Ken Lelen Combo
Spring 2010 New England Tour
Monday, April 12, 2010 to Saturday, April 17, 2010
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We performed for 650 people at nine concerts across a six-day span.
I played five vintage guitars: 1912 Grauso; 1926 Maurer #493; 1936
Schmidt Sovereign OM; 1937 Kalamazoo KG-21; 1938 B&D Groton 1.
Spring 2010 New England Tour
Monday, April 12, 2010 to Saturday, April 17, 2010
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We performed for 650 people at nine concerts across a six-day span.
I played five vintage guitars: 1912 Grauso; 1926 Maurer #493; 1936
Schmidt Sovereign OM; 1937 Kalamazoo KG-21; 1938 B&D Groton 1.
Monday, 12 April 2010
Tower One / Tower East, New Haven, CT
This was our first concert at this venue, which consists of two federally subsidized apartment buildings in downtown New Haven with 350 senior residents. Our sponsor drew a crowd of 35 people to a midday concert in a large, sunny dining room of 125 seats. Still, the concert was marked by noise in an adjacent café, people moving through of the room, audience conversations, people on cell phones and MIA program staff. Still, we gave 'em what we came for — a 70-minute concert of 19 jazz and swing hits — and left 'em happy with our music.
Pomperaug Woods, Southbury, CT
This was our first concert at this venue, which consists of two federally subsidized apartment buildings in downtown New Haven with 350 senior residents. Our sponsor drew a crowd of 35 people to a midday concert in a large, sunny dining room of 125 seats. Still, the concert was marked by noise in an adjacent café, people moving through of the room, audience conversations, people on cell phones and MIA program staff. Still, we gave 'em what we came for — a 70-minute concert of 19 jazz and swing hits — and left 'em happy with our music.
Pomperaug Woods, Southbury, CT
I've played this facility several times in the past decade; this was the first time for the Combo. The auditorium, called Wilson Hall, holds 75 people, and our sponsor drew about 50 people to an early evening event where we performed 17 songs in a 75-minute concert.
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Tuesday, 13 April 2010
Avery Heights, Hartford, CT
In the past five years I've played this hilltop retirement community two times a year before a crowd that ranged between 30 and 50 people. It was the first time for the Combo. We performed 15 songs in a 75-minute concert held in a large walkout basement called the Adams Room.
In the past five years I've played this hilltop retirement community two times a year before a crowd that ranged between 30 and 50 people. It was the first time for the Combo. We performed 15 songs in a 75-minute concert held in a large walkout basement called the Adams Room.
Arbors, Manchester, CT
We played 16 early jazz and swing tunes in a 65-minute concert before a crowd of 30 people in a musty basement at a large retirement village set just east of Hartford.
We played 16 early jazz and swing tunes in a 65-minute concert before a crowd of 30 people in a musty basement at a large retirement village set just east of Hartford.
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Wednesday, 14 April 2010
Greendale Retired Men's Club, Worcester, MA
This early morning concert in the gymnasium of a local YMCA was the high point of our Spring 2010 New England tour. Our audience — a rousing crowd of about 250 men — smiled, hooted and cheered through the event. More surprising (for me, at least) was the fact that we played a 65-minute, 16-song program at 9:30 in the morning. As if that wasn't enough, several people who attended this concert sent friends to later concerts we offered on Cape Cod and in Worcester.
This early morning concert in the gymnasium of a local YMCA was the high point of our Spring 2010 New England tour. Our audience — a rousing crowd of about 250 men — smiled, hooted and cheered through the event. More surprising (for me, at least) was the fact that we played a 65-minute, 16-song program at 9:30 in the morning. As if that wasn't enough, several people who attended this concert sent friends to later concerts we offered on Cape Cod and in Worcester.
For more details on the Greendale Men's Club concert see Journal posting of April 14, 2010.
Heatherwood, Yarmouth Port, MA
Cape Cod is a world apart and Heatherwood is a gorgeous CCRC I've played each spring or fall for a decade. We filled the Meeting Room with 55 people for a 17-song, 80-minute concert.
Cape Cod is a world apart and Heatherwood is a gorgeous CCRC I've played each spring or fall for a decade. We filled the Meeting Room with 55 people for a 17-song, 80-minute concert.
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Thursday, 15 April 2010
Mayflower Place, West Yarmouth, MA
While on Cape Cod we also played this tidy retirement facility located near the town of Hyannis and Barnstable Airport. We were tickled by the arrival of friends and relatives of audience members from the Greendale Mens Club (see above) at this concert, where we performed 16 songs in a 75-minute concert for about 50 people.
While on Cape Cod we also played this tidy retirement facility located near the town of Hyannis and Barnstable Airport. We were tickled by the arrival of friends and relatives of audience members from the Greendale Mens Club (see above) at this concert, where we performed 16 songs in a 75-minute concert for about 50 people.
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Friday, 16 April 2010
Overlook Community, Charlton MA
Overlook is an enormous, 450-acre retirement village run by the Masonic Health System in central Mass. While bass player Matt Koch didn't play this concert, I did perform a 16-song, 75-minute concert in Overlook's Performing Arts Center, a fabulous 280-seat theater.
Overlook is an enormous, 450-acre retirement village run by the Masonic Health System in central Mass. While bass player Matt Koch didn't play this concert, I did perform a 16-song, 75-minute concert in Overlook's Performing Arts Center, a fabulous 280-seat theater.
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Saturday, 17 April 2010
Fox Hill Village, Westwood, MA
The final concert of our Spring 2010 tour in New England was before a happy crowd of 75 people at Fox Hill, an elegant retirement community in Boston's western suburbs. We performed 15 songs in a 75-minute set that was notable for the large number of family members who joined the Fox Hill residents in the audience. At events like this, the adult children of retirees often tell me they didn't realize they knew these songs or how much they liked them. Likewise, I always tell them it is my pleasure to see how much they enjoyed themselves at the event.
The final concert of our Spring 2010 tour in New England was before a happy crowd of 75 people at Fox Hill, an elegant retirement community in Boston's western suburbs. We performed 15 songs in a 75-minute set that was notable for the large number of family members who joined the Fox Hill residents in the audience. At events like this, the adult children of retirees often tell me they didn't realize they knew these songs or how much they liked them. Likewise, I always tell them it is my pleasure to see how much they enjoyed themselves at the event.
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© 2010 by Kenneth Lelen — All Rights Reserved
