Leon Ware- Concert Review NYC 11/28/11

Concert Review

Leon Ware –

The Blue Note NYC 11/28/11

Leon Ware has written and co-written some of the greatest and most beloved songs of the 20^th Century.

The fact that he isn’t a household name is practically criminal.

Writing hits for and with the likes of Marvin Gaye, Michael Jackson, Minnie Ripperton, Maxwell, Quincy Jones and many others, his rare NYC appearance was a must see for this longtime fan.

The charming and debonair Mr. Ware spread out on a dozen or so of his classics including “I Wanna Be Where You Are,” “If I Ever Lose This Heaven,” “Inside My Love,” the Maxwell smash, “Sumthin’, Sumthin’” and a trio of gems from Marvin Gaye’s I Want You. Backed by a stellar band featuring piano great Onaje Allan Gumbs and remarkable singer, Maya Azucena, the now 71 year old seduced the thoroughly appreciative crowd as they perfectly walked that wonderful line between great jazz and R&B.

Throughout the evening, Ware jumped on and off stage, greeting one and all, and even kissing hands of the swooning ladies. An old school showman with a soulful, tender voice, he clearly loves what he does and even commented on how proud he was of the many babies his love songs have resulted in.

As Ware ended the evening he graciously thanked the audience again and again. Inspired and deeply moved by the musical magic I had witnessed, I did something I’ve never, ever done at a performance. Suddenly, almost without realizing it, I shouted in return, “Thank YOU.” Getting a warm smile and thumbs up from the legend, it was the icing on the cake of a perfect show.

Yes, thank you to an American treasure whose music will live forever. May he one day get the mass recognition he so readily deserves.

--Evan Ginzburg Legends Radio

www.legendsradio.net

Friday Nov. 11 at Gizzi's Cafe

Friday Nov. 11at Gizzi's Cafe 16 W 8th St. NYC Never a cover! Great food/desserts/drinks/ambiance/nice folk!

7PM- Billy Likitsakos Jazz Duo  www.facebook.com/billy.likitsakos

8PM- 'Linton Smith II' jazz ensemble http://www.facebook.com/pages/Linton-Smith-II/

9PM- LEIGH HARRISON is a life-long songwriter and composer, whose work weaves threads of folk, rock, pop, country, blues, old-timey jazz, bluegrass, and Western swing.  Her original songs may be heard on her CD's, "Eclectic Chanteuse," and "Oh, Wow!," both released by SongCrew Music.  As a travelling troubadour, she spent time with numerous musicians and performers such as Jerry Garcia, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, John Lennon, Yoko Ono, Johnny Winter, Mick Jagger and Albert King and has played with Jaco Pastorius, Moogy Klingman, Charles Otis, and others. Leigh has performed in numerous venues; her videos and recordings are on YouTube and her website: www.leighharrison.com

10PM- John Henry Band- A little bit of Soul, blues, rock, reggae, gospel, driven by a Les Paul or a plain old Gibson. www.johnhenryband.com

These legends have appeared on Legends Radio!

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Musical guests have included:

Ray Manzarek of The Doors

Billy Corgan of Smashing Pumpkins
Billy Paul

James Moody
Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Grandmaster Melle Mel

Roberta Flack

Judy Collins

Fred Wesley

Jimmy Webb

Sugar Pie DeSanto

William Hart of the Delfonics

Norman Carter of The Delfonics

Dr. Salaam Love of the Delfonics

Wendell Sawyer of Blue Magic

Marshall Thompson of the Chi-Lites
Eban Brown- current lead singer of The Stylistics

Syl Johnson

Eddie Jobson of Roxy Music and King Crimson and U.K.

Mighty Sam McClain

Tower of Power’s Doc Kupka

Canned Heat’s Stanley Behrens

Ron Dante of the Archies

Handsome Dick Manitoba of the Dictators

Wendell Holmes of the Holmes Brothers

Fats Gallon- funk drummer

Music journalism great Ben Fong-Torres

JD Allen

Jazz great Connie Crothers

Lock from The Dramatics

Jazz Bassist Christopher Dean Sullivan

Smooth jazz star Eddie Benitez

Jazz great Azar Lawrence

Blues great Candye Kane

Wanda Vaughn (The Emotions)
Wayne Vaughn (Producer/Writer Earth, Wind & Fire)

Ron Carter of the Persuaders

Violent J of Insane Clown Posse

The Shirts

Malo

Carlton J. Smith

Ned Massey

Theresa Sareo

Ekayani and Tom Glide

L.A.W.

Michael McHugh

Black Rock Coaltion

Blues ace Felix Cabrera

Blues great Robert Ross

Will Lee

Coole High

SoSoon

Edwin Vazquez

Luanne Surace

Plus countless talent deserving wider recognition!

Stars of Comedy have included:

David Alan Grier (In Living Color)

Marc Maron

Brent Weinbach,

Ian Edwards

Amy Schumer,

Ralphie May,

Gina Yashere

Dobie Maxwell
Dom Irrera

Pat Cooper

30 Rock’s Judah Friedlander

Heather McDonald (Chelsea Lately)

Jackie “The Jokeman” Martling

Shelly Berman

Norm McDonald (Saturday Night Live)

Robert Shields of Shields and Yarnell

Will Durst

Hal Lipson

Stars from MOVIES and TV have included:

Jenny McCarthy

Sherwood Schwartz (Creator Brady Bunch)

Robert Vaughn

Marilyn Michaels

Rona Barrett

Larry Flynt

Jack LaLanne

Celebrity Chef Joey Altman (Food Network)

Galloping Gourmet Graham Kerr

Chauncey Hayden

Marta Kristen (Lost in Space)

Barry Blaustein
Wally “Famous” Amos

Noel (Lois Lane) Neill

Nicole Bass

Dr. Victoria Zdrok

Roddy Piper

Chris Jericho

Chuck McCann

Beverly Washburn

King of the B Films- Conrad Brooks

Tony Burton (Apollo Creed’s cornerman)

Karen Lynn Gorney (Saturday Night Fever)
Roy Frumkes (The Substitute franchise)

Ed “Kookie” Byrnes  77 Sunset Strip 

Sunset Thomas

Annie Sprinkle

Georgina Spelvin

Seka

Juliet Anderson

Magician Joshua Jay

Al Guthertz- Hollywood Reporter/Variety
Pulitzer nominated playwright/Obie Award winner Kristoffer Diaz
Johnny Fairplay (Survivor)

Linda Hogan (Hogan Knows Best)

And many more…

Stars of professional wrestling and MMA have included:

Bruno Sammartino
SuperStar Billy Graham

Pat Patterson

Jackie Fargo

Ivan Putski

Dory Funk, Jr.

Harley Race
Stan Hansen

Superfly Snuka

Austin Aries

Honkytonk Man

Tyler Black

Jerry Lynn
Frank Shamrock

Awesome Kong
Mia St. John

Nigel McGuiness

Butcher Paul Vachon

Kamala

Sid Eudy

Sonny King
Nikolai Volkoff

Les Thornton

Gene Kiniski

Jimmy Valiant

Johnny Valiant

Kevin Sullivan

Colt Cabana

Bob Roop

Dawn Marie
Tito Santana

Brutus  Beefcake

Melissa Coates

Danny Hodge

Judy Martin

Eric Bischoff

The Destroyer

Lanny Poffo

DDP

Afa

Bobby Heenan

Chris Masters

Ox Baker

Molly Holly

Baron Von Rashke

Greg Valentine

Magnum T.A.
Christie Hemme

Necro Butcher

Larry Zybysko

Tracie Brooks

Jake The Snake Roberts
Blackjack Mulligan

Mustapha Saed

Teddy Hart

RVD

Earl Maynard

Manny Fernandez

Baby Doll

Savio Vega

JJ Dillon

Dr. Death Steve Williams

Missy Hiatt

Mean Gene Okerlund

Jimmy Hart

Daniel Puder
Al Snow

Steve Corino

Kimberly Page
Bill Watts
D Lo Brown

Dutch Savage

Sonjay Dutt
Hillbilly Jim

Buddy Landell
Juventud Guerrero

Tommy Rich

ODB

Bryan Alvarez

Ted Dibiase

Percy Pringle (Paul Bearer)

Jim Cornette

Austin Idol

Chris Nowinski

Ivan Koloff

Ox Baker

Zach Gowen

Tony Atlas

Jerry Jarrett

And countless others…

Evan Ginzburg is a 20 plus year radio veteran formerly with 50,000 Watt WBAI-FM 99.5 NYC (Pacifica Radio). He is the Associate Producer and appears as himself in The Wrestler starring Mickey Rourke. He is a Producer on the upcoming documentaries Theresa Sareo-Alive Again (www.aliveagainmovie.com) and Tiger Khan- Fire in the Blood.

Dr. Mike Lano is a journalist and photographer since 1966 whose work has appeared in worldwide media including the U.S., Japan, Mexico and numerous books.

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