Sid Blair Interview - Happy Life of a Freelancer (Podcast)

 This post is to accompany our interview with woodwind extraordinaire - Sid Blair. The pictures are in chronological order - when possible. You can listen to (or download) the podcast here, and also at Itunes.

1948 - Sid Blair in Wayne State University Band.

1950 - Tom Houghton Band with Sid Blair on Alto -
At the club Pandora's Box - dig the real piano bar!!

A young Mr. Blair conducting in 1951.

Grant Jr. High School band that Sid built from scratch!
photo taken 1956

Arch Richards (L) & Sid Blair (R)

1962 Downbeat article
about Tom Houghton band.

1971 Program from Carnegie Hall
concert with Sid on alto.

1971 photo of Carnegie Hall rehearsal -  Detroit Symphony
taken by Sid during 1st half.

1972 gettin' around in the Austin Moro band.

Bob Durant Band - 1970s

John Trudell Band date unknown

1981 with the Glen Miller Band

1982 pay stub from session at Motown Records

1984 - just a few lightweights on the resumé...

Sid in the Frank Roberts band 1990s

1996

1998 Sid Blair in St. Augustine
photo taken by Fred Carle.

1998 - Sid & Helen board the SS Norway
to play with Tex Benecke

2000 - Sid & Helen Blair on another
big band cruise.

2003 NEFJA concert
with the Three Blairs + Two

2008 - program from concert featuring
Sid on clarinet at
Stetson University

local music happenings in Daytona Beach...

Sid and grandson Christopher spend the holiday jamming.

2011 Sid with Jim Miller in Big Band America
Photo courtesy of Hometown News.

Sunday Afternoon Jazz!

Here are a few pictures taken at the Oct 30th Jam Session held by the St. Augustine Jazz Society. There were a bunch more musicians and players, but most were up when I was behind the piano!

Swingin', solid beats from Bill Doyle (Palm Coast)

L-R: Ed Herson, Gil Surette, Jack Pierson

Eddie "T-bone" Herson was seriously rockin'!

 

My first time hearing the amazing Bill Prince. L-R:
Bill Doyle, Bill Prince, Jack Pierson, John Pellegrino.

  

Jack Pierson, who just released a cd recorded
in NYC with Julian Lage & Marcus Gilmore!

L-R: Bill Doyle, Guest Vocalist, Rocky Ray & Bill Prince

L-R: Gil, Jack, Bill now on Cornet & Rocky

There were plenty of other performers including Eddy Tresta, Greg Wier, Cindy Pierson, Joyce Lundgren,  Scott Mariash Wanda, & Palm Coast's own Dan Burns. Outside of an unfortunate political incident that lasted way too long (the only one I've seen), this was pretty happenin' and the room was filled with jazz lovers! Next year it will be in a bigger room, so don't be bashful, come down bring your horn, (we could use some more 'young lions') and make it even better! Membership not required - KM

ps - there are more pictures of the musicians who played while I was at the piano over on the
St. Augustine Jazz Society's blog, on the bottom. :)

November Podcast! John Ricci, George Grosman, Cook Trio...

Exiting Jazz and relaxing blues & latin make up our latest edition of the Palm Coast Jazz podcast, with music from  Click here to listen.

Hosts: Allison Paris and Kenny MacKenzie

Music in order played:

"Mode Time" - John Ricci (Jacksonville, FL)
from album "Holding Time"
click to buy at CD Baby
John Ricci website

"Delphie" - The Cook Trio (Orlando, FL)
from album "Moonlight"
click to buy at Itunes
and also at the Cook Trio website.


"Mambo" - Jim Bryer (Ponce Inlet, FL)
Jim Bryer website

"Little Darlin'" - George Grosman (Orlando, FL)
from the upcoming album "Water and Wine"
click to buy George's cds at CD Baby
Many more albums available at George's website.


Live recording from Abe Alam (Orlando, FL)
Abe Alam website


Live recording from Sid Blair & the St. Augustine Jazz Society All-Stars
recorded Labor Day 2011 at the Plaza de la Constitucion
St Augustine Jazz Society website

"Frank's Waltz" - Frank Capek Trio (Palm Coast, FL)


(Palm Coast Jazz Closing Theme by Seven Octaves)

More details including band member names are included on the playlist at podomatic.