tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74639322024-02-07T19:17:52.491-05:00JavaJel's BlogBobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01453857318681340910noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7463932.post-12838404009343344402019-01-21T10:27:00.001-05:002019-01-22T14:35:58.853-05:00Joe Gelsi Germany 1945Here's my dad jamming in Germany with a mandolin he found during his time there in World War II. Dad and mom always supported my music and paid for piano, guitar and mandolin lessons over the years. My dad played mandolin all his life, including a trio with some other guys his age in Dobbs Ferry, and the NY Mandolin Orchestra. He also studied at the famed Mandolin School in Rhode Island and rubbed shoulders with mandolin great
David Grissom. Thanks Dad!
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGxb4k27-ZU7iep0UOL18ujapklDhpBUWe5ANwSkcGnc-XFcgbse2s9BlnnBYlye8UQL9lkY6E9LB-cMs_qOWcZ1SISvEugIx4nmBSDrgrEKnJ8RggOMV-S8LTs4iUSuJQAIh0/s1600/Joe+Gelsi+1945.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGxb4k27-ZU7iep0UOL18ujapklDhpBUWe5ANwSkcGnc-XFcgbse2s9BlnnBYlye8UQL9lkY6E9LB-cMs_qOWcZ1SISvEugIx4nmBSDrgrEKnJ8RggOMV-S8LTs4iUSuJQAIh0/s320/Joe+Gelsi+1945.jpg" width="320" height="320" data-original-width="1080" data-original-height="1080" /></a></div>JavaJelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00139726516554303727noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7463932.post-71240525093543442142014-08-05T11:25:00.001-04:002014-08-05T11:29:51.220-04:00Piano cover tunes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://thechive.files.wordpress.com/2014/08/the-dar-12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://thechive.files.wordpress.com/2014/08/the-dar-12.jpg" /></a></div><a href="http://thechive.files.wordpress.com/2014/08/the-dar-12.jpg">Burning it up on the piano</a><br />
<br />
While it's great to write original songs over the years with input from friends and fellow musicians, playing "Blueberry Hill" and "Walk on By" on the piano can't be beat either. Unlike my tunes, these songs have been recorded by real record labels and picked up by dozens if not hundreds of musicians, musicals and movies. Some of Java's sentimental favorites include "Be my Baby" by Ronnie Spector, "Pleasant Valley Sunday" by Carol King, "Umbrella" by Rihanna, " and "Lovin Cup", a more obscure song by the Rolling Stones off of their "Exile on Main Street" album. Hmmm, if I keep working on these, maybe I should record them if they get good enough. It was fun to play these and others at Temple Beth-El in Jersey City back in January, when I opened up for "The Lonesome Prairie Dogs" featuring Lenny Kaye on pedal steel. All good times!<br />
JavaJelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00139726516554303727noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7463932.post-65968666188370487312012-09-17T17:01:00.000-04:002012-09-18T10:25:49.123-04:00Java Jel in NashvilleJen and I made a special birthday trip this past spring to Nashville, where we sampled the local BBQ, checked out the amazing Honky Tonk bar bands and toured the storied Ryman Audiorium, original home of the Grand 'Ole Opry as well as Johnny Cash's TV show in the 1960s and early 70s.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.guernseys.com/Iconic%20Online%20Catalouge/images/ctein_johnnycash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hea="true" height="223" src="http://www.guernseys.com/Iconic%20Online%20Catalouge/images/ctein_johnnycash.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
(Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash at the Ryman Auditorium)<br />
<br />
Well, as part of the tour of the Ryman, you can get your picture taken on stage for $10 and you can record a song for $15. Well, I had written two songs so we splurged and spent $30 for two. They had a little broadcast booth in the auditorium, where most people did karaoke versions of "I Shall Survive" or "America the Beautiful." <br />
<br />
First the picture.. They had a nice guitar on stage, so I warmed up my song, FIRE WATER, while they snapped my picture. I only did one verse and one chorus, but it felt right. I could hear my voice bouncing back to me from the back of the room -- with no microphone -- and I felt a hint of the great vibes in that famous space.<br />
<br />
So into the recording booth we went, and 15 minutes later I recorded two songs, FIRE WATER and BACK TO NY on a Martin guitar and nothing else. They're featured on JAVAJEL.com along with a tune I recorded with Joe Kelly and Tom Hannon way back in the 1990s. It's a version of Bo Diddley's CAN'T JUDGE A BOOK and TIGER MAN, which Elvis Presley made famous. Time for some countryfied JEL. <br />
<br />
I'd definitely recommend a trip to Nashville, especially the Country Music Hall of Fame. We really enjoyed seeing Elvis Presley's car as well as the famous flashy outfit worn by Graham Parsons of the Byrds and the Flying Burrito Brothers. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Thanks again Jen! <br />
<br />
And thanks again to BOB for updating the Web site.<br />
<br />
Rock on!<br />
<br />JavaJelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00139726516554303727noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7463932.post-21797556333010036452012-06-26T13:40:00.001-04:002012-06-26T13:40:52.759-04:00Altercation wrapup, projects brewingWell, the success of the Altercation reunion has made the rounds on Facebook and I'll try to link to it here. The bottom line is, we all had fun. Not much blah blah on what we've been doing for the past 30 years since we played at Dobbs Ferry High School in an impromptu session outside the school cafeteria in a move inspired by the Beatles rooftop jam featured in the movie Let it Be.<br />
<br />
We scheduled our reunion rehearsal at the same movie theater where we saw Let it Be. It's now a recording studio and rehearsal space called Stolen Moments.<br />
<br />
And believe it or not, I LOVED played the cover songs, especially Joe Rooney doing Takin Care of Business. I mean that guy has chops like you wouldn't believe. I've written plenty of songs over the years, but although Java has gotten a bit of radio play here and there, none of my recordings has ever been released by a record label. Heck my biggest hit was probably a 500-copy run of the Marilyn Monroe cassette tape back in 1990 that we sold at gigs. I mean, Jumpin Jack Flash has sold millions and millions. It's GOLD wrapped in PLATINUM. <br />
<br />
Anyway, I loved playing bass and doing funky lines in Rebel Rebel and London Calling. We sounded pretty good and we had fun and we didn't embarass oursevles too much. Everyone had so much fun and there's talk of another gig maybe for my birthday on Jan. 20??<br />
<br />
Anyway, I've been surfing around and reconnecting with some of my other old band mates and who knows what'll happen next. It's also important to collaborate with one's spouse so I'm working on a possible musical with good Jen. <br />
<br />
PEACE OUT and ROCK ON.<br />
<br />
JAVAJavaJelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00139726516554303727noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7463932.post-30669437733933160722012-03-14T10:11:00.005-04:002012-04-03T13:09:31.424-04:00My first band: AltercationHey there's actually talk out there that my very first band I played in, in high school, may be getting back together for a reunion show. We're all still alive and kicking, thank goodness.<br /><br />The band Altercation delivered my first glimpse into the anything-can-happen world of gigging. Playing that middle school dance, driving the teenagers wild and rocking out to Takin Care of Business by BTO electrified my small-town world as I whomped away with sweaty hands on my bass. I really hope we can pull it off between our hectic schedules and geographic distances. Nothing would make me happier than to once again butcher 25 or 6 to 4 by Chicago or flawlessy execute incredibly easy songs like Best Friends Girl by the Cars. During our brief reign in high school, we played one dance and then blew out the fuse box at my friend Mark's house at a party. He later told me they lost several hundred dollars worth of meat after we caused their freezer to die. Another band favorite is the time my old EARTH guitar amplifier caught fire during a rehearsal as we were playing EVIL WAYs by Santana. RIP Earth AMP.<br /><br />Anyway, I'll keep you all updated.JavaJelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00139726516554303727noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7463932.post-82285659524546166292011-09-30T12:04:00.007-04:002011-09-30T13:28:56.152-04:00Burt Bachrach, Angie Dickinson<a href="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.parentdish.com/media/2010/09/angie-dickinson-daughter-a-590ds092810.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 590px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 393px" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.parentdish.com/media/2010/09/angie-dickinson-daughter-a-590ds092810.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div>Burt Bacharach and Angie Dickinson did a really cool Martini & Rossi commercial back in the 1970s. I've never fogotten it. I love Burt Bachrach! I've been playing a song on the piano, WALK ON BY, which is one of his big hits. I also got a Burt Bachrach vinyl record from the 70s with that song, which was made famous by Dionne Warwick. Anyway, I'm remembering all this because of Angie Dickinson's 80th birthday today. Rock on Angie, and Rock on Burt!!</div>JavaJelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00139726516554303727noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7463932.post-76016033289068776772011-01-25T13:40:00.003-05:002011-01-25T13:46:52.193-05:00Hello again 2011<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggUX9QYvQT0-2HnqxoRtpcw7APixkg4UUM3lJy5ncoZLiwIe1YOPO0lsTG-0oHTQUllVlUNCXNe9Jp0yx6wbp-hYh8woD3ObwL8URuZm8m3YIihexOvWCwcYcZIF4etCWAh9f62A/s1600/Harris03.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 342px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 425px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggUX9QYvQT0-2HnqxoRtpcw7APixkg4UUM3lJy5ncoZLiwIe1YOPO0lsTG-0oHTQUllVlUNCXNe9Jp0yx6wbp-hYh8woD3ObwL8URuZm8m3YIihexOvWCwcYcZIF4etCWAh9f62A/s1600/Harris03.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>It's been really a while since my last post, so I figured it was time for an update. Musical projects in the past year included playing as a side man in the Ed Buller Mountain Ramblers as well as contributing to a UMOUR.org musical project called SUPERSPIES. It'll be out soon. Overall, as I age I still love the old Java stuff, but the force of gravity seems to be pulling me toward country and old folk. I know it's trendy to do roots music, but it's also a good bastion for grayer musicians to avoid looking ridiculous. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Also on the radar, I'd recomment reading Keith Richards' book LIFE to anyone who's into the Rolling Stones. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>I'm also rediscovering the trendy "OH BROTHER WHERE ART THOU" soundtrack and am currently infatuated with Emmy Lou Harris, the Carter Family, and singin old songs. Part of JAVA is also really into solo jazz piano standards too so I'm all over the place. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Musically, look for more MP3 Versions of JAVA tunes to be posted soon, including a great side project from the 1990s called the RIPE. Rock on.</div><br /><div></div>JavaJelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00139726516554303727noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7463932.post-6809072761701584372010-01-06T11:54:00.004-05:002010-01-06T12:01:15.651-05:00Fresh Java CD Javalicious launched digitally<span style="font-size:130%;">Hello Fan! Well here's Javalicious finally!<br />Yeah, I had one more in me. I decided to do a 20th anniversary session -- 20 years since Java's Jesus Jam -- with Kol Marshall. He lined up some local session guys who were really good. It came out better than I thought because I was going to play bass on it, but then Kol got a real bass player. I got to scratch a few musical itches I had -- lots of harmonies, and songs that I had never recorded but wrote in the late 80s, plus some fresher stuff. Enjoy! It's all posted on <a href="http://www.javajel.com/">http://www.javajel.com</a></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;"></span>JavaJelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00139726516554303727noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7463932.post-34623058232489978042009-10-15T14:30:00.003-04:002009-10-15T14:39:26.065-04:00Javalicious JeffreyI gotta give a shout out to Jeffrey, the man who coined the phrase javalicious. He's just an all-round international guy living in Berlin or on a yacht somewhere in the Caribbean with his lovely wife. He's a genius when it comes to the spoken word. He can pull your leg in at least five languages -- English, Spanish, Japanese, Mandarin, German, whatever. The guy can talk a dog off a meat truck. Anyway, at least one of the songs on Javalicious -- The SunShine Song and others -- were written with him around. He just sent me this cool picture of a car to remind me of my weird history with motorized vehicles. As a 20-year-old, I shunned them, then I started writing about them and then I even cracked one up while I was trying to swat a mosquito. For a while, I was going through cars like razor blades and have owned about 10 of them over the years -- Pontiac Catalina, Renault Alliance, Toyota Camry, Honda Civic, Toyota Pickup, Honda Accord, two Volvo wagons, a Toyota Starlet and now a Siena Minivan. I wish I could have owned this one that Jeffrey sent me. I love retro cars as much as retro diners.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.life.com/image/50873280/in-gallery/23056/back-when-cars-had-real-curves">http://www.life.com/image/50873280/in-gallery/23056/back-when-cars-had-real-curves</a>JavaJelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00139726516554303727noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7463932.post-41162623367308279502009-09-11T09:27:00.006-04:002009-09-11T09:52:14.273-04:00Java's Sept. 11 song<a href="http://domania.us/DollyCali/911/flagRraising.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 375px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 500px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://domania.us/DollyCali/911/flagRraising.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Here's my Sept. 11, 2001 anthem:</div><div> </div><div align="center">USA Flag -- </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">USA Flag/3,00 dead/USA Flag/It's in my head</div><div align="center">USA Flag/Is Raining down/USA Flag/Still around</div><div> </div><div></div><div>It's a tribute to the 3,000 people killed on that fateful day, with a focus on the Stars & Stripes as a symbol of the time. I came up with the chorus first, and then wrote a few verses about it. Just a few weeks after it happened, Jennifer traveled to China where she saw a trinket of the World Trade Center with flames coming out - some kind of combination souvenir and cigarette lighter decorated with Osama Bin Laden. I hope they didn't sell. Can you believe that? What a horrible thing.<br /><br />Misguided U.S. policies aside, the resources used to commit the crime of Sept. 11 came indirectly from our purchase of foreign oil, if you just follow the money. A big chunk of our money at the pump goes to Saudi Arabia, which then doles out money to militant charities to help keep appease dissidents within their own borders. Those wealthy dissidents pay for terror attacks against us. It's all about a power grab too -- political power grows from the barrel of a gun, and anyone trying to get more power inevitably explores a military or terrorist option. Nearly all of the Sept. 11 hijackers and Osama Bin Laden all came from Saudi Arabia. Argh!</div>JavaJelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00139726516554303727noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7463932.post-11010557433797324402009-08-21T08:50:00.006-04:002009-08-21T09:02:48.374-04:00Secret fan calls Java sweet and freshI'm so obscure as a singer songwriter I don't even think I exist. Despite my failed attempts to grow more digitial via a slick myspace page or even a bare bones I-Tunes page, JavaJel nevertheless lives in the overlooked corners of the Internet. While I struggle to get my dumb songs out on the Web, my JAVA JEL FLAVORS CD somehow made it onto some used-CD Web site. I guess there must be at least 500 of the 1998 CD floating around out there after I've given them out to friends and not so friends over the years.<br /><br />I had 1,000 made, and still hold onto about 50 or 100 of them at the most. I think I trashed a box or two of them -- sorry.<br /><br />Anyway, I was thinking about my song, SuperModel Tyranny and did a google search on the term just for fun. The first thing that came up was a Web site called Poetry Connection, which was somehow selling Flavors for $4.52.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.poetryconnection.net/B00000HZ5Y/Flavors.html">http://www.poetryconnection.net/B00000HZ5Y/Flavors.html</a>#<br /><br /><br />I was kind of flabbergasted to see this, since I had nothing to do with it. Someone even wrote a really nice comment and gave me five stars! A secret fan! I have no idea who this person is!<br /><br /><strong>JAVA JAMMIN JEL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Hey, who is this guy? He is great! Where can I get more? I love it, my wife love's it , IGUANA LOVE RULES!!!! And how can you beat track 12-say's it all about going home! Fresh, New, Sweet, Hip, Just Drive, Keep up the good work, Java!!!</strong><br /><br />That's excellent! Well to satisfy you, oh secret fan. I'm a mild mannered financial reporter by day who's been writing songs on the side for about 30 years, making me about 46 now. Dude I'm old yet I'm fresh and sweet. Excellent!JavaJelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00139726516554303727noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7463932.post-65802251059342738042009-06-12T08:14:00.003-04:002009-06-12T08:22:18.738-04:00Partial Circle Sky Reunion, Mike Culhane updateMike Culhane, an old friend, recently resurfaced. A great musician who played on "Rain Forest" and inspired me with his wonderful devotion to Paul McCartney and George Harrison, Culhane is still going strong in the music world after relocating to Northhampton, Mass., the well known Republican bastion. (I'm kidding about the GOP part.) Here's a note he dropped me recently after I asked him if his old band from 1980s Boston, Circle Sky, will re-unite:<br /><br />Mike: "Reunion I wish. Life is very short and goes fast. Maybe a couple of us at my solo show this Saturday here in the BAY STATE."<br /><br />So his answer was a partial yes about the reunion. I've observed over the years that folks who play music together stay together. I reunited with Kol Marshall after 20 years of collaborations, as well as a recent effort with some of my old buddies from Florida in a project called the RIPE. Work friends tend to drift off, but music friends are forever. I also contacted an old friend from Florida, Debbie Rider, who is still singing her heart out on cruise lines.<br /><br />Mike was also pleased that "Rain Forest" still kicks around on Greasy Kids Stuff:<br /><br />Mike: "Glad "Rain Forest" is still in play, that was fun."<br /><br />He rocks.JavaJelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00139726516554303727noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7463932.post-2347231254764352912009-04-23T15:58:00.002-04:002009-04-23T16:04:09.587-04:00One more Greasy Kids Stuff mention<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.getbestcoffeemakers.com/green-coffee-bean.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 458px; height: 328px;" src="http://www.getbestcoffeemakers.com/green-coffee-bean.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />I'm heading out to work on Javalicious, my new CD, with Kanduco Industries, an entrepreneurial computer services and graphics firm. My concept is to honor the first Velvet Underground album. Instead of a giant banana, I'll have a giant coffee bean, maybe in an electric color of some kind. It'll be stamped with an official JAVALICOUS logo. Coolio. Anyway, here's a comment from Belinda Miller of Greasy Kids Stuff fame. They totally rock. What a fun show.<br /><br /><div class="OutlookMessageHeader" dir="ltr" align="left" lang="en-us"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;font-size:85%;"><b>From:</b> Belinda Miller [mailto:stuff@greasykidstuff.net]<br /><b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, April 01, 2009 1:13 PM<br /><b>To:</b> Gelsi, Steven<br /><b>Subject:</b> Re: Rain Forest by Java Jel<br /></span><br /></div> How nice to hear from you, we look forward to whatever you've got! We pull Rain Forest out from time to time - I think it's time now!JavaJelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00139726516554303727noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7463932.post-55965534066190856942009-04-01T11:49:00.002-04:002009-04-01T11:59:21.460-04:00JavaJel's Rain Forest on Greasy Kids stuffI can't believe it, but my song, Rain Forest, was played again on the cool radio show Greasy Kids Stuff Back in November of last year. Dude the song is 10 years old already. It's got legs!<br /><br /><a href="http://greasykidstuff.vox.com/library/post/gks-playlist-112208.html#comment-form">http://greasykidstuff.vox.com/library/post/gks-playlist-112208.html#comment-form</a><br /><br />As for the link in my previous post oo the NY Times Song -- sorry but it doesnt' work. I'm still working on figuring out how to do this stuff.<br /><br />Instead, here's a really really really really really groovy song from George Harrison called Wah Wah. Anything by George is famous of course, but I hadn't been familiar with this song until stumbling over it on YouTube. I admire its layered vocals and spiritual vibe. It's a joy. Enjoy!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SM5Lc3VjJ74">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SM5Lc3VjJ74</a>JavaJelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00139726516554303727noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7463932.post-70208485932929471572009-03-27T10:50:00.004-04:002009-03-27T11:09:15.624-04:00NY Times songHere's a tune called NY Times -- about the decline of newspapers and how everyone is too busy spewing anger and celeb gossip to bother with yesterday's news in the newspaper. Why is everyone on the Internet so angry? I guess becuase they spend too much time on the computer and not enough time outside. Joe and Dominic played up the song as a 60s Motown girl group mash-up with a nice back beat and doo wop groove. The version coming out on the upcoming Javalicious CD channeled the song, "You're so Good to Me" by the Beach Boys with a la la la la thing going on. Anyway, now that I'm going digital I think it's a big deal, but I'm just an old dad now and no one cares about guys my age putting out new music. It doesn't matter because sooner or later I'll start to figure this out and get maybe like at least five hits. I think you need I-Tunes software to listen to this.JavaJelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00139726516554303727noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7463932.post-70414092735858462672009-03-20T10:06:00.003-04:002009-03-20T10:17:34.757-04:00Tom Hannon's Kerouac Shack<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9mNq0-5_59o3bjOBttmc3j59Xzv7Yeu-wXd0WasZIE4TnCcOffV6QrSipBZZsy-Jyk7phH2VpkerlMxpHuaHY6vhJOgggxtPu3JTvO4lOoMiQ_IJwLF4hq5Vj-qZNh0sm68gu/s1600-h/DSC00049.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315272991480790370" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9mNq0-5_59o3bjOBttmc3j59Xzv7Yeu-wXd0WasZIE4TnCcOffV6QrSipBZZsy-Jyk7phH2VpkerlMxpHuaHY6vhJOgggxtPu3JTvO4lOoMiQ_IJwLF4hq5Vj-qZNh0sm68gu/s320/DSC00049.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQWwBC9dDaz_y2ntmZF3rggJOOFdEV6uRvTKnl6E6cplVzBxGguB_jKNunAI4YDJMasJ0eO49WaFrobMMjcsQTV_GvN8wer5uhGCPVG4JHG7cGwlQd7JCncMu5YfpoO-bqEkfm/s1600-h/DSCN0733_1(4).JPG"></a><div>Java, Joe Kelly and Dominic jamming at JavaFest in late 2008 in the shack rich in pop culture located in bucolic Sewell, N.J. </div><div> </div><div>Host Tom Hannon snapped this from behind his drum set during our super fun jam. </div><div> </div><div>We recorded a bunch of songs on Dom's computer and we totally rocked out. Some day the tunes may be mixed, but who cares, I loved it. </div><div> </div><div>These guys are all really amazing and I'm totally stoked that they stil put up with me. </div>JavaJelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00139726516554303727noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7463932.post-86712727096560024452009-03-09T14:21:00.002-04:002009-03-09T14:25:26.174-04:00Java Jel going digital, graduallyHey, I'm finally starting to go digital. I guess it's easier than copying tapes on my old cassette and hand-lettering all the labels. Anyway, I'm trying to get my new record, Javalicious out in digital formats before wrapping it up. Cover art is needed as well, naturally. The fun part -- making the music -- is pretty much done.<br /><br />Anyway, Java Jel is moving toward the digital age whether he wants to or not. Here's a rehearsal that Denver area DJ Toby Houser posted a few days ago. It's a session I did with him back in 1988 or so when he played bass in the combo, Java Jel & Big Bambu. It featured JD Wood on drums -- (JD WHERE ARE YOU NOW?) and Lee Sled on keys. The tune, Start Something New is really groovey with super funky guitar and bass, and a long vocal break. Here's the link:<br /><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#0000ff;"><span class="389590319-04032009"><a title="http://www.boosted.com/Tapes/JavaJel/JavaJel&BigBambu-01071989-side1.mp3" href="http://www.boosted.com/Tapes/JavaJel/JavaJel&BigBambu-01071989-side1.mp3">http://www.boosted.com/Tapes/JavaJel/JavaJel&BigBambu-01071989-side1.mp3</a><br /><br /><br />PEACE OUT<br /></span></span>JavaJelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00139726516554303727noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7463932.post-59529359637813957562009-02-02T11:08:00.005-05:002009-02-02T11:37:02.731-05:00Hey man, it's Java Jel. Here's a great gig I did playing Johnny Cash, Elvis and Uncle Sam at the 2008 NY Financial Follies event at the Marriott Marquis. I usually try to do original tunes, but the gig called for spoofs of cover songs, so that's what I attempted to do. Chris Morino at MarketWatch producer and engineered the video.<br /><br />Meanwhile, work continues on my new album of original tunes with producer KOL MARSHALL under two working titles, Java Jel Jellin, or Java Jel Hey Man! <span class="style6">As of late December 2008, I've pretty much wrapped it up by adding stacks of Java vocals to tap into my Beach Boys obsession. What the songs lack in flashy lead guitar, they make up with great drums, bass and lots of vocals -- plus plenty of hooks I hope. The album marks the 20th anniversary of my very first studio recording, Java's Jesus Jam.</span> It sounds pretty good. We'll finish up mixing soon and get it out on I-Tunes.<br /><br /><div class="style6" align="center"><object width="425" height="344"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/9W26FhC038c&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed><br /><br /></object><br /></div>After this, I'm done for the time being and will try to write a book instead or something.Bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01453857318681340910noreply@blogger.com0