The first ever second consecutive Jam Night at Breuekelen Coffee House TOMORROW!

It's that time again, y'all.

   Breukelen Coffee House will again play host to Secondary Sound Jam Night tomorrow, October 18th 9pm!  We've got great musicians, artists, writers, producers, deejays, emcees, and more joining us from Crown Heights and beyond!  All creative or otherwise interested folks are invited to check out amazing music improvised in the moment.  

   Last week we had a blast with Charlie Porter and Freddy Gonzales rocking a mini improv brass section, and we want more!   We look forward to many others joining the voice of Brooklyn, so come lend yours!  Beginners are encouraged to wet their feet in a positive, creative space with amateur and professionals alike.  Remember: there are no wrong notes.

   BYOB and bring your own instruments (though as of now we have a drum kit and an acoustic/electric guitar available) to BCH tomorrow night to see and create the best of what our nucleus of culture has to offer.  You might find exactly what you're looking for..

-Aaron Cotler

--Secondary Sound

P.S. As always, feel free to email if you have any questions, or are interested in donating your time, instruments, money or ideas.

Knight to Rookie's six.

   My first time playing music with Hash Brown was about forty minutes long, in an apartment, I on a snare drum and slip-sliding Bass drum.  It went well enough, so we played again.  The second jam was shut down by an irate super in an apartment surrounded (almost) exclusively by fellow musicians.

   Finally we wised up and rented a practice space in Prospect Heights, at Complete Music Studios Inc.  It was a fantastic space, with plent of room and a full back line - very classy.

   The jam went very well.  Grabbed a few snippets for possible future tunes.  At least I got to stretch my limbs and rock for the first time in about a month and a half - I hadn't realized how antsy and irritable I get without some sort of workout, musical or otherwise.  Hash's advice was "play what you feel."

   Lessons are going very well.  The challenge posed by transcribing music is similar to the challenge posed by getting back on a skateboard after years of bipedal movement.  The flags on my eighth notes are a little wonky and the quarter rests seem big to me, but otherwise points seem to be getting across.  

   Concepts of muscle memory are hard for me to put in to words - in my mind, at least, the point of practicing music is to attain mastery without thought so performance comes as through the performer, as movement happening through a body.  A body creating movement takes so much energy - the force required to start a body moving is greater than the force required to keep a body in motion moving.  

   Steve Sweet's Breukelen Jest Comedy Night was a freakin' smash.  Shout out to all the comics who entertained - hilarity ensued, even when rim shots were not forthcoming.  Wine flowed freely and the back space of Breukelen Coffee House converted beautifully into an open space for a stage, PA, and lighting:  

   Possible prospects, as always, are on the horizon.  Keep eyes and ears open for booking possibilities in the area.  If you, your friends, your local coffeeperson or bartender is looking to play out solo or with a band, I may have a space available in the near future.  Loose lips make blips - spread the word and keep your feelers out.  We'll talk soon.