Hazlet Coffee talk

He may downplay his success, but Pat Guadagno is probably the perfect example of a local musician who has found his place in the music industry. His unique sound and creative reinterpretations of some classic rock puts him in a category of his own. In this episode, one of my best from 2020, we talk about his collaboration with Big Joe Henry, his short lived stage career and his thoughts on the music industry today. You'll even get a chance to hear him in action! This was recorded outside, during Covid, so the audio quality isn't great. . . but the interview is!

Nika Stewart  isn't just an actor or a singer in a rock band or a video producer or a writer. She's also probably the only person you'll meet who believes that that getting cancer was something to celebrate. But she just may convince you.

If you've been in theater or seen a production in NJ, there's a good chance you've rubbed shoulders with Kathy Reed. As the woman who practically invented dinner theater in NJ and made murder mystery dinners a real "thing," Kathy has launched more acting careers than she can count, including Middletown's own Billy Van Zandt.

He's a full time father and music hobbyist with a background as diverse as it gets. After working with hip hop artists Andy B. Bad and Salt-N-Pepa, his journey took him through rock, pop, country and even faith-based music. His passions? Music, his sons and . . .  affordable housing. . . really!

Death. Polio. Burt Bacharach. Not terms you usually associate with the founder of Holiday Express. But nevertheless, Tim is a complex guy and we delve into these issues and more. As well as him being the worst soldier ever.

Does anyone other than bass players like bass solos? I love to tease Tony about this, but he actually has an answer that you might not expect. This freewheeling conversation is from 2021 - over Zoom - but that didn't hold either of us back!

Yes, you may know a lot of things about Tim McLoone. But if you really think you know him. . . well, you don't. From his solitary childhood to his life as a philanthropist and restaurateur, the story of Tim McLoone may just surprise you.

Can rape be funny? Part two of my conversation with comedian Vinnie Brand hammers away at this and also some misogynistic male comedians - Louis CK, Bill Cosby (of course) - but some good guys like Ray Romano & Eddie Murphy as well. There's a reason why a certain comedian is the only one no longer welcome in his clubs, and it might surprise you. Can comedy be like sex? What drove his mother crazy? And how I land this interview? You gotta listen!  

He may be a comedian and own his own comedy club (the Stress Factory), but that doesn't mean I can't ask him how often he bombs or can he seriously consider himself eye candy. He does a good job at handling hecklers, but let's see if he can handle me.

When I remember my college days, it's with a fog of late nights and parties and dancing… And classes, of course. The college students I interviewed from the Livingston theater Company production staff apparently had a different experience, because they're incredibly articulate and able to answer my interview questions about the company's  performance of beauty and the beast and their backstage roles without hesitation. What is this generation coming to?

I lost my mother about two years ago and think about her every day. Even though she was approaching 101 when she passed away, it was still too early. Luckily, I had interviewed her when I was doing an earlier podcast (Hazlet Coffee Talk), to ask her about what it was like moving to a farm community from Jersey City. I'm posting this on Mother's Day in her honor. And because those who loved her - basically everyone she knew - will probably enjoy hearing her voice and her laugh one more time.

How difficult is it to have a successful career in the arts when your big brother Steven Van Zandt is a rock and roll icon and a TV star to boot? As a long time friend, I hit Billy Van Zandt with this question- and other embarrassing ones - before we talk about what it takes to get a TV writing gig, his decades working with his long-time writing partner, Jane Milmore,  a zany almost-meeting with Lucille Ball and an quasi deja vu moment when he actually did meet his comic idol. https://www.amazon.com/GET-CAR-JANE-Adventures-Wasteland/dp/1734401710/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3J1LCIWQZ80QE&dchild=1&keywords=billy+van+zandt&qid=1615924749&sprefix=billy+van+zan%2Caps%2C151&sr=8-1

Royce Meier found his place in the arts not in his native NYC roots, but in Asbury Park at the Showroom. Royce and I  discuss how LGBTQ characters - so accepted in the 20s and 30s - end up being victims or villains in later films, why you'll never see “I Shot Andy Warhol” at the Showroom and who we like better: Tonya Harding or Nancy Kerrigan. 

Is Layonne Holmes a diva? She certainly has the chops. But she doesn't have the attitude. Layonne is one of the most talented yet humble singers I know. But, boy, can she sing! This interview took place at the height of Covid - on my deck - so please excuse the less-than-perfect sound quality. But yes. . . she does sing with me!

Who doesn't love a good true crime story? This week I interview a long time friend whose entire adult life has revolved around true crime dramas. Andrea Lyon, Rutgers alumna and former Deputy Public Defender in Chicago, talks to me about defending guilty people, proving the innocence of death row inmates and helping convince former Illinois Gov. Ryan to abolish the death penalty while exonerating her death row client. Her stories are fascinating and can be found in her many books, available at https://shorturl.at/beC14

Anyone who has ever seen or heard Jose Loo perform knows what an immense talent he is. Since his stroke in June 2023, he hasn't been able to perform, though he is still the same charismatic, good humored man you can hear in this rebroadcast episode, that features a taste of his outsized talent.

If you haven't heard - or heard of - Layonne Holmes, I pity you. She is not just an incredible performer, she's also the definition of a diva, without the attitude. Oh, and we do a duet in this first episode of my "Best of Series," recorded outside during the height of Covid. Yes. I made sacrifices! Click below to listen.

I invited comedian Jess Alaimo to talk about - duh - comedy, but we strayed  off track, discussing her stint as a political activist, life in Asbury Park and how to get away with murder. It's easier than you think.

In this first episode since I decided to run for office, I talk to jazz guitarist Jim Josselyn about how songwriters get screwed, some artists use social issues as marketing opportunities and whether or not those who "make it" really are the cream.

Does a DJ do more than just play one song after another? What do they really hate? What can you do if you really, really don't want certain songs played? Tony Paccione - AKA DJ Tony Vito - tells all. Of course, we go off course, into dance, the Tina Turner doll, technology and, yes, race.

She's shared the stage with the Beach Boys, the Temptations, even Chuck Berry. She's been on the Broadway stage and done Frank Sinatra tributes. Deb Lyons' career as a singer, actor and singing coach has kept her running.But you may be surprised to learn that for years she was the new Mama Cass. Yeah. THAT Mama Cass.

Deseree Spinks is anything but intimidating. . . until she sings. So, in addition to talking about her singing, songwriting and multiple other talents,  in this conversation we delve into everything from Lindsey Graham's take on gay marriage to her growing up with a feeling of "otherness." And, of course, helping me further my own musical career by singing a duet.

Doug Bollinger may be an educator, but scaring people is a bigger part of his life. A filmmaker, actor, director and writer, Doug has terrified millions with his horror films, The Samaritans, Rock Paper Scissors and The Evangelist. In this conversation, he talks about deciding if you want to be a full time actor or combine it with another job, and how artists can have control over their careers - even if it means treating their art as a business.

Early in life, Gian Carlo Durland played Arnold Beckoff, the homosexual drag queen that Torch Song Trilogy focuses on. What followed - including a nervous breakdown and a shocking realization - was the turning point in his life. Rather than breaking him, his struggles became a catalyst for his multi-faceted arts career. See Carlo's full list of credits here:  https://www.giancarlodurland.com/

Why do kids love fart sounds? No matter why, Scott Lewis aka Mr Scott the Music Man has figured out that this sound should be in virtually all of his songs. No, he's not weird. He's just a popular performer in the early childhood music and movement field. And after 22 years of making kids dance, sing and laugh until they can't breathe, he knows what he's doing.

Accomplished poet Alise Versella and I talk about her four published books, her goal of toppling the patriarchy and how Ryan Gosling and the Disney Channel introduced her to poetry. We take side trips into fear, homophobia and even Spanish Fly, and she reveals  why she really doesn't want to be too happy.

Vinnie Brand and I continue our conversation with no holds barred. We talk about how comedy can be like baseball, chess and, yes, even sex. We veer into cancel culture, whether or not rape can be funny and the Louis CK controversy. Hold onto your hats! WARNING: You'll hear profanity, adult themes and the word "sex."

What is it about comedians we love? Vinnie Brand, who helps me figure this out, is the most improbable eye candy you'll ever meet, and we have a rip roaring time talking about our buddy Barry Jay,  bombing on stage and some of the great comedians he's worked with. . . even women! He's not afraid of handling hecklers, but let's see if he can handle me.

Rosemary Conte has a reputation - one that any jazz musician would envy. Mention her name in musical circles, and you'll realize that her instrument - her voice - has made a significant mark on the jazz world. This INTERMEZZO features three cuts from her album, "But Beautiful," recorded in 1987.

From Aretha to Chicago to the Rolling Stones, NJ trumpet player Steve Jankowski has played with the best of them. But what he has to say about making it in the music industry - as well as his take on Joe Pesci's singing - will make you love this extremely talented musician and music producer.

She may no longer be performing (unfortunately), but what better reason to expose you to the sweet sounds of jazz singer Jeanie Bryson - so we can all commiserate over what we're missing. In this Intermezzo I've featured three original compositions by Jeanie's late mother, Connie Bryson: Simple Song, Tonight I Need You So and Skydive. She is accompanied by an array of some the most gifted musicians in jazz today, including Paquito D'Rivera,Ted Brancato, Don Braden and Christian McBride. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000003D4A/ref=ntt_mus_ep_dpi_1  

This interview is one of a kind - just like my guest, Joe Malone, also known as The Joje. There's almost nothing sacred in my free-wheeling, trash talking conversation with this actor turned DIY filmmaker turned rocker as I “out" Joe - as well as myself - with a long-kept, embarrassing secret we share. Visit his YouTube page at https://www.youtube.com/user/thejojemalone

One of my most-listened to podcasts was my interview with actor Michael Kroll. During a previous Christmas season, Michael performed, as he has many times in the past, his one man show, "Scrooge." This is Michael's own interpretation of that classic story.

New York doesn't have a corner on the arts. Where do you think most of the struggling artists in NY come from? New Jersey! This state is loaded with musicians, artists, writers, actors. . . and I'm talking to them about stuff most others won't ask.

From her chance meeting with Little Stevie Wonder to her original composition intended for Frank Sinatra, Rosemary talks about her decades long career as a singer, bandleader and musician support system while revealing why she had to pretend she was a tambourine player to even get paid.

I'm back! Bye bye Covid. Hello Season 3. This time I've stepped outside of the box to interview martial arts master, Damien Wright. We talk about how a 120 pound woman took down a huge football player, Damien's nerdy love of total contact fighting and his thoughts on going Brazilian. https://www.wrightfight.com/    

Smooth and sublte jazz singer Jeanie Bryson entered the music scene in the early 1980s. Being the unacknowledged daughter of Dizzy Gillespie - and having to hide that fact - complicated her life more than giving her a foot up in the music industry. Then, over a decade ago, she stopped performing after a tragic event changed her life forever.  www.singyouabrandnewsong.com

She may have gotten her first break because of her famous last name, but Stephanie Evanovich proved she has what it takes as a fiction writer, rocking the world with Big Girl Panties, making the New York Times bestseller list and following with three more major successes. We talk writing, acting and TaeKwonDo - just three of the things we have in common. But her kinky love scenes . . . well, listen and decide for yourself. #writer #kink #NJ #evanovich

There are plenty of talent shows on TV now, but in the 90s, there was just one: Star Search. In this INTERMEZZO, you'll get a chance to hear Jose Loo, best known as the front man for Line Drive, singing at the Count Basie theatre and competing in the semi-finals in this precursor to American Idol.

Downtown Red Bank has long been a mecca for artists wanting to display and sell their work. The McKay Gallery,  run by husband and wife team Bob and Liz McKay for over 12 years provided photographers and other artists just that opportunity. In this conversation, we talk about how their grandparents spurred their interest in photography and how Brookdale Community College introduced them to each other and the idea of starting a business.

He no longer has the pipes to play Don Quixote - or so he says - but Michael Kroll has graced multiple stages, here and in NY, and created, directed and starred in his own one-man version of A Christmas Carol more times than you can count. Michael and I talk about what drew him to stage acting, his regrets and his uncensored opinion of the worst director he's ever worked with. . .  and why he nonetheless performed for him again and again.  

In a curious combination of blues, rock, country and, yes, Christian music, Bridget Larson​ hits all the right notes, not just with her singing but also with her humanity.    https://www.bridgetlarson.com/video

Some people wait for things to happen. Jason Goldstein makes them happen. He is not afraid of failure, and his syllabus of successes in the theatre and in the ticketing world are a testament to his never-say-no attitude. We talk about how he became a performing arts entrepreneur and producer, when he appeared on The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and why he thinks Livingston College was the unheralded gem of Rutgers University. www.booktix.com

Dad loved his lawn. But his daughters hated it. In this short story, we discover that things aren't always what they seem.

Move over, Red Bank and Asbury Park. Michelle Knox is on the cusp of creating a whole new arts mecca on the Bayshore. Not satisfied to be only create installations of her own sculpture, she's engaging an entire community to create, enjoy and appreciate the arts along with her in my hometown of Keyport, NJ. www.michelleknox.com

Tony Cimorosi has been on the NYC World Beat, Rock, R&B, Jazz and contemporary Jazz scene for over 35 years, and these three fabulous cuts from his latest album, "Change at West 4th St" exemplify his musical virtuosity.

With a resume that spans teaching at the McCarter Theatre to Program Director for the International House of Blues Foundation to Executive Director of the Algonquin Arts Theatre, it's no wonder Pam Ward is able to say "the buck stops here." We talk about Pam's varied - but always theatre-related positions, the skills she developed and how she compares community theatre directors to some of the most experienced professionals in the business. 

Yes, I might lack impartiality, but I think these instrumental tunes written and produced by drummer Gary Dates are pretty darn good. And I'd feel the same even if he wasn't my husband. He's accompanied by a few guys you may be familiar with - since they were all members of Line Drive: Chris McKevitt, Tim Boyce, Rick Brunermer and Chris Plunkett, playing under the name Desperate Measures.

Why does a bass guitar only have four strings? Why do audiences in Moscow love jazz? This week world class bassist Tony Cimorosi and I discuss these issues and the thrill of gigging around the world, jerks in the music industry and why bass players love to play solos.

Story telling is a true art - and getting one of your stories produced on an award-winning podcast ain’t shabby. Screen writer Diana McCorry cut her writing teeth here, and this compelling radio play will help you understand why she’s such a successful screenwriter.

Thirty seven years ago Line Drive drummer Gary Dates was told he'd never get back the use of his left arm after a devastating car accident damaged the nerves in his left arm. Today, that neurologist can eat his words because Gary has become as one of the best and most musical drummers in the area. In this episode I speak to my husband of 35 years about how he dealt with that crisis. But our conversation goes from that near tragedy to everything from photographing Barbie and Ken to playing the drums in the back of a van.