Startbeitrag von Jon Hammondam 03.02.2002 07:46
Hi Juergen and all Jazz Organ Freaks around the world!
Great to hear from you today and thanks so much for your interest in our music and travel Softnews Program-The Jon Hammond Show...today is our 19th anniversary of when we first went on the air in New York City!
Over the years we try to keep many legends alive, and in 1985 I had the pleasure of introducing a phenomenal talent on the organ...stay tuned for more from th incredible Scary Gary Peterson, many people who think they play pedals will go back to the woodshed when they hear the latest recordings we are producing and the New York Sessions with drummer Dave Weckyl at our BackBeat Productions Studios.
Here are a few thoughts about the last 19 years of JH Show:
See you all in Frankfurt at the big Musikmesse and 2 nights of special surprises during the messe at Jazzkeller Hofheim on 15 and 16th March (Fr. and Sa.) Mention IAJO for special VIP status...
I am indeed happy about and also somewhat reflective of the last 19 years of The Jon Hammond Show...
I call the fromat of the show: "Music and Travel Softnews Program" (I leave the hard news to CNN!).
We began our cable access show as an alternative late night program airing on what was then, Channel "C" of MCTV (Manhattan Cable TV), the oldest and first cable system in USA. The 29 minute weekly program came on at 1.30am just before the popular Robin Byrd Show. My production team at the time included video editor/artist: Lori Friedman, Barry Finnerty as musical director and myself as host and executive producer. Lori who became known as "Video by LORI", created high quality abstract video art edited to synchronize with our original music. She brought me in to the world of broadcast quality video where she normally produced television ads, and as soon as we hit the air with this high resolution video show saturated with colors and our unusual format, the phones were ringing off the wall! 2 weeks later I had my first interview in Billboard Magazine by editor Kim Freeman. She called the JH Show: "Alternative to MTV Clips"!
We then began going to many industry trade shows and soon after Joe Berger came aboard as our audio engineer. In 1985 I was offered a 7 year exclusive contract with Sony by then president John O'Donnell. Later that year I cut a deal with Mitsubishi to feature 4 minute clips of my show on the giant DiamondVision Screen in Times Square, 80 times a day for period of one year. I had a champagne press conference in Times Square attended by NYC mayor Ed Koch when we first lit up Times Square on DiamondVision. We also designed the countdown for New Years Eve 2 years in a row. Now there are many giant screens in Times Square, but in those days there was only the giant DiamondVision screen.
Sony then gave me the first prototype of the Betacam, which is now the industry standard. We then began incoporating footage of live performances on the show along with the Video by Lori. Over the years I have had many legends on the show (many are now unfortunately dead), and lesser knowns who I have discovered in my travels. Some of the more famous names: Andy Warhol, Cab Calloway, Lionel Hampton, Dizzy Gillespie, Bill Cosby, Jaco Pastorius, and Sammy Davis Jr.
As well, I have also had the pleasure of meeting and having appear on my show accordion legends Art Van Damme, Dick Contino and Tommy Gumina (playing with now deceased guitarist Joe Pass). Since my show is not commercially funded, I have had to fight very hard over the years to keep the show going and also to preserve the master tapes (many!), which I consider to be a major historical archive. Until Feb. of 2001 I lived with all my tapes in a crumbling old "tenement style" apartment in Times Square and suffered through 6 major ceiling collapses. One very nearly killing me as it caved in on me over my bed! I am happy to report now that after 8 years of applying and waiting on a long wait list, I was finally awarded an Artist Housing Grant and now reside with my master tapes, equipment and instruments inside the famous Manhattan Plaza Towers Artist Building on the 27th floor! Proof that miracles can happen Christine!
Manhattan Plaza is known as: "The Miracle on 42nd St."!
I have been very fortunate to play with many of the famous musicians who have been on my show over the years, and I am now planning a new release with legendary studio drummer Bernard "Pretty" Purdie, he is known as "The Hitmaker". Bernard has recorded on more than 4000 hit records over the years, including Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, Steely Dan, James Brown and even The Monkees! We have also filmed an educational video together with members of my combo The Late Rent Session Men.
My show can now be seen streaming on to the world wide web, originating in the studios of Manhattan Neighborhood Network, Time/Warner System at various times on Channels 56 and 107 by clicking on www.MNN.org .
We will be covering the big International Musikmesse (my 16th consecutive year!) again this year from March 13-17th, with 2 evening concerts in association with my sponsors Excelsior CEMEX, Hammond Germany and Sennheiser on Fri. and Sat. nights beginning at 9.30pm in JAZZKELLER Hofheim, accesable from the messe hall directly on the S-bahn train. Jazzkeller is almost directly on the track at the Hofheim station 20 minutes away. I hope to see many of our friends there in Hofheim and I can promise some very special guest stars will be on the live shows and taped for later broadcast.
Last year we had James Brown's drummer-Erik Hargrove. Erik says there is a good chance he will come to play again with time off from the James Brown tour.
I have a lot of plans for The Jon Hammond Show in the future, including a movie project that I am currently working on, called: "Late Rent...the Movie", life story of Jon Hammond, with a cast of thousands! Stay tuned..."We'll be right here...on the Public Access Frequency"!
Cheers,
Jon
[community.webtv.net] International www.callasong.de/hammond
www.laterent.de Germany
www.KBON.com Eunice, Louisiana
www.accordions.com/hammond Accordions Worldwide!
[community.webtv.net]
[community.webtv.net]
[community.webtv.net]
[community.webtv.net]
[community.webtv.net]
[community.webtv.net]
[community.webtv.net]
[community.webtv.net]
"The FINGERS...are the SINGERS!"
*member Local 802, Local 6, ASCAP
Great to hear from you today and thanks so much for your interest in our music and travel Softnews Program-The Jon Hammond Show...today is our 19th anniversary of when we first went on the air in New York City!
Over the years we try to keep many legends alive, and in 1985 I had the pleasure of introducing a phenomenal talent on the organ...stay tuned for more from th incredible Scary Gary Peterson, many people who think they play pedals will go back to the woodshed when they hear the latest recordings we are producing and the New York Sessions with drummer Dave Weckyl at our BackBeat Productions Studios.
Here are a few thoughts about the last 19 years of JH Show:
See you all in Frankfurt at the big Musikmesse and 2 nights of special surprises during the messe at Jazzkeller Hofheim on 15 and 16th March (Fr. and Sa.) Mention IAJO for special VIP status...
I am indeed happy about and also somewhat reflective of the last 19 years of The Jon Hammond Show...
I call the fromat of the show: "Music and Travel Softnews Program" (I leave the hard news to CNN!).
We began our cable access show as an alternative late night program airing on what was then, Channel "C" of MCTV (Manhattan Cable TV), the oldest and first cable system in USA. The 29 minute weekly program came on at 1.30am just before the popular Robin Byrd Show. My production team at the time included video editor/artist: Lori Friedman, Barry Finnerty as musical director and myself as host and executive producer. Lori who became known as "Video by LORI", created high quality abstract video art edited to synchronize with our original music. She brought me in to the world of broadcast quality video where she normally produced television ads, and as soon as we hit the air with this high resolution video show saturated with colors and our unusual format, the phones were ringing off the wall! 2 weeks later I had my first interview in Billboard Magazine by editor Kim Freeman. She called the JH Show: "Alternative to MTV Clips"!
We then began going to many industry trade shows and soon after Joe Berger came aboard as our audio engineer. In 1985 I was offered a 7 year exclusive contract with Sony by then president John O'Donnell. Later that year I cut a deal with Mitsubishi to feature 4 minute clips of my show on the giant DiamondVision Screen in Times Square, 80 times a day for period of one year. I had a champagne press conference in Times Square attended by NYC mayor Ed Koch when we first lit up Times Square on DiamondVision. We also designed the countdown for New Years Eve 2 years in a row. Now there are many giant screens in Times Square, but in those days there was only the giant DiamondVision screen.
Sony then gave me the first prototype of the Betacam, which is now the industry standard. We then began incoporating footage of live performances on the show along with the Video by Lori. Over the years I have had many legends on the show (many are now unfortunately dead), and lesser knowns who I have discovered in my travels. Some of the more famous names: Andy Warhol, Cab Calloway, Lionel Hampton, Dizzy Gillespie, Bill Cosby, Jaco Pastorius, and Sammy Davis Jr.
As well, I have also had the pleasure of meeting and having appear on my show accordion legends Art Van Damme, Dick Contino and Tommy Gumina (playing with now deceased guitarist Joe Pass). Since my show is not commercially funded, I have had to fight very hard over the years to keep the show going and also to preserve the master tapes (many!), which I consider to be a major historical archive. Until Feb. of 2001 I lived with all my tapes in a crumbling old "tenement style" apartment in Times Square and suffered through 6 major ceiling collapses. One very nearly killing me as it caved in on me over my bed! I am happy to report now that after 8 years of applying and waiting on a long wait list, I was finally awarded an Artist Housing Grant and now reside with my master tapes, equipment and instruments inside the famous Manhattan Plaza Towers Artist Building on the 27th floor! Proof that miracles can happen Christine!
Manhattan Plaza is known as: "The Miracle on 42nd St."!
I have been very fortunate to play with many of the famous musicians who have been on my show over the years, and I am now planning a new release with legendary studio drummer Bernard "Pretty" Purdie, he is known as "The Hitmaker". Bernard has recorded on more than 4000 hit records over the years, including Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, Steely Dan, James Brown and even The Monkees! We have also filmed an educational video together with members of my combo The Late Rent Session Men.
My show can now be seen streaming on to the world wide web, originating in the studios of Manhattan Neighborhood Network, Time/Warner System at various times on Channels 56 and 107 by clicking on www.MNN.org .
We will be covering the big International Musikmesse (my 16th consecutive year!) again this year from March 13-17th, with 2 evening concerts in association with my sponsors Excelsior CEMEX, Hammond Germany and Sennheiser on Fri. and Sat. nights beginning at 9.30pm in JAZZKELLER Hofheim, accesable from the messe hall directly on the S-bahn train. Jazzkeller is almost directly on the track at the Hofheim station 20 minutes away. I hope to see many of our friends there in Hofheim and I can promise some very special guest stars will be on the live shows and taped for later broadcast.
Last year we had James Brown's drummer-Erik Hargrove. Erik says there is a good chance he will come to play again with time off from the James Brown tour.
I have a lot of plans for The Jon Hammond Show in the future, including a movie project that I am currently working on, called: "Late Rent...the Movie", life story of Jon Hammond, with a cast of thousands! Stay tuned..."We'll be right here...on the Public Access Frequency"!
Cheers,
Jon
[community.webtv.net] International www.callasong.de/hammond
www.laterent.de Germany
www.KBON.com Eunice, Louisiana
www.accordions.com/hammond Accordions Worldwide!
[community.webtv.net]
[community.webtv.net]
[community.webtv.net]
[community.webtv.net]
[community.webtv.net]
[community.webtv.net]
[community.webtv.net]
[community.webtv.net]
"The FINGERS...are the SINGERS!"
*member Local 802, Local 6, ASCAP