Bill C: Soul Funkified Jazz – Page 3 of 7

The Stork Club, Boston… closed!

I just received notice that The Stork Club in Boston is shut down indefinitely. There is some kind of license issue with the club owners and the company who leases them the building and licenses. So the first thing to make note of is that there will be no shows as originally scheduled. This includes this Sat June 5 and next Sat June 12.

Not that the details of their business is a topic for online discussion but the five owners of the business were leasing the space and it’s liquor and entertainment license from the previous owner. Somewhere along the chain of licensing boards, apartment dwellers, building owners and associations this fantastic club has been shut down.

I almost wrote something about how much I enjoy this club but it seemed a little self-serving. So now here’s my list of why I love this place:

The Stork is a great music club. At 9:30 when the music starts, this little 88 seat club with the band right smack in the middle comes to life. If you’re there, you’re there for the music. So musicians, bring your A game because people are listening. So if you got it, they’ll let you know how much they appreciate your efforts. Yes the food is good and I know a LOT of people go for dinner. The chef and kitchen are great. But at 9:30…

Everyone that works there is nice to you, responsive and friendly. I can’t count how many “clubs” in Boston have rude door men / bouncers with earphones and an attitude bigger than their necks, a wait staff that treat you like you’re interrupting their texting time, and bartenders who work very hard at ignoring you and mixing bad drinks in slow motion. From the door, to the staff to the owners, everyone was here to make sure you got what you needed and enjoyed yourself.

Comfortable, no pretense, nice people (in the club), no problems or fights, actual tables and chairs, oh what else…

It’s been my experience that most clubs attract a fairly narrow demographic, in age, race and even job sector. It seems to be the nature of things. There are college clubs, clubs for 50 year olds, all white or all black (or choose your race), all seven figure professionals or all blue collar, gay or straight, a meat market or a couple bar. But like the South End in general, the best word I can use to describe the mix of people at The Stork on a Saturday night is eclectic. With absolutely no pretense this was one of the few places I’ve performed where you would truly see the breadth of our wonderful city represented.

I hope that this club reopens soon, either at the current location or at bigger one, although I think it should stay in the South End somewhere.

the wait…

The guy was nice and took control of the matter getting on the phone with the bank, then his boss, then his sister in law to tell her he would be late for dinner, then the President …

I’m selling my car – or trying to. There’s someone interested and he makes an offer. Before we close the deal I go to my files to find my Title so we can make the exchange and it’s not there. The ensuing two hour search turns up nothing. The next day I head out to the Registry with the paperwork I downloaded from the web for a copy of my title, 90 minutes before I have to start giving lessons for the day .

After waiting as long as I can, I have to leave before my number is called. 90 minutes is not enough time to do anything at the Registry. Next day, after just over 2 hours of waiting I finally get called to window 4. That sucked but I’m happy to be getting this behind me so I can sell the car.

I find out when I get to the window that they cannot give me the title because there is a lien on it. WHAT? A lien, from a bank that I never ever did business with. HUH?

“You have to get a lien release letter from the bank and bring it back, there’s nothing I can do for you now.” BUT? I UH… HOW? I mean… “Is there anything else I can help you with?” (Don’t you love that question?)

I call this bank I never heard of and they never heard of me or my car. So I call the bank I originally had the loan with and they don’t have a lien on the car so they can’t help me. Another four or five phone calls and finally, four days into this someone from the mystery bank agrees there isn’t a lien on the car they never had a lien on to begin with and sends me a letter by mail – because a fax wouldn’t suffice since the letter needs to be notarized.

Week 2 . OK, so now I’m all set and heading back to the Registry having carved out two and a half hours of my day. This time the wait is short, just a little over an hour. I get to window 7, (lucky number?) and hand over the hard earned paperwork.

“I don’t know if anyone has told you this (what???), but this is an electronic record and I can’t do anything with this paperwork.” It took every ounce of my being not to lose it but I must have looked like one of those cartoon characters where the steam blows the top of his head off and his eye pop out of their sockets, because the guy took a couple of steps back and I think was reaching under the counter for the panic button. My response started “I don’t know if anyone told you this but… and I as calmly as possible explain the situation.

The guy was nice and took control of the matter getting on the phone with the bank, then his boss, then his sister in law to tell her he would be late for dinner, then the President … ok, I don’t know who he called but after a few calls he is able to remove the electronic record and turns to me… “Ok, we’re all set. That will be $25 please.” I take out the cash and he starts typing away at the computer with a vengeance. After a handful of thought filled pauses followed by more rapid and vigorous typing he declared, “You’re all set, here’s your receipt. The title will be mailed to your address on file.”

“You mean you don’t give me the title here?”

“No, we can’t hand out Titles here, they have to be mailed. At least we got that lien thing straightened out. Next…..”

So I still haven’t sold my car and I don’t know how much longer this guy can wait. I really wish there was a way to get back the time I have to spend on this kind of crap.

Feature on a new music site, the Stork Club

I can’t thank everyone enough for all of the support with our newest and now favorite venue – The Stork Club, Boston. Also, for those of you who participated in our Haiti releif efforts (along with all the other appeals you get daily) thanks again. All of the supplies we collected for Partners in Development have been brought to Port au Prince and already been used to treat people. Don’t hesitate to throw your support their way in the future (http://www.pidonline.org).

I am being featured a new music site on the web this month called NewGrooveMusic.com (http://www.newgroovemusic.com). The site is sponsor supported meaning that it is free for you to download. We get paid for the downloads so it would be great for you to go and pick up downloads of my CD “Bounce” for free (and any other band you happen to like). Feel free to spread the word.

New Groove Music is also putting together a compilation of their favorite artists which will include one of my songs. This compilation will be distrubuted at two huge music conferences/festivals – SXSW (South by South West in case you didn’t know) and The Red Gorilla Music Festival. I am going to try to score a few of them for myself so maybe I can share a couple.

Also, for those of you near Boston, MA things have been heating up with the Stork Club and they have invited us back for two dates in February. We will be there on Friday, Feb 12 (Valentines Day weekend – if you dare to celebrate early) and Friday Feb 26. If you haven’t been there yet you MUST come and check out this place. If you make reservations for dinner you can reserve a good table. If you’ve been there already I know you’ll be back.

Ciao’
Bill Champitto
Soul, Funkified Jazz
www.billchampitto.com
follow me me on twitter: twitter.com/billcbos
become a fan on www.facebook.com/billchampitto

Friday, Feb 12 and Friday, Feb 26 9:30 pm. start
The Stork Club http://www.storkclubboston.com604
Columbus Ave, Boston, MA 02118
This is a “free” show – no tickets/cover; our version of a stimulus package. You can make reservations in advance by calling (617) 391-0256.

A show and a chance for real impact in Haiti

This week I connected through my friends at Delta with Gail Hull from Partners in Development in Ipswich, MA. Her group has been doing work in the developing countries near our borders since 1990. Gail is headed to Haiti on Saturday to check on her team that was in Haiti during the quake, and over the next few weeks various medical teams and supplies will be heading to Haiti as well. And for this real world commitment and giving, they need medical supplies and airline miles.

Saturday night we will be joined by some Delta Airline employees (present and past) who will, we know from past experience, be donating their own passes to get people that can really make a difference into Haiti. Anyone who can join us for this show is encouraged to bring medical supplies (the list is below) and also vouchers for your frequent flier miles that we can give to Gail for her teams to get back and forth.

I know you’ve had plenty of exposure and opportunity to provide support to Haiti. In fact, I need to thank everyone who joined us for our group text at last week’s show. We all text-ed “Haiti” to 90999 together. Each text donated $10 to the Red Cross. And this is a unique opportunity to do something that will have an immediate and lasting impact on peoples lives and enable Gail to do the work we all wish we could do.

Even if you can’t make our show (BUT YOU SHOULD!)… please check out this wonderful organization at http://www.pidonline.org and see if there is something you can do to help.

Saturday night is looking like it will be an exciting evening, with great music, great people and the opportunity to do something exceptional. I hope you can make it. The show details and the list of supplies that will help PID in their mission are listed below. Be well.

Bill C

Saturday, Jan 23, 2010
9:30 pm.
The Stork Club
http://www.storkclubboston.com
604 Columbus Ave
Boston, MA 02118

This is a “free” show – no tickets/cover; our version of a stimulus package. You can make reservations in advance by calling (617) 391-0256.

Supplies needed include:
bandages
gauze
splits
casting supplies
antibiotic creams
hydrocortizone cream
alcohol prep pads
topical pain relief creams
antibiotics
pain relief (Tylenol/ibuprophen, adults and children)
cough medicine
eye wash
Visine
vitaminsCiao’ Bill Champitto
Soul, Funkified Jazz
www.billchampitto.com
follow me on twitter: twitter.com/billcbos
become a fan on www.facebook.com/billchampitto

Friend.

It was good to know you Irving…

My good friend and neighbor, Irving passed away on the 19^th. Today was his funeral and as expected I was touched by how much he was loved by his family and friends. Today he was called a regular man who took the time to care about people and make the world a happier and better place for anyone he could help. That’s pretty special if you ask me – far from regular. It was good to know you Irving.

pictures from last night’s show at Toad…

I am not very good at pulling pictures together from shows – I wish I had more… but a good friend, Jeff Fullerton was there last night and took these great shots… I thought I would share them. This link should get you to all of the pictures, both of my band and of Max Klau’s band (and yes I was playing keys for Max’s show) … http://www.flickr.com/photos/8587491@N02/

Here is the article from Skope Magazine Aug’09 – Artists to Watch

Bill Champitto
www.sonicbids.com/BillChampitto

Skope: How does it feel to be chosen as an A2W artist on Skopemag.com?
Bill C: I want to thank you guys for choosing me as an A2W artist. Having such a respected industry voice behind my work is a great feeling; self affirming; like the proverbial notch in the belt.

Skope: What have you been working on and promoting recently?
Bill C: I released the CD “Bounce” in June and have been performing festivals and clubs in the Northeast US this summer. It has gotten a great response regionally and attracted attention well beyond our Boston base. The band has gotten very tight and I am torn between extending our performance schedule and getting to new material.

Skope: What about your music do you feel sets it apart?
Bill C: There is a major crossover of diverse influences in my music. It is generally classified as jazz because each band member has the freedom to creatively interact with each other through the music. But, the grooves are very soul, funk and blues influenced, and working with a multi-percussionist brings various Latin and African influences into play. For example, in “You Know Me” you can hear that Bossa influence as the song travels between modal jazz and bluesy chord progressions. But when you take a step back and listen to the finished product it is a very simple medium tempo ballad that has gotten play on pop and r&b stations. We received a review last year where the writer penned us as “Soul, Funkified Jazz” and I think it hits home pretty well with what I do.

Skope: How did you start creating music and what are your long term plans with your band?
Bill C: I started as a sideman performing other peoples music. Initially, I was intrigued when a couple of my friends started to woodshed with the Guitar and Drum sets they got for presents. I started to learn the songs by ear and after a couple of months auditioned for a band that was playing clubs in Troy NY. For A long time I learned everything from the band, picking up songs by ear and rehearsing and performing with some very talented people. It was a powerful education. Long term I hope to keep performing and expanding our tour. I would like to add a horn section eventually. This band started as a duo, piano and percussionist. As a quartet the energy has been great, but I miss the horn section from the bands I performed with in my early days.

Skope: When you are creating music what do you use as inspiration for lyrics & instrumentals?
Bill C: Inspiration is everywhere. Life is inspiration. With “Bounce” it seems I have chronicled what’s been going on recently. I am in an incredible relationship and Michelle shows up everywhere in the music. My mother passed away. I lost a job that paid the bills and we struggle with that. My Dad has pulled things back together after becoming a widower. Almost everyone I know is struggling with the economy. There is plenty of inspiration to go around. There is a line in the song “Bounce”, “One thing you’ve got to know before you find yourself tumbling down down… is how to Bounce”. I’ve always felt I was able to bounce and that has come in very handy in the past few years.

Skope: What is the most exciting aspect of being a musician in the digital age?
Bill C: The most exciting thing has to be getting an email from someone in Norway or Japan or South Africa saying they heard my music and it meant something to them. That someone takes the time to contact me about a song they heard is great. The “digital age” had made it possible for me to reach people that normally would not have heard my music. And it makes it possible for them to get back to me.

Skope: What can we look forward to that our readers should know about?
Bill C: There is more music in the works. I prefer to perform the material live before recording it. It’s part of the process of letting the band interact and pull the songs together. That’s where the jazz influence comes in. I get to hear everyone’s approach to the song and it evolves to a different level.

The question…

A friend of mine who manages a newsletter aksed me this question: How do l focus on becoming successful? The question took me back a bit but here was my reply…

That’s a tough question because I do not think I have achieved success. I do honor the journey though and realize that I have made some “wins” recently that can be put in the “things I wanted to achieve” category. I do have ambitions and would be a fraud to deny that my hope is that bigger things are yet to come. But at the end of the day I am a performing musician working for the pay, a song writer striving for recognition and a musician that understands his limitations and shortcomings enough to work on them every day.

At this point in my career I believe that having an audience to listen is success. That’s my gauge. If I walk out the door and get my band and gear to a show, the reward is that there is an audience – people listening and appreciating what I have to offer – what I say and what I play. When the audience goes away so will I and until then I will do the only thing I really know how to do – and the one thing that my soul tells me I have to do – I will perform. I will look to reach people with my music and make my attempt at touching something in their heart.

So how do I focus on becoming successful? That WAS the question, right. I try to take care of the not so simple task of reaching someone with honesty and integrity, of being true to who I am and who I am not, and shamelessly putting my entire soul on the line – for everyone to judge and consider. And on a more tangible level, I try to identify the small steps I can take every day that will help me be that person I just said I was trying to be. Like for instance, today it included sending an email to a friend and try to honestly answer the question he asked me.

I do hope you are doing great. Be well.

Bill C

Billboard liked it!

I just received notice today that one of my songs (You Know Me) has just won the honorable mention in the 2009 Billboard Song Writing Contest. I got a nice certificate and letter. It’s a nice validation so thank you to Billboard.

I was recently asked in a radio interview how I came up with the groove for this song; a hard question to answer. My writing is usually done at the keyboard and is as more sub-conscious than analytical thought process. Ideas come to me through my playing and I try to develop them.

Of course the development includes a fair amount of critical through so I think I can answer this question through a post analysis of what I did.

The song is based around the intro, which is a modal pattern (C Dorian) with that ascending bass line. I liked this sound and it reminded me of some of the Jazz coming out of the late 50’s – 60’s, and smattered about in early fusion projects.

This kind of style often creates a very laid back mood but I wanted it to groove so I added those anticipations to the bass. Once I did that, it really took on some life and gave it a hint of Latin rhythm.

That feel set up the verse with a slight Bossa groove. But I still felt that it should have a touch of r&b / soul to feel to it so the traditional IV – I pattern found in many Bossa tunes was supported by the trap set playing a more standard rock ballad style while the percussion and bass laid a little more on the Latin side.

The bass plays a big role in the feel for this song. By over emphasizing that fretless phased sound (thanks Jaco for such a lasting impression) the intro seems to surround and wash over you.

The lyrics were inspired by my wife of course. As I was writing this I thought of how Jobim would use simple imagery to tell his story. I thought of Ipanema and wanted to capture the impact meeting Michelle had on me through that technique.

This all sounds so dry for what I think of as a sweet and somewhat wet song. I hope you enjoy it. Be well.

some updates on the CD release

It has only been a couple of weeks since the first copies of “Bounce” arrived and starting making their way to the media, but I want to share with you some of the things that have been going on….

I had an interview today with the North Shore news papers for a story that should run this week.
On Friday night (actually Saturday morning) at 12:45 I will be a guest on Al Davis’ Jazz Gallery on WGBH FM (89.7).
On Saturday night (ok, Sunday morning) I will be a guest on Sherry Smith’s show ‘Round Midnight on WATD FM (95.9).
Then I might be heard on WFNX RM (101.7) Sunday morning Jazz Brunch with Jeff Turton (still being confirmed).
On Monday I will be a guest on WICN FM 90.5 with Tyra Penn at 1:00 pm.
Of course Tuesday night is the big release party (I already told you about that and if you didn’t get your tickets yet you really should) The show is at 8:00 at Scullers in Boston (the Doubletree Hotel on Storrow Drive… 400 Soldiers Field Road) … you can get your tickets now at http://web.me.com/sueauclair/Bill_Champitto_At_Scullers/May_12_09.html, www.ticketweb.com, or call Scullers directly at 617-562-4111. Tickets are $20.
Then later that week I will be a guest on WEIB FM (106.3) on their morning show. We will be announcing a performance in western MA that WEIB will be hosting.

Just writing all of this stuff out is overwhelming. The response from this CD has been fantastic and I didn’t even mention the coolest thing of all… I am in negotiation with a publicist who has a Canadian artist that wants to record some of my music on his upcoming CD. He is a well known recording artist in Canada who has spent time in the states on Broadway and on some impressive sets in Hollywood. Wish me luck…

Well that’s the update for the past two weeks…. and I can only hope there’s more to come. In the meantime, if you are able to make it to Scullers I want to thank you for taking part in the fun. The show starts at 8:00 so you’ll be home at a reasonable time – unless you want to join us later on Newbury Street for the after party! If you can’t make it you can order a CD or download for your MP3 player at http://www.billchampitto.com/downloads.html. I hope we can catch up real soon. Be well.

Ciao’
Bill C

Bill Champitto
Soul, Funkified Jazz
cell (617) 320-4136 – land (617) 314-6503
http://www.billchampitto.com/
www.myspace.com/billchampitto