Several weeks after Iron City concluded our Hard Bop Meets Woodstock tour, I got an email from an old friend who said I simply must listen to what he was about to lay on me. And I must say, it was a pleasant surprise.
Not only was I drawn in by the sheer enthusiasm of the audience in this packed house, but I didn’t even remember this gig being out of the ordinary in terms of the musical message the band was offering up.
And that’s the way it goes, we showed up night after night, stage after stage, and the music and the message take on a life of their own...
By the time this recording was captured, my trio Charlie Apicella & Iron City had been in permanent residence at Arthur’s Tavern in Manhattan’s West Village for just over two years, honing our sound one 10 PM set at a time. The after-hours slot proving the perfect launchpad for the deep connection Brad Whiteley, Austin Walker, and myself have been developing.
This particular stage - at a NYC club which is no longer in operation - was a highlight in our string of dates in collaboration with conga master Juma Sultan, who is best known for his appearance at the 1969 Woodstock Festival playing with Jimi Hendrix.
In an additional twist of fate, this set was captured on a stage neighboring the venue where Pat Martino captured his epic 1970 classic album, “Live”.
I enjoyed putting this record together as I feel it’s a fitting milestone being my tenth official release as leader. A word of praise goes to engineer Chris Sulit for mixing and mastering one terrific sounding record.
Not bad for a bootleg of a set we didn’t even know was being recorded, but then again, this band gives off Big Boss Energy.
Charlie Apicella
Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, August, 2025 |
Recorded live in NYC in July 2023.
Mixing and mastering: Chris Sulit.
Woodstock tour poster designed by Arianna Bruno.
Art direction and package design: Jack Frisch.
Produced by Charlie Apicella and Joachim "Jochen" Becker.
Executive Producer: Charlie Apicella.
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