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Showing posts with label Fort Wayne. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fort Wayne. Show all posts

Christabel & The Jons - The Christmas Album (A TWO-FOR-ONE REVIEW)



Received an interesting package at the PO Box a few weeks ago.  Inside was an advance copy of a Christmas album (in a clear DVD case) from a band I had never heard of before.

The cover letter read thusly:



I quickly added December 3rd to my calendar as I sat down trying to figure out more about this band.  From their bio:

CB&J has been performing their distinctive style of folky swing since the spring of 2005. They released their first full-length album, “Love and Circumstances” in November of 2006. Their second and most recent album, “Custom Made For You,” was released on December 12th, 2008.

In addition to headlining many shows, Christabel and the Jons has also performed at numerous festivals in the US including Bonnaroo, Riverbend, Bele Chere, Blue Plum Festival, Shakori Hills Festival, Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion, and Sundown in the City. They’ve also opened for many national acts including The Brazilian Girls, The Be Good Tanyas, The Red Stick Ramblers, The Wilders, and Loudon Wainwright.






TRACK REVIEWS:

1.) Best Kind of Friend
Original Christmas song written by the lead singer - it's a great showcase for the band's Tennessee swing sound and Christa's amazing sultry voice.

2.) Winter Wonderland
The pedal steel guitar by Brock Henderson gives this one a island feeling which goes well with the overall band sound.  Seth's trumpet solo made me laugh out loud!

3.) The Christmas Song
Very straightforward version of this classic.  Nicely done.


4.)  It Won't Cool Off
I've never heard of anyone covering this old Dean Martin classic until now.  Kudos to the song selectors - this one's flat out perfect!


5.)  I'd Like You For Christmas
More kudos to whomever chose this song.  Written by Bobby Troup ("Route 66") for his wife Julie London, no one ever dared covering this song.  Another outstanding song!


6.)  What Will Santa Claus Say?
Even more kudos to the person who picked this Prima pasterpiece (okay, I stretched).  If Louis Prima was from Tennessee, I'd imaging his Christmas song would sound like this.  Great, great, great!


7.)  Christmas Island
More pedal steel guitar, Seth's great ukulele, Christa and the band's amazing vocals on this track make this one remarkable.


8.)  Santa Baby
Another great version of a Christmas classic.  More on this one later.


9.)  Baby It's Cold Outside
The interplay between Christa and Andy Bean of the Two Man Gentleman Band adds a special Tennessee touch to this song.  Very nice.


10.)  Christmas In Prison
I'm admittedly not a fan of this song but this John Prine song given the full CB & J treatment makes it one to listen for.


11.)  Silent Night
A very distinctive version that will make you re-listen to this one three or four times.  I enjoyed this quite a bit.


12.)  Christmas Time Is Here
What better way to go out on than with Vince Guaraldi?  Seth and the band reworks the Guaraldi sound to their advantage - I'm a fan of this band's sound.



After I had heard this album for the 19th time, I was inviting all of my friends out to The Brass Rail on December 3rd.  Not many wanted to come fearing the bar's former reputation.  But owners John Commorato Jr and Corey Rader have done a great job transforming the former dive bar into an alternative band showcase since 2007.

The show started at 10 PM with local band Buffalo Jump playing a lively, 45 minute set before CB & J took the stage.  No Christmas songs from Buffalo Jump but I definitely enjoyed the song about the Brass Rail.


Christabel and The Jons took the stage to set up - down time, a chance to get another drink, visit the restroom, or a quick smoke for those so inclined.  We waited.  And waited.  And waited.  

Seems the band had difficulty setting up their synthesizer and electric guitar hooked up - many of the effects they showcased on the Christmas album wouldn't be available for the show.


After 45 minutes, the band started with several of their non-Christmas songs that quickly won the Fort Wayne crowd over.  Their sound was fast, impactful, and full of swing that you couldn't help tap your toes and sway to the rhythm.


First Christmas song of the night:  "Merry Christmas Baby", a song that wasn't featured on their album.  From where I was positioned in the back of the bar, I failed to capture it on my cell phone camera.


However, not wanting to make the same mistake twice, I moved up into the crowd and closer the stage:





Other Christmas songs played were "Best Kind of Friend", "Blue Christmas", and "Winter Wonderland".  The rest of their amazing two hour set (yeah, these guys wailed) was more of their patented Tennessee swing.


Around 1 AM (this stay-at-home dad's eyes were bleary), I made my way up to the band members and thanked them for an amazing show and an even more amazing Christmas album.  Seth, Christa, and Jon (who was about as tired as me when I caught him out dragging a butt) were personable and charming throughout.


This band has one of the best Christmas albums of the 2010 season.  

Their other album that I bought at the show - "Custom Made For You" - has won some airtime on my boombox here at my home.  It's the first non-Christmas album to do that in December in about fourteen years.


Not digitally dead yet at the ol' yuleblog...




Capt

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It's A YouTube Christmas - Pt. 15

From time to time this Christmas season, I'll be posting some amazing videos that have been rescued by people like us and posted at the mecca of all things wonderful and obscure - YouTube.

I invite you to add a fun comment, witticism, clever remark, or observation in the comments section provided. Any comments deemed worthy of repeating will be included into this entry where all the world will see it.

Earlier today, I posted two albums with connection to my hometown of Fort Wayne, Indiana. Continuing with that theme, I scanned the YouTube dial to find any videos with a similar connection to the Summit City and came up with quite a few vids.

The first is of a well known and loved three-story tall Santa Claus that's been hanging in downtown Fort Wayne for decades:



This mammoth display used to hang off the Wolf & Dessauer department store in downtown Fort Wayne eons ago and was rescued from the trash bin two decades ago - click on the links for more info.

Our next clip is from The Chorus of Fort Wayne, a gay men's chorus that puts a unique spin into their Christmas show. Anyone got a white polyester suit?:



What can I say? If it's Christmas disco, I'm there. The Chorus of Fort Wayne has a website so if you enjoyed the video, drop them a line!

And now, a word from our sponsor:



Russ Moore Transmissions have been rebuilding Fort Wayne's motors since 1955 and have provided many amusing TV commercials over those many long years.

Amazingly, a good majority of these commercials have been posted online for your viewing enjoyment. FYI - the bumbling mechanic in many of these videos (and in Russ Moore's avatar) is my friend Thom Hofrichter, the head of First Presbyterian Theater where I volunteer my time to help them (and my best pal Joel).

This final clip I was thrilled to find on YouTube. If I were to grab my trusty Boy Scout compass, walk out my front door, and start heading directly northwest for about 1/2 mile, I would run directly into this house:



The Mazocks have been dazzling their neighborhood for several years. Six weeks before Thanksgiving every year, these folks hang an estimated 24,000 lights on their house, bushes, trees, basketball court, and driveway. Even the trees 200 feet away from their home in the backyard don't escape decoration.

By the time they flip the switch, they have a state-of-the-art, 200-amp outdoor power board with 32 plug-ins and an electric bill at Christmas time $250 higher than average.

And they don't stop there. As the cars drive by slowly, you'll notice one of the family members sitting on the driveway as Santa Claus welcoming well-wishers and posing for pictures. You can have your "Wizards of Winter" homes and flashy light-shows... the Mazocks celebrate Christmas, period.

We drove by the house a week ago and I noticed that the house directly next door is on the market. Can you imagine the amount of Christmas energy that would flow from that subdivision if I decided to purchase that home?

Honey??? A Happy Fort Wayne Christmas to one and all...


Capt

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Selections from "The West Creighton Avenue Christian Church Bell Choir of Fort Wayne, Indiana"


During a vinyl bin search and rescue mission here in Fort Wayne, I came across not one but two copies of this album still sealed!

The West Creighton Christian Church was looking for an activity for their youth back in 1963 and came across an advertisement for handbell ringing. They ordered a set and a tradition was born.

They toured all over the country with their handbells between 1963 and 1965. This album features Christian music, one patriotic song ("America"), one popular song ("Moon River"), and four Christmas songs!

The four Christmas songs on this album are presented here. On the back cover of this album is a list of all the bellringers - I would love to hear from any of them about this album, memories of travelling with the handbells, etc.

Last June, the West Creighton Avenue church closed after 110 years of ministry in the Fort Wayne area. No word if the handbell tradition was kept to the very end or to the fate of the handbells themselves.


Selections from "The West Creighton Avenue Christian Church Bell Choir of Fort Wayne, Indiana"


Happy listening...


Capt

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Joe Longstreth and John Escosa - Christmas With


Many times I've come across this album in thrift stores, online vinyl markets, and even eBay and Amazon.com. Two silouetted harps in black and white tell the story.

What I didn't know was the connection this album had to my hometown of Fort Wayne until I had a copy in my hands. It seems not only were one of the harpists (Escosa) had deep roots in Fort Wayne but it was actually recorded here as well on the Carriage Records label.

Side one is The Christmas Story according to St. Mark. Written and narrated by Longstreth, this full 15 minute story is interspersed with lovely music for solo harp (Escosa). Side two has the harpists trading off each other as they go through ten different Christmas carols.

Nothing fancy but it's well done Christmas harp.

One free day this past summer, I went looking for the location of the recording studio listed on the back cover. Located in a iffy part of town, I managed to find it - an empty lot full of grass and trees. Nothing to suggest there was a structure anywhere on the lot.

Across the street stood an apartment building with a prominent name: Carriage House Apartments. I'll have to do some detective work to see if the two are related or if the area has some sort of history with carriages, etc.

String this one along:


Joe Longstreth & John Escosa - Christmas With


Happy listening...


Capt

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Little Jack Frost Got Lost ... in Fort Wayne

Last night as we slept, ol' man winter decided to pay us a visit. We got around 1" of snow followed by thunderstorms (ever awake to thunder in the middle of December) that froze everything and anything in its path.

Schools were cancelled, power outages were everywhere, and thousands of broken limbs scattered streets and yards. Put your ear up to the screen and you'll probably hear the drone of the chainsaws outside my window.

I grabbed my purchased last year, already obsolete digital camera and took a few snaps of the view from my kitchen into my backyard.



We did lose power for a brief time but it's fully restored. Compared to some of the areas in town that could be without up until Christmas, lady luck smiled on us.

What a way to start Christmas vacation for the kids!


Capt

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Larry Pester - Peace; Reflections On Christmas


With eight days left before Christmas, I wanted to spend today looking at several new Christmas albums on the shelves this season - perhaps a last minute gift guide for those who love Christmas music.

This is review number eight today - my final one for Review Tuesday.

You've probably never heard of this gentlemen so let me take a moment to introduce you to him. Larry Pestor is well known throughout the music and advertising scene of my hometown of Fort Wayne, Indiana. This is a man who wrote and sold a radio jingle to Saudi Arabian Airlines right after the Iraq war began! And Larry don't speak Arabic!

I first became aware of Larry when an article was published in the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette back in April of this year. The line of the article that stood out was "Pester will even turn your 78 rpm records into digital files for you."

Armed with a small stack of 78s, Larry has helped me immensely this year; the transfer of the "Dragnet" Christmas LP was done at his studio.

Larry has always had a desire to do a Christmas album and he finally stopped procrastinating about it this year. Recording it was no problem considering he was not only playing on the album but producing it.

There are ten tracks of standard Christmas music on this album. Nothing overblown, nothing pretentious, nothing that sounds bad. Larry handles the piano beautifully and adds guitars and synthesizer just at the right moments.

My favorite tracks are "Away In A Manger" (I know it's synth but it sounds like the musical glasses), "Angels We Have Heard On High", and "Joy To The World" has some of the best piano work I've heard in quite a while on any Christmas album.

In short, this is a very good Christmas album that deserves to be heard. In this day and age of the same 50 songs being played on Christmas radio, I would love to hear music like Larry's on the radio now and then.

You can spend $10 on an album like Neil Sedaka and get totally blindsided. Or you can spend $10 on an album from an artist who's poured some time, effort, and sweat into his project.

If you're interested in this album, check out his website. Tell him the Captain sent you...


Capt

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Christmas Day, 2007

December 25th has finally arrived!

Thanks for taking time out of your holiday to visit us at the yuleblog - especially to all of our first time visitors who are looking in today!

Earlier this morning, I woke up, got dressed quickly, and ran quietly downstairs past the bedrooms of my kids. I wasn't heading to see if Santa came and left presents under the tree. I ran past the tree, past the fireplace where the stockings were hung and bulging with flair, and past the fridge (a major accomplishment for me in the AM).

I headed outdoors like a kid running to see what was under the Christmas tree. I braved the Christmas cold to retrieve my copy of the Journal-Gazette, the morning newspaper of my hometown of Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Emma Downs has been writing for the newspaper for several years. Last week, she called me about my annual Christmas CDs and my Christmas music obsession after receiving a copy of my annual Christmas CD.

A phone interview was arranged, I supplied several pictures from my music collection, and the story was published today - of all days! What a Christmas present!

The story takes up the entire front page of their features section! Here's the online link to the article:


http://www.journalgazette.net/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071225/FEAT/712250356


As I sit here basking in the glow of my computer monitor and the Christmas tree lights, only three words can describe how I feel right now:

GREAT
JUMPIN'
ICEBERGS!


In case you were wondering - The shelves are divided in three sections:
The left section is my CD collection.
The middle section music is ALL my Christmas CDs.
The right section is my wife's CD collection
and knickknacks that will be evicted in the near future.


Merry Christmas & Happy New Year
to everyone reading,
everywhere.


Rob Martinez
aka CaptainOT

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Super Bowl Weekend








 



"It's a shame we have
to go to Miami,
we should just go
to Fort Wayne and
play this off."


Tony Dungy,
Indianapolis Colts coach
quoted on January 21, 2006



No reviews will be posted over the weekend. Bet you already knew that. Duhh.

Ever since Coach Dungy spoke those words on that wonderful Sunday, the city of Fort Wayne has been beside itself. The Fort Wayne Chamber of Commerce sent Dungy a gift basket (the "I HEART Fort Wayne" mug probably didn't make the trip to Miami) and voted him "2007 Man Of The Year" with eleven months left in the year. The enormous sense of pride Fort Wayne always possessed now needs a trailer for the extra amounts of vainglory thanks to a flip quote.

Two years ago, the city was named "the dumbest town in America" by Men's Health Magazine - a supplement / Viagra catalog wrapped around the same four or five rotated articles they wrote back in 1983.  

They run stupid polls like this so news organizations and other media will pay attention to them. They did - and the "magazine" went right back into obscurity. At least until they name another town dumb. What a racket.

Dungy's quote has made Fort Wayne show their colors like a proud peacock. The burst of team colors around the city have been spreading steadily and will reach their peak today when a huge "Blue Friday" rally is held in downtown Fort Wayne. 

At 4 PM, Colts and Bears fans are invited to wear their gear, yell like crazy for the local TV stations, and spend some time downtown (which is like a ghost town after the work whistle blows at 5 PM).

There was talk of a huge 60 foot TV screen inside the Allen County Memorial Coliseum with Colts fans on one side and Bears fans on the other. If it happens, it begs the question: where am I going to sit?

I was raised near Chicago for 26 years.
Fort Wayne has been my hometown for nearly seven years.

Throughout my childhood years, I was a Bears fan.
Since I've been in Indiana, I've marvelled at Peyton Manning.

I cheered for the Bears to win over the Saints two Sundays ago.
I was thrilled when the Colts won over the Patriots two Sundays ago.

I received a Dick Butkus throwback jersey for Christmas.
A friend gave me a Colts hat for my birthday.

What tips the scales? My kids.

My oldest son and daughter have watched Bear games with me and even know the first few bars of "Bear Down, Chicago Bears". On our trip to Chicago last December, we stopped at Wrigley Field (where the Bears used to play from 1921-1970) and we visited one of the Cub shops across the street. my son strode to the counter and saw the rows and rows of hats. He asked the gentleman behind the counter for one Bears hat.

However, if the Colts manage to beat my beloved Bears, I'll be just as giddy. Isn't that sick? It seems Indiana has rubbed off on me and I don't mind it one bit.

Either way, it's should prove to be a great game. Don't drink and drive.

Have fun watching the game, the commercials (just as fun), and let's hope Prince doesn't have a wardrobe malfunction at halftime. Don't drink and drive.


Capt

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P.O. Box 13207 - Fort Wayne, IN 46867-3207


We're always on the look out for deserving Christmas CDs to review here at the yuleblog. Major releases, indie labels, out-of-print discs, homemade Christmas compilations, and, of course, vinyl transfers of long forgotten Christmas albums to CD.

With that in mind, I decided to rent some space from the US Government over at my local post office.


WHAT WOULD I LIKE TO FIND AT MY P.O. BOX?
  • Any new Christmas releases on CD
  • Christmas cards and letters
  • Annual Christmas compilations from other Christmas enthusiasts
  • Anything on 33/45/78 from Christmas Seals
  • Any of the "Kapusta Kristmas" albums from Al Kooper
  • Your favorite Christmas samples (Simpsons Christmas sound bites, etc)
  • Questions about lost Christmas music (I'll try my best to answer them here at the blog)

Please include an e-mail address with any and all correspondence - especially with the Christmas compilations!

As of January 5, 2009, we are not trading anything further from my collection. We've had several bad experiences during the past 2 1/2 years with trades and we chose to end it.


For anything else, please don't be shy... give us a shout!


Capt

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