September 1, 2024

“Don’t Worry. Don’t Compare. Don’t Expect Too Fast. Be Kind to Yourself.” – Tomo Fujita These are profound words of wisdom that define a humble man who found a deep passion in teaching and helping others after emigrating to the U.S. from Japan in his early 20s back in the late 1980s. This special man,

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September 1, 2024

I saw the great Ed Cherry at the Mezzrow Jazz Club in the West Village on July 15th. It was actually the third time I’d seen him perform. The first time was a special performance for the Guitar Masters Festival with some young “Rising Stars” in the jazz guitar world at Zinc Bar. This included

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July 11, 2024

On May 31, Invisible Nation made its American movie theater debut at the Quad on W. 13th Street in Greenwich Village. This riveting documentary directed by Vanessa Hope was first shown to the public at the Woodstock Film Festival on September 29, 2023. Hope is the granddaughter of producer Walter Wanger and classic film actress Joan Bennett.

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July 11, 2024

It was an inspiring evening of advocacy for the arts at the third annual New Yorkers for Culture and Arts Awards Gala 2024 held at Mabou Mines on East 9th Street in the East Village on June 10th. This was a gathering where New York artists, entrepreneurs, and local politicians, who have staunchly advocated and

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June 10, 2024

What an amazing night of jazz it was at Zinc Bar in Greenwich Village at the closing of Charles Carlini’s inaugural Guitar Masters Festival! Zinc Bar had just celebrated its 30th anniversary. The owner, Alex, recalled those early days when the fledgling club was only large enough to house guitar acts. That’s when the club

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June 10, 2024

Charles Carlini, a well-known music impresario and avid guitar enthusiast brought together an International Who’s Who of guitar virtuosic talent spanning multiple genres of world music with the inaugural Guitar Masters Festival. The event was held at the Baha’i Center in Greenwich Village from April 25-29. Carlini is also the concert promoter and curator of

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