Let me start by saying that it's always been a dream of mine to play in front of a crowd in New York because I believe that if you can make it in New York, you can make it anywhere. If you can get New Yorkers to stop and really listen to what you're doing on stage, you really saying something. This past week... I said something!!!
When I got up that morning, I knew that the day would be really special. The sun was shining and my energy was great!!! My New York family were calling and texting my phone the entire day trying to get details for the show, sending positive energy and just wishing me well. I was getting lots of love from back home in Detroit too. Everything just felt... right.
When it was close to showtime, I put on my clothes for the evening and me and my partner Johnnie hit the "Q" train headed to The Bitter End. When we walked in, Rebecca Correia was on stage perfoming. She's a very good singer, songwiter, and musician. I really enjoyed her set. She gave off great energy and the crowd gave her a decent response.
After Rebecca perfomed, it was time for the headliners. My good friend Matt Cusson, who's plays keys and sings backgrounds for Brian McKnight, and Chris Cauley from Season 2 of "The Voice". I had spoken to Matt a couple weeks earlier and told him that I was planning on coming to New York soon for some meetings and he suggested that I come play a few songs with him during the show. I was actually very surprised because Matt hasn't heard me play anything. We've been cool for a couple years and he admires my production, so, I guess he figured... if I play anything like I produce, I would be at least halfway decent. Lol!!! I told him that I would be honored to come and play and he was just as excited as I was. It was on from there!!!
Chris Cauley hit the stage first. He did a few originals and a few covers and the crowd really responded to him. I was there with a couple friends of mine and we all enjoyed him. Then Matt took the stage and did a few originals and a few covers with Chris now singing background and playing guitar. They sounded great together!!! I really enjoyed Matt's set. Evern though he's a friend of mine, I'm still a huge fan of his work.
When it was time for the "jam session" portion of the show, he called me up to the stage and the people applauded lightly. He then gave me a very grand introduction naming some of the artists I've produced for and he mentioned the Grammy Nomination and the people gave me a bit more applause. I was good with that because I knew that New York is a show and prove city. I was ready to make the people believers. We started that portion of the show off with Bill Withers' "Use Me" and from the moment we started the song, the entire energy in the room changed. Some of you know that I'm an entertainer and I'm very animated when I play. That... along with the "feeling" I put in the air caught the people I guess. The drummer before me was a good drummer, but he didn't have that "thing" that we naturally have in Detroit. The people gravitated toward the "thing".
When I got up that morning, I knew that the day would be really special. The sun was shining and my energy was great!!! My New York family were calling and texting my phone the entire day trying to get details for the show, sending positive energy and just wishing me well. I was getting lots of love from back home in Detroit too. Everything just felt... right.
When it was close to showtime, I put on my clothes for the evening and me and my partner Johnnie hit the "Q" train headed to The Bitter End. When we walked in, Rebecca Correia was on stage perfoming. She's a very good singer, songwiter, and musician. I really enjoyed her set. She gave off great energy and the crowd gave her a decent response.
After Rebecca perfomed, it was time for the headliners. My good friend Matt Cusson, who's plays keys and sings backgrounds for Brian McKnight, and Chris Cauley from Season 2 of "The Voice". I had spoken to Matt a couple weeks earlier and told him that I was planning on coming to New York soon for some meetings and he suggested that I come play a few songs with him during the show. I was actually very surprised because Matt hasn't heard me play anything. We've been cool for a couple years and he admires my production, so, I guess he figured... if I play anything like I produce, I would be at least halfway decent. Lol!!! I told him that I would be honored to come and play and he was just as excited as I was. It was on from there!!!
Chris Cauley hit the stage first. He did a few originals and a few covers and the crowd really responded to him. I was there with a couple friends of mine and we all enjoyed him. Then Matt took the stage and did a few originals and a few covers with Chris now singing background and playing guitar. They sounded great together!!! I really enjoyed Matt's set. Evern though he's a friend of mine, I'm still a huge fan of his work.
When it was time for the "jam session" portion of the show, he called me up to the stage and the people applauded lightly. He then gave me a very grand introduction naming some of the artists I've produced for and he mentioned the Grammy Nomination and the people gave me a bit more applause. I was good with that because I knew that New York is a show and prove city. I was ready to make the people believers. We started that portion of the show off with Bill Withers' "Use Me" and from the moment we started the song, the entire energy in the room changed. Some of you know that I'm an entertainer and I'm very animated when I play. That... along with the "feeling" I put in the air caught the people I guess. The drummer before me was a good drummer, but he didn't have that "thing" that we naturally have in Detroit. The people gravitated toward the "thing".
When I looked up from the drums, people had run up to the stage to take photos and video, people were screaming and yelling and just really enjoying themselves. It was a great thing to have this kind of reaction from people who had never heard me play. Matt asked me to solo mid song so I did. It wasn't 100% but it was good and the people acted like they had never seen anything like it. I was surprised because there are so many great musicians in New York. Either way, I was glad that I was received so warmly. The best part of the solo is when I knocked my glasses off. I didn't miss a beat though. You'll see it in the video. Very fun!!!
After my solo, Matt called pianist Oli Rockberger to the stage to solo. I barely have words for Oli or anything that he does on the piano. All I can say is that it felt good to finally be able to meet and perform with him after all the years of knowing and loving his work. When you watch the video, you'll see why I'm speechless. When "Use Me" was done, Matt called the drummer back up to the stage, so I picked up the guitar and jammed on the Michael Jackson medley. We did about 6 songs and the crowd loved every moment of it.
All in all, the entire show was great and I can say that my first time perfoming in New York was a success memorable one. I'm very grateful to have had such an experience and played on the same stage where Donny Hathaway, Curtis Mayfield, and The Isley Brothers recorded their "live" records. To add to that, Frank Zappa, Bill Withers, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, Hall & Oates, Chick Corea and many more have all played the same stage. I'm grateful for this opportunity and the many opportunities that are to come. You can check out the video from the show here. Enjoy!!!!!
~B.
After my solo, Matt called pianist Oli Rockberger to the stage to solo. I barely have words for Oli or anything that he does on the piano. All I can say is that it felt good to finally be able to meet and perform with him after all the years of knowing and loving his work. When you watch the video, you'll see why I'm speechless. When "Use Me" was done, Matt called the drummer back up to the stage, so I picked up the guitar and jammed on the Michael Jackson medley. We did about 6 songs and the crowd loved every moment of it.
All in all, the entire show was great and I can say that my first time perfoming in New York was a success memorable one. I'm very grateful to have had such an experience and played on the same stage where Donny Hathaway, Curtis Mayfield, and The Isley Brothers recorded their "live" records. To add to that, Frank Zappa, Bill Withers, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, Hall & Oates, Chick Corea and many more have all played the same stage. I'm grateful for this opportunity and the many opportunities that are to come. You can check out the video from the show here. Enjoy!!!!!
~B.