Mark's Fertility Pancake!

Note the symbolism!

--The Daily Fitchett

Philadanco! Passion and Precision at Cerritos Performing Arts Center

Cerritos Performing Arts Center photographed by Lisa Kato Fitchett, 3/13/2011.

The Philadelphia Dance Company (Philadanco) founded by Joan Myers Brown in 1970, is a modern contemporary dance company that tours nationally and internationally. For 34 years, the company has traveled the country and the world, performing before sold-out audiences of diverse people of all ages, creed, ethnicity and cultural traditions. PHILADANCO has a history of being a trailblazer.  They were the pilot dance company to be part of the State of Pennsylvania, Comprehensive Education Training Act, arts training program, one of the first companies to hire our dancers on a 52 week salary, the first to own housing for the dancers and the first to own a debt-free facility. Philadanco is also the company which founded the International Conference of Black Dance Companies and International Association of Blacks in Dance which addresses the special needs of the African American dance community in a supportive environment, and produces an annual conference.

Lula and Irwin Washington with Mark Fitchett at CPAC.

Mark and I caught up with Irwin and Lula Washington (both big fans of the Philadelphia Dance Company) at the Cerritos Performing Arts Center on the night of Philadanco's performance. Lula Washington is the founder of Los Angeles based Lula Washington Dance Theatre.

Coming Up Sunday: Mark Fitchett Band in Redondo Beach

Mark your calendar! The Mark Fitchett Band will perform a selection of jazz, classic rock and blues in Redondo Beach this Sunday, March 20, 2011, in order to raise money for the revitalization of the Veteran's Park Bandshell in Redondo Beach. The event includes catered dinner and silent auction, and is sponsored by Leadership Redondo Class of 2010, a group of South Bay volunteers who are trying to raise $70,000 to replace the hazardous 50-year-old public structure. The Mark Fitchett Band consists of Robert Luna (keyboards and vocals), Gregory Scott Alban (drums), Anthony Alvarez (bass), and Mark Fitchett (guitar), with guest vocalist Donna Butler.

Sunday, March 20, 2011

5:00pm to 9:00pm

Redondo Beach Historical Library

309 Esplanade

Redondo Beach, CA 90277

$100 per person / $1,000 per table

Please make checks payable to: Redondo Beach Chamber of Commerce Community Foundation

Mail checks to:

Leadership Redondo 2010

c/o CS Business Management

2615 190th Street, #210

Redondo Beach, CA 90278

Or go to www.VeteransParkBandshell.com and click on the PayPal button to send your money directly.

The Veterans' Park Band Shell Project needs the funds raised by Leadership Redondo Class of 2010 are a group of volunteers who are trying to raise at least $70,000 within a six-month period to replace the crumbling current structure - in place since it was commissioned in 1957 - with a safer, new multi-use public structure by Domingo Ottolia of Ottolia and Barnes Architecture.

Thanks also to Spectrum Catering for their generous contribution to this event.

Cult of the Wrong Note: "Muscle Machine"

Last week we wrote about the new reissue scheduled for Mark's classic 90's rock/jazz/fusion album Cult of the Wrong Note. One of the songs off of that album is "Muscle Machine", a hard-driving funky uptempo tune with snarling guitar and a strong bass line. Muscle Machine is now available for preview on www.SoundCloud.com. The Cult of the Wrong Note are: Mark Fitchett: Guitar, Rick Hollander:Bass, Chuck Messana: Drums, Craig Roth: Keyboards.

Click here to listen.

Related Post:  Soon To Be Released: Mark Fitchett & The Cult of the Wrong Note

--The Daily Fitchett.

Jam Session: Knypstra, Cser & Fitchett

Knypstra, Cser & Fitchett

Palos Verdes Estates, CA - A wonderful set of standards was performed at this impromptu jam session with bassist Ravi Knypstra, pianist Laszlo J. Cser, and Mark Fitchett. Professor Cser, formerly an instructor of jazz composition and big band arranging at Los Angeles City College, is very much an impeccable pianist with a sharp sense of musical humor.

--The Daily Fitchett.

Peggy Zask Gallery



Peggy Zask Gallery in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA



Candid photo of three South Bay area guitarists at Saturday night's wine tasting and art auction at Peggy Zask Gallery, 2/26/11, in the Golden Cove Center in Rancho Palos Verdes. Pictured below, from left to right: South Bay School of Music guitarist Tim Wingate, guitarist Mark Fitchett, and Alva's Music owner Matt Lincir.

Tim Wingate, Mark Fitchett, Matt Lincir

--The Daily Fitchett, 3/4/11.

"Long Haul Man" Preview From Mark's New Album

The third track off of Mark's upcoming Working Man album is here!

Click to listen: Long Haul Man, by Mark Fitchett

--The Daily Fitchett, 3/3/11.

Mark Fitchett & The Cult of the Wrong Note

Mark Fitchett's classic 90's Cult of the Wrong Note rock/jazz/fusion album is slated to be re-issued and released with new artwork by Gabe Kreiswirth. The album shows The Cult of the Wrong Note's trademark tight rhythm section, virtuosic soloing, strong songwriting and orchestration. The entire album (all tracks) are available for preview on SoundCloud.  Featuring Mark Fitchett: Guitar, Rick Hollander:Bass, Chuck Messana: Drums, Craig Roth: Keyboards. Check The Daily Fitchett for announcements about when and where this classic re-issue will become available.

Listen to Mark Fitchett and The Cult of the Wrong Note on SoundCloud: Click Here

--The Daily Fitchett, 3/2/11.

The Story Behind "If It Ain't Broke"

Inspired by octogenarian couples who'd been together for over five decades, Canadian songwriter Mark Fitchett wrote If It Ain't Broke. Mark deeply admired his grandparents Joe and Dorothy, uncle Don and aunt Doreen, paternal grandparents Norton and Ann, great uncle Joe and aunt Tracy, and next door neighbors Howard and Francis. Here's the story behind the song:

"I just happened to be thinking about our neighbors Howard and Francis, who we used to see every day.  There were these little disagreements like she wanted the sawdust chips in the garden, and he didn't, but these were the little things that didn't matter.  Howard accepted his wife's wishes.  Everyone develops their own territory where they get to be "right", and the other person doesn't argue with that.  There are hundreds of unspoken agreements that develop between people over time.  The song is really about unconditional love and acceptance.

I don't really know if there are any quirks that my grandparents had, so I'm taking some artistic license in this song. The inspiration was more their attitude and togetherness after so many years. The message is: Get over these little things that bug you about the other person. Learn to live with it, don't get pissed off, and don't try to change the other person.

The song is not male or female oriented. The message is the same for either gender. Love the person for what they are, not for what you want them to be."

Related Article: "If It Ain't Broke" by Mark Fitchett

--The Daily Fitchett, 2/27/11.

"If It Ain't Broke" Preview From Mark's New Album

The second track off of Mark's upcoming Working Man album is here!

Click to listen: If It Ain't Broke, by Mark Fitchett

Mark Fitchett at the Palos Verdes Music Festival

If It Ain't Broke by Mark Fitchett

He leaves his socks
On the living room floor

Leaves the seat down
Every night he snores

She talks way too much
Or so he says

Makes them late
Every time they go someplace

Sometimes they will argue
Sometimes they will fight

But they always seem to
Somehow end up making things right

They’ve learned how to laugh
And love through it all

Admit when you’re wrong
And if you’re not
Apologize anyhow

And they say
If it ain’t broke
Why try to fix it now?

She might get on him
A little too much

Probably he don’t listen enough

But when push comes to shove
Before they say good night

They let it all go
Before they turn out the light

Sometimes she’s no angel
And he ain’t no saint

Sometimes love is perfect
And sometimes it ain’t

They’ve learned how to laugh
And love through it all

Admit when you’re wrong
And if you’re not, apologize anyhow

And they say
If it ain’t broke
Why try to fix it now?

They’ve both been together for so long now

You know things ain’t about to change

And when you ask them how they’ve managed to

Stay together for so long they’ll say

Learn how to laugh
And love through it all

Admit when you’re wrong
And if you’re not, apologize anyhow

If it ain’t broke, why try to fix it now?

If it ain’t broke, why try to fix it now?

If it ain’t broke, why try to fix it now?

If it ain’t broke, why try to fix it now?

Related Article:  Read The Story Behind "If It Ain't Broke" here.

--The Daily Fitchett, 2/26/11.

It Feels Like Pitch Black

Video excerpts of the 2010 dance performance It Feels Like Pitch Black, and documentary Sweet Spot: A Meeting of Two Worlds, with original modern dance music composed by Mark Fitchett, featuring The Regina Klenjoski Dance Company and the Tennessee Children's Dance Ensemble. Both It Feels Like Pitch Black and the accompanying documentary Sweet Spot: A Meeting of Two Worlds were executive produced by Eric Linthorst and Jennie Linthorst, with support from the Chapman Foundation. Watch Video...

Photo: Regina Klenjoski Dance Company Rehearsal

--The Daily Fitchett.

"When" Preview from Mark's New Album

Click to Listen: When (Bury Me Lonely In My Grave)

"When (Bury Me Lonely)" off of Mark Fitchett's new "Working Man" album

When (Bury Me Lonely In My Grave) by Mark Fitchett

When does the heartache end,

And all the pieces fit back together again

When does it change, will it ever go away

Or will they bury me lonely in my grave?

Love comes so easily

Wraps you in a blanket of

Everything's perfect even when it's not

And when your seeing eye dog is blind

And the red light doesn't change

You never see that broken heart speed towards you

As you step in its way

When does the heartache end,

And all the pieces fit back together again

When does it change, will it ever go away

Or will they bury me lonely in my grave?

There's a someone, out there for everyone

At least that's the story I've heard

So many times don't want to hear it again

And when your train runs out of track

And you're not even half way home

That's when you realize you’ve got to make it on your own

When does the heartache end,

And all the pieces fit back together again

When does it change, will it ever go away

Or will they bury me lonely in my grave?

--The Daily Fitchett, 2/21/11

Live at Alva's

Video footage of live performance at Alva's Showroom. The band are: Lisa Kato Fitchett (piano), Craig Roth (keyboards), Allen Ellis (vibraphone), Mark Fitchett (guitar), Stephanie James (flute), Gregory Scott Alban (drums), Anthony Alvarez (bass). Watch Video

Link to video performance of Mark Fitchett Live at Alva's

Jonathan "Sugarfoot" Moffett

Jam session on Super Bowl Sunday with Jonathan "Sugarfoot" Moffett

Thanks to Brian Daly for hosting this party, and to Gregory Scott Alban (Morgan Stanley) and Rockwell Sheraton (The Cinedicate) for putting together the jam session! Pictured here: Mark Fitchett (guitar), Jimbo Ross (violin), Shari Puorto (vocals), Dan Malouin (bass), and of course Jonathan "Sugarfoot" Moffett on drums. Read Modern Drummer's exclusive web interview with Jonathan Moffett here. --The Daily Fitchett, 2/6/11.

Meditation at Sea

Mark Fitchett on Caribbean jazz cruise. The Daily Fitchett, 1/25/11.

Pictured here: Mark Fitchett relaxing in the piano bar on the third deck of the ms Noordam.

--The Daily Fitchett, 1/25/2011.

Mark Fitchett

Guitarist Mark Fitchett

On the way back from the Bahamas, guitarist Mark Fitchett on the starboard side of the 10th deck with his "travel" telecaster. It looks windy, but the warm Caribbean temperature made it feel perfect.

--The Daily Fitchett, 1/29/11.

George Duke

Mark Fitchett, George Duke, Lisa Kato Fitchett

Jazz cruise snapshots: Here we are with gracious keyboard legend George Duke...Grateful thanks to Corinne Duke for taking this photograph!

--The Daily Fitchett, 1/29/11.

Half Moon Cay, Bahamas

Half Moon Cay, Bahamas

This is seriously one of my favorite photographs ever.  Mark is wading out into the Caribbean waters off the beach at Half Moon Cay, a private island in the Bahamas. The waves are literally only inches tall, the white sand is as soft as sifted flour, you can wade out 50 feet and still touch the ground, and there are little silver colored fish darting about two feet from your legs.

--The Daily Fitchett, 1/29/11.

Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands

Friends on the famed beaches of the Virgin Gorda "Baths", BVI

After a semi-arduous journey through narrow caves and grottoes, we found ourselves on the beach of the Virgin Gorda "Baths", British Virgin Islands.

--The Daily Fitchett, 1/27/11.

The Crossings - Final Place

Regina Klenjoski Dance Company; Photography by Rose Eichenbaum.

Here is "Final Place" the eleventh and final track from The Crossings. Pictured here: Regina Klenjoski Dance Company; Choreography by Regina Klenjoski; Dance photography by Rose Eichenbaum. Listen to Final Resting Place, by Mark Fitchett.