Archive for June, 2008

I was sitting staring at the monitor and doing whatever I was doing at work when I got this text message – “Hey Peak, I’m in town for a gig, wanna come?”. Hells yes! It was Scott Amendola‘s surprise musical visit, subbing a gig on the last minute playing with Marco Benevento. I love Scott. I met him last year in association with Nels Cline Singers. First at the Safari Sam’s in January 2007, and later when I went up the coast with Nels for the Singers’ “micro tour”. 

Marco Benevento, I never met but seen him played with Bobby Previte’s Coalition of The Willing which also included Charlie Hunter, and Skerik – That was at The Mint in May of 2006. I remember Marco because his picture I took was one of my favorites…. and of course, his organ playing was much memorable. This time Marco brought down Scott to sub for Matt Chamberlain? I think? Without hesitation, I immediately got on board to see this. I always am up to catch up with Scott.

I already was supposed to hang out with my Israeli friends this evening. One of them lives here, and the other – his nephew, was visiting. I tried as much as I could to convince them to come with me to the show, but today I learned that when people tell you they ‘like jazz music’ – it’s just a euphemism for “I’m really not critical enough about music to tell you my specific taste…if I have any. Less will I want to get into it with you about any details. For now, it will sound the least shallow to go ahead and say that I like jazz.” So I ended up going to meet up with Scott by myself – which was for the best. GE stinson also showed up. I finally got a chance to talk to him a little bit after the show. GE is a friend of Nels’s . I’ve seen him played once with Nels last year. But that hang at the diner was too fun for too long. When we went back to the parking garage, we found the door had been shut! Standing in front of it like a dork, I couldn’t stop snickering. Well, this would have screwed both me AND Scott both, since I was supposed to take him back to the hotel near the airport (which was far from Largo). His flight was in about 6 hours to get back to San Francisco.

The suspense lasted about 5-10 minutes before we found the garage had a door on the other side through the dark and shady alley. Eternity was the very moment my hand was reaching for that door handle. With my entire being’s worth of conjoining electric circuitry, I was willing for it to be unlocked. And … voila … we are home. whew.

Marco Benevento

Bassist Reed Mathis

Scott Amendola

Marco

Marco Benevento Trio at the Coronet - Largo, LA, CA

I met Diana 6-7 years ago here in Los Angeles, when she was working at a photo studio Smashbox. I fell in love with her immediately. Something about her was so easy and comforting to be around. A California native to Nicaraguan parents, Diana speaks several languages and a natural diplomat. She studied international relations and later got a job at the UN before soon after she moved to Vienna with her awesome genius architect wine connoisseur husband Kurt. 

It’s been about a couple of years since I last saw Diana. She and Kurt were here last to get a break from Austria winter. Since then, Diana and Kurt produced an adorable offspring, Sophia. It was so nice to catch up with them at Jennifer’s wedding.

Diana and Sophia

Kurt and Sophia

Sophia sleeping

Kurt, Diana, and Sophia

Kurt, Diana, and Sophia

Kurt, Diana, and Sophia

Sophia

I know Jennifer for many years now through our mutual friend Diana. Her pursuit is in academia, majoring in Anthropology with the focus Peru culture. But our contact had only been around the typical southern California stuff – that is – parties, movies, and a strip club.  When she moved to the East Coast to go to Harvard, our exchanges become sparse. When I got her text message asking me for an address, it hit me by surprise that she was getting married!

After receiving that invitation, I got a chance to look up ‘their story’ – as posted on their wedding info website – such – an incredibly sweet story.

Jennifer and Ross

Jennifer and Ross

I dropped in on another one of Watt’s radio show. 

Watt at the Love Grotto

the show

Brother Matt

Vinnie Vegas

Watt points at magazine

Vinnie

Watt working

Watt at the Love Grotto balcany