Saturday, June 30, 2012

July 1st - Chicago Smooth Jazz Event Update - BIG Holiday Edition

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "SmoothChicago.com" <norman@smoothchicago.com>
Date: Jun 30, 2012 8:47 AM
Subject: July 1st - Chicago Smooth Jazz Event Update - BIG Holiday Edition
To: <aquarianm@gmail.com>

Having trouble viewing this email? Click here
SmoothChicago.com Logo

July 1st, 2012 -  In This Issue

Special Discount Ticket Offers
Videos - Show Previews for Paul Taylor & Maysa
Praire State College - New Venue Info
It's Hot Outside! So Cool off indoors at a show
The only thing HOT is the music! - A/C included with all tickets
 
 
On behalf of everyone at SmoothChicago.com, we hope you have an enjoyable and safe 
4th of July holiday. To start the fireworks early - we have a special ticket discount
offer to show our appreciation to our frequent show goers. Details are below.......
 
We hope you will join us for our shows this month (coming up very soon)  starring Paul Taylor & Maysa Leak.  For a preview of these shows, be sure to check out the videos we have links to in this e-blast.  All shows are now on sale - and with all seats reserved, the very best seats go to those that get their tickets early. 
 
Yet, with our intimate venue having only 400 seats, there is not a bad seat in the house.
 
While Chicago's weather this summer is hotter then ever, the great news is our shows are indoors. While the live music of Maysa & Paul Taylor will be HOT, the venue is air conditioned and your comfort throughout the show is guaranteed.  As is always the case, you'll have a chance to meet the artists after the show. 
 
Paul Taylor ImagePaul Taylor Video Preview
Saxophonist Paul Taylor - Saturday July 21st @ 4PM - Tix at SmoothChicago.com 
 
Maysa
Maysa Video Preview
Vocalist Maysa Leak - Saturday July 21st @ 8:30PM  - Tix @ SmoothChicago.com
 
 
______________________________________________________________________

FREE SHOW OFFER - FOR OUR FREQUENT SHOW CUSTOMERS
 
Customer Discount Offer

Purchase tickets to our first three 8:30PM shows starring Maysa, Nick Colionne
 & Peter White - and get complimentary tickets to see Norman Brown
and his special guest - saxophonist Eric Darius.*

If you have already purchased tickets to see any of the above shows
 - you are also eligible to take advantage of this offer

* Limit - can not be combined with any other discount or promotion.
Tickets must be purchased in advance either online
 at SmoothChicago.com or by phone at (312) 725-0740.


 Ticket Rebate

Purchase a "premium reserved" ticket" to both the 4PM & 8:30PM shows on
July 21st  
and receive a $10 per person rebate check by mail.  Offer details here


Listen-Live-600
 
Upcoming Shows - Tix at www.SmoothChicago.com  or call (312) 725-0740
Sat July 21st - Paul Taylor 4PM,   Maysa Leak 8:30PM
Sept 22nd - Marion Meadows  4PM,   Nick Colionne  8:30PM
Sat Oct 27 - Steve Cole  4PM, Peter White  8:30PM
Sat Dec 15 - Norman Brown & Eric Darius  4PM & 8:30PM
 
2012 SmoothChicago Concert Series  
Paul Taylor and Maysa Leak
 
Great reserved tickets available for all shows
Order early & get the best seats!
 
Upcoming Shows
South Suburban Concert Series Location
Praire State College
Halsted St south of I-294 / I-80  at Halsted & Vollmer
For directions & more venue info - click here

SmoothChicago.com

 

** New venue added in Chicago's South Suburbs **  

Prairie State College Theater - 202 S Halsted
Chicago Heights, IL  60411
 
Our south suburban venue is accessible by interstate highways and major roads. For those without automobile transportation, the College is located on a bus route operated by PACE, the Chicago suburbs' main bus company. 
 
From the north: Drive south on I-94 to I-80 west exit. Follow I-80 west about two miles to Halsted Street south exit (Route 1). Take Halsted Street south about three miles to the Prairie State College theater for our SmoothChicago.com shows. 
 
From the north/west: Take the Tri-State Tollway (294) south to I-80/94 east. Follow I-80/94 east about one mile to Halsted Street south exit (Route 1). Take Halsted Street south about three miles to the PSC campus. 
 
From the south: Drive north on I-57 to the Vollmer Road exit. Follow Vollmer Road east about five miles to the PSC campus on your right. 
 
From the east: Follow I-80 west to Halsted Street south exit (Route 1). Take Halsted Street south about three miles to the campus.
  
 


Listen Live Smooth jazz Videos  Facebook

 

Visit SmoothChicago.com everyday!  

While hosting live shows and events thoughout Chicagoland is our primary business that pays the bills - there is much more going on at our website.

 

While we wait for a radio option to return to the FM dial - in the meantime, 

you can listen to Smooth Jazz via your computer and 

SmoothChicago.com 24 hours a day, seven days a week. 

 

SmoothChicago.com also has hundreds of High Quality live performance videos from past shows.  Videos are added often and we still have many hours of video clips still to upload.  These are all professionally shot via multiple cameras and direct audio feeds.

 

If you have not already done so - please "LIKE US" on Facebook as

 thousands of other Chicago area music fans have already done.  

 

SmoothChicago.com

 

PLEASE SUPPORT LIVE MUSIC

and bring some friends to an upcoming show! 

 

While this music format disappears from terrestrial radio around the country, the "LIVE" jazz shows in the Chicago area continue in a big way. Here at SmoothChicago.com we have many great shows on our schedule with more shows all around Chicagoland in the planning stages.  But the music can only happen if the fans continue to come out and support these talented musicians that create all this great music. 

 

While we'll do all that we can to get this format back on FM, there is no disputing the fact that listening to a CD can never do justice to what fans experience at a LIVE performance.  As frequent show goers already know, a studio recording just can not match the energy and excitement of a live show with one of the stars of contemporary jazz.

 

The other thing to remember is - the artists that make the music we all love have families and bills to pay too. While it helps them become more well known, jazz artists They don't make a living from radio airplay. They make their living from traveling around the country playing live shows for their fans. 

 

We hope you will join us for several of our upcoming shows and please encourage your friends to do the same.  As long as you do - this great music will be around for a long time and Chicago will continue to be a stop on all your favorite artists tour schedules!

 

smooth-jazz-show  

Thanks again for supporting live contemporary jazz music in Chicagoland and we hope you'll bring some friends to several of our upcoming shows.

 

Your friends at SmoothChicago.com 

 

 

QUICK LINKS

To Order Tickets

Upcoming Shows

Prairie State College Venue Info

Listen Live - Smooth Jazz Online

Concert Videos from SmoothChicago.com

SmoothChicago on Facebook

Ticket Rebate Information

 

 

 
More great shows coming soon - visit 
SmoothChicago.com for info on upcoming shows
 
Chicago shows are held at: 
Rumba   (re-opening soon)
Downtown Chicago
 
South Suburban shows are held at:
Prairie State College Theater
South Suburbs of Chicago
 
Northwest Suburban shows are held at:
Information coming soon
 
Order Tickets Online @ SmoothChicago.com  or call (312) 725-0740
 
 
**PLEASE  BE SURE TO FORWARD THIS EMAIL TO YOUR  FRIENDS** 
Join our email mailing list @   www.SmoothChicago.com
to be notified of upcoming shows & events in Chicago  -
 many more great shows coming soon !!!!

 


Your friends at SmoothChicago.com  SmoothChicago Footer
This email was sent to aquarianm@gmail.com by norman@smoothchicago.com |  
SmoothChicago.com | P.O.Box 1119 | Elgin | IL | 60121

Louisiana Blue..


This sounds nice - I'll have to stream them a little.

Dan

Saturday, March 24, 2012

66 Sax: Tiny Practice Amp Vs. Small Gig Amp

The lttle guy is 4 watts, sounds great, $32, and great for practice or a lesson.

Rock on,

Dan

Friday, March 23, 2012

66 Sax: My Venture Into Fenderland...

...is bringing me a lot of joy and soft melody. I'm pretty sure in the long run, I'll play both instruments well, but I think guitar is easier to practice in my current environment.

I love Bello & Rosie both, and that's enough. My sax is bright and my guitar is the prettiest red.

My guitar teacher is helping me learn a lot of little mechanical tricks to make playing easier, and of course a Beatles song to start. (Twist And Shout)

I have a million hours of practice to go, but it's a gentle journey with a lot of sweetness along the way.

Rock on,

Dan

Saturday, February 11, 2012

Rosalita - Fender Stratocaster MZ5204006

I got in almost an hour of practice today; what I call giving Rosie a ring. Mostly a few chord progressions I know and some scale exercises.

I found a teacher, too, a fellow named John Ross. His guitar is named Judy, like my Mom. I just found that out today, which is appropriate.

Rock on!

Saturday, October 1, 2011

66 Sax: On Wall Street...(Sax Track)

On Wall Street...

http://www.archive.org/download/OnWallStreet/OnWallStreet.mp3

Did you see Tony Baloney?
Did you see their crying faces?
Did you see freedom of speech,
Freedom of face,
Up against a car,
Freedom of neck,
Kneed onto hard blacktop?

Did you see orange,
Pretending to be red white and blue?

Have you heard yet?
Don't worry,
They'll get around to coming for you.

Just sit there,
Just sit tight,
Just zone into TV,
Every night.

The aliens already took over,
If they took you to their leader,
you'd wind up on Wall Street.

AquarianM

By: Daniel A. Stafford
(C) 10/01/2011

In support of the Occupy Wall Street protests going on around the world.
http://www.occupytogether.org/

Saturday, September 24, 2011

66 Sax: Shaman's Trek - New Song (Instrumental)

http://www.archive.org/download/ShamansTrek/Shamans-Trek.mp3

New Age Blues Sax - Tenor sax, Audacity echo-effect, pin-can percussion, C-harmonica, low-octave tenor sax overlay. This tune has a haunting yet smooth effect, like walking on a misty night in the fall.

Play on, and thank you for listening.

Dan

PS - poetry to go with the track:

Night Of The Pumpkin Mystic...

Walking the Hollowed Hills on a thin-misted night,
Stars glitter in and out of view,
Shadowed trees reach dark limbs,
Leaves rustle underfoot,
Dried grasses rustle the soft breeze,
Chills tingle spine,
Steps beat time,
Entranced,
Treading to the Underworld,
The place of pumpkins and candle smoke,
Where a faded flower dwells,
Seeking whispers and secrets,
Seeking the roots of time.

AquarianM

By: Daniel A. Stafford
(C) 09/24/2011

Side note:

Kind of interesting how I did this track - I used a program called Audacity, which is free online. The program has numerous effects, and can record numerous multiple instrument tracks. There are actually two tenor saxophone tracks, a c-harmonica track, and a "pin-can" percussion track. (Meaning that the percussion is literally an empty paint can full of colored plastic stick-pins.) I went through and cleared noise and adjusted volume level on each track, then added echo to the high-octave sax track. The result, as you can hear, comes out kind of "spacey" and yet smooth. I'm planning to start practicing some traditional Christmas songs soon, then I'll try doing some effects to spice it up, and see how it goes.

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Is There A 'Noise Ordinance' That Prohibits Musical Instrument Practice On DuPage County Forest Preserve Property?

I asked because I was practicing at Hidden Lake at 10am this morning, and the Forest Preserve Police ordered me to stop, saying he thought he would be called with a complaint.

I've been practicing there in the mornings because I live in a condo building. I'm trying to be considerate of my neighbors, and there's nowhere else I know of to go.

Since I'm probably not the only person with this issue, I'm going to ask the county Forest Preserve board for policy clarification on this. I may also ask if they can specify a preserve location for this purpose.

I would love to hear from anyone with knowledge on this subject.

Regards,

Dan Stafford
York 112 Precinct Committeeman
York Township,
DuPage County, Illinois


Saturday, September 17, 2011

66 Sax: Pics of Bello

Bello - Serial Number

Bello fully-assembled and out of the case.

Bello - "Bundy" engraving on the bell.


Click on any of these pictures to view them full-sized.

66 Sax: Autumn Night - New Age Blues Sax

http://www.archive.org/download/AutumnNight/Autumn_Night.mp3

(C-harmonica, tenor saxophone, hand percussion) Simple, basic, sultry, soulful. Picture yourself on a clear Autumn night by a fire, watching the stars, hearing the sounds of nature all around you. Just you, and the wide-open, cool and crisp Universe.

Love that sax,

Dan

Thursday, September 1, 2011

66 Sax: Chicago WNUA 87.7 FM Smooth Jazz...love it!

You can check out their stream here: http://www.smoothjazznow.com/radio/chicago_wnua.htm

A fresh breath of brass and reed...

Dan

66 Sax: I Was Out In The Park Wailin' On Bello...

...for about 40 minutes this morning.

Beautiful. Cloudless day and lush green park with a walking path 'round the pond.

The notes seemed to float out pretty sweet. You just can't miss a chance like that.

Play on,

Dan

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Saxophone Season Is Fast Approaching...

Due to the fact that I live in a condominium, I'm pretty much relegated to playing outdoors. Being in the Chicago area, that means in the late Spring, Summer, and early Autumn. The brass gets too cold for extended playing in the cold season here.

We're in the 50's Fahrenheit here this week. Once we're solidly in the 60's, I'll start bringing Bello with me and playing at the park or in the parking ramp again for the season. I'm really looking forward to it this year!

Rock on,

Dan

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

I Met An Alto Player...

...named Tom over at the Danada Borders. He was practising outside by the store; it sounded great, so I walked over & said hi. We were exchanging tecniques and background stories, it was a lot of fun.

Tom, if you stop by the blog, welcome. It might be fun to practise together sometime.

Dan

Friday, August 6, 2010

About "Blues Cruise By The Dashboard Lights" Sax Track...

This track is strictly the un-accompanied instrument, and I think it's one of the prettiest I've done yet. The only embellishment is a bit of echo effect. ( 0.3 second delay with 0.25 second decay) The track was created using Audacity 1.3 Beta.  I also kept a copy that is echo-free. I did use the Audacity noise-removal tool to clean the hiss out of the track. The photo is actually the dashboard gauges of my 2007 Dodge Dakota pickup truck at night. I've always loved the soft blue glow of the dashboard in this vehicle, it's one of my favorite things about it.

Thank you for listening!

Dan

Blues Cruise By The Dashboard Lights...

Blues Cruise By The Dashboard Lights...




Tenor Sax solo for poem (3-minutes, 19-seconds MP3)

I'm rolling down the highway in my mind,
Even at zero,
Put the Satellite on channel seventy-four,
BB's Bluesville station,
Let that harp wail,
The night is graced by Aurora Borealis,
Twinkling stars and old memories.

The guitar leads me down memory lane,
An old friend or two I'd not mind a minute with,
A gal I wish I could catch up with just to see,
How did life turn out, Tree?

I hear the saxophone down low under it all,
At the root of the world,
Maybe low C,
And I get lost in time as street lights roll by.

The windows are down and summer glorious,
I turn up the volume as I roll into the city,
Blues City,
Chicago,
Big Windy,
All the better to push my reed.

So long Sister Blue,
The stars are winking,
It'll all be alright,
I'm cruisin' the Blues tonight.

AquarianM

By: Daniel A. Stafford
(C) 08/06/2010

Saturday, July 31, 2010

Blue Earth Blues Sax

Blue Earth...

This is a spoken-word-to-music creation of mine in celebration of Earth, Love, spirit, and Human potential. It has an other-worldly sound quality to it, but I've gotten a good bit better with the sax, and it's pretty smooth here. I'd suggest reading the lyrics, then closing your eyes to listen. It's a bit meditational, too. I call the genre "New Age Blues."

The below file is the MP3 audio version. I performed the saxophone, harmonica, percussion, and vocals, and wrote the lyrics. The song was mixed and edited using Audacity 1.3 Beta. (Free download at: http://audacity.sourceforge.net/)

http://www.archive.org/download/BlueEarthBluesSax/Blue_Earth.mp3

Written lyrics are below:

Blue Earth...

The Heart of the world,
Can be heard in the rush,
Of ocean waves,
In the rustling spirit,
Of wind in the tree leaves and grass.

The heart of the world can be seen,
In the softness of your lover's eyes,
In the flight of a bird,
Across lightly-clouded skies,
Past the snow of a mountain peak.

The heart of the world can be felt,
In the beat of your lover's heart,
Where you lay your head,
In the smile of your child's discovery,
Of the colors of butterflies,
Atop waving dandelion heads.

This gift - our lives Mother,
This joy and dance and race,
We hold her in the palms of our hands,
Tenderly or rough our touch,
The choice is no longer ignorant.

The heart of the world beats,
In every step we take,
Every act we make,
The slightest thing we do,
Like ants that could fell a tree.

The heart of the world is our crossroad,
Every one of us walks into a future,
Something we endlessly paint,
Brushes coarse and fine,
We're the foundation to the next layer.

When the spirit of love,
Matches and mates with the sense,
Of common sense survival,
Then the future is won,
Conflict dissolves,
We have what we need.

We have this world,
We have each other,
We have each creature,
Sustaining both,
We love it all,
And it all loves us,
In its timeless fashion.

Our heart is with the world,
And the world is then with us,
Opening the Universe's heart,
All the potential we could ever need,
As far as any eye we create,
Could ever lovingly see.

AquarianM

By: Daniel A. Stafford
(C) 07/31/2010

Thursday, March 11, 2010

A Note On Learning Musical Instruments...

This is a brief excerpt of a conversation on this subject that can be found here:
http://mysticmuse.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=Chat&thread=1267&page=1

Well, the sax is a lovely beast. If you're playing an instrument, it gives you a personal knowledge of the way it takes time and repetition to gain mastery.

With the saxophone, it's difficult to play if the ambient air temperature gets too cold, because it's metal and the instrument gets cold, stiffening your fingers up. This is vastly important, because there is no volume control on a saxophone. That means you can't do repetitive practice indoors if other people are around - such as condo and apartment buildings - without bugging your neighbors. I tend to practice outside a lot, at parks and such.

All these facts make it very difficult to get in practice time during the winter. I go weeks sometimes in the cold months without being able to play, so that first day it goes above 60 degrees F, it is a treasure.

Playing the sax also requires fine control of the reed. How much pressure you put on it. When to let your tongue touch it. You can bend or stop notes and shift octaves higher or lower by the way you control the reed. You can also get a raspy vibrato effect by rattling your tongue against the roof of your mouth just behind the reed, like when rolling your R's in speaking Spanish.

Of course, fingering the keys is just as critical. How abrupt you are moving from key to key, how fast you raise and lower the keys, all of it matters.

Once you learn to blend the mastery of the reed with the mastery of the keys, you can finally make the instrument your second voice - and then seriously consider being able to play music in proper time. Then comes expanding your range by practicing endless varieties of transitions and timing from note to note to note.

It's a growth-by-inches process and both daunting and wonderful.

I've also started learning guitar for times when I feel like I'm stuck in a rut with the sax. It also gives me another option in winter. I have a really nice Fender Stratocaster that's got a red body, white pick guard, and rosewood neck. It plays beautifully. Coincidentally, it requires blending two skills to play as well. The left and right hands must be doing two very, very different tasks that must be perfectly blended together to create the finished work. Being electric, you can also modify the sound in many, many ways.

Finally, I've learned that no matter the instrument, finesse is every bit as important as strength - and you can only gain the finesse through practice after you first build up the strength.

The key is to put in time daily. Even 15-20 minutes a day will help.

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Where to purchase my album Earthlife, or individual songs

Dan Stafford, Earthlife

New Age Blues tenor saxophone
Dan Stafford, Earthlife


Dan Stafford, Earthlife (entire CD mp3)
USD $9.99
 



Pachamama Prayer
USD $0.99




Late Summer Harmony
USD $0.99




Sparklers
USD $0.99




Sunrise On the Road
USD $0.99




Twilight
USD $0.99




By Starlight
USD $0.99




Sunlight in August
USD $0.99




Night Owl
USD $0.99




Natural Rythm Version 2
USD $0.99



Go to the purchase page


Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Night Fire Circle

http://www.archive.org/download/NightFireCircle2/Night_Fire_Circle.mp3

Bello, live percussion, digital effects. Haunting.


Thank you for listening!

Dan