Why people hate the Post
Since I started working at the Post more than seven years ago I have encountered people who hate us. I always wondered why. But now I know.
On Saturday, Sept. 6 we ran a story about a jam session at a local establishment. Not only did we get the name of the establishment wrong, The Italian GARDEN, but we spelled one of the musicians’ names wrong, Bill Teague. Worse yet, Teague, along with Justin Mora, is one of the co-hosts of the jam not just a guy that showed up to play (Not that it makes a difference – we should have spelled the name correctly either way).
I know some of the musicians at the jam and have played music with them so it was a bummer for me to know that this story got botched. The worst part is I’m the one that botched the name of the restaurant in the photo caption (It was correct in the story, which I didn’t write. Though I would’ve liked to, it would’ve been a conflict of interest and I try to stay out of stories when I know the people involved). There are two restaurants in Chico with the words “Italian” and “Garden” in them and I am constantly mistaking them, even before I pitched the idea to do a story on the jam session. It sounds like and excuse, and it is, and I hate making excuses for myself and my mistakes. I prefer to own up to them, learn from them and never make them again. Still, it doesn’t change the fact that the mistake was made. And here’s what happens when mistakes are made:
* Both the establishment, The Italian GARDEN and the jam hosts, Mora and Teague, got screwed out of what should have been a cool story about the cool thing they are doing for the community.
* The Post, as the paper of record for the Ridge and the town of Paradise, took a hit to its credibility for printing faulty information.
* My personal credibility took a hit because I am a so-called “editor” and I let two stupid mistakes go into the paper of record.
* The writer of the story took a hit to her credibility for spelling the name wrong. Correct spellings of names are big in this business.
* People have one more reason to hate us.
So, to set the record straight, I am going to reprint the story with the correct information. You can also see the story and pictures in our Entertainment section of the www.paradisepost.com Web site. I apologize to all involved for the sloppy work. It is truly my goal to be the paper that people want to read, not the one that people make fun of for printing shoddy, half-assed work.
Without further adieu here is the correct version of the story:
Jam session at the Lounge
By Jennifer Barker
Despite a small crowd, the Italian Garden Restaurant and Lounge was booming Wednesday night with local musicians showcasing their talent. The restaurant invites Paradise resident Justin Mora’s company, Mora Sounds, each Wednesday to host a jam session for local musical talents of all ages. Mora, a lifetime musician, has a recording studio in town and is a member of the band Vext Intent.
A few months ago, he noticed the new lounge didn’t offer a unique service to the community. Having musical experience, he called some musicians and the jam sessions evolved, Mora said. Each Wednesday, from 7 p.m. to closing, all musicians are invited to come on stage and rock. Mora said Paradise didn’t offer a true jam session for musicians for all ages, talent levels and musical genre.
“It’s a true open jam and I haven’t found many like that in our community,” he said. “I was trying to create an environment where people can come and have a good time.”
From 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. the lounge is a family atmosphere, where all ages are invited to play. With the dinner crowd feasting, the music starts out soft with jazz or pop, then slowly transforms as the night goes on to everything from R&B, classic rock, new rock, metal, rap, fusion, and anything in between. Mora’s goal was to create a jam session where any musician would feel comfortable playing the kind of music they enjoy. As an added bonus, Mora provides the drum set, sound system and bass amp, and his co-host Bill Teague brings a keyboard. So singers won’t have to worry about missing an accompaniment.
The jam session is the perfect setting for singers, Mora said. Musicians are invited to play the provided instruments or they can bring their own. While bringing a guitar or bass was popular, the jam session brought out musicians who play harmonica, flute and the saxophone.
The night began with Mora on drums, Teague on keyboard and regular guest musicians Chuck Terry on guitar and vocals, and Jonathan Arthur on sax and flute. The group kicks off every Wednesday night with light, jazzy, soulful music to set the mood. The crowd of around 10 people listened to the music, ate dinner, drank and chatted with friends. While the crowd increased after about an hour of playing, Mora said he was surprised at the small turnout. Usually by 8:30 p.m. the lounge is packed with guests and musicians signing up to take their turn on stage. Mora attributed the small crowd to the Labor Day weekend. He said a lot of partying went on over the holiday and people usually use the following week to recoup.
“Wednesday night is always different,” Mora said, adding last Wednesday there was standing room only and musicians were cut off at 1:45 a.m.
After the group finished their set, new musicians took the stage. The next group featured more guitars and a harmonica player. It took a few minutes in between sets for the musicians to meet and figure out the set. But even during the downtime, the entertainment didn’t stop. The musicians lightly play to get a hang of the new songs. Since sheet music isn’t included in a jam session, each artist plays by ear.
Guitarist Jeff Garrison said the ability to play a song after hearing a portion of it, is necessary at a jam session. Though if a musician can’t play by ear, but still wants to jam, Garrison said Mora, Teague, Terry and Arthur are phenomenal musicians that can just about figure out any song guest musicians want to play. This was Mora’s goal with the jam session, to provide a venue to musicians to meet and play anything together, Garrison said. Mora said he classifies he and Teague as the “rotators.”
Teague sings, plays keyboard, drums, guitar and bass and Mora plays all except the keyboard. When musicians come up to play, Mora and Teague fill up the empty rolls in the band.
“Being the hosts, we make the jam happen,” Mora said. “We fill the gaps where needed.”
Teague said the jam session provides new musicians an opportunity to practice performing in front of a crowd and with a band. It also gives bands a venue to showcase their music.
“It’s a good opportunity to play with different people,” Teague said. “We like making it possible for instrumentalists and singers to do what they do. It’s a thing we all enjoy doing.”
Performance Information:
The Italian Garden is located at 6929 Skyway. The jam session occurred every Wednesday night beginning at 7 p.m. and is all ages until 10 p.m.
Comments
cool site :)
Posted by: BradandPitti | October 13, 2008 07:19 PM