The details:
Tuesday July 8 2008 12:00pm
Noon Jazz Series
West Portico of Memorial Auditorium or The Front Room in case of rain.
Ohio University
Athens, OH 45701

Tuesday July 29 2008 12:00pm
Noon Jazz Series
West Portico of Memorial Auditorium or The Front Room in case of rain.
Ohio University
Athens, OH 45701

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Remonko still playing drums after 50 years
By Ron Paglia, For the Herald-Standard
April 28, 2008

It’s been more than 50 years since Guy Remonko played his first professional gig as a drummer.
And his passion for music shows no signs of waning.

“I love (music), it’s that plain and simple,” said Remonko, a 1959 graduate of South Union High School who now lives in Athens, Ohio. “Music has been my life; I doubt that will ever change. As long as I can hold the sticks and keep groovin’, I’ll be playing.”

That attitude has directed Remonko, who began his play-for-pay career as a rock ‘n’ roll drummer in the 1950s, through myriad genres of music over the years. He has carved a special niche as a musician, clinician and teacher.

His talents are featured with the Athens-based group Los Viejos Blanquitos on a self-titled compact disc on Brick City Records. It offers the infectious rhythms of Afro-Cuban (Latin) jazz with such songs as “Living La Vida Viejo” (written by Gribou), Dizzy Gillespie’s “A Night In Tunisia, ” and the classic “Take Five” by Paul Desmond and Dave Brubeck.

In addition to his work with Los Viejos Blanquitos, he also performs with numerous other groups, including the The Jazztet in Athens and the Dwight Lenox Orchestra. CD recordings by both groups feature him.

And if that’s not enough to keep him busy, Remonko, 66, also is an emeritus professor of percussion at Ohio University, where he taught for 28 years before retiring in 2000. He also is an affiliated studio instructor of percussion of Denison University in Granville, Ohio, and offers private lessons. As a drumset artist, he has performed with such well-known artists as Pearl Bailey, Diane Schuur, Eddie Daniels, Marvin Stamm, Gene Burtoncini and Bucky Pizzarelli. He also has performed with the Rochester Philharmonic and Montreal Symphony Orchestra and has appeared on National Public Radio and TV broadcasts.

In addition to serving on the faculty of the Summer Drumset Workshop at Ohio University since 1980, Remonko also has written articles for Modern Drummer, Percussive Notes and The Instrumental magazines.

He also serves as an artist/clinician for Yamaha Drums and the Avedis Zildjian Cymbal Co.

“It keeps me off the streets,” Remonko said, laughingly, of his agenda.

Guy and his wife, Janice Marilyn, have been married 43 years, and are the parents of two children, Paul A. Remonko of Columbus, Ohio, and Sara Remonko Reeves of Granville, Ohio. Remonko’s parents, Guy “Pete” Remonko and Julia Cappellini Remonko, are deceased. His aunt, Anne Eberly, is formerly of Hopwood and his uncle, Jerry Cappellini, lives in Masontown.

Guy and Marilyn, a native of Princeton, W.Va., met at West Virginia University, where she also was a music major. Remonko completed his master of music degree in percussion performance in 1966.

“(Marilyn) has always been very supportive of my work, of everything I do,” Remonko said. “She has encouraged me to pursue my dreams.”

Remonko doesn’t get back to the area as often as he would like to and he regrets he didn’t learn about former bandmate Tom George’s death until several months after the fact.

“John’s (Gallice) wife, Anna Mae, sent an e-mail telling me that Tom had passed away,” Remonko said. “I felt very bad about missing the funeral. I had heard (Tom) was back in the Uniontown area working as a single, playing piano and doing his comedy routines. He was a very talented entertainer and truly was the heart and soul of our group. I miss him and will always be grateful to have worked with him and, more important, call him a friend.”

Remonko did enjoy a reunion with another guy named Tom George, a musician and photograpaher in Uniontown who was a cousin of the late entertainer, in August 2005.

“Carl Micarelli, who owned a music store in Uniontown for many years and who was a mentor to so many musicians, died just before Christmas 2004,” Remonko recalled. “He was my first jazz idol and I, with permission from Carl’s family, thought it would be fitting to do something in his honor. Bob Thompson and his trio came in from Charleston, W.Va., and helped organize a memorial concert for Carl at the winery in Farmington. So many of the musicians who were influenced by Carl were there. It was a very moving experience.”

Remonko taught at Micarelli’s Modern Music store from 1960-67. He also recalled the men who taught him - Tobby Lyons, “my first teacher … took lessons from him at the Turntable Music store;” Phil Fainini and Dr. Frank Lorince.

Much of what Remonko took with him from those early years in Uniontown, the times with George, Micarelli and “so many others” remains in his heart and soul. It is evident in his intense affection for and commitment to music.

“I think of them often when I’m on stage, in the studio or teaching,” Remonko said. “I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to work with outstanding musicians throughout my career. I’ll never forget any of them.”

Those who have benefitted from Guy Remonko’s presence will tell you the same thing about him.

Additional information about Guy Remonko is available by doing a Google search and also on these Web site: www.athensjazz-tet.com, www.dwightlenox.com, www.brickcity.records.com, and www.losviejosblanquitos.com.

Musician got start in local bands
By Ron Paglia, For the Herald-Standard
April 28, 2008

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Guy Remonko fondly remembers the beginning of his career as a rock ‘n’ roll musician.
“We had a group called the Meteors,” Remonko said. “Joe (Sangston) played guitar, I was on drums and the other guys were Marion Rozzo on piano and Mike Dorobish, who was our singer. Mike became a barber (Shear Designs). We entered a talent revue contest at the Uniontown High School auditorium for entertainers from Fayette County and won first place. We did the Buddy Holly tune, ‘Peggy Sue.’”

That was in 1957, and the experience led to a chance meeting with the late Thomas Charles George, who Remonko recalls as “an excellent pianist with a great voice.”

George, Remonko and Sang-ston eventually recruited John Gallice, a young saxophone player from Brownsville, to the fold to form the Tommy Charles Quartet. It also was known at times as the Tomme Charles Quartet. Remonko, Sangston, who lives in Cooksburg, and Gallice, a resident of Rockville, Md., have often given credit to Jerry Rehanek and Rich Cravotta as also being “instrumental, directly or indirectly,” in the formation of the quartet.

Remonko said George’s talents and leadership were the main reasons for the name of the group.

“We came to realize Tom’s expertise on vocals and the piano would enhance our opportunities to work,” he recalled. “And he was a great leader, so we changed our name and became the Tommy/Tomme Charles Quartet.”

Remonko’s professional music career began with an ethnic/polka band that also included Sangston, a clarinetist.

“I was only 14, and my father always drove me to our performances,” Remonko said. “We would listen to the (car) radio everywhere we went. One day, as I was turning the dial to hear what other stations were playing besides polkas, I came across something new, unusual music and a unique disc jockey. It was WAMO and Porky Chedwick. What an incredible experience. It opened my eyes and ears to rhythm and blues, something I still enjoy today.”

The Tommy Charles Quartet focused on more standard rock ‘n’ roll, however, and were successful throughout the area. They worked such venues as the Twin Coaches supper club, variety shows, post prom parties and record hops.

“We worked a lot with Leon Sykes in the Uniontown and Connellsville areas,” Remonko said. “Leon was a great guy, very supportive of local entertainers.”

They also performed at dances featuring such disc jockeys as Chedwick, Jay Michael, Barry Kaye, Rich Richards, Sheb Abi-Nader and Johnny McFadden, and were virtual regulars at the longstanding record hops at the Stockdale fire hall.

The quartet’s reputation as solid performers finally sent them on the road, with many of experiences still rooted firmly in Remonko’s memory bank.

“We were playing a motel lounge job in Flint, Mich., one Saturday night and were scheduled to perform in La Crosse, Wis., the next night,” he said. “The towns are not that far apart, at least not when you can get from one to the other by a ferry that crossed Lake Michigan between them. We were all set to go that way, but the booking agent failed to tell us you had to make reservations to use the ferry and it didn’t run on Sundays. We had to drive about 200 miles out of our way and just got to La Crosse in time for our show. We were lucky we didn’t get stopped for speeding.”

The group also played numerous dates at seashore venues in New Jersey and worked elsewhere with such artists as the DeJohn Sisters, the Platters, Buddy Knox, the Jay Price Revue, Neil Sedaka, the Crests, Little Anthony and the Imperials, the Big Bopper, the Skyliners, Kenny Ambrose and Johnny October. Another memorable gig came at the Plaza Theater in Brownsville with Xavier Cugat and Abbe Lane in a benefit for youth baseball programs in Brownsville.

Remonko later was the percussionist with the Twin Coaches house band (1964-66) and the house drummer (1967-69).

Holding forth on the stage of the popular Rostraver Township supper club, he performed with such national stars as The Supremes, Jack Jones, Tony Randall, Pearl Bailey and Phyllis Diller.

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In other news, we are happy to announce that our monthly gig at the Front Room has been extended into Spring Quarter. You can see all of the dates (including one Monday show) on the Upcoming Gigs page. Also, a new recoding of “Afluencia” (featuring guests Kris Keith on flute and Roger Braun on percussion) has been added to the Listen In page.

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Bassist Doug Richeson has toured and performed with such well known artists as: Tony Bennett, the Count Basie Orchestra, the Phil Collins Big Band with Quincy Jones, Gene Bertoncini, Bucky Pizzarelli, Frank Vignola, Jimmy Heath, Jack Jones, Sammy Nestico and many more. In addition, he has appeared on three GRAMMY- winning recordings by Tony Bennett, has recorded for movie and television soundtracks, and has performed several times at the White House for the President of the United States. Also a respected teacher, Richeson was the bass Instructor at Capital University Conservatory of Music from 1987 through 1993 and was a guest clinician at the American School of Double Bass in the Summers of 1999 and 2006. He is currently teaching string and electric bass at Denison University School of Music.

Saxophonist Jay Miglia has backed-up numerous jazz and popular music celebrities including the Four Tops, the Temptations, Mel Torme, Clark Terry, Henry Butler and Dianne Reeves, and continues to perform regularly around the Midwest in jazz settings from small groups to big bands. In addition to his performing schedule, Miglia has achieved success as a jazz composer and arranger. His works for big band have been requested, commissioned, and programmed by many colleges around the United States. As a teacher of music, he has held teaching positions in saxophone and jazz studies at the University of Toledo, Bowling Green State University, and the Toledo School for the Arts, and he is currently on the faculties of Ohio Northern University and Capital University.

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Trumpet player Mark Pender has performed and toured with artists such as Jay McShann, Ella Fitzgerald, Charles Earland, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Diana Ross, Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul, Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, Bruce Springsteen, and has recorded with David Bowie, Joe Cocker, Bon Jovi, They Might Be Giants, and Robert Cray.

After the jump you can read the press release for the Athens Jazz & Blues Festival.

Below is the press release for the Athens Winter Jazz and Blues Festival:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
740-592-1819
1-800-878-9767
Athens County Visitors Bureau: www.athensohio.com/jazzfest/

Jazz & Blues Artists to Storm into Athens
For the 1st Annual Athens Winter Jazz & Blues Festival February 1-3

(Athens-OH) – Jazz and Blues. Is there a better way to heat up on a cold winter night than to hear some of the hottest jazz and blues musicians around?

The 1st Annual Athens Winter Jazz & Blues Festival is bringing world-class talent to town. There just might be some swinging in the streets of Uptown Athens.

Mark Pender, trumpet player on NBC’s Late Night with Conan O’Brien and leader of the Mark Pender Band, will be the featured performer. Although Mark is unlikely to toot his own horn, he is so good and his background so impressive that his arrival in the area is highly anticipated.

Mark has performed, toured, and recorded with artists such as Bruce Springsteen, Ella Fitzgerald, Charles Earland, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Diana Ross, Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul, Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, David Bowie, Joe Cocker, Bon Jovi, They Might Be Giants, and Robert Cray. The festival was created with the idea of bringing music to the already-music loving Athens community, at a time when there isn’t a whole lot of things going on. It should prove to be a delightful, upbeat break to the graylight of winter — even if there is snow flying around!

Events:

Friday Night Jam
To get the festival started Friday night, Athens’ own R&B Station will play at Casa Nueva at 10:30 pm. Mark Pender will join them on-stage and likely raise the decibels another notch. (Rumor has it that other bands may arrive early, so who knows what kind of jam-fest might break out.)

Blues in the Schools: Music Workshop
On Saturday, Mark is hosting a free “Blues in the Schools” music workshop open to all local high school and junior high school musicians. It will be held at Alexander High School from 9:30 am to 4:00 pm. Mark will be joined by R&B Station band members Mike Price, Mike Doughty, Shorty Starr, and Kay Carter; Athens’ own American Idol contestant Sharell Andrews; and several other expert musicians for workshop sections that cover
all instruments, including brass, bass, guitar, drums, and vocals. Students should bring their own instruments, but a free lunch will be provided.

Saturday Night Events
On Saturday, there will be 9 performers at 6 different venues—and Mark will join each and every one of them onstage! So you have some tough choices to make: try to catch them all, go on a Pub Crawl, or go on a Family Fun Run. …Or any combination.

Luckily, every option is a good option.

Here’s the Master Schedule for Saturday Night:

6:00 Toscano’s The Jazztet
6:30 Jackie O’s Old School Union
7:00 ARTS/West Alexander High School Jazz Ensemble
7:00 Brenen’s Bill Rawlins
8:30 Brenen’s Cheryl Renee
9:00 ARTS/West Hip Pocket
10:00 19 South II Juicy
10:30 Casa Nueva Terry Efaw & Steve Reis (from McGuffey Lane)
11:30 Casa Nueva R&B Station

Jazz & Blues Family Fun Run
Through the Family Fun Run, The Athens Winter Jazz & Blues Festival offers a fun-loving, family atmosphere. So bundle up the troops, take your friends, and head to Toscano’s, Brenen’s, and ARTS/West for several performances.

Jazz & Blues Pub Crawl
Stay warm by checking out each hot band and grabbing a drink at Jackie O’s, Toscano’s, 19 South, and Casa Nueva.
And although there’s no alcohol, Brenen’s and ARTS/West are also within walking distance, so be sure to check in on the action there as well!

Super Sunday Afternoon Sessions
Jazz & Blues on Super Bowl Sunday? Who says it has to be an either/or dilemma? Start off your Super Sunday with some more performances at ARTS/West, and you’ll still be home in time for kick-off. And like the big game, the Afternoon Sessions start with four exciting quarters of play.
II Juicy hits the high notes at 1:00 pm, followed by the OU Jazz Ensemble under the direction of Professor Matthew James at 2:00 pm, The Alexander High School Jazz Ensemble, under the direction of band director Matt Burigo at 2:45 pm, and R&B Station at 3:30 pm. Not to disappoint, overtime begins at 4:15 pm when Mark Pender takes center stage to perform his own music. He will be backed up by R&B Station.

Tickets
Ticket pre-sales begin on Monday, January 14 and are $15 for the entire weekend (which includes all 14 shows). They are available at Blue Eagle, Haffas, O’Betty’s, and Athens County Convention and Visitors Bureau. On Friday, February 1 and Saturday, February 2, tickets can be purchased at any show and are $20 for the entire weekend (all shows) or $5 per show.

There will be ticket giveaways through WXTQ and WOUB, so be sure to listen for a chance to win. Plus, the Athens County Convention and Visitors Bureau will be giving away two pairs of VIP Tickets. VIP Ticket winners will receive admittance to all shows, dinner with Mark on Friday night, and travel with Mark Pender from venue to venue on Saturday. Rules and registration will be available at www.athensohio.com/jazzfest.

Band Bios:

The Jazztet
Athens Ohio’s premiere jazz quintet, The Jazztet is recognized for its versatility and purity of sound. They perform jazz styles ranging from Classic to Contemporary to Latin, including the music of Miles Davis, Wes Montgomery and Pat Metheny.
www.athensjazztet.com

Bill Rawlins
Bill Rawlins plays acoustic guitar and sings an eclectic selection of original songs and covers. When he first arrived in Athens in 2003, Bill played drums with R&B Station. Recently, he played both guitar and drums on J. W. Smith, a.k.a. Dr. Feelgood’s CD and has appeared solo and with Karen Deardorff at the Sternwheeler Festival in Marietta and local venues in the Athens area.

Old School Union
Playing old school R&B, Smooth Jazz, and Funkn’ Soul, Old School Union is a seven member band out of Columbus. They’re led by Wayne Williams, who’s played with The O’Jays and the Temptations.

Terry Efaw & Steve Reis (from McGuffey Lane)
McGuffey Lane founding members Terry Efaw and Steve Reis have been attracting audiences with their high-energy rock, country and contemporary music with McGuffey Lane since the 80’s. But they remain fresh and innovative, and rock the blues, too.
www.mcguffeylane.com

Cheryl Renee
A dynamic and extremely popular band leader, keyboardist, song stylist and “Goddess of the blues” was born and reared in Cincinnati, where she returned to team with local group THEM BONES and land at top 10 spot at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, 2005. She also was nominated for a Cincinnati Entertainment Award in the Blues category.
www.cherylrenee.com

Hip Pocket
Hip Pocket brings together some of the strongest musicians in the area to recreate the sound that had been missing from the MOV mix for several years, an eclectic mix of soul, blues, rock, and contemporary music from the 60’s thru today. Hip Pocket’s sound is pleasantly unmistakable. An 8-piece fusion of intricate brass, driving rhythms, and lush vocal harmonies make Hip Pocket a unique and entertaining musical medium for listeners of all ages.
www.hip-pocket.org

II Juicy
This energetic five piece band plays R&B and Blues with an Aretha Franklin-like vocalist. It’s no wonder they won the 2006 Ciny Blues challenge; every performance is a party. II Juicy received nominations for CEA awards for best Blues band and best live act. You can find this talented act playing venues all over the region each weekend of the year.
www.IIjuicy.com

R&B Station
Known regionally as the high-energy, audience oriented party band, R&B Station specializes in R&B, Blues, Classic Rock and Soul. They are based in Athens, Ohio and feature many veteran players, notably the electrifying vocals of Pat Costello, the incendiary guitar work of Mike Price, and the thundering bass of bandleader Mike Doughty. The band toured with Shirley King and is now performing regionally and nationally on their own name.
www.randbstation.com

Alexander High School Jazz Ensemble
Under the direction of Matt Burigo

OU Jazz Ensemble
Under the direction of Professor Matthew James

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For over a decade, Kris has made a name for himself in the local Columbus, Ohio music scene. His reputation for being a strong woodwind doubler and his ability to perform musical styles from jazz to classical, from Cuban to Brazilian, from rock to funk, etc. has kept him in high demand as a sideman and session player. It should be a fun night, don’t miss it!

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