January 8, 2012
I just got home from Webster Hall where tonight is GlobalFEST, an annual World Music showcase that is part of the APAP conference. Groups from all over the US and the world come to showcase their acts hoping to book gigs at performing arts centers and festivals for the upcoming seasons. I went specifically to hear Canzoniere Grecanico Salentino, a band from Puglia, Italy. Canzoniere Grecanico Salentino (CGS) specialize in the pizzica tarantella, although they play other types of Italian folk music (Tammoriata, which is Neapolitan, for example, and ballads), and they mix in other influences as well—jazz, bluegrass, Lebanese, African, whatever is appropriate—recognizing that music, even traditional music, does not exist in a vacuum because musicians don’t. I’ve heard CGS four times now, and they are better each time. This photo is actually from September 15, 2011 when they were in New York at Drom, an event which remains my favorite of the times I’ve seen them because of the amount of audience participation that took place that night. The energy of the band (their first show in America!) and the audience was electric. It was one of the most memorable music events I’ve attended because of the synergy created by of the power of the music, the stellar performance of the band, and the audience’s participation in the event. The best shows include the audience and allow the audience to participate in the music—whether that is by dancing, singing, clapping, or trancing out. September 15, 2011 at Drom created a remarkable moment where all of these things fell together in a way that I will always remember.

I just got home from Webster Hall where tonight is GlobalFEST, an annual World Music showcase that is part of the APAP conference. Groups from all over the US and the world come to showcase their acts hoping to book gigs at performing arts centers and festivals for the upcoming seasons. I went specifically to hear Canzoniere Grecanico Salentino, a band from Puglia, Italy.

Canzoniere Grecanico Salentino (CGS) specialize in the pizzica tarantella, although they play other types of Italian folk music (Tammoriata, which is Neapolitan, for example, and ballads), and they mix in other influences as well—jazz, bluegrass, Lebanese, African, whatever is appropriate—recognizing that music, even traditional music, does not exist in a vacuum because musicians don’t.

I’ve heard CGS four times now, and they are better each time. This photo is actually from September 15, 2011 when they were in New York at Drom, an event which remains my favorite of the times I’ve seen them because of the amount of audience participation that took place that night. The energy of the band (their first show in America!) and the audience was electric. It was one of the most memorable music events I’ve attended because of the synergy created by of the power of the music, the stellar performance of the band, and the audience’s participation in the event. The best shows include the audience and allow the audience to participate in the music—whether that is by dancing, singing, clapping, or trancing out. September 15, 2011 at Drom created a remarkable moment where all of these things fell together in a way that I will always remember.

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December 22, 2011

A Poem: Signore Marinaccio

I wrote this poem recently. It’s a homage to Mr. Marinaccio, my clarinet teacher who was also a third grandfather to me. It’s intended to be in Italian. I’ve provided an English translation below.

Signore Marinaccio (Allison Scola)

Il tuo cognome Marinaccio ti ha descritto perfettamente.

Hai sembrato un marinaio.

Una faccia tonda con un baffo

Spalle larghe

E le mani come guantoni.

Ma la lenza che lanciava non esisteva pescare.

La lenza era le melodie dal tuo clarinetto con cui catturavi

il mare,

il sole,

l’aria, e

le stelle.

Proprio, non suonavi il clarinetto.

Cantavi la bellezza della Terra.

Cantavi

l’amore della vita

… nutrire le nostre anime.

—-

Mr. Marinaccio (Allison Scola for Frank Marinaccio)

Your name Marinaccio described you perfectly.

You resembled a mariner.

A round face with a mustache

Broad shoulders

And hands like baseball mitts.

But the line that you cast didn’t exist to fish.

The line was the melody from your clarinet with which you caught

the sea,

the sun,

the air, and

the stars.

Really, you didn’t play the clarinet.

You sang the beauty of the Earth.

You sang

the love of life

…to nourish our souls.

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November 12, 2011

Some days I’m angry. Most of the time, I just deal.

Today is Saturday. I intended to write some music today. I played guitar for 15 minutes and spent most of the rest of the day doing what I call “Household administration.”

I work all week, full time. After work, I, more often than not, go to a club to hear music (usually a friend’s performance), a museum to hear a lecture or some music, or meet friends for dinner to catch up on the latest personal news. During the week, there is not much time to do household administration—too many social responsibilities to meet and homework for the class I’m taking—therefore, generally, household administration ends up falling to the weekend.

But then, if that’s the case, these days “off,” aren’t really “days off,” are they? No, not when they entail opening the week’s mail, cleaning the fridge to prepare for the next week’s grocery order, and doing laundry so I have something to wear to work. My task this weekend is to do all of the above, plus clean my closet and store away my summer clothes to reintroduce winter clothes, order holiday cards, finish a project for the Board I’m on, and send thank you notes to my family in Sicily (which should have been done in September!). … Argh.

Really, my days “off” become recovery and preparation for the work week and “free time” to fulfill other responsibilities I’ve taken on. What kind of existence is that? Where’s the relaxation? Where’s the time to daydream?

Now that baseball season is over, what do I have to distract me while I’m doing all of this “administration?”

Long story, short: Today, I’m angry.

I’m angry because I am part of the system, and I never intended to allow that to happen. But really, I don’t have anyone to blame but myself. I agreed to participate in all of the above. And baseball season ends…

So, I guess, I will just deal.

I often wish that every weekend was three days long.

Perhaps tomorrow I’ll have 30 minutes to write some music and practice guitar. I suppose I might, if I finish the closet-cleaning project and get my laundry done. Well, at least I’ll be able to get dressed in warm clothes to go back to work on Monday … and continue the cycle all over again.

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September 21, 2011
Here’s a jug that I thought was interesting because of it’s folk painting of a tarantella dancer. This was in a bar at the top of Mount Pellegrino in Palermo, Sicily behind the shrine to Santa Rosalia, the patron saint of Palermo.

Here’s a jug that I thought was interesting because of it’s folk painting of a tarantella dancer. This was in a bar at the top of Mount Pellegrino in Palermo, Sicily behind the shrine to Santa Rosalia, the patron saint of Palermo.

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February 19, 2010

To Tweet? To Tumblr? To Facebook?

So many outlets to post things. If I were 17, I think I’d have a lot to say. Right now, not so much!

Join me!

Wed. February 24, 2010: Concert for Victoria
7pm to 10pm
81 Christopher Street
NY NY 10014

Featuring Red Molly, Natalia Zukerman and other wonderful artists

Benefit concert to raise funds for Victoria Lavington, my good friend who is battling breast cancer.

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July 7, 2009

Why oh, Why?

Joy. That’s why. We are here to seek joy… even though today, I feel like can’t seek much. Just got back from vacation, and I’m wiped out. I felt great 3 days ago! It’s been a tiring couple of days, I guess. OK. Just stopping by to check out tumblr.

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November 9, 2007

 This is me with my band, playing in my living room. The song is “My Naked Heart” which is on my forthcoming album.

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