Monday Nights With Mino

Mino and Franco discuss music teaching, the difference between guitar students and violin students, music reading and Franco's new book, "Easy to Play Guitar Trios," published by Mel Bay. Mino learns to play the 3rd guitar part to one of the pieces, "Julia Delaney," while Franco plays the melody. Later, they visit a couple of Mino's original songs which they had not played in a long time. Buy the book here on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Easy-Guitar-Trios-Franco-Bertucci/dp/1513471368 The book comes with a link to download audio recordings of all fourteen pieces. See a sample page and listen to sample audio here: https://www.melbay.com/Products/30801M/easy-to-play-guitar-trios.aspx    

Looks like we still remember how to play guitar, more or less.  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDTWmAGXVuf6B1JebloVaVg/  

The four of us make a pretty good group of song writers, don't you think? 47 minutes of live music and conversation you won't hear anywhere else. Take a listen to our first single available on Bandcamp: https://mondaynightswithmino.bandcamp.com/track/one-more-time We're also on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDTWmAGXVuf6B1JebloVaVg    

Mino and Franco improvise a serious instrumental while they wait for the tea pot.  We now have a track on Bandcamp. Listen and buy: https://mondaynightswithmino.bandcamp.com/track/one-more-time Our Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDTWmAGXVuf6B1JebloVaVg/about Thank you for listening.

Is it a sign of humility or egotism to release unpolished recordings? Mino and Franco discuss this as well as the fact that cramped spaces makes for better music, play two songs of Franco's inspired by domestic bliss, explore a little Billy Joel and do some nice instrumental improvising. Music starts at about 6min. Thanks for listening. mondaynightswithmino@protonmail.com https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDTWmAGXVuf6B1JebloVaVg  

We had a little dry spell but last night we sat down and made ourselves make music. No one was allowed a sip until we'd played a note. This is a recording of Mino writing, or uncovering a song. Or, perhaps, he's remembering a song. Socrates thought that learning is really recollecting. Thanks for listening. Send words of encouragement to: mondaynightswithmino@protonmail.com    

A longing making train song by Mino. Bass by Greg Nottage. Electric guitar by Franco. See us play it on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjaMZdF12bo

From our original musical, "Get Normal." Words and music by Mino Christante.  Recorder in the stairwell by Franco Bertucci. See it on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86PuTKHi5Cs

A beautiful song Mino recorded a few years ago with his wife, Lexia, Dominic the engineer and plenty of reverb.  

A little boogie-woogie style tune by Mino. Franco on keys and bass. Enjoy! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYpGuUABG4I mondaynightswithmino@protonmail.com    

Mino and Franco chat about the recording process and listen to three of their Monday night tracks. Songs by Mino Christante Say hello: mondaynighstwithmino@protonmail.com https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDTWmAGXVuf6B1JebloVaVg/about  

Recorded live in a warehouse a couple of years ago...we think. Mino ran across it on his laptop and Franco added some bass, percussion and keyboards. Words and music by Mino Christante.

A cozy, long session in the music cabin on a cold dark night.  Two songs by Mino and a couple Dylan interpretations. Franco mushes on Mino's new keyboard set to "organ."  We like feedback. What songs should we play next? mondaynightswithmino@protonmail.com Thank you for listening.

Late one night, too late as usual, we sat down for two songs in Mino's music cabin: "Light as a Feather" and "Don't Push the River."   Recorded live - no cuts...no rehearsal either if I remember correctly.  Vocals and guitar by Mino; other guitar by Franco. A good night to you all. Words and Music by Mino Christante. (c)1980-2021  

Three nice instrumentals by Franco. The middle one was recorded in a big stone farm house in Italy...it's a traditional Russian piece interpreted by an American of one-quarter Italian descent.   

Us and Neil Diamond rocking out one summer evening. Greg Nottage on bass, Mino on vocals and guitar, Franco on keys and percussion. Also on Youtube at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SR-VSN3Z9ZA  

The lyrics to this song are by ol' Bill Shakes. The music is a cover of the Barenaked Ladies' version of this song. Guitar and Vocals by Franco.  The proper title is: "Blow, Blow Though Winter Wind" from the play, "As You Like It."

Franco sings and plays electric. Mino sings, plays his baritone electric (and fiddles too). Special guest, Michael, plays pedal steel and bass while Sebastian graciously rocks the drums for two songs. An hour and a half of live, uncut music, half-remembered lyrics, beautiful chord progressions and haunting melodies. Two songs by Franco and several country and Americana originals by Mino. Thanks much to Michael and Sebastian and also to Lorna for the lovely supper.

Perhaps our best recording on a Monday Night. "Letters of the Heart" by Mino Christante. Recorded on Franco's studio porch on a late summer evening. Watch us play in on Youtube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjoJtJZIcuk    

Franco and Mino sing a five hundred-year-old carol which lends itself very well to groovy bass, organ, congas and guitar. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zD4MoVgjJmE

Another haunting and beautiful tune by Mino. Recorded live. No overdubs. Franco plays his wooden recorder purchased on his trip to Italy. Mino plays Franco's classical guitar. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLtKAQLVHq4

Mino does a great rendition of this cult classic (Franco has still not heard the original and isn't sure he wants to.) Guitar and vocals: Mino Recorder: Franco Recorded live in the winter.

She is a little girl, who plays beside the ocean. She is a woman, who's won every man's devotion. Song by Mino Christante Enjoy the song on Youtube as well: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QIxnSIllkI Thanks for listening. 

Extra credit if you can identify the background singers. Franco's site: www.awkwardguy.com Our Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDTWmAGXVuf6B1JebloVaVg/  

Mino sings some Waylon Jennings, Franco sings some Shakespeare, other tunes are played and Nashville studio stories about Waylon recalled.  Listen and watch more on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDTWmAGXVuf6B1JebloVaVg/

Mino and Franco finally carve out sometime to record another half-hour podcast. First, they jam on an E minor, making it up as they go. Next, they play a haunting tune about broken promises and someone waiting in the corridor. https://www.facebook.com/minochristantemusic http://www.awkwardguy.com  

On a dark winter night in 2017 Mino and Franco met after work and recorded this dark but whimsical not-quite-country-rock song. Be safe if you listen while driving. You don't want to wreck your mercedes. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDTWmAGXVuf6B1JebloVaVg

We do a lovely, haunting, Shakespeare song. Mino on violin. Greg Nottage on stand-up bass. Music by Franco. Words by Bill Shakespeare. Youtube version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDiQvcy-AYs

Cozy electric guitars and warm tube amps worked very well on this Monday night. The youtube version was recorded ten minutes before this version. This one is take 2. Maybe it's better. Mino on rhythm guitar, Franco on lead, Mino singing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFxnErQEW6o 

Beautiful, haunting song of Mino's in 6/8 time with a twist of humor. Mino on guitar, violin and vocals. Franco on guitar, piano, percussion and backup vocals. Recorded in one evening in Franco's studio. 

Mino and Franco rediscover a slow burner from Mino's past, sing some Cat Stevens and discuss the pains and rewards of busking in the streets of France and Italy. On a whim, they play/remember a bit of "Tom Dooley," and "The Way You Look Tonight" and end with "Grace Before Meals," music composed by Franco.  Thanks for listening.  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDTWmAGXVuf6B1JebloVaVg/  

One sad but feel-good song by Mino.  Franco on guitar, backing vox, percussion and bass.  

Mino sings and rocks his baritone electric and Franco shreds his Mahogany Martin. We're on the web and it sounds like the police are coming.   I don't think it's possible for you to enjoy listening to this tune as much as we enjoyed recording it. But you should try.   Monday Nights With Mino on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDTWmAGXVuf6B1JebloVaVg/  

Mino and Franco play a lovely, long and luscious version of "Dave's Song," written in the early 2000s by Franco for his room mate, Dave. Franco sings a little bit.   The night ends when Franco loses his phone in the piano... (Sorry Aunt B)   Thanks for listening. More music: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDTWmAGXVuf6B1JebloVaVg/    

Van Gogh was a wonderful artist and a bit crazy...just like Mino and Franco.  Youtube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDTWmAGXVuf6B1JebloVaVg/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/minochristantemusic Franco's Poetry:http://www.awkwardguy.com  

Do musicians know what listeners want? We discuss the question, play three songs and drink home-made cider. Mino sings a chilling rendition of, "American Pie," at the end of the episode. MNWM on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDTWmAGXVuf6B1JebloVaVg/ Franco's poetry: www.awkwardguy.com   

Americana at it's best. Two acoustic guitars. Late night. Mino singing. Franco tired. The first take is so often a keeper. Recorded live in the music cabin. Words and Music by Mino Christante(c)(p)2020   https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDTWmAGXVuf6B1JebloVaVg    

This song could be New Age- except that it's too good. I love to listen to it while driving at night.  Different than our Youtube version. 2nd song we recorded after starting MNWM about 3 years ago. Vocals, words, music by Mino Christante Piano and instruments, Franco Bertucci MNWM Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDTWmAGXVuf6B1JebloVaVg/about    

A two and a half minute demo of Mino's funky song recorded live in Greg Nottage's attic. Greg Nottage on Bass, Franco Bertucci on guitar and backing vocals, Mino Christante on guitar and lead vocals.  More music on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDTWmAGXVuf6B1JebloVaVg  

Mino and Franco try their hands at recording for thirty minutes straight. They play some songs, work on songs and talk about music...along with a few other things. Franco learns what an M80 is. Our first podcast. Thanks for listening.