Photos (other)

Like examining sedimentary levels, the further down one goes on this page, the older it gets ;)

2019 - 2010

Maryland Arts Summit 2019, where I performed not only my work, but the work of other Baltimore jazz composers too.

For more then a decade now, I've played with the Powerhouse Big Band, now under the direction of trombonist
John Morgan. To the right is the memorial concert that was held for founder, bassist Ashton Fletcher.

Here I be playing a gig at Scott Stansfield's, back in 2014

This be sitting in in 2019, at Liz Fixen's gig at thr
Trinacria Ristorante & Bar

For many years I've played with the Glenn Angus Jazz Quartet
Germano's, Little Italy 49 West, Annapolis

For a number of years I did gigs with trumpeter Ceasar Ulsano

Caton Castle

5-Spot

The Whiskey

Jammin' at Bob Greene's

5-Spot

The Unforgettable Big Band is one I sometimes sub for ...

A couple of shots of me performing at one of Craig Alston's 'Jams," held at the Eubie Blake Center :)

My good friend and business partner, Charlene Cochran. This is the most enduring music relationship I've had. Starting in 1980 with a trio, she and I over the decades have had ensembles ranging from duo, to six pieces.
With my skills at transcribing parts from recordings, and rerecording them, as backing recording tracks while we performed, we came off with a fuller sound then one would expect :)

Vandiver Inn / Havre de Grace, MD

Lead by bassist Charles Steinhauser and featuring the vocals of Chauncey Harris, "Downstairs Jazz & Blues" became a regular attraction at Supano's Restaurant, off of Light Street, down by the Inner Harbor.

Downstairs Jazz & Blues

Another group I performed with was the Paul Howshall Trio, here with bassist Ashton Fletcher

2010 - 2000

A cool that that happened, was that for six weeks I was the on-stage pianist for Center Stage's production of Noel Coward's play, "Private Lives." Besides playing appropriate Coward songs in the play, I also played period music while the audience was being seated.

From the late 90s to early 2000s, We performed county-rock originals under the moniker, "Jane Lamar & Snidly's Daughter

Lead by saxophonist Kevin Edmunds, the Brown Street Band performed festivals and gig throughout Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia. On the bass is Christopher Rhodes.

This is a clip from a performance on Maryland Public "Television's Artwork This Week." It's an electro-acoustic piece titled "My Front Yard."

Photo from Sunpaper's article about my project,
"First Annual Baltimore Jazz Composers Showcase.

2000 - 1990

Starting in the later '90s, I did gigs with brothers Lou and Joe Natale, collectively known as "Project Natale

top: Dean & Delucca's, D.C. / Bowie concert bottom: Tawes Gardens, Annapolis

Some 90s gigs Jane and I did ...

Above: D.C. Musicians Union Showcase

<--- Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
We did about 1/2 dozen in all :)

Thanks to Jane Lamar (Spicka), I was able to build a fairly decent studio upstairs, which we christened, The Audio Attic.
We had a few outside clients, but most of the work was done on our material. Bonnie Raitt almost recorded
one of Jane's country/rock tunes - but that's another story

This is Jazz Street Station from the early to mid 90s
Above: Lester Bailey, percussion / Tom Pitta, bass
Marcus Asanti, drums / Jane & George
Right: saxophonist Ken Watkins

"Compass Mode" was a fusion-jazz group I played with in the early 1990s

David Cosby Kenny Wright Marcus Asanti

1990 - 1980

By the mid 80s, we'd morphed into the Original Music Group, Jazz Street Station

Sylvan Theater

In the early 1980's I had a group that did concerts in the D.C. area, many through the
National Capital Park & Planning Commission

Larry Kinling - George Spicka - Charlene Cochran - Pete Chauvette

1980 - 1970

For much of the 70s Jane and I road gigs mostly in motel lounges: two-weeks here, a month there.
Sometimes we'd be away for up to six months.
The shot below was taken at the Framklin Inn, Lewisburg PA.
From left to right - me, Steve Garvey, Jane Lamar, Rod Rice.

1970 - 1960

Center

Center was a band that was so very good, it's a shame we didn't go on to better things. Larry Gaiser was an exceptional rock guitarist. John Brown, also in The Corporation, was a solid drummer. I played Hammond organ, plus a Fender Key Bass with my left-hand (Thank you Bach). We all sang.

The Four Letter Word was one of those bands that did more rehearsing then actual playing.

One of the gigs we did though was awesome. It was at
a center in Laurel Maryland, who were significantly mentally challenged.

I had watched a retarded child when I was younger, but
this experience was totally different.

They especially so appreciative of what we did, which
was a rarity in clubs and bars.

Four Letter Word

The Corporation

The Corporation did a lot of bars, night clubs, and other assorted engagements. Though mainly a Memphis Soul Band (Now called Southern Soul), we did open for Jimi Hendrix the first time he performed in D.C., at the Ambassador Theatre. Some funny stories about this band, like the time we showed up to play at a church event, just at the time we were supposed to start, and except for me, drunk. Or the fact that before we started playing, we turned the volume down on the lead singer's, who fancied himself a rhythm guitarist, guitar amp ...

Going off to college, I first became involved with the Ascots. Most of our gigs were of the CYO and USO type.
Our repertoire was a mix of light jazz and pop tunes of the time. Bob Roberts, knelling next to me in the far photo, was my college roommate at U.of.M. for a couple years.

Ascots

Dyna Tones

"Dyna Tones" was the 2nd band I performed with, essentially an instrumental Ventures-type band. While I had little problem picking out the chords of the pop tunes we played, lead guitarist Chris Lang, 2nd from left, could effortlessly pick out the melody and solos.

Here we are performing at Gwynn Oak Amusement Park, for the "Lloyd Thaxton Show" tour. Note that TV personality Royal Parker is standing behind me, between two others

These two images are the oldest I know of with me at a piano, a Wurlitizer electric piano, to be specific. Taken in 1965, I was heading out to my senior prom at Parkville High.