Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

I was more than a little intimidated to sit down with 6x Grammy Winning, Oscar Nominated renown jazz trumpeter and composer, Terence Blanchard. I’m jazz challenged. I’d forgotten the warm, present, enthusiastic, sans ego, great storyteller with amazing tales I heard speak last year at a BlacKkKlansman screening, In personal conversation he was all that and a can of Gaga. Did we have fun! We talked Terence’s latest film, Harriet, it’s star Cynthia Erivo, New Orleans, his opera singing dad, playing piano, jazz, Katrina, losing family photos, Wynton, Branford, Art Blakey, Lionel Hampton, trumpeting, Spike Lee, the Lakers, scoring, Shawshank Redemption, composing an opera, and another, being a first, Malcolm X, Hendrix, Hancock, Lady Gaga, work ethics, mentors and mentoring, education, preparation, professionalism, thriving kids, current projects, winning Grammys, being nominated for an Oscar, playing jazz in a stadium, how it all feels... lots of his learned wisdom and a suggestion of his own, “Don’t be the headache.” Terence was a gas, in the best possible way. Loved every moment. Terence Blanchard​, Live on Game Changers with Vicki Abelson, Wed, 10/30/19, 7 pm PT, 10 pm ET With Pete George Live on The Facebook Full Show Replay http://bit.ly/2qbmZiN All BROADcasts, as podcasts, also available on iTunes apple.co/2dj8ld3 Soundcloud http://bit.ly/2hktWoS Stitcher bit.ly/2h3R1fl tunein bit.ly/2gGeItj YouTube http://bit.ly/2OgS4td This week's BROADcast is brought to you by Rick Smolke​ of Quik Impressions​, the best printers, printing, the best people people-ing. quikimpressions.com And, Nicole Venables​ of Ruby Begonia Hair Studio Beauty and Products​or tresses like the stars she coifs, and regular peoples, like me. I love my hair, and I loves Nicole. http://www.rubybegoniahairstudio.com/

Ridiculous fun with Grammy Winner, Tony Braunagel. As funny as he is stick gifted––great stories, he even acted some of 'em out. That High School Dracula, and the According To Jim gig paid off, big time. Man, is this boy entertaining. Tony blew out of here post show to hook up (not that way) with Dan Aykroyd and Jim Belushi for a Blues Brothers gig... poor guy. Bonnie Raitt, Rickie Lee Jones, Etta James, Robert Cray, Bette Midler, Taj Mahal... does his life suck. Check this funny rockboy. Tony Braunagel, Live Game Changers with Vicki Abelson, Wed, 10/16/19, 7 pm PT, 10 pm ET With Pete George Live on The Facebook Full show replay here: http://bit.ly/2MjyL2K All BROADcasts, as podcasts, also available on iTunes apple.co/2dj8ld3 Soundcloud http://bit.ly/2hktWoS Stitcher bit.ly/2h3R1fl tunein bit.ly/2gGeItj This week's BROADcast is brought to you by Rick Smolke of the Quik Impressions, the best printers, printing, the best people people-ing. quikimpressions.com And, Nicole Venables of Ruby Begonia Hair Studio Beauty and Products or tresses like the stars she coifs, and regular peoples, like me. I love my hair, and I loves Nicole. http://www.rubybegoniahairstudio.com/

What was I thinking, or not thinking?!? How did I not make clear that we preferred to go to his place, where keys abound, so that we could have the best of the best, keyboardist, vocalist, songwriter, Mike Finnigan do his thing?!? How exactly?!? We opened with the video of his What a Life, with The LA Blues Alliance. It’s killer. I’ve been watching it in heavy rotation for weeks. We closed with the debut of Mike’s music video of a Merle Haggard cover, which has yet to be recorded, nor seen before publicly, and it’s sensational! But, as soon as we turned off the camera and left the cyber air, Mike started singing his a capella ass off. There’s nothing like the Live thing. Opportunity missed. We’ll have to have back at Chez Finnigan. What Mike did do was talk his days with Hendrix, Etta James, Joe Cocker, Johnny Cash, Crosby, Stills and Nash, Dave Mason, Cher (I know), Taj Mahal, Maria Muldaur, kd lang, Manhattan Transfer, Bonnie Raitt... getting loaded, getting sober, being politically educated and active, mixed bands, segregation... giving up the sure thing... no plan B... he was fascinating and fabulous. A musicians musician, beloved by everyone who knows and plays with him, he’s a feast for the heart, soul and ears. Mike Finnigan Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson Wed, 9/11/19, 7 pm PT/ 10 pm ET With Pete George Live on The Facebook Full Show Replay http://bit.ly/2k8GPIm All BROADcasts, as podcasts, also available on iTunes apple.co/2dj8ld3 Soundcloud http://bit.ly/2hktWoS Stitcher bit.ly/2h3R1fl tunein bit.ly/2gGeItj The Live feed is wonky, for a clear view without blur there's this: YouTube http://bit.ly/2lZJ9Cb This week's BROADcast is brought to you by Rick Smolke of Quik Impressions, the best printers, printing, the best people people-ing. quikimpressions.com And, Nicole Venables of Ruby Begonia Hair Studio Beauty and Products or tresses like the stars she coifs, and regular peoples, like me. I love my hair, and I loves Nicole. http://www.rubybegoniahairstudio.com/

We went Live with multiple Emmy award winning writer/producer, Jay Kogen ~ The Simpsons, Frasier, Everybody Loves Raymond, Malcolm in The Middle, School of Rock, and what a fun ride it 'twas! Had a blast and learned so much about the business of show. Jay has fabulous stories of getting there, being there, and working to stay there. Great humility, huge talent, terrific suggestions. Tales of Tracey Ullman, The Simpsons, James L Brooks, writing for Homer, choosing between Frasier and Seinfeld and landed at The Single Guy. Say what? Back to Sophie's choice and choosing Frasier, and why... Brad Hall, Larry David, Mike Meyers, Garry Shandling, 3 act structure, film school, Jonathan Silverman, his comedy writing, Emmy-winning, one less than Jay, dad, Arnie Kogen, Dean Martin, Totie Fields, Jan Murray, Carol Burnett, Michael Palin, The Tonight Show, Bob Newhart, The Groundlings, Jon Lovitz, Phyllis Katz, Tracy Newman, rhyming the damn improv. He even does Hank Azaria doing an Al Pacino impression. Crazy, high energy, fun! And be sure to order Charlie Kogen's debut album, Songs From The Front Seat http://bit.ly/2lDk13M Jay guarantees you'll love at least 4 songs, all 10 probably, or you can write and bitch to him at [email protected] - aol, really Jay? Two words, Gmail! Jay Kogen Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson Wed, 9/4/19, 7 pm PT/ 10 pm ET With Pete George Live on The Facebook Full replay here http://bit.ly/2jZxx1h All BROADcasts, as podcasts, also available on iTunes apple.co/2dj8ld3 Soundcloud http://bit.ly/2hktWoS Stitcher bit.ly/2h3R1fl tunein bit.ly/2gGeItj The Live feed is wonky, for a clear view without blur there's this: YouTube http://bit.ly/2lZJ9Cb This week's BROADcast is brought to you by Rick Smolke of Quik Impressions, the best printers, printing, the best people people-ing. quikimpressions.com And, Nicole Venables of Ruby Begonia Hair Studio Beauty and Products or tresses like the stars she coifs, and regular peoples, like me. I love my hair, and I loves Nicole. http://www.rubybegoniahairstudio.com/

taken years to get Danny Kortchmar alone in the Game Changers guest seat, having paid us a couple of previous visits with his Immediate Family brothers. This Danny is kinder, gentler, and oh, so fun. He’s been leaning more and more in this direction to my view since falling in love with Lisa Roy, even after surviving the devastating loss of her life. She was the love of his, and it appears she did him a world of lasting good. Danny will be the first to admit he can be serious and... cranky. No sign of that guy this evening... just great stories of some of the greatest musicians of our time, from one of them, all wonderfully, entertainingly, told. We may have even heard a few previously undocumented firsts... starting as a kid discovering early rock ’n roll, to very soon playing it, summering on Martha’s Vineyard, and the early teenage friendship that would change his life. Jamie, as Kootch calls James Taylor, who talked him into some questionable behavior, then blamed him, classic! Not something I’d imagine or associate with sweet baby James. Their lifelong friendship, their musical collaboration, how it started, and why it ended. Meeting, working, and loving Peter Asher, Lou Adler, Carole King, Russ Kunkel, Leland Sklar, Waddy Wachtel, Linda Rondstadt, and Jackson Browne. The story behind Somebody’s Baby. We talked about his extensive successful producing career (although he has a caveat which was fascinating to hear) - including Jon Bon Jovi, Billy Joel, Toto, and his extensive collaboration with Don Henley, the great and the tough of it. There are no endings with Kootch. Once family, always family. He remains close to all of them. And speaking of family, Danny spoke to the birth, development, and current state of affairs of The Immediate Family, his beloved creation. His frustration with the pandemic’s impact and the conflicting work schedules of his brothers doesn’t dampen his passion for their new album yet to drop, and their soon-to-be-released brilliant Denny Tedesco documentary, Immediate Family. There is remorse that Waddy Wachtel’s commitment as Stevie Nick’s musical director, a position he’s held for 25 years will keep him from 5 scheduled live shows, but Danny did drop some news... The Cars Elliot Easton will be jumping in for those shows, certainly softening the blow. This time with Danny was a joyous romp through the musical soundtrack of so much of my life. His songs, and his playing, are forever etched in my heart and soul. The man sure do know how to rock ’n roll. Good God! Danny Kortchmar Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson Wed, August 16th, 5 pm PT, 8 pm ET Streamed Live on The Facebook Replay here: https://bit.ly/3KKfuFL