I am happy to report I have struck a licensing deal for Java Oreos. I am rich! For more sweet stuff check out my new album Java Jems…below!
Meanwhile here is an amusing musical thought from Maya G. What if the Beatles in a parallel universe were called the Eatles and sang only about food? Example: Pastrami in the Sky with Diamonds. Thanks for the chuckle, Maya.
New album drop!
Songs by Java Jel
Pie a La Mode by Java Jel and Aku Riff Tardiff
Musicians
Steve Java Gelsi: Vocals, guitar, keys, mandolin
Kol Marshall: Drums and bass
Jonah Gelsi: Drums on Guy with a Tie and Coffee & Cigarettes
Dominic Cordisco: Guitar on Driving and Bloomfield
Joe Kelly: Bass on Least I Remembered
Maya Gelsi, Zoe Gelsi, Jonah Gelsi: Vocals on Heart is Stronger
Recorded at an old roller rink in Mount Vernon.
Produced, engineered, mixed and mastered by Kol Marshal.
Here’s an email I got from a guy that came to see me 30 years ago at The Rat in Boston and got one of my home made mix tapes I was selling. He really liked the song UMCWB — Upper Middle Class White Boy.
I recorded it in November, 1988 in Astoria, Queens with Kol Marshall as part of the Java’s Jesus Jam EP project that included my stronger songs written during 85-87. It was my first studio recording ever.
The song did get played on once-hip alternative FM station WFNX-Boston at least twice from what I remember. But with no record label or publicity machine behind it, it didn’t make it into regular rotation. It’s a good song. Anyway, I’m really grateful for Tim to write below and share his Java story which now stretches into a new generation of caffeinated pop fans.
Hi Java Jel!
My 15 year old son recently found my copy of “Java’s Jesus Jam” deep in a box where I keep music.
He showed me the tape that I purchased from one night at the Rathskeller circa ’89. See pictures attached. My good friend Lorie & I used to take in your show. Had a blast…
I found your webpage and thought to drop you a note…we liked your music! The lyrics to both Upper Middle Class White Boy & Kerouac Shack came right back to me.
My 15 year old (drummer) has his (garage) band working on UMCWB.
Thanks for the music.
Java Jel Lives On!
Best Regards,
Tim
Here’s my dad jamming in Germany with a mandolin he found during his time there in World War II. Dad and mom always supported my music and paid for piano, guitar and mandolin lessons over the years.
My dad played mandolin all his life, including a trio with Frank LoPinto on guitar and Jack Mace on bass in Dobbs Ferry, NY, and the NY Mandolin Orchestra. He also studied at the famed Mandolin School in Rhode Island and rubbed shoulders with mandolin great David Grissom.
Thanks Dad!
Thanks to Kol Marshall for recording and playing drums and bass…!
Great time hammering out some tunes with Kol and Joe.
Check these out:
Least I Remembered
Long Haul
No Gluten
The Guy With The Tie
While it’s great to write original songs over the years with input from friends and fellow musicians, playing “Blueberry Hill” and “Walk on By” on the piano can’t be beat either.
Unlike my tunes, these songs have been recorded by real record labels and picked up by dozens if not hundreds of musicians, musicals and movies. Some of Java’s sentimental favorites include “Be my Baby” by Ronnie Spector, “Pleasant Valley Sunday” by Carol King, “Umbrella” by Rihanna, ” and “Lovin Cup”, a more obscure song by the Rolling Stones off of their “Exile on Main Street” album.
Jen and I made a special birthday trip this past spring to Nashville, where we sampled the local BBQ, checked out the amazing Honky Tonk bar bands and toured the storied Ryman Audiorium, original home of the Grand ‘Ole Opry as well as Johnny Cash’s TV show in the 1960s and early 70s
Well, as part of the tour of the Ryman, you can get your picture taken on stage for $10 and you can record a song for $15. Well, I had written two songs so we splurged and spent $30 for two. They had a little broadcast booth in the auditorium, where most people did karaoke versions of “I Shall Survive” or “America the Beautiful.”
Some tunes from a Saturday March 10, 2012 session at Ryman Make a Record at the Grand Old Opry. Thanks Jen!!
Fire Water
Back to New York
And a recent bonus track…
Can’t Judge a Book by its Cover
First the picture..
Well, the success of the Altercation reunion has made the rounds on Facebook and I’ll try to link to it here. The bottom line is, we all had fun. Not much blah blah on what we’ve been doing for the past 30 years since we played at Dobbs Ferry High School in an impromptu session outside the school cafeteria in a move inspired by the Beatles rooftop jam featured in the movie Let it Be.
We scheduled our reunion rehearsal at the same movie theater where we saw Let it Be. It’s now a recording studio and rehearsal space called Stolen Moments.
