Generally speaking, it’s not within the providential guidelines of NJ Discover to bring news flashes to this website. Personally speaking, this reporter immerses himself in New Jersey culture, music, art and charitable causes which help to define and distinguish us here. I do love our music heritage. I’m all over the place so to speak. Like the old television show from the fifties, ‘Have Gun, Will Travel;’ give me our homegrown amazing music and I travel, drift, dream, absorb and listen attentively.

On Tuesday nights sometimes, I drift into Asbury Park, especially in the summer, when ocean breezes memorialize my nostrils and therefore conjure up sounds of the Everly Brothers, Elvis or The Temptations. I love the venue at McCloone’s in Asbury where Marc Ribler and Friends entertain with special themed concerts every Tuesday. Not just concerts which last for hours but as I like to call it, “A little piece of heaven.”

Before hanging out at Marc Ribler’s concerts (last night’s band, Tommy Labella, Lee Finkelstein, John Conte, Arne Wendt) where they were still rocking way past 12:30 AM, I like to hit the Asbury Park boardwalk and absorb uniqueness, diversity, sights and sounds and eventually the setting sun. Priceless and purist real Jersey shore; like nowhere else in the world. Last night the “Community Drummers” (a rag tag group of residents) who have been playing on the boardwalk for 13 years were performing in front of a hundred spectators. I took pictures and smiled all the while. Adjacent to the drummers, a group hula hooped.

Priceless spectating; my observation: this group of Asbury residents promotes togetherness, peace, harmony between races and creeds and the uniqueness that makes us Jerseyans.  Fifteen minutes after I left, the Asbury Park authorities forced them to stop playing and told the group that every player must have a permit and that they can only play being 50 yards from each other which would then stretch them out for a mile.

Being a 1960’s person and knowing about the art of the protest, the beauty of Asbury Park’s culture and diversity and spontaneity, I can’t help but think someone out there in television land  is about to address  taking away freedoms and culture from Asbury Park. The city has been trying so desperately to reinvent and reestablish. And I do care. I’m there all the time. I feel like calling Patrick Henry.

Last Thursday, I was thrilled to be walking around with a press pass in order to cover the roll out of Marlboro’s revolutionary and pioneering new ‘Shop Marlboro Property Tax Reward Program.’ Here’s the gist of  the program which has been in development for a year by Marlboro’s Economic Development Committee then I’ll throw some praise around, after all I’m a Marlboro resident. When Marlboro residents purchase goods (even gas) and services locally (here in Marlboro) from participating merchants, they receive credits against their residential tax bills. Obviously this incentivizes folks like me to frequent local businesses. I’ve got three letters that come to mind right now as I’m learning more. “Wow.”

In my headline, I alluded to the notion of Marlboro, New Jersey (population 40,000) being (probably) the very first place, town on Earth (therefore the United States as well) offering a reduction of (Marlboro) township property taxes based on a percentage of purchases during the year.

It’s not within the scope of this article to talk specifics, but certainly to applaud and praise Mayor Jonathan Hornik and the entire Township Council and their Economic Development Committee(David Faust) Jonathan Capp, Business Administrator and Investors Bank for visions and courage way beyond a central Jersey township’s limited reach and place in the universe; a refreshing and uplifting civic prideful thought for our 40,000 residents.

Speaking about refreshing: I love crisp lettuce. I’m enthused about dining in Marlboro so much more often now. You see, I’ve got this theory that lettuce is lettuce no matter where ever you go. I might as well eat lettuce close to home and pay less property taxes. It may be that simple.

NJ DISCOVER with Singer Kevin John Allen at Acorn Digital Recording Studios. Farmingdale NJ by Calvin Schwartz (Video by TJ Vitale)

For NJ Discover these past few months, it has been a magical journey into the essence of Monmouth, Asbury Park and New Jersey music.  Without ever sitting down and constructing one of those business plans, while wearing suits and ties, sitting around an oak conference table, coffee cups resting on coasters with pictures of President Eisenhower and Elvis Presley, NJ Discover has innately known our mission statement (well one of them) which was to elevate, promulgate, inspire, uplift and report on all the redeeming workings of our geographical music world here.

A thought occurred a while back; we’ve been doing it all, with camera and pen, exploring and extending our coverage but somehow a journey to a recording studio/session had escaped us. Along comes Kevin John Allen, singer, song writer, personality extraordinaire and friend who called recently, as a morning fog was lifting and invited Tara-Jean Vitale and myself to come down to John Mulrenan’s Acorn Digital Recording Studio for a real live recording session.  I love synchronicity and perfect timing.

We knew we were several miles away from the Atlantic Ocean in Monmouth County, but suddenly a right turn off Route 34 into a forest; then a winding driveway.  Then Kevin John Allen appears and opens a door into a custom built almost surreal looking room with high ceilings that reduced my 6’5” frame to insignificance.  Tara-Jean and I were in an acoustical heaven.  A series of guitars lined a wall. I knew that was history. A spiral staircase (my favorite kind) ascended just in front of me as I gazed down on a Yamaha console. Mine eyes took in state of art everything. Huge glass windows afforded views into a dense forest. I remarked, “What a perfect place for a recording studio.”  Tara-Jean and I were introduced to John Mulrenan, studio owner, Jim Sickels and Ray Sorrentino, the other members of Kevin John Allen’s ‘Lonely Teardrops Band.’

I almost thought being in southern Florida in one of those escape to childhood places of rides and amusements; it really felt like adventure or fantasy land; I was wide-eyed absorbing everything about the studio. Tara-Jean was busy filming with camera.  Kevin and band gathered this day to record, “Get A Little Closer,” from their new album, ‘Life’s Lonely Rodeo.’ Kevin described the album as a little of everything, from do-op to reggae to country Jersey.  Then they started recording. I was mesmerized and actually quiet for the session and it wasn’t easy for me to be quiet. I have to admit: I love the depth and quality of Kevin’s voice and the harmony and sound of the band. It was dreamy magic stuff.

Of course we took some still pictures and then the band sat down and I wasn’t quiet anymore. There were some questions that had been percolating being in this amazing recording studio in the middle of an almost make believe forest. For a brief moment, I thought I saw the scarecrow, tin-man and lion run by outside. I was close in my visual. Kevin John Allen has long hair just like the lion. And I just realized; I was in OZ that day at Acorn Digital Recording Studio. Thanks to Kevin John Allen and the band and John Mulrenan. And to co-producer Tara-Jean for putting up with my dreamy state that day.

SONGWRITERS BY THE SEA: A Back Stage View. The Strand Theater. Lakewood, NJ.  By Calvin Schwartz

Author’s Note:  I was so overwhelmed by the electricity and intimacy of this special musical event, that the following words/descriptions you are about to read are designed to make you feel what I felt being there. Of course the words should also move you to find the next ‘Songwriters by the Sea’ yourselves.

I was picturing something new, filling with anticipation and even uncertainty and whispering words of a long forgotten gut wrenching song, “What’s it all About, Alfie?” Why am I whispering words and not singing? Because I can’t sing and I wish I could since the time my Newark elementary school put on a musical play in the auditorium. A picture of then President Eisenhower hung just to the right of the flag. Kids who could sing got special attention and privileges. I wish I could sing.

This night was special. I was driving down foggy misty Route Nine from Springsteen’s Freehold, New Jersey, toward Lakewood’s Strand Theatre for my first indoctrination into a wondrous backstage event. Alas, I can’t sing but I can write visually and sail through streams of consciousness and imagination. I was picturing things as my right hand negotiated a steering wheel. It was ‘conjure-up things’ city on a strangely empty highway.  Suddenly I was at Giants Stadium in the Meadowlands (I still call it that). Seventy thousand fans were yelling “Bruce.”  My seats were humble and I was without binoculars. Just to see his face up close would’ve been everything. All of a sudden, as I passed a diner and barren parking lot, I was in a small Vermont town where a veterinarian’s assistant was the mayor.  A group of 44 people were gathered on her green lawn in front of a porch that circumnavigated the house built by relatives of Ben Franklin. A musical porchfest was going on. I parked my car, walked over; everybody greeted me and I saw the lips of the singers moving and felt the exhaled breath of each word.  And I heard every word. They were singing just to me.  Relevance was my new favorite buzz word. The fog was thick; I couldn’t see the porch anymore.

A sign on the roadside welcomed me to Lakewood. Now back in Jersey and about to enter the world of a porchfest on a backstage of an historic theatre. Slip me into the world of art deco and put me next to a radio to hear President Roosevelt or Mayor LaGuardia.  My anticipation was as thick as ketchup; the French banned this red food stuff in their schools; I remembered and smiled about the quirky randomness of my thinking. I was cylinder firing away because of my extreme excitement to be at a backstage event.  I was following maze like theater corridors and magic marker signs leading to back stage at the Strand Theatre. I was really there.

I’m a native Jersey guy who likes history. The Strand opened in 1922 when Lakewood was actually popular with the rich and famous of the day like Rockefeller. The theater was built with a sense of acoustics as many performances of the day were solo acts. And here I was, about to walk onto the stage of the Strand for a magical acoustics evening. The Strand was signed into the National Register of Historical Places in 1982. My tripod, mono-pod and TV camera were gently deposited on the floor as ‘Songwriters by the Sea’ co-founder Joe Rapolla greeted me within my first few steps on stage. In 2008, Joe Rapolla and Joe D’Urso created the concept of ‘Songwriters’ who performed then in Asbury Park at America’s Cup Coffee on Cookman Avenue.  After a year in Asbury Park, the concept grew in popularity with audiences and they expanded to Backstage at the Strand in March, 2009.

I need to qualify my writing style; strictly from the gut and reflective how songwriter performers emote while the surroundings add ambience to my writing soul. Joe Rapolla’s poignant life and musical journey has already hyper sensitized my words and observations. Therefore, this is not a review.

For the first half, I decided to plant my TV camera in the back of the stage which was several rows away from the songwriters. I wanted to feel songwriter intimacy and connections being part of the real audience.  I flicked the camera on auto and spiritually drifted. The old renovated theater was dark and empty; light from the stage managed to illuminate the first few rows of seats.  Dimly lit chandeliers added to surrealism; for me a silence you could see. Silence was part of the history in the walls; Burns and Allen once performed here; so did the Scarecrow, Ray Bolger. I heard Gracie’s shrill voice.

D’Urso (remember we’re dealing with two Joe’s) introduced the first group of songwriters.  Cat Cosentino (from Oceanport and proud of it) and Bobby Mahoney (only 17 and therefore couldn’t avail himself of a real drinking bar in the rear) were the youngest rising stars. Tom Breiding lives in West Virginia while Bill Toms is near Pittsburgh. Bill talked to us like we’re in his living room back home. “The hardest person to get to know is yourself.”  Then the song words , “I’ve made peace now with a stranger in me.” Backstage means stark silence except for voice echoes. He sang to me. Three rows in front, a man on the aisle rubbed his cuticles. Why write about that; because of the intimacy of backstage; sensitivity and in tune with the immediate world. I pinched myself; purist joy what I was part of; affluent, audible, flowing, meaningful words. I was back in the Meadowlands briefly, starved for wordy echoes.

Cat’s first song was dedicated to her parents; her voice melodiously electric. Bobby sang “A Delicate Fall from Grace;” which reminded of a whip ride back in Newark; that sudden acceleration.   Tom Brieding sang about finding one another as we drift between stars. What meant everything to me being backstage is I heard every resonating word. The singers told stories. “You talking to me,” then I told the taxi driver to let me be. I love backstage.  A man on the left, two rows down took a swig of beer; the bottle level was half-way.  Then I saw a leg wearing cargo shorts stretch out in the aisle, moving to the beat of the music; the calf muscle flexed visibly. Gosh, I was in an electronic hyper state. The Strand environment worked magic.  Then I whispered to myself (I do that in states of elation), “Thank you Rapolla and D’Urso.”

Intermission and time to position the camera on the side of the stage; different absorption I imagined. Both Joe’s would sing. And Garland Jeffreys, a living legend; I was a few feet away. Guy Davis; unbridled energy and blues.  Jerzy Jung;( her real name) with keyboard inches away from me. Joe D’Urso, a Bronx native, sang, “I’ll prove it won’t be dark, all the stars will be out tonight.”  While singing ‘Chocolate Man,’ Davis touched the audience.(proximity and sensation). And to hear every breath Garland Jeffreys took while singing ‘Coney Island Winter,’ was nirvana. “Hey Mah,” I was in that place of magic. I don’t know where James Cagney came from. Maybe I do know. I’m backstage clicking my heels.

Then Do-Wop from D’Urso and the gang. He really corralled me all the way back to Newark, New Jersey, with the words, “Why must I be a teenager in love.” The power of backstage music, I thought. The Good-Humor man was selling this new ‘Toasted Almond’ bar.  Jerzy spoke about any woman or girl who ever felt unsure of herself. Soon, I was sitting around a fire place with a few fraternity brothers; Harvey had a guitar and was singing a folk song; ‘The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face.’  I tried to sing along. They told me to stop.  I heard Rapolla’s wooden stool scrape along the stage. I was back on stage in awe, amazed at the clarity of the stool scraping noise.

Every word from Garland Jeffreys was heard while he was way down in Spanish town.  And when he wasn’t singing, I watched him tap his feet to the beat. How many singers have I seen do that; certainly not from the running track in Madison Square Garden or standing chest to shoulder in a bar or in a park with a makeshift bandstand and hundreds of beach chairs as forward motion impediments.

Joe Rapolla talked about giving kids advice on love. “Don’t be afraid to throw your heart on the wind.” You’ll never know feelings of songwriters unless you are backstage.  All of a sudden Bill Murray pounded a clock radio alarm at 6:00 AM.  ‘Groundhog Day’ flashed. I didn’t want this night to end. Later Jerzy said that uncertainty wasn’t a bad thing. And the harmonica playing by Davis was riveting.  Jeffreys walked into the audience while singing ‘New York skyline.’ Everybody was singing now. Disbelief; I noticed the shadow that the microphone wire cast on the stage floor. It was a giant shadow.  Jeffreys’ voice was a giant voice.  ‘Wild in the Streets’ with all the cast closed this backstage event. When the show was over, I mingled with the singers. Accessibility was in the theater air ducts.  I thanked both Joe’s for their remarkable vision. And I marveled again about noticing the shadow of Jeffrey’s microphone wire. But that’s this incredible backstage world; heightened awareness and sensitivity beyond imagination.

‘Songwriters by the Sea’ series is a musical atom; protons, electrons, neutrons firing away. My mind fired away and still does. It moves me to write impassioned commentary for people to escape from sedentary sofas. But what would happen to intimacy and interaction?  I thought of the word ‘secret.’ I also knew I was in a special place with special people for several hours and my atoms were musically innervated like never before.  Then I thought about my not ever being able to sing but it didn’t make a difference anymore. I was part of singing for every millisecond I was backstage.

Here is an old fashioned PS to this article. I went home and found Joe Rapolla’s cover of Elton John’s ‘Daniel.’ I listened several times in a row because I read his bio and I was still in that heightened electronic sensitized state from being backstage all night. So here’s a link:  Joe Rapolla ‘Daniel’

And I’m still listening.

Calvin Schwartz  6-1-2012

N.J. Environmental Federation Annual Conference. Rutgers Law School. Newark.  By Calvin Schwartz. (“I’m Sick and Tired of Being Sick and Tired”)

I wonder why more citizens here in New Jersey don’t make the time to attend the New Jersey Environmental Federation Conference; an annual event held at Rutgers Law School in Newark. At very least, it’s an exercise in expanding the mind, by learning, listening, growing; it’s just a better thing to do than sleeping to 10 AM on a Saturday, watching television for an hour and making two passes around Costco’s bakery department. One summer back in 1967, I worked in an industrial bakery in Newark and I fell in love with the bakery smell; so that’s why occasionally I make two passes through Costco’s; it’s a close enough smell and it takes me back to the days of the  ‘Lone Ranger.’

So where does this expression come from? “I’m sick and tired of being sick and tired” One of my heroes, Fannie Lou Hamer said this. She was instrumental in organizing Mississippi Freedom Summer for the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), and later became the Vice-Chair of the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party, attending the 1964 Democratic National Convention in Atlantic City, New Jersey.  She believed fervently in the righteousness of the cause of civil rights. This past Saturday, I attended the New Jersey Environmental Federation Conference in Newark at Rutgers Law School. I’ve been going for years, especially looking forward to Dr. Nicky Sheats talk about environmental justice; one of the causes that mean so much. For me, being in college during the decade of civil rights in the 1960’s and then attending the very first Earth Day on April 22nd 1970 and now seeing civil rights and environment become concentric circles of commonality is painfully relevant in 2012.

After breakfast and introductory speeches, the conference separated into workshops. I circled the ‘Enough is Enough’ workshop;  needed to learn how the cumulative effect of pollution in water, air and food is making people sick and what we can do about it. The speakers were amazingly credentialed; Dr. Nicky Sheats, Phd, Center of Urban Development, Steve Anderson, Research Scientist, Peter Montague, PhD, Environmental Research Foundation(I love listening to his rational dire global warming warning words) and Henry Rose, State Coordinator, NJ Environmental Justice Alliance. Henry was passionate and right on when he uttered “environmental apartheid.”   I learned that Hess (Oil) Corporation plans to build a 655-megawatt natural gas power plant in the East Ward (Ironbound) section of Newark, a city and a section dangerously overburdened by an onslaught of environmental affronts, degradation and pollutants.  By a 7-1 vote, the Newark board approved a measure last Thursday night and despite grass roots opposition, the board gave the project the go-ahead in a 15-minute meeting. When I heard this, I raised my hand and suggested that the title of this workshop should be changed to “I’m sick and tired of being sick and tired.”

My using Fannie Lou Hamer’s words simply mean I’m sick and tired of hearing year after year about blatant examples of environmental injustice. There are enough graphs and statistics which clearly show the amount of pollution is related to the color of skin and how much money someone has in their pocket.  People’s health around this new Hess energy center is going to be impacted again. Since the 19th century, Newark Ironbound has been a manufacturing hub, producing everything from iron to beer to paint. In the 1950s and 1960s, Ironbound’s Diamond Alkali/Diamond Shamrock Chemicals Corp. produced Agent Orange, a carcinogenic chemical weapon used extensively in the Vietnam War.

Last year at the Conference, I was outraged when PurGen wanted to build a coal firing plant in Linden and the reason officials gave me was that Linden(already off the charts in asthmatic rates) had the infra-structure in place to support a plant which needed an ocean to dump waste into and railroad tracks to move coal. I raised my hand and pointed out that exactly the same railroad tracks and ocean run up and down the rest of the east coast. There was silence; always silence

Environmentally our time is running out. I voiced this to one of my favorite PhD speakers after his talk.  Global warming and climate change is so here. The Pentagon even knows this and is beginning to project huge population shifts from coastlines and how it impacts our future security. I’ve been observing attitudes that if we put a man on the moon so fast, we can do anything but maybe once we can’t.  Then I got cute. I told the PhD scientist about the movie ‘The Graduate’ when Dustin Hoffman’s character, Benjamin Braddock hears the word “plastics” at his graduation party.  I’ve done the same thing to a myriad of graduates over the years. Most graduates never know what I’m talking about when I whisper, “plastics.” I recently whispered, “water” to my son instead.  “America will get out of debt with China one day when we start shipping them water,” I said semi-seriously. But then the PhD smiled at me.

I was pleased later in the day at the second workshop when I heard NJ State Senator Jennifer Beck mention how she voted against her Republican Party and Governor on certain environmental issues. We need more courage and commitment like that. I keep looking at big picture of things; the planet and how we keep ignoring, violating and nothing changes.

Amy Goldsmith, State Director, was honored for her amazing dedicated years of service and unlimited energy. Lisa Plevin, Chief of Staff USEPA, Gray Russell (a former rocker too) Environmental Coordinator, Montclair, John Weber, Northeast Regional Manager, Surfrider Foundation and Robert Westreich, Esq. (he never lost a case with First Amendment right to canvass neighborhoods throughout the state for over 20 years) all received Conference Awards. By the way, the luncheons are worth the price of admission alone.

In the keynote address, Retired Brigadier General Steve Anderson electrified with his candor and passion for environmental change. Here’s a few of his quotes rapid fire. “We’ve got to get off oil. We won’t exist.”  “The increased competition for oil is a threat to our security.”  “Green economy is where the money is.” “President Obama was absolutely right when he stopped the Keystone pipeline.”  General Anderson made a point as soon as he started to speak, saying he was a Republican.  Sometimes he fooled me and other audience members.  He just cares.  “It’s a 20 year process to get off oil. We need to do it under our terms.”  “1000 Americans died moving oil around over there. We spend $20 billion a year on oil. The Pentagon is the world’s largest consumer of energy.”  “We are funding both sides of war. We buy oil and the money ends up in Iran.”  “What troops need is renewable energy.  Afghanistan has 340 days of sun; so harness solar. And wind, geothermal and waste to energy systems.” “How do we help?  Pressure the Department of Defense (DOD).”

At the birthday party after the conference for the 40th year of ‘Clean Water Action,’ General Anderson was quite accessible. I managed to pay him my highest compliment, when I said, “Listening to you, I don’t think anyone could tell what political party you’re in which means you care about doing the right things for people.” He smiled and we took a picture together.  Finally my exhortation to all those within earshot of me; “Get thee to the NJ Environmental Federation conference next year. And join the organization in the meantime.” I’ve heard it through the grapevine that both actions increases cerebral vascular circulation which makes you smarter.

Calvin Schwartz

The morning of the festival, cold rain fell and dispelled notions of heading to Red Bank for Sunday fun. Then the magic weather wand whisked and by 2 PM, sunny blue skies and warm breezes arrived as did thousands of festival fans.  The festival, sponsored by Asbury Park Press and Heineken had help from Red Bank River Center, Red Bank Visitors Center and the Borough of Red Bank.

No matter how many times I go to Red Bank, each opportunity to stroll down Broad Street, with abundant old architecture from the turn of the next to last century, I feel as if I just got off a Rod Serling train into a slice of American history, and its springtime, early 1940’s. I loved being downtown in another century before I hit White Street parking lot for the food, drink and music.

The aromas and sounds of the festival filled the air. Two soundstages on the western and eastern sides of the parking lot provided first rate entertainment  to huge crowds. On the All American Stage ‘King Casino Band, Brian Kirk and the Jirks, Runaway (Bon Jovi Tribute band) and Quincy Mumford and the Reason Why rocked the packed house. What could be bad? Rock music. Food 360 degrees. Beer (A plastic bottle of Amstel Light approached 30 feet in height).  A booth that rolled cigars. And a Bagpipe marching band.

The International stage featured performances by Kathryn Barnett School of Dance, Random Test Reggae, Steve Reilly Band (Irish sounds) and The Funktion (Latin and Salsa). More eye catching attractions: booths for; cheese, chocolate, hand-made sea glass jewelry, a camp for dogs, rock music school and almost every kind of gourmet food. Near the exit and my 94 minutes of absorbing the festival, I found a booth for fresh shrimp cocktail. It put me in the mood. We had dinner in Red Bank on Broad Street sitting outside. The sky was still blue.

by Calvin Schwartz

DANNY WHITE:  From Belmar to the National Stage:

Danny White has managed to steer his musical craft past the dangers of second guessing musical trends, sidestepping unimaginative pop mentality and laying down original rock and roll with smart intuition and sound.

DANNY WHITE:  From Belmar to the National Stage: NJ Discover Featured Musician. by Cal Schwartz

Through the magic of Facebook, I found Danny White late last summer and as synchronicity would have it, our concentric circles of commonality overlapped. I eventually listened to Danny’s music from his new CD, “A Beautiful Crazy.” And I liked it a lot. Then a luminescent light bulb: why doesn’t NJ Discover TV, which is omnipresent all over Monmouth County, begin to devote energies to musicians and artists in a featured format?

A month ago, Danny and I hung out in Belmar, found a place for fresh sweetened caffeine beverages on Main Street and talked an afternoon away. A wall in his music studio in Belmar is a bit of a who’s who in music. Two weeks later NJ Discover TV hooked up with Danny at a CD launch gig at the Saint in Asbury Park. And here is the video history! Enjoy!

DANNY WHITE:  Bio

In an ever-changing industry, steadfast vision can sometimes take a back seat to flavor of the month style. New Jersey artist Danny White has managed to steer his musical craft past the dangers of second guessing musical trends, sidestepping unimaginative pop mentality and laying down original rock and roll with smart intuition and sound.

Danny White is a consummate songwriter and has experienced much when it comes to interaction with the best in the music industry. White has shared the stage with such luminaries as Bruce Springsteen, Journey, North Mississippi All Stars, Pete Yorn, Foreigner, Live, Guster, Goo Goo Dolls, Lifehouse, John Mellencamp, Andy Summers of The Police, The Avett Brothers and so many other well-known artists. Whether touring as a solo act or with a full band, Danny White maintains an enthusiastic and fresh sound for listeners everywhere.

White’s immediately likeable sound has helped make him the artist to watch in the television and recording industry today. White’s compositions, “You Got A Good Thing Going” and “Ooh Yeah” have been used on at least two different MTV shows including The Road Home & Making The Tour. Danny White’s new song “Prisoners Of Hope” (from his latest CD titled, A Beautiful Crazy) is featured in the film Just Around The Corner. He also has an original song “Holiday Home” featured in Hwy 50 film’s Nothing For Christmas. Danny has been featured in numerous prestigious publications including The New York Times, Billboard Magazine, Philadelphia Inquirer and many others.

White’s ongoing success is also based in his ability to give back as much as possible. An active alumnus of The Light Of Day Foundation to fight Parkinson’s disease, White is also active with Musicians On Call, a music therapy program where artists play for children at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Hospital in NYC. He was the first musician to begin the program and to play for children at the hospital. He has also donated stage time for The Food Banks of Monmouth & Ocean Counties of N.J. and Manna House, a home for abused young mothers.

Danny White’s latest CD is titled, A Beautiful Crazy and was co-produced and mixed by C.J. Eiriksson (U2, Incubus, Phish, Live, Matchbox 20) as well as Mike Wanchic, John Mellencamp’s longtime guitarist & co-producer (who has also produced Bob Dylan, Black Crowes, Dave Matthews) Mellencamp’s band also backed White on some the CD tracks.

Other material has been produced & mixed by Shelly Yakus. A legend in the industry who has mixed and or engineered on John Lennon’s Imagine & Walls & Bridges, Music From Big Pink by The Band, Tom Petty & U2.

Fresh, Americana based rock and roll is what Danny White brings to the table on this latest and immediately likeable disc. For further information on Danny White and his latest CD A Beautiful Crazy, please go to www.facebook.com/dannywhitemusic or www.reverbnation.com/dannywhite

NJ Discover at 2^nd Annual Dog Day Afternoon. Marlboro NJ   by Calvin Schwartz

Saturday early afternoon was cool and overcast with rain threatening. Back in October, The 2nd Annual Dog Day Afternoon
was scheduled but a rainout and winter shifted the date. Canine and people support today was impressive; the event was held at Marlboro Township Recreation Center Dog Park and all for a wonderful cause: in honor of the late Mark Eric Levine who always wanted a dog. Donations received benefits the Ashley Lauren Foundation; ‘Hope and Help for Children with Cancer.’ For more information: http://ashleylaurenfoundation.org/events

Marlboro Mayor Jonathan Hornik officially welcomed the assembled and then segues to the first event of the day, a dog trick contest. Several human booths were operated by animal related vendors. A representative of ‘Rose’s Fund’ illuminated us. “No one should ever have to choose between medical care and euthanizing their pet.” Rose’s Fund was created so this painful decision never has to be made. The fund reaches out to families of pets with medical problems that they can’t afford to pay for and provides funding. In their four years, they’ve helped 200 families.  Please check their website: www.rosesfund.org

We were able to get several photo-ops with the canine contingents who were mostly in motion or hanging out the water bar. It was a major fun event and no rain.

Calvin Schwartz  5-5-12

The Jersey Acoustic Music Awards on April 29th honored original artists who tirelessly perform around the state at small venues like coffeehouses. To prepare, on the Friday before the awards, I went to Point Pleasant’s Green Planet Coffeehouse to see Alexandra Inglis, a sixteen year old nominee for ‘Top 18 and Under Performer’ and was, as they say, ‘blown away’ by her voice and lyrics. During the awards program intermission, I interviewed Alexandra, who later won the award. “My mom and dad have been my greatest inspiration and support.” And she’d probably go home and listen to John Mayer.

As the hall filled it became evident to this first time Acoustic awards attendee that most everyone knew one another in this special community of Jersey Acoustic Music. Standing room only was quick. Eloquent Anton Daub, prolific in the world of hosting open mike night at Espresso Joe’s in Keyport was the MC and stressed the night was more about getting recognition from fellow musicians which convinced this was more of a family affair evening of amazing musician.

A wondrous array of singers performed in the round throughout the program in between awards. Jo Wymer’s singing ‘dazzled.’ She liked my one word description of her then went on to win Top Female Performer. Being a vintage folkie myself from the sixties, I carefully watched the category for Top Folk Act which was won by the husband and wife team of Keith and Shelli Aarden Monacchio. Shelli remembered my coming to see her last August at the SandWitch on the boardwalk in Asbury Park. Emily Grove won Top Female Vocalist and perhaps was taken back when I mentioned writing about her talent in my blog nearly two years ago, after seeing her sing at Asbury Park’s Clearwater Festival; comments still archived in my blog.

I’m beginning to think like an old ‘Beach Boys’ song, “I Get Around.’ A few weeks ago, I journeyed to the Strand Theatre for a Backstage event and saw Cat Cosentino sing. This night she won for Top Pop/Rock and deservedly so. Back to the intermission; I also got a chance to talk to Lo Kloza nominated for Top Female Vocalist and Top New Act. Exuberant and excited, she mentioned her much anticipated CD release party at ‘Downtown’ in Red Bank on June 20^th.  This is her first album and she dreams of going on tour. With Jon Caspi’s ‘the little ones’ I was noticeably moved by his song of children in the African war zones being kidnapped and made into soldiers. Right out of sixties protestation, I was really at home. As the night evolved, so I did as an absorber of such incredible talent. When intermission ended, it hit me; I wondered what folks do in Billings, Montana or near the Bridges of Madison County, Iowa, when they can sing but don’t have an Asbury Park, a musical mecca nearby. Kevin John Allen, nominated for Top Male Songwriter, performed the final song with an emotional moving twist. He brought a number of singers together in a choir like mode to sing, ‘Jesus Could You Call Me’ from his new CD ‘Life’s Lonely Rodeo.’  Sounds of silence filled the hall while they sang. For me it was a powerful ‘wow.’

Special thanks to Espresso Joe in Keyport’s Kishore who guided me through my first awards ceremony. I remain innervated and fully emoted over a magical evening of music and community which has fueled the blossoming of these words and the foundation of my future involvements with Acoustics. For more information on the criteria of the awards please go to: http://www.jamawards.org/home

For those interested, more of my writings and words can be found at my global cerebral blog at

http://vichywater.net/blog

Calvin Schwartz  May 4^th 2012

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A week or so prior to Marc Ribler and Friends, A Singer Songwriter/Classic Rock Tribute Night, appearing at McCloone’s in Asbury Park on Wednesday April 25th instead of the usual Tuesdays, I met Marc on Facebook of all places and we did the friending thing. I also asked to officially report and film his concert for NJ Discover TV. The digital age produces rapidity in response time and in the actual bonding (friending) processes. The next night we morphed from Facebook to cell phone and in our live voice communication phase, we discovered concentric circles of commonality; from ancestral homelands, spirituality, parallel universes, Ray Kurzweil and Singularity and Bob Dylan, who was one of the artists they were doing a tribute to on Wednesday. A special jetty at Belmar’s Shark River waits for a future communicative phase.

Marc is a singer songwriter, guitarist and a producer. Being a consummate groupie, I knew he sang with Carole King and Roger McGuinn and opened for Celine Dion, Michael Bolton, James Taylor and Sly and the Family Stone to name a few.Wednesday’s concert was billed as a tribute to Dylan, The Band and honoring the life of Levon Helm. Communicative chemistry is wonderful.  In addition to Marc Ribler’s amazing musical gifts, he exudes genuineness, warmth and a feeling you’ve known him all along; we finally met live without Memorex an hour before the concert. The venue at Mc Cloone’s overlooking Asbury Park’s ocean and Convention Hall from high on the second floor is purist perfect for my music absorption and appreciation. When lights later bathed Convention Hall, just beyond the rear window, in multi colors, a warm ethereal feeling evolves; maybe it’s the subliminal of a ‘working class’ rock star and son of Asbury Park’s first album scene.

Appearing with Marc this night were Jeff Kazee, John Conte and Lee Finkelstein. But in the air ducts, were particulates of notions of more of Marc’s surprise friends showing up. Suddenly Southside Johnny was on stage as one of Marc’s friends. I was just four feet and a few inches away from the stage and I was beginning to feel this heavenly notion that would sense surround me the rest of the night and take a time-released form for weeks to come. Earlier it was ‘The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down’ and I pinched my arm (I really do that for a reality check). Along came Glen Burtnik and the piece of heaven deal was sealed. A recurring theme for me as I discover: damn, how can anyone miss the talented magical concerts that Marc brings on Tuesdays; perhaps folks have powerful umbilical ties to their old 1960’s Castro convertible pull-out sofa. What I was hearing was such a gift. Then more ‘pieces of heaven’: ‘Knocking on Heaven’s Door.’ And ‘The Mighty Quinn.’  Hearing ‘The Weight’ which was so powerful, it reminded me once again that after seeing ‘Easy Rider’ in 1969 and hearing that song, I was afraid to even travel to South Jersey. All renditions sublime this heavenly night.

To complete my “little piece of heaven” journeyed experience was the auditory absorption of a few of Marc’s original songs.  He’s a songwriter, I said to myself . So when his lyrical originality flowed like an ornate fountain in front of a columned forum of collectivism, I was  innervated and moved. Movement continues into this writing. I’m  going to continue to explore Marc’s original music. And as they say in my journalistic profession; update at eleven, one day, down this incredible pastel yellow brick road I’ve found.

The rest of Marc’s friends sealed my piece of heaven: Marc Muller, Rosemary Conte, Tom Bowes, Paul Avrutin, Jake Nozek, Mary McCrink, Kristian Rex and Tony Pallagrosi whom it seems, I bump into several times a week.  Mary McCrink; her magical voice gave up, perhaps the best version of ‘The Times They Are A-Changin’ ever for me. In the finale, with all the friends singing ‘Any Day Now;’ it was easy to feel/see a special love and magic on stage. Replete with emotion, I borrowed Marc briefly after the concert and thanked him for providing “this little piece of heaven.” Rarified ethereal sound pieces in this crazy world, I thought. I also thought about finding ways to yell to folks to lose sedentary sofa sitting and come to the musical Asbury boardwalk on Tuesday evenings; like I guess I’m yelling now.

Cal Schwartz   May 4th 2012