With Michael Maier Falkenstein and the incredible Tower of Leslie Power at the Hammond Germany Museum, best in the world!

Snow Storm!

My apartment in Times Square New York after the big Snow Storm! First time in history U.S. Mail was cancelled due to weather!

Poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti & boy…Paris 1981

I took this foto of Ferlinghetti with my Nikon F3 in front of Shakespear and Company book shop in St. Michel Paris 1981. The boy is no longer a boy! Ferlinghetti looks about the same.

American Forces Network…The Power Network!

Here I am at the microphone of AFN Europe Headquarters in Frankfurt Germany, broadcasting LIVE WORLDWIDE on the Power Network!!

Hammond with S.F. District Attorney Terence Hallinan

Here I am with old friend, the honorable Terence Hallinan, San Francisco District Attorney. I had the honor of leading the band at his birthday party celebration last Dec. here in S.F.!

Boston Combat Zone at 21 years old

Here I am during the days when I was backing up the striptease shows 7 nights a week in Boston’s Combat Zone. You can see one of the bottles that some guy probably paid 400 bucks for a short time wih one of our lovely entertainers at the World Famous 2 o’clock lounge. On left you can see the blond Fender Bandmaster I bought at at Leo’s Music Store when I was 13 years old! My 1957 Gibson CF100 in my hands.

Hammond with Eddie Money!

This was back when we were 2 skinny kids, at my youngest sister’s Bat Mitzvah in 1976 Berkeley, California.

BAVARIAN LINE DANCERS…at Steinebach Bahnhof!

On the HAMMONDNOISE 2000 Tour in Bayern. from left to right: Otmar Hutya, Barry Finnerty, Robert Hutya, J.H.

13 year old Junior Jazz Champion!

That’s how I looked at 13 years old with my Giulietti Tone Chamber Accordion (that was stolen 25 years ago in Boston) and my trophy. I was 13…but I was an OLD 13!

Jon Hammond Big News in Salzburg!

When I woke up in the hotel next to Mozart’s house, I looked at the morning paper and found myself big time on the back cover of the Salzburger Nachtrichten! I was a guest next day at the Stadthalle, where they had me sign in on the VIP Guest Book for Salzburg. The picture was taken the night before and in the morning paper!

Feature article in Jazz Podium Magazine!

The FINGERS are the SINGERS! JON HAMMOND was the headline in Jazz Podium, Germany’s oldest Jazz Magazine.

107 floors up at Windows on the World

Dinner with Derek Tracy, my producer of “Get Back in the Groove” DTI records..at top of the World Trade Towers 107 floors up…it’s hard to believe WTC is tragically no longer there.

CBGB’s on the Bowery, New York!

Jon with producer guitarist Joe Berger and co-leader guitarist Barry Finnerty just before show time at legendary New York Rock Club CBGB’s!

Press Cruise to Bermuda with Joe Berger!

Ham-Berger on a roll!! Our first Press Cruise to Bermuda on the maiden voyage of m.v. Horizon, New York to Bermuda…dynamite! We highly recommend Celebrity Cruises! The cuisine created by award winning executive chef Michel Roux was DELICIOUS! Especially the Grand Buffet…Yeah!

Late Night Steak Dinner in Hippo, Paris France

We just finished a big live broadcast on RADIO FRANCE INTER with pianist Francoise Pujol (at left), Barry Finnerty (middle), myself on right with my lucky hat on! I am one of few American boys to be presented in concert by Radio France Inter!

In Concert at the Big Musikmesse Frankfurt Germany!

Here we are on the main stage (buhne) in the Galleria of Frankfurt International Musikmesse. Barry on left, drummer Andreas Neubauer from Frankfurt and myself on right. Next March will be my 22nd consecutive Musikmesse. Always one of the hightlights of the year for me!

Jon Hammond Show on Giant Video Screen Times Square!

There I am with Lazy Larry under the giant DiamondVision screen Times Square. My show appeared for 3.5 minutes 80 times daily for one year. Plus we did a super psychedelic countdown for New Years Eve that was seen by millions around the world. After wishing the people Happy New Year!, The screen said, “Watch THE JON HAMMOND SHOW Friday nights at 6pm on MCTV!

Artist depiction by Harburg Artist Michael August

Michael painted this picture of me from a concert I did in the famous REGINA STRIPTEASE CLUB on Gr. Freiheit , Reeperbahn Hamburg. The place was packed upstairs and downstairs after Knut Benzner got us a nice press article in the Mo Po!

Main Man KNUT BENZNER at NDR Radio Hamburg!

There’s Knut in the studio of NDR cutting his “Jazz All Blues” Show together. Knut was my sponsor for 2 years in Hamburg. On the radio, he sounds like the voice of God!

Jon Hammond Show in the Field

There I am in New York City with my black BMW R100RT and one of the first prototype Sony Betacams from Sony Broadcast on loan to us for field testing on The JH Show.

My White Grand Piano in Pacific Heights S.F.!

There I am with my Artist’s Model C3 Conservatory Size 6 foot Yamaha Grand Piano that I bought from Peter Frampton (he had 3 pieces). That was my only furniture in the apartment. Just the white piano, a Hammond B3 and an accordion and futon. I did a lot of my writing on that piano.

6 months at old Trident in Sausalito on the water!

Tenor saxophonist Bennett Friedman, James Preston drums and Terry Haggerty guitar (of Sons of Champlin) JH at org. This was the original club built by the Kingston Trio (If I Had A Hammer and Michael Row the Boat Ashore). The Trident was a favorite party place for the Rolling Stones and other famous hipsters. Now called Horizons Restaurant…you can tie up your 150 foot boat right outside the window!

Jon and Eddie Money at top Empire State Building!

Here we are in sub-zero temperature on very top observation deck of Empire State Building. I used to take a 2-way radio up there and broadcast promos for up-coming gigs around New York City…good place to broadcast from!

Hammond with PICO and Star Club survivors St. Pauli Hamburg!

There I am with Pico, when I played on his show about his life working at the legendary Star Club with the Beatles, Rattles, Chuck Berry and others on the Reeperbahn. This guy was the original deal. He is still there working on the Deutsche Bundesbahn and living on the Hein Hoyer Str. in St. Pauli. Amazing guy and life story. I met some of the originals playing there at the Delphi Music Theatre.

First trip to Paris in 1981!

There I am taking care of business in my room at the 5 star L’hotel in Paris France in 1981. This is the place where Oscar Wilde lived out his last days. A favorite low key place where the Rolling Stones and others like to stay. There is no sign indicating it is a hotel. You will see only the golden ram’s head above the door on Rue de Beaux Arts in St. Germain on the left bank.

Dinner for 1 downstairs at L’hotel!

The tree grows right up through the ceiling, and it is like a Fellini movie in there at night. I enjoyed every bite of that meal…perfectly content to enjoy my own company there in my Armani suit. I used to dress up every day for no particular reason back in those days!

On the Job at John’s Place in Saarbucken Germany!

This was one of my first steady gigs in Germany in 1991, at a place called John’s Place in Saarbrucken on Bleich Str. It is very near the French border there, and there was a healthy mix of German and French people in the after hours place. I am wearing my lucky tie there and my father’s white shirt for good luck!

Scene from the stage at Jazzkeller Frankfurt 1992!

That’s how it looked from the stage of my show at the famous Jazzkeller in Frankfurt. The show was sponsored by Philip Morris Tobacco. I don’t smoke, but they gave me cartons of cigarettes to give away, all my friends in Germany were overjoyed to receive free cigarettes! The place was packed…Herb Ellis is sitting in the front row. That’s my friend Tino holding the video camera at right.

Broadcasting on pirate Radio Tomate Paris France!

There I am speaking to the French on legendary pirate Radio Tomate in a secret location in Paris. The pirates there actually were squatting in the building. They were very creative…the electricity was brought in and phone lines from unknown sources. The place was manned 24 hours a day. This was in 1981 when the Socialist government was still in power.

Onstage at original legendary FILLMORE!

There I am on the bandstand of the original Fillmore Auditorium with bandmates Barry Finnerty and James Preston. The original location where I had seen so many fantastic shows as a teenager…right there at corner of Geary Blvd. & Fillmore S.F., Cal. Took me 30 years to get the gig there! We were on the bill with The Sons of Champlin (James is also drummer of Sons) Friday June 4th, 1999. The Fillmore was closed for a long time, but it was lovingly restored by the BGP people in 1994 as a tribute to founder Bill Graham. I was there at the opening party, invited by my old friend Bob Barsotti. It was a great party! Bob doesn’t forget his old friends….he sent us a beautiful bottle of Moet Champagne in a bucket of ice with a nice card to our dressing room when we played this gig. I will never forget that gig. The audience was very responsive, and it fulfilled every expectation to be there playing on that very special stage. fotos by John Warne

Hootenanny for KPFA Radio 1966!

Here I am in a press photo for one of my earliest gigs…a HOOTENANNY for Pacifica Radio Station KPFA in Berkeley California. When was the last time you were at a Hootenanny?!

October 1968 Berkeley California

Here I am during my radical Vietnam War protesting days in 1968!

Flower Power…1969!

16 years old, and I was a super freak..free as a bird! I feel sorry for those who never got to experience the free spirit of those times. We had very little to worry about. Everything was cheap, there was no Aids and the ladies seemed to like my curly hair. That year I was made in to a cartoon character in a comicbook about Natural Hair Care put out by Rolling Stone Magazine. I thought I would be retired by the age of 25…boy, was I wrong!

1971 HADES, original rock band

HADES means HELL, and we were 4 little devils. There we are pictured in the grave yard in El Cerrito California. L. to R. Steve Wright, Jim Thorsen, Dave Danza, JH. All our material was original and we used to practice 5 days a week in a garage where our road crew lived. We had a truck with Hades license plates, a good sound system, 2 roadies and a manager, Jerry Figgoni. This was one of the tightest bands out of the East Bay. We played very often at a hot rock club in those days called, The Longbranch Saloon on San Pablo Ave. in Berkeley. We came very close to some big success with Hades, but then it finally broke up.

Jon Hammond & Chris Cortez in KCSM

Jon with host/producer Chris Cortez in studios of KCSM, the Bay Area’s Jazz Radio Station!www.kcsm.org

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*WATCH THE VIDEO: Prototype Sk1 World’s First gig Head Phone Jon Hammond Band

http://www.archive.org/details/JonHammondSk1HeadPhoneJonHammondBand/

http://www.ourmedia.org/media/sk1-head-phone-jon-hammond-band

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World’s First Road Test of Hammond Suzuki Sk1 Stage Keyboard by Jon Hammond at his annual Musikmesse-Session in Jazzkeller Hofheim on Friday April 8th 2011
Jon Hammond Band – Joe Berger guitar, Giovanni Gulino drums, Peter Klohmann tenor saxophone
“HEAD PHONE”
Special Thanks Hammond Suzuki, Michael Falkenstein, Malc Deakin, Ken Atsumi, Waichiro ‘Tachi’ Tachikawa, Shigeyuki Ohtaka, Yu Beniya, Bernie Capicchiano – Bernies Music Land, ‘Tachi’ Tachikawa, President Manji Suzuki, Camera: Jennifer
http://www.HammondCast.com

Music

Sk1 Sk2 Prototype Jazz Late Rent Suzuki Instruments Musikmesse Jon Hammond Hamamatsu Frankfurt Digital Analog Hofheim am

http://vimeo.com/22803013

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cb7HHYzE9Gs

Filmed in Hammond-Showroom Karlstrasse 38
D-89129 Langenau Germany on April 19th 2011
“Meet The Incredible Sk1 Hammond with Michael Falkenstein and Jon Hammond”
First look at this exciting new keyboard product weighing in at 7 kilos, just over 15 lbs., it sounds like a real Hammond B3 organ with Leslie, or a full size grand piano, any type of famous vintage electric piano or synthesizer. This keyboard does it all and with original Hammond drawbars and it’s feather light. Sk1 has a built in USB flash drive input, the keys are ‘bullet proof’ waterfall style keys that can hold up to extreme pressure of rockin’ rock musicians, swinging jazz musicians and can even sound like a huge pipe organ. This film will blow your mind.
Available June 2011, contact Michael Falkenstein Hammond Suzuki Deutschland Europe http://www.hammond.de/kontakt.html
Camera: Jennifer
Special thanks, Hr. Klaus Maier founder of Hammond Germany, Suzuki Musical Instruments Chief Engineers Hiromitsu Ono, Ken Atsumi, Malc Deakin Hammond UK, Jennifer Schiele, Waichiro ‘Tachi’ Tachikawa, Bernie Capicchiano Bernies Music Land, Dennis Capiga Hammond Suzuki USA, Jan Kok & Siem Lassche of Hammond Suzuki – dedicated to the Samurai Spirit of Japan during the recovery, we send our most sincere thanks and wishes for a speedy recovery to our good friends in Japan.
Sincerely, Jon Hammond
enjoy this film of the incredible Sk1 Hammond Stage Keyboard in action with 2 veteran players http://www.HammondCast.com

Late Rent Sessions, The Bitter End, Jon Hammond Show, Sk1 organ, Blues, Funk, Soul, Greenwich Village, Bleecker Street, Jazz, Local 802, Musicians Union, Cable TV Show

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UThzX4hJLGg

Jon Hammond Band Late Set Showcase at The Bitter End Cafe kicking it off with James and Wes featuring Todd Anderson tenor saxophone, Joe Berger guitar, Ray Grappone drums, Jon Hammond at the new Hammond Sk1 organ as seen on Cable TV! The Jon Hammond Show is in it’s 28th year – original musicians from the recording sessions which happened in 1983 in Intergalactic Studios the same studio where John Lennon did his last recordings.
Jon Hammond is now playing the incredible New Hammond Sk1 organ designed by Jon’s friends at Suzuki Musical Instruments in Hamamatsu Japan. Swinging Funky Jazz and Blues. All 4 members of The Jon Hammond Band are members of Local 802 Musicians Union American Federation of Musicians New York City, congratulations Local 802 on 90th Birthday! *Note: This performance was streamed live on the world wide web, special thanks to John Acer and Clifford Schwartz of NuMuBu in Montreal Canada for the broadcast report. http://www.jonhammondband.com/

Jon Hammond Band Local 802 Musicians Union Sk1 Organ Suzuki Musical Instruments Swinging Jazz Blues — with Jon Hammond Band, Jon Hammond Organ Group, Joe Berger and Todd Anderson at The Bitter End.

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Jon Hammond International Powered by WebTV MSNTV *LINK: http://community-4.webtv.net/laterent/JONHAMMOND/

JON HAMMOND International, Inc.

Official Website of JON HAMMOND *As seen on MCTV THE JON HAMMOND SHOW

World renowned musician/composer host of The Jon Hammond Show. Accordionist, Piano, Bandleader TV/Radio personality and Voice Over Artist. Member: American Federation of Musicians Union-Local 6 and Local 802, ASCAP Artist. To send mail to Mr. Hammond: POB #754 Times Square Station, New York, NY 10108 USA JON HAMMOND ™ American Jazz Accordionist Excelsior Accordion Exclusively Mr. Hammond’s clothing by DG William Uniform & Clothing Shanghai *New HammondCast radio shows, Listen *here:http://www.jonhammondband.com/music-29.htmlhttp://www.jonhammondband.com/music-26.htmlhttp://www.jonhammondband.com/music-25.htmlhttp://www.jonhammondband.com/music-24.htmlhttp://www.jonhammondband.com/music-23.html

My Moscow story with Igor Butman

Moscow Story : BLUES IN THE MOSCOW WHITE NGHTS

JON HAMMOND MUSIKMESSE 2004 PARTY Info link

Winter NAMM 2004 Pics

IAJE 2004 Pics by Jon Hammond

1970 Jon Hammond *image & George Clinton w/JH

IAJE 2005 Pictures by Jon Hammond

Russian Festival 2005 San Francisco

www.jonhammondband.com official site launched Feb. 22, 2005!

HammondCast Magnify.net

JON HAMMOND SHOW PODCAST HAMMONDCAST Program is Launched !!

Jon Hammond Show Podcast Hammondcast is now launched on Apple HammondCast Blogger URL: http://laterent.blogspot.comHammondCast 8 now on-the-air! *With Igor Butman, Cindy Blackman, Wallace Roney, Marc Baum and more, at:http://www.jonhammondband.com/music-15.html orhttp://www.ourmedia.org/node/66942HammondCast 7 now on-the-air! With Bernard Purdie, HADES, EDDIE MONEY and more from the archives going back to 1971! *click:http://www.ourmedia.org/node/63901 *Don’t forget to click “Play” button..crank it way up these are very old recordings!http://www.jonhammondband.com/music-14.html http://www.jonhammondband.com/music-13.html http://www.jonhammondband.com/music-12.html Live from Jazzkeller Frankfurt-Jon Hammond Band *a word from Eddie Money on Jon Hammond Show Podcast HammondCast: http://www.jonhammondband.com/music-11.html and http://www.jonhammondband.com/music-10.html http://www.jonhammondband.com/music-9.html and http://www.jonhammondband.com/music-8.html andhttp://www.jonhammondband.com/music-7.html Many more shows to follow so check back frequently. *Special Thanks: Leo Laporte of This Week in Tech Podcast show! Check out Leo’s live show from Apple SF Store:http://aolradio.podcast.aol.com/twit//TWiT0021H.mp3 and check out: http://thisweekintech.com/21?PHPSESSID=9851c2e9b47b3d8870e73cefc4e37efd ! *See Jon Hammond Guest Host on CNN:http://www.ourmedia.org/node/60726 !

My first band in 1966!

Tour de Force 1966! from left – right: John, Jon, George, Ringo, Paul Unfortunately 2 of the fellows have passed away now, but I’m doing better than all of them! www.jonhammondband.com

Jimmy Smith at 2005 IAJE

*Note: A sad note about the passing of Jimmy Smith, Feb. 9 2005 in Scottsdale AZ just one month after receiving NEA Jazz Masters Award. Jon Hammond said about Jimmy Smith: “He played more organ with one hand tied behind his back than many others!” His left side had been compromised for some time but he still out-grooved with right hand. For Jon Hammond’s 2005 IAJE jazz educators pictures:http://community.webtv.net/HammondsBolero/IAJE2005Picturesby

ALL JON HAMMOND RADIO…ALL THE TIME! Jon Hammond uses T-Mobile Sidekick II

http://community.webtv.net/laterent/ALLJONHAMMONDRADIO September 22, 2004 Jon Hammond puts the new advance release T-Mobile Sidekick II unit to work. “It’s awesome!” check it out at www.tmobile.com

Photo link

Link for black and white photos of Jon Hammond by press photographer TEDDY FUNG

JAZZ MAN by Maria Ciaccia

Jon Hammond’s first Billboard article, March 17 1984

™ Alternative To Clips On Cable – Billboard Magazine by KIM FREEMAN

Jon’s Bip.TV

Behind the Beat: Artist Feature by Steven Rosenfeld

Behind the Beat Artist Feature

Late Rent ASCAP Feature

MARK YOUR CALENDAR! Special Announcement! JUNE 22 & 23, at Shoreline Ampitheatre!! **Updated JON HAMMOND Itinerary International:

Where’s Jon?! Current itinerary dates at bottom, scroll down. Announcing to the people at Shoreline Ampitheatre that we have been invited back to be on the program of NEW ORLEANS BY THE BAY FOOD AND MUSIC FESTIVAL again next year by the Bill Graham Presents people in San Francisco, Cal. JUNE 22 & 23 at Shoreline Ampitheatre-NEW ORLEANS BY THE BAY FOOD AND MUSIC FESTIVAL!! Be sure and catch Jon Hammond & Band at John Lee Hooker’s BOOM BOOM ROOM Aug. 14 Outside concerts: Sept. 29-Boedeckker Park, Tenderloin SF Oct. 5-Yerba Buena Garden-SF Sept. 13- in San Jose Airport Southwest Airlines Boarding Area Oct. 10-Manhattan Plaza, New York City Oct. 31-Halloween Party, Laguna Honda Hospital Nov. 30-Boom Boom Room w/ James Brown’s drummer Erik Hargrove Dec. 5- Opera Plaza, S.F. Dec. 8- Laguna Honda Hospital Dec. 9-11 OLYMPIC VOYAGER Dec. 25- HHRC Club Jan. 8-11- Westin Rio Resort Puerto Rico March 7-11- Frankfurt Musikmesse 2001 March 9 & 10th- Jazzkeller Hofheim 15 jahr Jubilee Party! *Note: Special Thanks to the musicians…Erik Hargrove of James Brown Soul Generals, Kevin Mauder, Tyrone Starks, Christian Munchinger, Steven King, Tony Horowitz, Lee Oskar (WAR), and especially main man Robert Hutya of Mozarteum Orchestra Salzburg and brother Otmar Hutya for helping to make the shows at Musikmesse 2001 a big success!! **And Marco Galeazzi, Donatella and the Excelsior CEMEX team…Special Grazzia!! FRITZ Magazine-Manuel Schreiner, Joachim “Jo-Jo” Tucksen and Jazzkeller Hofheim team, Yucel “ALI” Atiker-Frankfurt, Jennifer Frizzell United Airlines, Scott Cooper-Universal Video Studios, Joe Berger-B.E.A.M. Audio. March 19th, 2001 Manhattan Plaza (my own birthday party with special friends!) June 23 & 24th, Shoreline Ampitheatre-New Orleans by the Bay Food and Music Festival March 2002- Musikmesse 2002 (16 year JUBILEE!) *March 2002…Return to the Jazzkeller Hofheim! BIG PARTY!! April 28th, 2001-Laguna Honda Hospital, 2 hour walkaround the wards with accordion April 30th, John Lee Hooker’s BOOM BOOM ROOM in San Francisco June 2-Laguna Honda Hospital, Clarendon Building June 9th 2001, Opening ceremonies for Emeryville California CITY HALL! June 9th pm-Fairmont Hotel, grand piano June 10th-Hotel Pierre, San Francisco June 15th-Laguna Honda Hospital, Clarendon Building *note! June 23 and 24th Shoreline Show with Bonnie Raitt and The Funky Meters! July 1-Boom Boom Room, S.F. July 10-Manhattan Plaza July 13-NDR Radio Broadcast Hamburg Germany July 17th-NOON TIME SHOW outside at 1275 Market St. San Francisco! August 25th-solo accordion at Laguna Honda Hospital, Clarendon Building August 29th-*NOTE! This show canceled NOON TIME SHOW outside at 525 Market St. San Francisco…don’t go. Sept. 20th: Taping: The Jon Hammond Show-big band arrangements of music of Led Zeppelin conducted by trumpeter Bill Warfield at Local 802 hall on W. 48th St. Manhattan **tune in on Time/Warner MNN TV! Sept. 30-Oct. 8th Hamburg Germany Oct. 27th-Laguna Honda Hospital Psych Ward, solo accordion in wards Oct. 27th-clubdate SF Nov. 3rd-Laguna Honda Hospitals, “doubles” 4 hours of continuous accordion music in the wards Nov. 5th-12th, recording sessions New York City Nov. 18th-Boom Boom Room, S.F. Dec. 12-Opera Plaza private holiday party Dec. 14-private christmas party Alfred Hitchcock bldg. Dec. 15-doubles in Laguna Honda Hospital Dec. 19-SF County Women’s Jail “Pod E” Women’s Jail Facility Dec. 21-Laguna Honda Hospital Dec. 27-Kwaanza Celebration with Ronnie Smith-drums at Laguna Honda Hospital Dec. 31-New Years party with Larry Schneider San Francisco HAPPY NEW YEAR 2002! Jan. 17 and 18 Jon Hammond at NAMM Anaheim! Jan. 19-solo accordion Laguna Honda Hospital Jan. 26-solo accordion in locked wards Laguna Honda Hospital Jan. 27-doubles in Laguna Honda Hospital Feb. 4th-Jury Duty New York City! March 1st-Smiley’s Schooner Saloon and Hotel, Bolinas CA with Barry Finnerty guitar March 4th-Jon Hammond Funk Explosion at Boom Boom Room SF March 14-Cafe KLEMM-Frankfurt March 15 + 16th-Jazzkeller Hofheim (Germany) March 30-solo show in Psychiatric Ward of Laguna Honda Hospital SF April 8-American Legion Post Building, 248 132nd St. Harlem NYC April 11-Cobb’s Corner-S.F. April 13-doubles at Lagua Honda Hospital April 25-Laguna Honda Hospital May 4-Laguna Honda Hospital May 10-Chicago-Green Mill + Chicago Brauhaus May 12-New York-American Legion Post 132nd St. Harlem May 18-Solo Piano FOUR SEASONS HOTEL S.F. May 19-Doubles: Laguna Honda Hospital S.F. June 1 – Doubles: Laguna Honda Hospital, solo on Casio MZ2000 June 6 – Bruno’s Nightclub and Restaurant S.F.,, trio on Hammond B3 organ June 7 – Bruno’s – trio gig and Police Sound Check pursuant to S.F. Police Commision Hearing June 12- solo piano at Bruno’s Nightclub June 14- organ trio at Bruno’s Nightclub SF. June 22 and 23-SHORELINE AMPITHEATRE-the 14th annual NEW ORLEANS BY THE BAY FOOD AND MUSIC FESTIVAL..opening show for Taj Mahal and Delbert McClinton! July 6- American Legion Post, Harlem NYC 132nd St. July 9- Recording session with Joe Berger NYC July 13- wedding in Nevada City CA July 19- Laguna Honda Hospital SF July 25- East Park Apartments’ “Tony” the maintenance man’s retirement luncheon S.F. July 25- Bruno’s Nightclub S.F. – organ trio Aug. 17- Wedding gig Central Park NYC Aug. 24- doubles accordion gig at Laguna Honda Hospital Aug. 25- Cotati Accordion Festival Aug. 27- Jon Hammond Trio at Bruno’s SF Sept. 6- session with guitarist Bill Wurtzel NYC Sept. 9- production meeting with Bernard Purdie Sept. 11- 9/11 United Airlines / Amercian Airlines Memorial Tribute to the Heroes in Washington Square Park NYC Sept. 19- 2 hour accordion concert Times Square Subway sation Sept. 22- recording session with Ronnie Smith and Alex Budman in Local 6 hall San Frandcisco Sept. 28th- Doubles accordion gig in Clarnedon Hall, Laguna Honda Hospital S.F. October 16-19 MUSIC CHINA Shanghai China! Oct. 16th evening, Jon will perform at the Shanghai Grand Theatre- Opening Night Reception of Music China with FangLin the phenomenal 14 year old accordion champion of China! While in Shanghai Mr. Hammond is a guest of the Renaissance Yangtze Shanghai Hotel: (0086).21-627.50000 Oct. 28- Laguna Honda Hospital, “doubles” solo Oct. 29- Recording at Local 6 hall SF Oct. 29- Bruno’s SF with Ronnie Smith/Alex Budman *spcl. guests: Michael Rinta & Joe Rodriguez Nov. 5/6- recording new record- Unique Studios Times Square NYC w/Alex Budman, Ronnie Smith and Joe Berger at the controls. Nov. 16- taping for TV: “Alice in Wonderland” show with Igor & Ilona Kisil and Company at the world-famous Odessa Nightclub in Brighton Beach Brooklyn Nov. 23- Osaka Japan-Rug Time w/ Midori Ono Nov. 27- Photo Shoot for cover: “Hammond’s Bolero” Brennan’s and train track Berkeley CA Nov. 30- Doubles Laguna Honda Hospital- SF Dec. 3, 4, 5- Studio sessions w/Joe Berger- NYC Dec. 10- Opera Plaza Christmas event- S.F. Dec. 16- SF County Jail #8, “Pod E” Dec. 21- Doubles Laguna Honda Hospital- S.F. Dec. 25th – Christmas show Laguna Honda Hospital Dec. 30 – Session with saxophonist Don Pender and drummer Bob Ramirez at Local 6 Union Hall Dec. 31 – New Years date CANCELED Horizons Sausalito…band replaced with gay dj “party”..don’t go! I’ll be flying to New York City just in time to catch the ball drop in Times Square. HAPPY NEW YEARS 2003! 2003 Gigs: My new album “Hammond’s Bolero” is coming out Jan. 9th! *info:http://community.webtv.net/laterent/HAMMONDSBOLERO It’s out now! Available directly from me. Jan. 16- NAMM Anaheim Jan. 21- Frankfurt Germany Jan. 22/23 NDR Radio Hamburg Jan. 24- Hamburg Germany- Birdland Jazz Club with Lutz Buchner- tenor sax, Heinz Lichius- drums *note: Birdland gig was packed!! **Hamburger Abendblatt newspaper wrote: Ob Doors-Liebhaber oder Baseball Freak: Sie alle lieben die SCHWEINEORGEL besser bekannt als Hammondorgel Ein Meister am Erzdamon der Musikinstrumente ist nomen est omen – Jon Hammond. Der Tastengott und TV – Pionier ist zurzeit mit Lutz Buchner, Ed Harris, und Heinz Lichius unterwegs, um Groove-Jazz mit maximaler Ausdrucskraft zum Besten zu geben. Am 24.1. (21Uhr) macht Jon Hammond Station im Birdland (Gartnerstrasse 122). Eintritt 9 Euro Feb. 1 – Laguna Honda Hospital solo show Feb. 14 – Happy Valentine’s Day everybody! My cd just went on sale at NYC’s oldest record store: COLONY RECORDS ! Broadway & W. 49th St. Feb. 15 – American Legion Post, 248 132nd St. Harlem NY with trumpetist Sheldon “The Big Dipper” Sweeper! Feb. 28 – Live on radio KPOO 89.5FM with JJ! March 1 – 4pm-Tower Records SF (Columbus & Bay St.) in-store party/concert with food and special guests! To promote new cd HAMMOND’S BOLERO with Jon Hammond Trio live March 5-9 Musikmesse Frankfurt Germany March 7th/8th-Jazzkeller Hofheim (near Frankfurt) Musikmesse party/concert with Harry Petersen-sax (HR Radio Band) and Heinz Lichius-drums (NDR Radio Band) *plus special guest LEE OSKAR March 17th-Radio appearance on Pete Fallico’s DOODLIN’ LOUNGE show at KUSP FM:www.KUSP.org streaming worldwide! March 29th-doubles Laguna Honda Hospital SF *Note: Canceled due to War: April 3-20th nightly show aboard world’s fastest cruise ship Royal Olympia Explorer Ft. Lauderdale to Portugal, Casablanca, Tunisia, Venice, Piraeus Greece April 20th- Easter Jazz Brunch at ROTH’S STEAKHOUSE W. 93rd & Coumbus New York City with Bill Wurtzel-guitar 12noon-4pm April 28th, 8.30pm-Release Party/Concert with Joe Berger and band at Le Bar Bat NYC on W. 57th St. May 3, 2.30pm – release party/concert with Alan Hall-drums and Alex Budman-tenorsax at RASPUTIN RECORDS on Telegraph Ave. Berkeley. Free Fantastic Food! and 1 hour concert! May 10- Laguna Honda Hospital, doubles May 22-Pumpkins, Brooklyn NY in trio with Clarence “Tootsie” Bean-drums, Bill Saxton-sax, Jon on XB-2 June 7-Irish Cultural Center with Jimi James 45th and Sloat San Francisco June 8-Laguna Honda Hospital June 9th at 3pm Pacific Time – live in-studios of KCSM radio with program director Jesse Chuy Varela! listen worldwide on stream! *click wwwKCSM.org June 21/22- First time in Moscow Russia! with incredible tenor saxophonist Igor Butman and Eduard Zizak-drums! – Le Club Moscow Hammond’s Bolero now on WBGO Rotation Playlist! June 27- WBGO visit with Gary Walker June 29- Special guest at WBGO Members Party June 30- 9:30pm East Coast time: worldwide streaming broadcast of The Jon Hammond Show tv show! channel 56 at www.MNN.org July 8- Crossroads in Garwood NJ, WBGO’s Stan Meyers hosting July 19- Jazz Brunch 12-4PM: Roth’s Westside Steakhouse NYC with Bill Wurtzel-guitar, Rudy Lawless-drums July 22- Roth’s Westside Steakhouse NY with guitarist Bill Wurtzel July 31- recording session w/Larry Newcomb-gtr. at Local 802 hall Aug. 6- Private Party Opera Plaza San Francisco Aug. 7- Virgin Megastore SF (Market/Stockton) in-store party/concert at 1PM with Ronnie Smith Jr.-dums, Marc Baum-tenor sax, jh-Hammond org. Aug. 8, 9, 10, 16- Laguna Honda Hospital Aug. 15- Radio interview taping with Louie Bellson at Jazz Nouveau San Francisco Sept. 6- American Legion Post, Harlem NYC 248, 132nd St. NY with Sheldon “Big Dipper” Sweeper-trumpet and special guests Sept. 8/9- Eddie Money Portland Maine Sept. 18- Guest of Jazz At Lincoln Center “Moscow Nights” concert with Igor Butman Bigband together with Wynton Marsalis’ Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, Alice Tully Hall Sept. 25th, CANCELED: 12Noon-1:30PM San Francisco Opera Plaza Fountain Sept. 27/28- Laguna Honda Hospital Oct. 2/4th- Laguna Honda Hospital Oct. 9- Featured on Voice Of America Radio (VOA) “Border Crossings Show”! Oct. 15-18th- Music China Shanghai China Oct. 17 & 18th- Portman Ritz Carlton Hotel Shanghai with drummer Danny Woody! saxophone tba Oct. 25th- Duo with Marc Baum- Fairmont Hotel Venetian Room SF for Lowell High School Sports Foundation Oct. 28/29th- 2 nights with Eddie Money! at Iron Door Saloon, Groveland California Oct. 29th- Solo at Hole #1 tee-off of Eddie Money Celebrity Golf Tournament, Pine Mountain Lake benefit for Tioga High School *Condolences to the Barsotti Family on the tragic death of Bettike Barsotti, she and surviving husband Peter are proprietors of Iron Door Saloon. Oct. 31-campaign work for relection of SF District Attorney Terence Hallinan, 724 Van Ness SF Nov. 1- Solo show at Laguna Honda Hospital Nov. 6- Cancelonie Nov. 15- Jazz Factory- Louisville Kentucky Nov. 19-23- Castelfidardo Italy Excelsior tour Dec. 4- Post Net one year anniversary party-Vallejo CA Dec. 9- SF County Jail #8 women’s facility Dec. 10th- Private party Opera Plaza San Francisco Dec. 11th- Laguna Honda Hospital Dec. 13th- secure psych ward gig Dec. 18-25- sessions in New York City Dec. 24th- Roth’s Westside Steakhouse Christmas Eve Show! 93rd & Columbus New York City Dec. 31- New Years at Hotel Charlotte Groveland CA 2004 Schedule: Jan. 7- Live KPOO 89.5 “Blues w/Noel Show”, 9-11AM…worldwide atwww.KPOO.com ! Jan. 8- Laguna Honda Hospital main building 7PM Jan. 15-18th- NAMM Show Anaheim Calfornia Jan. 21-25- IAJE Hilton Hotel New York City Feb. 2- 20th Anniversary of The Jon Hammond Show! which has run uninterrupted for 20 years. Cocktail reception at Roth’s Steakhouse Feb. 4- Trio with Bill Wurtzel and Rudy Lawless 6-10PM Feb. 5 & 6- Guest of James Brown Band at BB King’s NY Feb. 11th- Press Conference: Laurie Anderson “New Sound…New York” Feb. 12th- Session: Pumpkins Brooklyn, NY with Clarence “Tootsie” Bean, George Braith, Greg Lewis Feb. 18- Berklee College of Music workshop Feb. 20- Guest of Sons of Champlin, McNear’s Mystic Theatre, Petaluma CA Feb. 21- Laughing Duck Winery, Ukiah CA Feb. 22- Laguna Honda Hospital Feb. 22- Hilton Hotel Reno Nevada Feb. 23- Penn Valley, CA Feb. 23- Jon Hammond Show TV: Jazz Factory special from Louisville KY Feb. 28- Laguna Honda Hospital March 11- Guest Appearance with drummer Tootsie Bean at Pumpkins, Brooklyn NY *Carol Sudhalter-saxes March 12- Photo Session with Sheldon “Big Dipper” Sweeper and Dido the drummer at St. Nick’s Pub, 149th St. Harlem March 22- Roth’s Westside Steakhouse with guitarist Bill Wurtzel 6-10PM March 25 & 28- Laguna Honda Hospital March 31-April 4th- Musikmesse Frankfurt Germany April 2/3- Jazzkeller Hofheim Musikmesse Party! *with: Heinz Lichius-drums, Kevin Mauder-tenor sax, Joe Berger-guitar Mini-tour in North Germany *with: Heinz cLichius-drums, Gabriel Coburger-tenor sax, Joe Berger-guitar, Jon Hammond-organ April 5- Blue Montag: Ham-Berger Band in Harburg at Schnulze! April 7- Blue Moon Bar, Bremen Germany April 9- Birdland Hamburg Ham-Berger Band! with Heinz Lichius, tenor sax: Gabriel Coburger April 16- Laguna Honda Hospital San Francisco April 29- WBGO 25 Year Anniversary Celebration participation www.WBGO.org May 3- Guest with Jon Paris at BB King’s New York City May 6- Special Guest of Cirque Du Soleil Musicians at opening night Alegria at Randall’s Island NY May 14- Special Guest of Eddie Money at Northern Lights Albany/Clifton Park NY May 24- The Jon Hammond Show TV First-Ever All-Digital Broadcast! May 19, 21, 22, 24, 25, 26-WBGO studios fund drive June 5&6- Millennium Theatre Brooklyn: Filming Igor Butman Bigband & Larisa Dolina for Jon Hammond TV Show June 8- Birdland NYC: Filming Igor Butman Bigband & Larisa Dolina for Jon Hammond TV Show June 24- Hipbone Records’ studio session July 9- Rondure Music Club, 24 Prince St. (Soho) New York City, duo with saxophonist Tim Armacost July 17 & 18- Concerts in Moscow-CANCELED-Le Club with Igor Butman & Eduard Zizak July 24 & 25th- Laguna Honda Hospital July 28- KPOO Radio broadcast on “Blues With Noel Show” 10AM-2PM July 29&30th- Jon Hammond Quartet at Grant & Green in North Beach San Francisco Aug. 5- Laguna Honda Hospital SF Aug. 7- Laguna Honda Hospital SF Aug. 13- Duo with saxophonist Tim Armacost at Rondure Music Club/Restaurant NY www.rondurenyc.com www.timarmacost.comAug. 21- Jazzkeller Frankfurt returning after many years! with Kevin Mauder-tenor sax Joe Berger live DVD filming, join the party! Aug. 27- Schnulze, Harburg-Hamburg Germany Sept. 4- 19 Broadway Fairfax Cal. JH Band Sept. 19- Jazz Ambassadors Tour adjudicating-Canceled Sept. 17,18, 20,21, 22- WBGO 6AM Sept. 22- receiving first Sidekick II unit Oct. 2- Postponed: Accordion sub: Fiddler On The Roof on Broadway NYC Oct. 8- Guest of Joe Berger/David Marx, Huckapoo debut concert at Town Hall www.huckapoo.com Oct. 12- Laguna Honda Hospital SF Cal. Oct. 15- Laguna Honda Hospital Oct. 17- Fly to Shanghai China Oct. 19- Play at Ritz Carlton Hotel Shanghai with Danny Woody and shows at Music China through Oct. 23rd Oct. 28th- AES Berklee College of Music Alumni Night Oct. 30- Laguna Honda Hospital SF Oct. 31- Fly to New York Nov. 2nd- DON’T FORGET TO VOTE…For Kerry! Nov.3rd- VOA Radio 15:00 UTC Nov. 6- Cleopatra’s Needle NY Jon Hammond Quartet with Matt Smith-guitar & Tootsie Bean-drums & Brett Ryan-alto sax Nov. 13- Tunica Miracle Tour with Larry Liddell, Tunica Mississippi Nov. 14- WROX 1450 AM Blues radio appearance, Home of the Blues! Clarksdale Mississippi www.wroxblues.com Nov. 14- Guest at Aretha Franklin concert-Horeshoe Casino, Bluesville Robinsonville/Tunica MS *Special thanks: Larry Liddell Tunica Miracle! Nov. 22- Jon Hammond Show TV Show broadcast from Cleopatra’s Needle Club Nov. 25- Happy Thanksgiving! Turkey dinner on United Airlines flight Nov. 27&28th- Laguna Honda Hospital Dec. 6- Jon Hammond Trio live in SF County Jail #8, 4th year! Dec. 7- Laguna Honda Hospital Dec. 8- Live for 1 hour at 1PM on KCSM 91.1 Jazz Radio with Chris Cortez Dec. 11- Laguna Honda Hospital Dec. 12- Guest at Bobby Blue Bland concert, Diamond Hall SF Sunday Blues & Jazz Club Dec. 15- *note: Canceled, harpist hired: Private party: Opera Plaza SF Dec. 17- Laguna Honda Hospital Christmas Party Dec. 20- Microsoft’s *new MSN TV2 & Jon Hammond go online, streaming worldwide at the speed of light! Dec. 31/Jan. 1-Happpy New Years 2005! Times Square NY European tour support by Hammond Deutschland, Michael Maier Falkenstein: Hammond-Germany@t-online.deand Excelsior Accordions 2005 SCHEDULE: Jan 1- New Years Eve in Times Square NY! Jan. 3- Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse San Francisco Jan. 5-8 IAJE Convention Long Beach CA Jan. 6- ASCAP/IAJE Commissions Gil Evans Fellowship, Terrace Theatre Jan. 7- NEA Jazz Masters Awards Jan. 9- Laguna Honda Hospital Jan. 10-14- Macworld San Francisco Jan. 11- Meeting with Apple’s Steve Jobs ! Jan. 18- Laguna Honda Hospital Jan. 18 James Brown show, House of Blues Anaheim CA CANCELED Jan. 20-23 NAMM Anaheim CA Jan. 29- Laguna Honda Hospital Jan. 31- Local 6 Union Meeting Feb. 2- 21st year anniversary of Jon Hammond Show TV Show! Beginning 22nd year. Feb. 6- Laguna Honda Hospital Feb. 9- Laguna Honda Hospital Feb. 11- Laguna Honda Hospital Feb. 12- Laguna Honda Hospital March 12- EDITH PIAF CAFE-Paris France! March 14- ONE WAY CAFE- Paris France!-Canceled! (by me) March 17-funeral- Suisun Valley CA March 18- Laguna Honda Hospital SF CA March 28- Flying to Germany! Arrive Hamburg 3/29 Mar. 31- Multimedia with Michael August ILLUSTRATORP at VILLON in Hamburg by Hauptbahnhof! April 1 & 2- Hamburg Germany/NDR Radio April 5- Jazzkeller Frankfurt : Musikmesse 2005 Party! JON HAMMOND BAND April 6-9- Frankfurt Musikmesse April 15- Cleopatra’s Needle Club-NYC Tax Day Party! April 27-CANCELED! Promoter is out of there! Smith’s Restaurant Bar-NYC 44th St. May 28- Laguna Honda Hospital May 29- Laguna Honda Hospital June 4- Guest-Aretha Franklin Gospelfest June 4- late night: Guest- Igor & Illonka Kissil at Odessa in Brighton Beach Brookly June 5- WBGO Volunteers Party June 7- Southwest Airlines BWI Interview June 25- Laguna Honda Hospital June 27- Laguna Honda Hospital July 4- Laguna Honda Hospital (doubles) July 4- Guest- Shoreline Amitheatre 4th of July San Francisco Symphony Orchestra & Fireworks! produced by Mick Brigden July 6- Laguna Honda Hospital July 9- Laguna Honda Hospital July 23- Berklee College of Music Alum Songwriters Workshop July 27- Nursing Home show-NYC Aug. 27- Laguna Honda Hospital Aug. 28- Laguna Honda Hospital Sept. 5- Laguna Honda Hospital Sept. 6- Laguna Honda Hospital Sept. 16- Cleopatra’s Needle NYC Sept. 22- Nursing Home show-NYC Oct. 18- Music China Warm Up Party-Shanghai Ritz-Carlton Dec. 2-4 NDR Radio Studio 1 Hamburg Germany Dec. 8- Nursing home show NYC Dec. 19- Laguna Honda Hospital morning show Dec. 19- San Francisco County Jail #8 Pods D & E with JH TRIO: Marc Baum-t.sax, Jon Otis-drums Dec. 20- Laguna Honda Hospital Dec. 22- Las Vegas Mirage Hotel private party Dec. 24- Laguna Honda Hospital

Igor Butman & Gary Walker (WBGO Program Director/Host)

March 5th 2004, Friday morning bright and early at 7 in the morning, Igor Butman and I met at Port Authority Bus Station and I took Igor out to WBGO radio studios to be a special guest on Gary Walker’s morning broadcast. Here they are pictured outside the WBGO www.WBGO.org studios located at 54 Park Place in downtown Newark NJ. Gary had such a good time interviewing his old friend Igor that he stayed on the air 15 minutes past the normal end of his show. Later Igor and I spent a good part of the day kicking around the music stores on W.48th St. where Igor stocked up on supplies for his bigband members back in Moscow before his quartet gig in the evening at Birdland. I’ll be back in Moscow to play with Igor this coming July *link:http://community.webtv.net/GoldenPenMan/BLUESINTHEMOSCOW * SPECIAL THANKS from JON HAMMOND to the following people on my new LATE RENT remastered audiophile quality release of my greatest hits:http://community.webtv.net/ExcelsiorAccordions/SPECIALTHANKSfrom listen for it on radio WBGOwww.wbgo.org listener supported radio!

International Kultur and Multi Media Productions BackBeat Productions, New York USA San Francisco, Times Square office New York, New Yorklaterent@webtv.net www.callasong.de/hammond http://community.webtv.net/laterent/TheWorldsFastestwww.laterent.de European Tour Manager-ROBERT HUTYA r.hutya@web.de

Jon Hammond-RESUME Born: Chicago 1953 Instruments: Organ, Accordion, Piano Attended: Berklee College of Music, Boston 1974. Currently studying International Business on Internet at City College of San Francisco under Professor Bruce Lilienthal Languages: English, German Musician: Jon has played professionally since age 12. Beginning as a solo accordionist, he later played Hammond B3 organ with a number of important San Francisco bands. His all-original rock group “Hades” opened shows for Tower of Power, Quicksilver Messenger Service and Michael Bloomfield. Eddie Money and Barry Finnerty became musical associates. Moving east, he attended Berklee and played venues as diverse as Boston’s “Combat Zone” and the exclusive Wychmere Harbor Club in Cape Cod, where he was house organist and developed a lasting friendship with House Speaker Tip O’Niel. He also toured the Northeast and Canada with the successful show revue “Easy Living”, and continued his appearances at nightclubs in Boston and New York. Subsequently Hammond lived and traveled in Europe, where he has an entusiastic following. TV/Video Producer: In 1981 Jon formed BackBeat Productions. Assisted by Lori Friedman (Video by LORI), the innovative TV show became a Manhattan Cable TV favorite. Jon’s “Live on the Street” video style included news events, as well as live music/video clips of Dizzy Gillespie, Paul Butterfield Jaco Pastorious, John Entwistle, Sammy Davis Jr. and Percy Sledge. The weekly show ran uninterupted for 21 years and influenced the broadcasts of David Letterman and others. Billboard Magazine hailed Jon’s show as “The Alternative to MTV”. The Jon Hammond Show can be seen worldwide at various times from www.MNN.org on Channels 56 and 108 in Manhattan. Media Personality: Host and narrator of his TV show, as well as co-host of numerous radio braodcasts, Jon has defined a musical and personal style that is unmistakable. As Musical Director, Producer and Host of The Jon Hammond Show, Mr. Hammond formed a unique multi-media music group. This spring they will return to Europe to perform at the Frankfurt Musikmesse for 22nd year Jubilee! Hammond has produced a live Sennheiser Microphone CD release, and played throughout Germany, France, Austria, Switzerland and Czech Republic. October 16th 2002 Mr. Hammond performed in duo together with FangLin, the Chinese accordion champion sensation to inaugurate the new international trade show-MUSIC CHINA at the official opening reception in Shanghai China! Description: “The Jon Hammond Show” is a funky, swinging Jazz instrumental revue, featuring notable international soloists and reflecting the influences of The Crusaders, Miles Davis, and Jimmy Smith. The show has universal appeal. Members of the “Jon Hammond Show” house band have included David “Fathead” Newman, Bernard “Pretty” Purdie, Alex Foster and Cornell Dupree. Member local 6, local 802 and ASCAP contact: JON HAMMOND International, Inc. kontakt: Hammond Suzuki Deutschland Michael Maier-Falkenstein: (011).49.7345.919.293 fax 294 SF/New York/FRA Jon’s music is currently getting radio play in 13 countries.

Jon Hammond Spokesperson for Musikmesse on American Forces Network TV!

Mr. Hammond hosting a special tour and promotion of the International Musikmesse in Frankfurt on American military tv! American Forces Network Radio/TV provides programming to the men and women of the American Forces around the world where ever they are. Jon Hammond has broadcast live on the military band on the “Powerlite Show” with in-depth interview and live playing in-studio with his band. And as special host on AFN TV’s “Profile Show”!

Jon playing the World’s Largest Hand Built Accordion!

Jon is playing the World’s Largest Hand Built Accordion at the Musikmesse 2002, Frankfurt Germany. It was built by the legendary accordion craftsmen of Castelfidardo Italy.

BOB POPYK of AFM’s INTERNATIONAL MUSICIAN Magazine profiles JON HAMMOND in his monthly motivational column: FOCUS ! Focus International Musician, July 2005 Whatever Happened to Those Jazz Clubs on Every Corner? I live in a city of about 250,000 people. Vinnie Falcone, a member of Local 369 (Las Vegas, NV) who played and conducted for Frank Sinatra, and now works with Steve & Eydie and Robert Goulet, used to live and work here. That was about 35 years ago. When he wasn’t selling pianos for a local Hammond/Steinway dealer, he probably played in almost every club within a 20-mile radius of here at one time or another. There were tons of them. Falcone and I talked about this just the other day. We came up with the names of the clubs that used live music five to seven nights a week. They could be found on almost on every street corner. Now they are all gone. Jazz groups, blues bands, singles, duos, and trios were always working; and if you came up with a new group you could, in all likelihood, find a club owner who would give you a shot. Unfortunately, that is no longer the case. It’s tough to make a living as a jazz musician today. But É you can make a living if you work at it. Like most things, I think it’s just a matter of wanting it badly enough. One thing I’ve found out from the readers of this column is that musicians seem to be divided into two segments: 1) musicians who won’t play anything they don’t like or any venue that doesn’t suit them; and 2) musicians who need to work because they need to pay their bills and find all kinds of ways to fill their calendar. I still get occasional letters from readers who say that it’s not their fault that they are not getting enough work. I guess then the logical question would be: whose fault is it? I really appreciate the insight of those musicians who have creative and interesting ways of finding work, and I sympathize with the musicians who need to get out there and find gigs just to pay the rent. I don’t have all the answers, but a lot of our fellow AFM members have some very good answers. One in particular is Jon Hammond, a member of Local 802 (New York City) and Local 6 (San Francisco, CA). Hammond has found a way to get his own TV show broadcast on Time Warner Cable and RCN cable access, he has produced a CD that gets airplay on jazz radio stations around the world, and he plays at Music Performance Fund (MPF) gigs on a regular basis on both coasts. He has booked himself on several European tours, played jazz clubs in Germany and many other locations in Europe, year after year, and has found a way to obtain instruments from national manufacturers for endorsements, advertising, or trial. Hammond is also a perfect example of “success being in the mind of the beholder.” When he put together his first self-booked German tour 20 years ago, he saved up enough money to fly to Europe on Pakistan Airlines. He only had $50 in his pocket when he landed there. Hammond came home 10 months later with $150 in his pocket. He was able to pay for rent, food, and everything he needed during his time on the road in Europe. He wasn’t rich, but he was happy–and he firmly believes it was also a terrific learning experience. Over the ensuing years Hammond has performed with some of the world’s top jazz musicians, and he now lives in midtown Manhattan and plays any and every job he can, on either coast. Money is not his prime motivation. He just loves to play. He makes it work, through sheer hard work, and he prides himself on being a union musician. If you are a jazz musician, perhaps you might like to ask him some questions of your own, and share some ideas. Hammond is very approachable. Ask him about how he put together his TV show, how he successfully gets radio airplay, how he lands MPF gigs, and how, through it all, he always keeps money coming in to pay the rent. He’s found a way to do state-funded programs in prisons, nursing home gigs, and casual dates in clubs. (He’s scrambled so much over the years that his new CD is called Late Rent.) Hammond does not play for free. He finds ways to get paid. He agrees that the only thing you get out of playing a free gig is the opportunity to do another free gig. I know jazz musicians can have a tough struggle, and it’s true that there simply are not as many places to play as there once were. But that is not to say that jazz players can’t find work. Venues have changed, clubs have closed, but people still want to listen to cool sounds. Jazz festivals in major cities are still popular. Radio stations still offer jazz programs. PBS stations showcase jazz artists in their programming. It’s just not as easy to make money at it as it once was, but you can still make a living. I don’t have all the answers. I think Hammond has some. I bet if you brainstorm with your fellow AFM members who specialize in jazz, you can go one better and come up with a lot of other ideas yourself. A positive attitude is obviously going to play a big part, but if you want to play jazz and make a few bucks, there are certainly ways to do it. It really is a matter of wanting to be a jazz musician badly enough. –Bob Popyk is a member of Local 78 (Syracuse, NY) and Local 47 (Los Angeles). BACK

*NEWS FLASH: Jon Hammond Trio appearing first time in Russia’s top jazz venue: Le Club Moscow-June 21/22! **JON HAMMOND NEWS FLASH: Hammond’s Bolero now available on Apple iTunes Store! New for 2004 Jon was presented by the great Russian tenorsaxophonist Igor Butman and Faina Antonova for his very first appearance in Russia at supper jazz club “Le Club” in Moscow Russia June 21/22, 2003! Nastarovya! *Moscow story: http://community.webtv.net/GoldenPenMan/BLUESINTHEMOSCOW

Trio with TONY LAKATOS Hungarian saxophonist

Solo, Duo, Trio, Quartett or BIG BAND everything to fit your Budget Needs!!

artist rep HAMMOND SUZUKI DEUTSCHLAND, EXCELSIOR ACCORDIONS Musical Styles: swingin’ Funky Jazz and Blues, Bossa Nova, Ballads, ROCK and Ethnic 39th year in business.

THE JON HAMMOND SHOW is a Music and Travel Soft News Program, featuring Top International Soloists. 17 years Time/Warner TV New York The show has Universal Appeal Stay tuned for JH SHOW coming your way soon, streaming on the World Wide Web!

Jon Hammond uses Sennheiser Akkordeon Amplification Microphone System… evolution series,,,defining sound “The FINGERS….are the SINGERS!”

JON HAMMOND-EXCELSIOR 940/SENNHEISER

The classic sound of Excelsior 940 Tone Chamber Accordion through house system of Shoreline Ampitheatre utilising the custom Sennheiser Akkordeon Amplification System at the 12th annual New Orleans by the Bay Food and Music Festival

Together again with THE JON HAMMOND SHOW DANCERS!

Catch the Jon Hammond Show-Music and Travel Soft News Program on Time/Warner Cable TV New York

Jon Hammond & Willie Brown

Mayor Willie Brown (San Francisco) came to see his good friend Jon Hammond of SF’s Local 6 play with Danny Woody at Portman Ritz Carlton Hotel Shanghai CHINA (SF/Shanghai Sister Cities)

Jon Hammond

Live at Shoreline Ampitheatre!

S-Bahn to FRANKFURT!

I never ride BLACK!

My setup for Shoreline Ampitheatre Shows

The Hammond B3 that I’ve had since 18 years old. XB-2 on top Excelsior 940 Tone Chamber Accordion at right

Putting the Hamburger on the Grill!

“The FINGERS…are the SINGERS!”

HAMMONDNOISE…HAMMOND EXPLOSION!

HAMMOND EXPLOSION in COOL MONDAY Zurich, Switzerland. The posters were all over town when we got there!

Duo with MARC BAUM-sax

I actually went to Kindergarten with Marc Baum and played in first bands together age 13. The only one who knows me longer than Marc is my mother!

Jon Hammond Show Image

Image seen on DiamondVision Times Square screen 80 times daily for one year (3.5 minute clip)

Jon Hammond Show image

From Private Eyes reel New York City

JON HAMMOND : JAZZ MOSCOW RUSSIA!

Celebrating the Diplomatic Power of Jazz

Jon Hammond Show image

Coils by LORI

Barry Finnerty and Jon

In Lubeck, Germany with long time musical partner BARRY FINNERTY on guitar..that’s history now!

T-Bone Steak Mobile

My first days in portable broadcasting mobile on tour-New York 1980

JOE BERGER Link-up page

JOE BERGER, known in the biz as “The BERGER-MEISTER” has been an integral part of JH Show since 1986. He has mixed records and played with the Who’s Who..including JOHN ENTWISTLE of the WHO…that’s right!! JOHN ENTWISTLE….OF THE WHO!!! THIS IS YOUR LUCKY DAY! go to Joe’s website:www.jbimpromptu.iwarp.com http://jbeam.s5.com The Berger-Meister can be contacted directly atjoeberger_10001@yahoo.com He is currently touring with the new sensational Atlantic Records act DREAMSTREET, coming your way soon on their Mall Tour. Seen above: Berger and Hammond performing at Frankfurt Musikmesse-The HAM-BERGER BLUES BAND! put the Ham-Berger on the grill…or in your CD Machine!

Classic Hammond Sound in a Suitcase Seminare

Hammond doing the famous CLASSIC HAMMOND SOUND IN A SUITCASE SEMINARE at MUZIKA trade show PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC

Hammond with Bernard Purdie and Moms…

That’s me with my mom Edythe, Juanita Escovedo (Mrs. Pete) and legendary studio drummer Bernard Purdie. Juanita is Sheila E’s mom. We are at Pete’s club in Berkeley Cal. called Mr. E’s..recently moved to Alameda.

Hammond in Reinach/Aargau Switzerland!

JH with Tommy Schneider of Hammond Times, Herbert from Hammond Nostalgie Club and drummer Andreas Neubauer…1959 B3 inside van!

Hammond Live At CITY HALL SAN FRANCISCO

This show was sponsored by City Hall and Bank of America. Definately had to break out the B3 there!

ShowTime at the Shoreline Ampitheatre with the Late Rent Session Men!

from left to right: Barry Finnerty-guitar Larry Schneider-saxes James Preston-drums Marc-BGP sound mixer Jon Hammond-organ/accordion leader

Poster Boy for Kart-a-Bag USA!

If you go to the Kart-a-Bag website, it is possible to WIN a Jon Hammond Model Super 600 Kart-a-Bag! Exactly like the one on the poster with me that I have used on my world tours.

Classic Beetle Bug!

Hammond with classic VW Beetle in Steinebach in Bayern. On right, Barry Finnerty & Otmar Hutya

COOL MONDAY SHOW, Zurich Switzerland

Hammond on stage with Christian Muenchenger and Barry Finnerty in Club Xtra COOL MONDAY Show Zurich. Tommy Schneider brought the B3 for me.

Original Entwistle Beatle Art!

Original piece of Beatle Art done for me and signed by John Entwistle…of the WHO!

Jazz Kneipe on Berliner Str. 70, Frankfurt Germany

I played 207 gigs in Jazz Kneipe Frankfurt, until Regina finally closed the doors for good! Was the coolest after hours club on the Frankfurt Jazz Scene. On tenor sax Sgt. Al Wittig U.S. Air Force. Barry Finnerty-guitar. JH on XB-2 Hammond Organ

Tower of Leslie Power!

With Michael Maier Falkenstein and the incredible Tower of Leslie Power at the Hammond Germany Museum, best in the world!

Snow Storm!

My apartment in Times Square New York after the big Snow Storm! First time in history U.S. Mail was cancelled due to weather!

Poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti & boy…Paris 1981

I took this foto of Ferlinghetti with my Nikon F3 in front of Shakespear and Company book shop in St. Michel Paris 1981. The boy is no longer a boy! Ferlinghetti looks about the same.

American Forces Network…The Power Network!

Here I am at the microphone of AFN Europe Headquarters in Frankfurt Germany, broadcasting LIVE WORLDWIDE on the Power Network!!

Hammond with S.F. District Attorney Terence Hallinan

Here I am with old friend, the honorable Terence Hallinan, San Francisco District Attorney. I had the honor of leading the band at his birthday party celebration last Dec. here in S.F.!

Boston Combat Zone at 21 years old

Here I am during the days when I was backing up the striptease shows 7 nights a week in Boston’s Combat Zone. You can see one of the bottles that some guy probably paid 400 bucks for a short time wih one of our lovely entertainers at the World Famous 2 o’clock lounge. On left you can see the blond Fender Bandmaster I bought at at Leo’s Music Store when I was 13 years old! My 1957 Gibson CF100 in my hands.

Hammond with Eddie Money!

This was back when we were 2 skinny kids, at my youngest sister’s Bat Mitzvah in 1976 Berkeley, California.

BAVARIAN LINE DANCERS…at Steinebach Bahnhof!

On the HAMMONDNOISE 2000 Tour in Bayern. from left to right: Otmar Hutya, Barry Finnerty, Robert Hutya, J.H.

13 year old Junior Jazz Champion!

That’s how I looked at 13 years old with my Giulietti Tone Chamber Accordion (that was stolen 25 years ago in Boston) and my trophy. I was 13…but I was an OLD 13!

Jon Hammond Big News in Salzburg!

When I woke up in the hotel next to Mozart’s house, I looked at the morning paper and found myself big time on the back cover of the Salzburger Nachtrichten! I was a guest next day at the Stadthalle, where they had me sign in on the VIP Guest Book for Salzburg. The picture was taken the night before and in the morning paper!

Feature article in Jazz Podium Magazine!

The FINGERS are the SINGERS! JON HAMMOND was the headline in Jazz Podium, Germany’s oldest Jazz Magazine.

107 floors up at Windows on the World

Dinner with Derek Tracy, my producer of “Get Back in the Groove” DTI records..at top of the World Trade Towers 107 floors up…it’s hard to believe WTC is tragically no longer there.

CBGB’s on the Bowery, New York!

Jon with producer guitarist Joe Berger and co-leader guitarist Barry Finnerty just before show time at legendary New York Rock Club CBGB’s!

Press Cruise to Bermuda with Joe Berger!

Ham-Berger on a roll!! Our first Press Cruise to Bermuda on the maiden voyage of m.v. Horizon, New York to Bermuda…dynamite! We highly recommend Celebrity Cruises! The cuisine created by award winning executive chef Michel Roux was DELICIOUS! Especially the Grand Buffet…Yeah!

Late Night Steak Dinner in Hippo, Paris France

We just finished a big live broadcast on RADIO FRANCE INTER with pianist Francoise Pujol (at left), Barry Finnerty (middle), myself on right with my lucky hat on! I am one of few American boys to be presented in concert by Radio France Inter!

In Concert at the Big Musikmesse Frankfurt Germany!

Here we are on the main stage (buhne) in the Galleria of Frankfurt International Musikmesse. Barry on left, drummer Andreas Neubauer from Frankfurt and myself on right. Next March will be my 22nd consecutive Musikmesse. Always one of the hightlights of the year for me!

Jon Hammond Show on Giant Video Screen Times Square!

There I am with Lazy Larry under the giant DiamondVision screen Times Square. My show appeared for 3.5 minutes 80 times daily for one year. Plus we did a super psychedelic countdown for New Years Eve that was seen by millions around the world. After wishing the people Happy New Year!, The screen said, “Watch THE JON HAMMOND SHOW Friday nights at 6pm on MCTV!

Artist depiction by Harburg Artist Michael August

Michael painted this picture of me from a concert I did in the famous REGINA STRIPTEASE CLUB on Gr. Freiheit , Reeperbahn Hamburg. The place was packed upstairs and downstairs after Knut Benzner got us a nice press article in the Mo Po!

Main Man KNUT BENZNER at NDR Radio Hamburg!

There’s Knut in the studio of NDR cutting his “Jazz All Blues” Show together. Knut was my sponsor for 2 years in Hamburg. On the radio, he sounds like the voice of God!

Jon Hammond Show in the Field

There I am in New York City with my black BMW R100RT and one of the first prototype Sony Betacams from Sony Broadcast on loan to us for field testing on The JH Show.

My White Grand Piano in Pacific Heights S.F.!

There I am with my Artist’s Model C3 Conservatory Size 6 foot Yamaha Grand Piano that I bought from Peter Frampton (he had 3 pieces). That was my only furniture in the apartment. Just the white piano, a Hammond B3 and an accordion and futon. I did a lot of my writing on that piano.

6 months at old Trident in Sausalito on the water!

Tenor saxophonist Bennett Friedman, James Preston drums and Terry Haggerty guitar (of Sons of Champlin) JH at org. This was the original club built by the Kingston Trio (If I Had A Hammer and Michael Row the Boat Ashore). The Trident was a favorite party place for the Rolling Stones and other famous hipsters. Now called Horizons Restaurant…you can tie up your 150 foot boat right outside the window!

Jon and Eddie Money at top Empire State Building!

Here we are in sub-zero temperature on very top observation deck of Empire State Building. I used to take a 2-way radio up there and broadcast promos for up-coming gigs around New York City…good place to broadcast from!

Hammond with PICO and Star Club survivors St. Pauli Hamburg!

There I am with Pico, when I played on his show about his life working at the legendary Star Club with the Beatles, Rattles, Chuck Berry and others on the Reeperbahn. This guy was the original deal. He is still there working on the Deutsche Bundesbahn and living on the Hein Hoyer Str. in St. Pauli. Amazing guy and life story. I met some of the originals playing there at the Delphi Music Theatre.

First trip to Paris in 1981!

There I am taking care of business in my room at the 5 star L’hotel in Paris France in 1981. This is the place where Oscar Wilde lived out his last days. A favorite low key place where the Rolling Stones and others like to stay. There is no sign indicating it is a hotel. You will see only the golden ram’s head above the door on Rue de Beaux Arts in St. Germain on the left bank.

Dinner for 1 downstairs at L’hotel!

The tree grows right up through the ceiling, and it is like a Fellini movie in there at night. I enjoyed every bite of that meal…perfectly content to enjoy my own company there in my Armani suit. I used to dress up every day for no particular reason back in those days!

On the Job at John’s Place in Saarbucken Germany!

This was one of my first steady gigs in Germany in 1991, at a place called John’s Place in Saarbrucken on Bleich Str. It is very near the French border there, and there was a healthy mix of German and French people in the after hours place. I am wearing my lucky tie there and my father’s white shirt for good luck!

Scene from the stage at Jazzkeller Frankfurt 1992!

That’s how it looked from the stage of my show at the famous Jazzkeller in Frankfurt. The show was sponsored by Philip Morris Tobacco. I don’t smoke, but they gave me cartons of cigarettes to give away, all my friends in Germany were overjoyed to receive free cigarettes! The place was packed…Herb Ellis is sitting in the front row. That’s my friend Tino holding the video camera at right.

Broadcasting on pirate Radio Tomate Paris France!

There I am speaking to the French on legendary pirate Radio Tomate in a secret location in Paris. The pirates there actually were squatting in the building. They were very creative…the electricity was brought in and phone lines from unknown sources. The place was manned 24 hours a day. This was in 1981 when the Socialist government was still in power.

Onstage at original legendary FILLMORE!

There I am on the bandstand of the original Fillmore Auditorium with bandmates Barry Finnerty and James Preston. The original location where I had seen so many fantastic shows as a teenager…right there at corner of Geary Blvd. & Fillmore S.F., Cal. Took me 30 years to get the gig there! We were on the bill with The Sons of Champlin (James is also drummer of Sons) Friday June 4th, 1999. The Fillmore was closed for a long time, but it was lovingly restored by the BGP people in 1994 as a tribute to founder Bill Graham. I was there at the opening party, invited by my old friend Bob Barsotti. It was a great party! Bob doesn’t forget his old friends….he sent us a beautiful bottle of Moet Champagne in a bucket of ice with a nice card to our dressing room when we played this gig. I will never forget that gig. The audience was very responsive, and it fulfilled every expectation to be there playing on that very special stage. fotos by John Warne

Hootenanny for KPFA Radio 1966!

Here I am in a press photo for one of my earliest gigs…a HOOTENANNY for Pacifica Radio Station KPFA in Berkeley California. When was the last time you were at a Hootenanny?!

October 1968 Berkeley California

Here I am during my radical Vietnam War protesting days in 1968!

Flower Power…1969!

16 years old, and I was a super freak..free as a bird! I feel sorry for those who never got to experience the free spirit of those times. We had very little to worry about. Everything was cheap, there was no Aids and the ladies seemed to like my curly hair. That year I was made in to a cartoon character in a comicbook about Natural Hair Care put out by Rolling Stone Magazine. I thought I would be retired by the age of 25…boy, was I wrong!

1971 HADES, original rock band

HADES means HELL, and we were 4 little devils. There we are pictured in the grave yard in El Cerrito California. L. to R. Steve Wright, Jim Thorsen, Dave Danza, JH. All our material was original and we used to practice 5 days a week in a garage where our road crew lived. We had a truck with Hades license plates, a good sound system, 2 roadies and a manager, Jerry Figgoni. This was one of the tightest bands out of the East Bay. We played very often at a hot rock club in those days called, The Longbranch Saloon on San Pablo Ave. in Berkeley. We came very close to some big success with Hades, but then it finally broke up.

Jon Hammond & Chris Cortez in KCSM

Jon with host/producer Chris Cortez in studios of KCSM, the Bay Area’s Jazz Radio Station!www.kcsm.org

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WebTV, MSNTV, Jon Hammond, International, Organ, Accordion, Jazz, Blues, Local 802, Musicians Union, B3 organ, XK-3c, Sk1, Sk2, Fender Twin Reverb

*WATCH THE VIDEO: Prototype Sk1 World’s First gig Head Phone Jon Hammond Band

http://www.archive.org/details/JonHammondSk1HeadPhoneJonHammondBand/

http://www.ourmedia.org/media/sk1-head-phone-jon-hammond-band

http://vimeo.com/23878952

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHwo6TItzGs

World’s First Road Test of Hammond Suzuki Sk1 Stage Keyboard by Jon Hammond at his annual Musikmesse-Session in Jazzkeller Hofheim on Friday April 8th 2011
Jon Hammond Band – Joe Berger guitar, Giovanni Gulino drums, Peter Klohmann tenor saxophone
“HEAD PHONE”
Special Thanks Hammond Suzuki, Michael Falkenstein, Malc Deakin, Ken Atsumi, Waichiro ‘Tachi’ Tachikawa, Shigeyuki Ohtaka, Yu Beniya, Bernie Capicchiano – Bernies Music Land, ‘Tachi’ Tachikawa, President Manji Suzuki, Camera: Jennifer
http://www.HammondCast.com

Music

Sk1 Sk2 Prototype Jazz Late Rent Suzuki Instruments Musikmesse Jon Hammond Hamamatsu Frankfurt Digital Analog Hofheim am

http://vimeo.com/22803013

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cb7HHYzE9Gs

Filmed in Hammond-Showroom Karlstrasse 38
D-89129 Langenau Germany on April 19th 2011
“Meet The Incredible Sk1 Hammond with Michael Falkenstein and Jon Hammond”
First look at this exciting new keyboard product weighing in at 7 kilos, just over 15 lbs., it sounds like a real Hammond B3 organ with Leslie, or a full size grand piano, any type of famous vintage electric piano or synthesizer. This keyboard does it all and with original Hammond drawbars and it’s feather light. Sk1 has a built in USB flash drive input, the keys are ‘bullet proof’ waterfall style keys that can hold up to extreme pressure of rockin’ rock musicians, swinging jazz musicians and can even sound like a huge pipe organ. This film will blow your mind.
Available June 2011, contact Michael Falkenstein Hammond Suzuki Deutschland Europe http://www.hammond.de/kontakt.html
Camera: Jennifer
Special thanks, Hr. Klaus Maier founder of Hammond Germany, Suzuki Musical Instruments Chief Engineers Hiromitsu Ono, Ken Atsumi, Malc Deakin Hammond UK, Jennifer Schiele, Waichiro ‘Tachi’ Tachikawa, Bernie Capicchiano Bernies Music Land, Dennis Capiga Hammond Suzuki USA, Jan Kok & Siem Lassche of Hammond Suzuki – dedicated to the Samurai Spirit of Japan during the recovery, we send our most sincere thanks and wishes for a speedy recovery to our good friends in Japan.
Sincerely, Jon Hammond
enjoy this film of the incredible Sk1 Hammond Stage Keyboard in action with 2 veteran players http://www.HammondCast.com

Late Rent Sessions, The Bitter End, Jon Hammond Show, Sk1 organ, Blues, Funk, Soul, Greenwich Village, Bleecker Street, Jazz, Local 802, Musicians Union, Cable TV Show

We also found the cutest tea shop that I wish we had in AZ.

David’s Tea, Bleecker St, New York, NY

We walked all around the Village, browsing at various shops, and then we ended up near Washington Square Park and NYU.

The fire escapes on the sides of the building are so quintessential New York to me.

Before we knew it we found ourselves in the East Village, and we decided it was time for a break to warm up.

View of the Manhattan Building from Dempsey’s Bar, East Village

Next, we made our way through So-Ho and ended in Chinatown for dinner.  We walked A LOT on this trip.  I brought my Garmin to track, and we walked at least 6 miles each day.  That’s why I didn’t worry about a thing I ate or drank! 

We hopped on the Subway and headed back to Brooklyn where I freshened up and  then made my way back to the West Village to meet up with my friend Ziggy.

Ziggs moved to Rhode Island last summer, and it ended up that he was in NYC that weekend for work.  Perfect timing!

We first met up at a bar called the Fat Black Pussy Cat lounge…

…and then we hit up a Karaoke bar where he proceeded to rock out some REO Speedwagon.

That was the night Whitney Houston died, so each bar had her jams going full force.  Both places were a lot of fun, and we ended the night with a Gray’s Papaya hot dog.  Yum!  So glad I got to try the iconic dog and their papaya drink.

After finally getting a cab back to Brooklyn – cab drivers hate going to Brooklyn for some reason, and I started to take personal offense to it – I collapsed into bed and rested myself up for Sunday’s shenanigans.

To be concluded with Day 3…

To check out my first day in NYC, click here.

After the park we (finally) headed towards West Village where we walked past beautiful old brick buildings, designer stores, cafes, bakeries, restaurants, and book shops. Someday, I would want to live there. We then stopped by the Three Lives & Company book store while we were still in the area. TL&C is a small independent book shop found in the corner of West 10th Street and Waverly Place. The shop’s ambience just makes you want to fall in love with books! The shop has an old, but very cozy feel to it as it is housed in an aging brick building and is furnished with wooden planks from its floors to its ceiling. And although TL&C is small, its collection of books is unique and wide-ranging, making it a must-see for any bookworm.

Next, we went to the Magnolia Bakery and ordered their famous Banana Pudding. It was so good that I tried to nudge Lisa on getting the large pint of pudding! Lisa ended up ordering the 12oz cup despite my demands and we both managed to go through half of it in a nearby park. It was creamy, delicious, and very filling. I’m glad that there was still enough pudding for us to enjoy the next day.

Lisa and I then spent our remaining hours in a nearby Starbucks where we read books — “The Story of Caesar” by M. Clarke for me and “From The Memoirs Of A Non-enemy Combatant” by Alex Gilvarry for her.

Soon after, we headed East to Trader Joe’s in Union Square to do a little bit of grocery shopping. Trader Joe’s is a grocery store here in New York where they sell high quality products, organic foods, and artisanal breads for reasonable everyday prices. (Who wouldn’t want that?) They sell the best cereals, frozen viands, trail mixes, and bread ever! I still have to try their other products, but as a newbie to TJ’s, they sure made me one happy customer.

As we left Trader Joe’s to grab dinner, Lisa and I found a huge crowd walking on the streets carrying signs and shouting out chants. Finally, a firsthand account of the protesters from Occupy Wall Street! Lisa and I had to walk across the protest because our restaurant was waiting for us at the other side of the road. As we walked through the sea of activists and policemen, Lisa took photos and here are a few:

OWS wasn’t as rowdy as I expected them to be, but I heard that a few policemen were getting thrown with soda cans. That was probably the worst of it.

After passing through the angry OWS protesters, we ironically met up with Jed, who works in Wall Street, at Artichoke Pizza. It was here where I was introduced to one of the biggest and best mouthwatering NYC pizza slices ever. The artichoke pizza was cheesy, gooey, buttery, and I guess, artichoke-y. I loved it!

After dinner, we headed back home to rest and continued reading our books. I wonder where our feet will take us in the next few days ahead.

- P

On the east coast of the United States there is the Island Of Manhattan, a cosy little village populated by a mere 1,585,873 people. If you’ve never been, you need to go and if you have been, you know you need to go back immediately! I have been in love with New York since I was a little girl and every time I visit, I fall in love with it a little bit more. I have visited it in the sunshine, in the rain and in the snow. I have been for weddings, shoots, shopping and for rendezvous with old friends but no matter the season or the occasion, NYC is my spiritual home and it will always hold a special place in my heart. Here are ten things; I love about New York City…

1. The Food

NYC has some of the best food and restaurants in the world! My favourites include, Bubby’s on Hudson Street for breakfast, Balthazar on Spring Street for lunch and either The Spotted Pig at Greenwich Street or Pastis at Little W 12th Street for dinner. Also, for the best frozen yoghurt in town, head to Pinkberry  (it is a low-fat, utterly irresistible treat that is totally delicious).

2. Duane Reade

Duane Reade is the best! Where else can you find medicine, make-up and liquor all under one roof? I cannot step into a Duane Reade without purchasing CoverGirl Volume Exact Mascara, Crest Clinical Sensitivity Relief Whitening Plus Scope Toothpaste and of course, all my US magazines (Vogue, Teen Vogue, Allure & W).

3. The High Line

The High Line was originally built in the 1930s for a freight rail line and today it is a public park spread along a 1.45-mile-long elevated rail structure running from Gansevoort Street to West 34th Street. A perfect place to relax in the sunshine or stroll along and take in some of the city sights.

4. Bleecker Street

Home to, Marc by Marc Jacobs (a must for fabulously cheap MJ holiday gifts), the famous Magnolia Bakery (where Carrie and Miranda devoured cupcakes in SATC) and my all time favourite perfume shop, Bond No 9.

5.  The Mani/Pedi’s

NYC is the best for grooming your fingers and toes. My favourite salon is Ten Over Ten in Tribeca on 112 Reade Street. They offer luxury mani/pedis for a great price, their signature manicure is only $20!

6.  The Rooftops

I love New York rooftop bars for cocktails on those long summer nights. I recommend the Gansevoort  and Soho House (both in the Meatpacking District) for delicious mojitos and amazing views.

7.  The Brooklyn Bridge

One of the oldest suspension bridges in the USA. The bridge connects Manhattan and Brooklyn spanning the East River. The elevated footpath gives you the opportunity to cross the river away from the busy traffic whilst taking in the incredible views of the bridge’s towers and the downtown Manhattan skyline. Every time I visit Manhattan, I make a trip across this bridge to hit the amazing vintage clothing shops in Brooklyn.

8.  Central Park

Probably the world’s most famous park! Central Park for me sums up NYC. I love the vibe of the park, the joggers, the yummy mummies strolling through, the Strawberry Fields, the horse and carriage rides and everything else in between.

9.  The Shopping

NYC has some of the best shopping in the world. Whenever I visit the city, I always make a trip to Century 21 in the Financial District. Canal Street is the place for fake designer sunglasses, handbags and watches, Prince Street and Spring Street has generally amazing high street shops, Soho has J.Crew, Old Navy and Bloomingdale’s and of course, Fifth Avenue has Bergdorf Goodman.

10.  Ryan Gosling

Where else but NYC can you randomly bump into my ultimate crush, Ryan Gosling? Gosling has broken up street fights and saved women from speeding cabs all in a day’s work on the streets of this wonderful town. Now if that doesn’t make you want to jump on the next flight to JFK, nothing will!

The New School and the Bronx Zoo are among 11 winners sharing more than $4.5 million in green infrastructure grants announced by mayor Michael Bloomberg on Saturday. The money is for such things as green roofs that help cut down sewage overflow during heavy rain.

Meanwhile, in Brooklyn, Midwood High School senior Priscilla Consolo got some 250 kids to clean up the neighborhood.

WEB EXTRA: Full coverage of Earth Day

Magnolia Bakery on Bleecker Street also got into the spirit of the day, celebrating with special cupcakes. For each cupcake sold, a dollar is donated to city parks.

And of course, what would Earth Day be without an event at the Javits Center? The convention center hosted the first ever NYC Green Festival. Authors and educators were on hand for the event, and a multitude of workshops were given.

What are you doing to celebrate Earth Day? Share your stories in the comments section below…

Liège waffles fresh out of the iron

Invented by the chef of the prince-bishop of Liège in the 18th century as an adaptation of brioche bread dough, it features chunks of pearl sugar which caramelise on the outside of the waffle when baked. Preparation is a two-day process, but the reward is well worth the effort. Toppings are optional, and really not necessary.

Liège waffle close up

A Liège waffle is considered to be street food in Belgium. People buy it, put it in a wrapper and munch on it on the go, so no fork and knife required. Where can one find this Belgian goodie in New York?

Le Pain Quotidien

First came across Le Pain Quotidien in Brussels. Can’t describe how excited I was to find a slice of metropolitan Belgian rusticity in this city. A quaint wooden interior, all pine and chalkboards scrawled with organic specials, gives way to an assured menu of open sandwiches, huge salads and soups served in rough-cut bread bowls.

"Our daily bread" - artisan bread made with organic stone-ground flour, salt, and water, kneaded and shaped by hand

Owner Alain Coumont learned about bread as a small child, standing on a chair every Sunday watching his grandmother bake bread. What he wanted was simple: bread, hearty and wholesome, with a firm slice and a good crust.

If you would like to share bread made with your own hands with family and friends, to smell the aroma of freshly baked loaf in your own kitchen, or just to play with dough for a few hours, Le Pain Quotidien offers baking classes at the new Bleecker Street Bakery.

Sourcing organic ingredients wherever possible, this bakery/cafe not only builds lasting and meaningful partnerships with organic farmers, but also ensures the ingredients are of the highest quality. It’s about finding the very best, in a way that is good for all of us. This philosophy is also reflected in the design of the cafe and he materials used.

Communal table made of reclaimed wood

Reclaimed wood and recycled Gypsum are used in construction and in the furniture. Energy-efficient lamps, and environmentally friendly cleaning supplies and packaging are also adopted.

Menu holders adorning the center of the tables. Creative recycling of an old loaf

The Belgian waffle here is probably as close as you can get to what you can find in Belgium. The caramelised sugar glistened on the most delicious buttery-sweet treasure beneath, lightly dusted with sugar and topped with fresh berries. The organic hot chocolate served in a bowl, was equally decadent. You can adjust the strength of the cacao flavour with the melted chocolate that was served on the side.

Belgian waffle and organic hot chocolate

What I appreciate the most is the community spirit beyond the communal table. Le Pain Quotidien partners with City Harvest, Feed the Children and The Doe Fund, food rescue organisations dedicated to feeding the New York’s hungry men, women and children, serving its daily bread once the doors have closed to those in need.

Le Pain Quotidien
Add: 1131 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10028 (btn 84th and 85th Street)
Tel: +1 212 327 4900

As someone who loves food, I can’t stand the thought of someone going hungry or being abused. If you also want to help those in need in our very own city, why don’t you come join us this Saturday at the stunning Watermark on the harbour for a low-key, fun charity party to benefit Foodlink and Harmony House?

Foodlink / Harmony House Charity Party

Date: 21 April 2012 (Sat)
Time: 10:00pm onwards
Venue: Watermark, Central Pier 7, Star Ferry, Central, Hong Kong
RSVP: http://hkdballcharity.eventbrite.com/

I remember visiting awhile back, sitting at the window drinking coffee, and writing a sonnet. Corner Shop Café is a comfortable and peaceful space where one feels at home.

Every day, tourists and locals can savor the American Cuisine at Corner Shop Café. Such as, Cornershop Cobb Salad with Chipotle Dressing; Rigatoni Napolitano; Grilled Salmon Nicoise; Yellowfin Tuna Burger with Wasabi Aioli, and a 8 oz. Ale Naturale Grass Fed Beef Burger.

So, if you journey to the West Village area; pop around to the Corner Shop Cafe. It is a charming place in the neighborhood.

Catch it if you can at www.cornershopcafe.com

There are many explanations: bureaucracy, ballooning costs and unforeseen conditions to name a few. However, this project is not raising any eyebrows on the street. No one appears to consider how long the giant holes in Houston Street have existed. Because similar infrastructure projects are occurring throughout the city at the same time (Fulton Street Transit Center, 7 Train Extension, Second Avenue Subway), people may be accustomed to the construction. Together, these projects create the feeling that the MTA is improving the subway. And indeed the MTA is making improvements. Besides the usual maintenance and repairs that passengers see throughout the system, these select projects are providing fundamental connections. These connections will eventually improve how we use the system. On a personal level, the new connection to the uptown 6 train at Bleecker Street will allow me to enter the station closer to my office. A very convenient option when it is raining outside.

The question then becomes, why are these projects only happening now? And, why did these important connections not exist when the subway was built?

Three Histories into One

To understand why these projects seem to only be happening now, I looked at the history of the New York City subway. At first glance, the subway looks like one complete system, but for most of its life from circa 1904 to 1960s, it was three separate systems.

The oldest portions of the subway were operated by the Interborough Rapid Transit (IRT) Company in Manhattan at the beginning of the 20th Century. These make up today’s numbered lines, for example the 6 train. At the same time, a company in Brooklyn was expanding its trolley and elevated railway lines – the Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company, later the Brooklyn-Manhattan Transit Corporation (BMT). The BMT decided to build its first subway in Manhattan under Nassau Street, in 1913, from the foot of the Williamsburg Bridge to the Municipal Building. This allowed the BMT to connect its trolley network with Downtown Manhattan. As rapid transportation gained popularity and overcrowded streets hindered the practicality of trolley lines, the City of New York agreed to expand the subway for both companies during a period known as the “Dual Contracts.”

Most of today’s system is a product of this period. By 1920, subways lines extended all the way down to Coney Island and up into the Bronx. In 1932, the city opened a new subway by a third company known as the Independent Subway System (IND). This company was fully owned by the city and intended to expand the reaches of rapid transit to underserved areas. Finally, in 1940, the city purchased the IRT and the BMT to form the unified New York City Subway System. The caveat with this milestone, however, is the system was not truly “unified”. There were little to no connections between the three systems and traveling anywhere that was not to/from Manhattan was erratic and tedious. Even today, trains that run on the IRT lines cannot run on the other lines.

Getting on Track

Combining more than one company together can expose many complications. Different cultures, different identities and even different approaches to the design of their train cars and stations are just some of many causes.

In the subsequent decades, the city began to face these challenges and find solutions. Surprisingly, merging different labor groups and corporate structures was not difficult. Ultimately, the city got its way, creating the New York City Transit Authority in 1953. More pesky complications like re-numbering train routes and making transfers possible between lines without an additional fare required more thought. Highly visible efforts to solve these underlying issues came about in the late ‘60s to early ‘70s. One was a newly introduced subway map designed by Massimo Vignelli. This map was conceptually different from its predecessors. It showed one complete system, each train a different color, with little indication for the three historical systems. Another effort was the Chrystie Street Connection – a new subway tunnel connecting the Manhattan Bridge’s BMT lines with the IND line running under Houston Street. This marked the first major construction project to connect two of the three original systems. Even today, many subway enthusiasts consider the opening of the Chrystie Street Connection as the moment when the subway system was finally united.

Efforts did not end in the ‘70s when the city was on the brink of bankruptcy and many individuals were repelled by the deprived state of the subway system. Plans were set in motion (if only just to plan) for new transfer points, new stations and new subway lines altogether. The Second Avenue Subway, a new station in Jamaica and connecting Roosevelt Island to the mainland are to name a few. By the 1990s, when New York City as a whole was on a rebound, the subway began to see many important projects go into action. These projects overall make up the missing pieces to one complete system.

That answers my question why the connection between the uptown 6 train (an IRT line) and the BDFM trains (an IND line) is now only coming to fruition. Two different systems and a slow but steady push to fill in the missing pieces. The fact that two separate systems built on top of one another and following almost a century of development beneath the streets of New York may also explain why it is taking so long. There is a lot of stuff down there. Accommodating for all the cables, pipes, sewers and other urban curiosities will take time and preparation. The MTA cannot just build a tunnel between the two stations without running into something.

However, there are similar missing pieces still remaining in the system. One is the much-awaited Second Avenue Subway that should bring much relief to an overtaxed 456 line. I personally cannot wait for this to open. Another is a connection between the F train along East 63rd Street and the 59th Street Station on the 456 line. Has anyone ever made that connection? You know, the one that is laboriously announced in the subway car every time you approach that station? I certainly have not. Even with these quirks about the system, it is a great system to use. New York City would be at a lost if the system was any other way. I look forward to the completion of the project at Houston and Lafayette Streets. It will not only be a betterment to my commute home every night, but it will symbolize an additional piece to the puzzle that is the New York City subway.

The new Bleecker Street and Broadway-Lafayette connection is expected to open in June 2012.

_______________

1.  Chan, Sewell. “With Connection on No. 6 Line, a Manhattan Transfer Is Coming,” New York Times, May 7, 2005.

2.  Lee Harris Pomeroy Architects. Project Info

3.  Metropolitan Transportation Authority. www.mta.info

4.  www.nycsubway.org

Crosswalk on Bleecker Street at Carmine Street

“Yes, I received your letter yesterday,
About the time the door knob broke.
When you asked me how I was doing
Was that some kind of joke?
All these people that you mention,
Yes, I know them, they’re quite lame.
I had to rearrange their faces,
And give them all another name.
Right now I can’t read too good,
Don’t send me no more letters no.
Not unless you mail them,
From Desolation Row.”

I walked by Goorin Bros. storefront on Monday and went in, learning that their first hat was sold off a horse cart in Pittsburgh PA in 1895 (according to the story on their website).  I live in Pittsburgh so this caught my attention. The woman behind the counter was coaxing a flattened straw hat back to life after a shot of steam. She showed me the old tractor seats that are now stools in the store.  I was waiting for my sister to complete some work and walking around the West Village, exploring.  The photo of the exterior on Monday had the cellar metal doors open so I went back Tuesday afternoon and took another. The door was open and there was a young man sporting a hat behind the counter.  I asked if I could take his photo and he said okay, (as  I’m sure tourists ask all the time)  So this is Ryan selling some very cool hats.  Jessica, I will photograph you next time!

The store interior. Check out the white tri-cornerd hat, although it seemed rounded corners so I am sure there is an official name for it.

 And they have a blog 

]]> http://rutheh.com/2012/04/02/breakfast-snack-dinner-in-nyc/ Tue, 03 Apr 2012 02:23:29 +0000 rutheh http://rutheh.com/2012/04/02/breakfast-snack-dinner-in-nyc/ Forgot to photograph lunch- apple slices, Irish cheddar, tomato soup, matzoh and LiLac dark chocolate egg

This starts with dessert and goes in reverse order, Still learning how to blog from the phone.

Her apartment sold quickly in an all cash deal. That’s New York.

But how about this apartment listing: 383 Bleecker Street for $650k via Citi Habitats

The pros:

• Great location. Who doesn’t love the Village? OK, Republicans. But everyone else does, right?
• It appears to get good light in spite of being on a low floor.
• The hardwoods have character.
• I like the ceiling fan in the living room.
• The bathroom appears to have been recently updated (although with one of those useless pedestal sinks that offer no storage).

The cons:

• It’s a walk-up (no elevator) and the building doesn’t look like anything special.
• The apartment is tiny – about 400 square feet. The listing calls it a 1 BR but I suspect it’s really a studio with a wall for a sleeping area.
• The apartment has two closets – total.
• The floor plan says “DW” for dishwasher but there’s no evidence of one in the kitchen photo. That kitchen is old, with a terrible old stove/oven. Also, that ancient radiator makes me shudder.
• Co-op fees are just under $1000/month. The buyer needs to put down 20% ($130,000).
• The listing doesn’t mention a laundry in the building so there probably isn’t one.

The listing references showings beginning on March 25 and today is April 2. My prediction is that this apartment will sell for somewhere in the high $500s instead of the $650,000 it’s listed for.

Note: all images are the property of Citi-Habitats.com