Portals
of Perception
Life and Death
All through my childhood, dad had a popular instrumental combo Blue Jazz, featuring piano, and horns. They picked up a lot of jobs at weddings, bar mitzvahs small dances and the likd. In the summer of 1975, Blue Jazz began rehearsing on Sunday afternoons at a local club, Rocky’s Place. Dad had known Rocky DeFazio, the owner, since their college days. Dad had mentioned to Rocky that he was having problems finding rehearsal space and Rocky offered the club. Blue Jazz would rehearse until the house band, The Buzz, came in to set up for their Sunday night show. The Buzz was a better band than its name suggested. In fact, they were considered the premiere local band, inheriting that title from Tony, who was touring behind his third album. The leader of the Buzz was a wise-cracking, gum-chewing singer named Artie. Artie, Tony and Carmine had “come up” together through the local music scene. Carmine had, in fact, been co-founder of the Buzz. When he was offered the opportunity to tour with Tony he left the Buzz. The parting was amicable and the bands maintained close ties. My father became a great fan of the Buzz, especially of Artie. My dad thought Artie had one of the greatest voices in the business. When, on occasion he needed a singer for his group, he began using him.
Late that summer, dad’s pianist Ray, started working a Sunday shift, so dad recruited me to fill in. I was only 13, but I had begun playing piano at 4, so I was an adequate enough player for rehearsals. The members of the Buzz soon “adopted” me, especially Artie. He took on the role of “big brother.” We quickly established a firm friendship, which belied our difference in ages. Since I had grown up performing with my dad “informally”, I had a great deal of confidence on stage. As an only child of a single parent, I had spent considerable more time in the company of adults than most kids my age. Therefore, it wasn’t really hard to understand why many people thought I was 5 or more years older than I really was.
Tony had a song on his newest album called “Running on the Bad Side.” It had great horn parts and my dad had began using it in his repertoire. The Buzz also performed it regularly, as Artie had sung harmony vocals on the original recording. One day, Artie and I did the song together. Our voices blend well and this song was particularly suited for my ourl abilities. Soon we began “performing” it regularly during rehearsals. Artie knew I wanted to persue a musical career and encouraged me whenever he could.
One Sunday in January, as Artie and I were working on “Bad Side”, Carmine walked in. I had developed a school girl “crush” on him ever since I had seen him with the band the previous October. I didn’t see immediately as he entered through the stage door, which was behind me. By the time I noticed him, we had finished the song.
"Beautiful," he said, his eyes locked with mine. Was he talking about me? Or the song? The attraction was immediate.
But of course, it couldn’t be. Carmine was in his twenties.
I was just a kid. Jon and I were going steady.
Shortly after, that Carmine met Jody. Suddenly he was writing “sappy”
love songs. It was obviously hopeless.