The Paris Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Newport Jazz Festival (The Black Pearl on Bannisters Wharf), B&Bs in Vermont, Napa Wine Country, The City of Chicago, and driving old Route 66 in a classic covertible. Martinis while listening to Sinatra; Snow Skiing, Cycling, Golfing too. Sometimes just a BBQ with a nice bottle-o-wine, other times Bollinger RD Champagne and caviar. I also enjoy photography and art. I enjoy a Woman's body in art as a subject of beauty. All in good taste of course. I am somewhat eccentric, I have an IQ of 156 and can be a little compulsive at times. 77 Sunset Strip!
Friends who are not afraid of enjoying life and having a good time skiing, shooting craps, cocktail parties, golfing and of course grasping life to the fullest extent. I enjoy the company of Women who can appreciate a Gentleman who treats them like a lady. Women who like the finer aspects of life, who take pride in themselves, yet are not prudish.
My first real contact with Maynard Ferguson, other than records, was a summer jazz clinic at the University of Indiana at Bloomington. I had been under the tutelage of Mr. David Petrella, PhD, a brass technician from Baldwin Wallace College. In 1972 I was able to play trumpet, flugel horn, mellophone, baritone and French horn, but I loved trumpet the best. I was competing in a NE Ohio brass competition and Mr. James Darling, a brass technician and lead trumpet player with the Cleveland Orchestra, asked me to stay behind after the competition was finished. I was awarded a fully funded six week stay at a Jazz clinic at Indiana University. This is where I met Maynard Ferguson in person. Maynard Ferguson was not just one of premier jazz trumpet players of all time; he was also involved in music education and teaching Jazz to young people. I played charts from the great jazz arrangers Sammy Nestico, Bill Holman, Lennie Niehaus, William Russo and Milton “Shorty†Rogers. It was at this clinic that I was taught how to adlib and play improvisational jazz. At the end of the six week Jazz Clinic, we got to play in a jazz concert with Maynard. What a dream come true. This next clip is a tune called Nice N Juicy, performed by the 1972 Maynard Ferguson Road Band opening up the clinic. This is a 8mm home movie, so please understand the context. This next clip is the Bill Chase Band. Bill Chase was the best up and coming Jazz Trumpet player in the mid 1970’s until he and his band were killed in an airplane crash. His forte was Jazz-Rock Fusion and as any good Scorpio, his jazz style was loud, driving and cutting edge. Chase was another great influence in the Gentleman’s journey as a Jazz trumpeter. This clip is from a gig at the Blue Note in NYC. This next clip is from The Buddy Rich Band in a live performance at his club in NYC. Rich is still the greatest Jazz drummer of all time. Watch his technique, he was able to drive a band like no other.
No question here, Mostly Jazz, Lounge, Classical, Standards and Rock. (Sorry not really into Rap, Hip Hop, especially Gangsta) BUT, I like to dance to music, so techno or hip hop, I can dance to it! I can listen to some CW. Started music lessons in 1966, I've played jazz trumpet since 1972. The Beatles! I have every album. Best Beatles Tribute Group is "RAIN"; Stan Kenton, Maynard Ferguson, Miles Davis, Dave Brubeck, June Christy, The Four Freshman, Diana Krall, Gwen Stefani and the list goes on. Yes, I am sure my favorite song is not "I've got a brand new set of roller skates." Although, I might have the brand new key....
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy and the Brian Setzer Orchestra, great to dance to live. RAIN, I first saw these "lads" in Seattle, WA when they were just a West Coast group. They are the closest sounding Beatles tribute group today. Sid Bernstein is now producing RAIN and they are touring America and the World!
This clip from "A Star is Born" is in my opinion, the best vocal Judy Garland ever performed. James Mason entering the club after hours and Judy rehearsing a new song. I was born 60 years too late, I can see myself walking in with James Mason, sitting at the bar, Martini in hand and listening to this masterpiece. Some of the best jazz is played in clubs after hours.
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The next two video clips are of a fine Jazz Vocal and Instumental group called "The Four Freshman." The Freshman are on their 5th or 6th iteration, but they are as good as ever. Ladies and Gentleman, The Four Freshman! And now ladies and Gentleman, A NEW VIDEO FROM MICHAEL BUBLE
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So many movies to tell you about. Of course Casablanca, Breakfast at Tiffany's, Gladiator, Bus Stop, Oceans 11, From here to Eternity, The Usual Suspects, LA Confidential; North by Northwest - I still like the train sceen on the Twentieth Century Limited between Cary Grant and Eva Marie Saint. What genius! Hitchcock's use of light, shadow, music and inuendo. They made love just by looking at each other.
Las Vegas, Boston Legal, Las Vegas CSI, As Time Goes By, Foyles War, Coupling, ROME, and the Cooking Channel. I have also been watching DVD sets of 77 Sunset Strip, Route 66, Twilight Zone and The Untouchables. Hef, release volume 3 of Playboy After Dark! Odo plays "Come fly with me" with Vic Fontaine,...
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General George Patton, Frank Sinatra, John F. Kennedy, Ronald Reagan, Colonel David Hackworth, Teddy Roosevelt, Abraham Lincoln, Winston Churchill, Margaret Thatcher. I also have great respect for Hugh Hefner and Christie Hefner. Note From Gary: I am not going to say I am pro war or against war. I have seen too much war to like it, but I have also personally witnessed what happens when countries lose wars; so I was a very good soldier and successful in carrying out my missions. I know the price of failure. Soldiers have to carry out the orders of their superiors, regardless of who that superior may be. The Army is made up of both Republicans and Democrats. That is why soldiers took an oath to the Constitution and not to the President. The American war cemeteries around the world honor all soldiers, regardless of politics. Watch this clip from the movie "Patton" and listen to what George C. Scott says. Like it or not, America is in a war. The speech is as valid today, as it was before D-Day in 1944. And of course the ultimate Gentleman Spies: John Steed, The Avengers: And Nobody Could Wear Leather Better Than Diana Rigg, Well Maybe Julie Newmar as Cat Woman...OUCH!And Of Course, The Man Himself 007!