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Jam Sessions Schedule 2015

Created on: 10/29/14 08:57 AM Views: 3406 Replies: 2
Classmates (and friends) Jam sessions continue
Posted Wednesday, October 29, 2014 08:57 AM
 
 
We are now playing at the Fairhaven Frets Music Store on Sconticut Neck in Fairhaven on Tuesday evenings begining at 6:30.
 
Stop by and play a song or two, or just to listen.
 
Thank you to the many musical classmates and friends
who have continued to make our music evenings
so much fun!
 
    Can you believe that we've been doing this
for over 12 years now!
 
 
 
 
 
          
 
Edited 12/03/22 07:06 PM
Classmates (and friends) Jam sessions continue
Posted Wednesday, January 6, 2021 09:18 AM
Looking back and thinking back over our music nights  ... 
 
Do you realize that we began over twelve (12) years ago at the NMI maritime school after a few NBHS '65 classmates had gotten together at a cookout at Paul Cloutier's cottage after our 45th high school reunion.
 
We began with classmates Don Gamache, Paul Kenyon, Henry Laferriere, and Don Lyonaise ... and it grew and grew and grew ... classmates Gary Lefrancois, Rick Cote, and Bob Costa joined us ...  we started with 'acoustic nights' every third week Tuesday night adding Don G's friend, bassist Walter Hotz on the washtub.  We had locals Duke Dawicki, Johan Gunderson, Don Hoagland (my boyhood friend and Michaum Trio mate), his cousin Russ Mello join us. Then we added an 'electric'  night and classmate drummer Bob Costa his friend Bob Almeida and 'shipyard friends' Bruce Benson and Leigh Carlson came along. Bob brought bassist Carl Soares to join us too, and he brought Al Freitas.  Henry L. brought sax player neighbor Art Jones.  Classmate Kate Conway Hickman joined on occasion.  Local 'blues guy' Johnny (JB) Barnes joined in sometimes, as well. Other local players also dropped in from time to time: Fred Belanger, Scott Signer, Greg Rosario, Chris Waters, and Steve Redfern.  Local singer Sharen Wendy Robinson came to join in; so did banjo player Brad Jenkins   Local singer / player Dan Smith came and played the keyboard. Somewhere along came Louise Anthony, fiddle player, and wife of one of our former teachers, Paul Anthony.   Anna Zimmerman, local NMI neighbor, stopped in one day ... what a voice ... and she joined us until her move back 'home' to Maryland.
 
We were able to do a few 'gigs' for our class in the summertime, playing at the West Island Improvement Association and at the Seaport Marina Inn outdoor facility 'tent'.  We even did real 'gig' at the Seaport with a small group! 
 
Frank Cairns came to us as a 'recommendation' from a neighbor / co-worker at NMI.  Steve Gillum is a friend of NMI and former Green St. neighbor. George Hubert, who was class of '65 GNBV-T, and a friend to Don G and many other NBHS classmates joined us. Carl's friend, keyboard player Tim Cuzick has come on occasion.   
 
Along the way we invited some local 'well-knowns' who still drop in occasionally.  MaryBeth Soares, Truck Croteau, Eddie Dillon, and Tom Kennedy have joined us from time to time. MaryBeth also added her neighbor Seth Asser, (NBHS Class of '67?) a really fine harmonica player and guitarist singer/songwriter.   We picked up local sax player Chuck Brillon (who eventually went and joined up with the Misfits uke group but has since rejoined the Tuesday crew). Local UMD English professor Eric Casero has stopped in.  Gary Golas, another local, joined us from time to time.  We found (or he found us) local singer/player Ron White who brought singer Cynthia Brenner and ukulele player Kate Driscol to drop by on occasion.  We met Christine Homen at a local restaurant and she has joined from time to time.  Our 'spiritual guide' Rev Russ Chamberlain was invited by Don G.  Local 'businessman' Tony Roberts (and brother of classmate Dave Roberts) came by on occasion. We were joined by Misfits ukulele players Cal Wingate, Mark Costa, Jack Dean, and Zanna Camioni (Class of '67 and wife of classmate Ron Camioni). She also  leads the Misfits ukulele group and brought that group together at the NMI building on Center St. ... (and that is yet, another story).  Neighbor Paul Hadfield was added.  And neighbor Wayne St. Pierre drops by once in a while.  
 
New to the Fairhaven business neighborhood is Bryon Knight, owner of Fairhaven Frets, a music store on Sconticut Neck, who has come by with his family.  Added through that Fairhaven Frets connection have been Bill daRosa, Mary Wolfe, Jeff Moore, Dave Wolfe,  and quite a few others from the music store connection.  And the list continues ... and the players just keep coming ....
 
We have invited (and the invitation remains open) local players Joan Akin, Barbara Phaneuf, Joanne Doherty, Mike Couto, Matt Borello, Art Tebitts, Aoiffe Clancy and a few others to stop by.
 
We played at the Northeast Maritime School at three different locations: 32 Washington St., Main St., and the Center St. former bank building... until Covid 19 shut us down in March 2020 (and continues to keep us from the NMI facilities) but we reemerged the summer of 2020 at the Fairhaven Shipyard tent and then, with the onset of cooler weather, we went to the North Star Marine Insurance building, a stop at Don G's house one night, my house another and, most recently, we have played at Paul Hadfield's home in Fairhaven where we have continued with a smaller group.  
 
We are now playing with the 'open' group on Tuesday nights at the Fairhaven Frets music store on Sconticut Neck Road in Fairhaven where you may find anywhere from a small group of 5-6 to as many as 24 players.
 
And, who knows where, or when we will go from here ... but,......."let the music play on"...
 
 
Edited 12/03/22 07:17 PM
Classmates (and friends) Jam sessions continue
Posted Wednesday, January 6, 2021 01:21 PM

All Such Great Times, Thank You!  May We Carry On and The Music Continue! 

To 2021 and Beyond! 

Lots of Love,

Kate Conway-Hickman 

 
Edited 07/19/21 06:54 PM