CD Releases
The Island Jazz Players
Release planned 2003
Seven cuts. A quartet of piano, guitar, trombone, and drums launching
into some up-tempo swing tunes. This is toe-tapping music!
- St. Thomas
- It's only A Paper Moon
- No Trouble Livin'
- I've Got Rhythm
- There Will Never Be Another You
- The World Will Then Be Yours (original)
- Caravan
- John Pfeiffer - guitar
- Tom Powell - trombone, percussion
- Ron Hull - keyboards, vocals
- Joe Maas - drums
Train Wreck Country Band
Release planned 2003
A good-time country
band playing songs you will remember. This band features Rodney Hughes and
Tom Powell as primary vocalists with a little 3-part harmony on some songs.
This is a guitar band featuring upright bass and a sprinkling of guitar synthesizer.
- Mama Tried
- Rodney Hughes - vocals, acoustic guitar
- Tom Powell - vocals, acoustic guitar, trombone, percussion
- John Pfeiffer - vocals, electric guitar, guitar synthesizer
- Ron Schwartz - upright bass
- Joe Maas - drums
Frank Nelsen Solo guitar
Release planned 2003
Acoustic guitar and vocals, a good coffee-house blend! This collection of
songs includes a song that won 2nd place in the 2002 Songwriters of Wisconsin
song contest, in the 'Christian/Gospel' catagory. The content of this collection
is actually open in that sense, covering multiple musical catagories!
The CD cover stained glass picture in the background is from a Church that Frank
painted, providing the inspiration for the title song "On Any Given Day".
- On Any Given Day
- Song of Songs
- Frank Nelsen - acoustic guitar, vocals
John Pfeiffer
Workin' Man, Solo 8 - Vocal Demo
October 2002
Seven cuts, solo guitar. Two songs
use backing tracks, all others are guitar and vocals. The picture on the
CD cover is of downtown Neenah, see http://www.ci.neenah.wi.us/ for more
pictures of this area. My office is on the 2nd floor above the awning
- Bright Side of the Road
- Let's Fall in Love
- If I had You
- Deed I Do
- New York State of Mind
- This Masquarade
- Just The Way You Are
- John Pfeiffer - guitar, vocals
John Pfeiffer
Down in the Woodshed, Solo 7
- Jamey Aebersold Backups (Demo only)
March 2002
Fifteen cuts, solo guitar with backing tracks. Songs start out
with ballads but also cover latin and bebop styles. Note this CD
is strictly a demo and not for resale or performance use. Jamey
Aebersold retains all mechanical rights to the play-along backing
tracks associated with this CD demo.
- You Go To My Head
- Summertime
- Bluesette
- Desafinado
- Wave
- One Note Samba
- Dolphin Dance
- In Your Own Sweet Way
- Lullabye of Birdland
- A Night In Tunisia
- Blues for Alice
- Scrapple From The Apple
- Yardbird Suite
- Straight No Chaser
- Four
- John Pfeiffer - guitar, programming
- Jamey Aebersold and others on backing tracks
North Coast Jazz Project
July 2001 to March 2002
Thirteen cuts (*six on the demo). This is a traditional guitar trio consisting
of guitar, electric bass, and drums, featuring the lead trombone of Tom
Powell. The song "Cute" showcases Joe Maas on the drums - no way
that can be created with sequencing! Note this CD was the first of the 'group'
recordings made at JCP studios, establishing recording methods for future CDs.
- *Exactly Like You
- *Cute
- West Coast Blues
- *Stardust
- *After You've Gone
- *Moonglow
- I'm Beginning To See The Light
- Four On Six
- All The Things You Are
- *Darn That Dream
- Mean To Me
- This Masquarade
- Blue Bossa
- John Pfeiffer - guitar
- Tom Powell - trombone, percussion
- Frank Nelsen - bass, vocals
- Joe Maas - drums
Ron Hull and John Pfeiffer
June 2002
This collection of seven songs showcases what can be done with only
two musicians, featuring Ron Hull on vocals. Also included are solo
piano and solo guitar pieces, just to add some depth to the offering.
The CD cover is an artist's rendering of the new "Copper Leaf Hotel"
under construction in downtown Appleton.
- All the Things You Are
- Lucky Southern
- Stella By Starlight
- Ain't Misbehavin
- They Can't Take That Away From Me
- Darn That Dream
- Dolphin Dance
- John Pfeiffer - guitar
- Ron Hull - keyboards, vocals
John Pfeiffer
Jazz Pickin' Solo 6
July 2000
Twenty cuts, solo guitar. These are chord melody arrangements, many ideas lifted
from intros/endings and arrangements out of the magazine "Just Jazz Guitar",
or arrangements I came up with that closely follow the original song and melody.
- A Foggy Day
- Someone To Watch Over Me
- They Can't Take That Away From Me
- I Can't Get Started
- Embracable You
- Stars Fell On Alabama
- Here's That Rainy Day
- Sweet Lorraine
- Talk Of The Town
- Moonglow
- Cherokee
- Out Of Nowhere
- Stella By Starlight
- Memories Of You
- As Time Goes By
- September In The Rain
- Come Rain Or Come Shine
- Have You Met Miss Jones
- Somewhere Over The Rainbow
- The Lady Is A Tramp
- John Pfeiffer - guitar, programming
John Pfeiffer
The Old Rocker, Solo 5
July 2000
Twenty-four cuts, solo guitar
- My Old Flame
- Body And Soul
- What's New?
- Stardust
- Tenderly
- Misty
- If I Had You
- Mean To Me
- Witchcraft
- Yesterdays
- Harbor Lights
- Georgia
- Skylark
- It Had To Be You
- Pennies From Heaven
- Darn That Dream
- All The Things You Are
- I Cover The Waterfront
- Bye Bye Blackbird
- Moonlight In Vermont
- I Remember You
- Makin Whoopie
- Can't We Be Friends?
- John Pfeiffer - guitar, programming
John Pfeiffer
Lighter Than Air, Solo 4
July 2000
Twenty cuts, solo guitar
- Sleepy Time Down South
- Big Butter And Egg Man
- Way Down Yonder In New Orleans
- Birth Of The Blues
- Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans?
- Avalon
- After You've Gone
- Shanty In Old Shantytown
- Five Foot Two
- Once In A While
- Ain't She Sweet?
- Mood Indigo
- Sophisticated Lady
- Satin Doll
- I'm Beginning To See The Light
- Do Nothing Till You Hear From Me
- Don't Get Around Much Anymore
- Prelude To A Kiss
- I Can't Give You Anything But Love
- Exactly Like You
- On The Sunny Side OF The Street
- John Pfeiffer - guitar, programming
The Geriatric Jazz Group
World Famous!
January 2000
Sixteen songs from the last performance at the Gibson Grill, marking the end of
the mainstay of the GJG for over 4 years. Everyone was mad that night, interesting
how sometimes that kind of emotion can envoke an unforgettable performance.
The phrase "World Famous" was derived from the fact that we had sold a CD to
a Russian Doctor, who returned to Moscow with our CD. He was thrilled to
have sat-in with the band. Music has no language barrier!
- Battle Hymn Of The Republic
- Things Are Picking Up
- Back Home In Indiana
- Satin Doll
- Basin Street
- Honeysuckle Rose
- I'm Getting Sentimental Over You
- Bourbon Street
- All Of Me
- September In The Rain
- Post Cresent Cameraman Comments
- If I Had You
- Sweethearts On Parade
- When The Saints Go Marching In
- Closing Comments
- Danny Johnston - vocals, kazoo
- Gene Verstegen - sax, clarinet
- Ray Krieger - trumpet
- Tom Powell - trombone
- Charlotte Boone -piano
- Bob Thiel - piano on cuts 1,3,5,6,8, and 9
- John Pfeiffer - guitar
- Norm Beckman - bass
- Joe Maas - drums
The Geriatric Jazz Group
Danny Johnston Sings!
1998
Fourteen Traditional and Dixieland songs sprinkled with Danny's
ad-libbed humor. In the spirit of the group, we also feature
three additional vocalists. These songs were recorded live and
there are over 70 minutes of music on this CD. All songs are vocal
numbers where all members 'take their rounds' in soloing. You will hear
trumpet, saxes, clarinets, trombone, bass, guitar, piano, drums, and Danny's
kazoo as well. There is a good variety of music and over 150 years
of experienced musicians struttin' their stuff. The CD cover
picture was taken from the steps of Lawrence University Chapel.
- When You're Smiling
- Bourbon Street
- Basin Street
- I'm Confessin That I Love You
- Georgia
- Margie (with Reggie Nye)
- Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans?
- Sweethearts On Parade
- St. James Infirmary
- Geriatric Blues (original)
- Someday, You'll Be Sorry
- Route 66
- Angry
- Danny Johnston - vocals, kazoo
- Gene Verstegen - sax, clarinet
- Saxy Sawyer - sax, clarinet
- Ray Krieger - trumpet
- Mike Marks - trombone on cuts 18, 19, 20
- Charlotte Boone - piano
- Reggie Nye - vocals, piano on cut 23
- Ken Anderson - vocals on cut 25
- John Pfeiffer - guitar
- Norm Beckman - bass
- Bob Eick - drums
- Joe Maas - drums on cut 1
The Geriatric Jazz Group
The Ballads
1998
Eighteen cuts, all traditional jazz instrumentals. The songs chosen were all
recorded live during 1998 with two cuts from 1997. There are over 70
minutes of music on this CD. Because many of these songs are slower
ballads, this is pleasant background music. There is good variety
in the repertoire, featuring all of our members and a few friends of ours
as well! The cover pictures are from late 1997 (bottom, at the Outagamie
Museum), early 1998 (top, at the Gibson Grill), and the inserts are in order: Ray
Krieger, Gene Verstegen, and Saxy Sawyer, who joined us as 'regulars'
early 1998.
- Opening Cracks
- Tenderly and Moonlight in Vermont
- Talk Of The Town
- Announcing Reggie Nye
- Sophisticated Lady - Medley
- A Foggy Day
- Harbor Lights
- Stardust
- Body And Soul
- September Song
- If I Had You
- Misty
- Moonglow
- Satin Doll
- I Can't Get Started
- San Fransisco
- Danny Johnston - announcements
- Gene Verstegen - sax, clarinet
- Saxy Sawyer - sax, clarinet
- Otis Graves - sax on cuts 1,2
- Ray Krieger - trumpet
- Mike Marks - trombone
- Charlotte Boone - piano
- Reggie Nye - piano on cuts 5,6,7
- John Pfeiffer - guitar
- Norm Beckman - bass
- Bob Eick - drums
- Joe Maas - drums on cut 9
The Geriatric Jazz Group
Most Requested Favorites
1998
Sixteen songs showing the variety of the group. The songs chosen
were all recorded live in late 1997 and early 1998. There is over 70
minutes of music on this CD, a mix of vocal and instrumentals, many dance
dance numbers. Starting with some Dixieland favorites, we then mix
it up with some big band favorites, some blues, and some show tunes.
The CD cover picture does not capture all the performers this CD, one of
which is a cameo appearance by
Jay Wells. Jay hosts a Sunday program on WRJQ radio 1540AM
featuring Wisconsin big bands.
- Way Down Yonder In New Orleans
- Basin Street
- Georgia
- Bill Bailey
- Lady Be Good
- I Can't Get Started
- My Blue Heaven
- Sentimental Journey
- Blue Skies
- St. James Infirmary
- I'm Confessin That I Love You
- New York New York
- San Francisco
- Satin Doll
- Yes Sir, That's My Baby
- Bourbon Street
- Danny Johnston - vocals, kazoo on cuts 10,11,16
- Jay Wells - vocals on cuts 4,12,13
- Gene Verstegen - sax, clarinet
- Saxy Sawyer - sax, clarinet
- Ken Cady - vocals, trumpet on cuts 4,7
- Ray Krieger - trumpet
- Charlotte Boone - piano
- John Pfeiffer - guitar
- Norm Beckman - bass
- Bob Eick - drums
John Pfeiffer
Paintin' Fool, Solo 3
June 1999
Ninteen standards, three solo guitar. Again, backups were created
using Band-in-a-Box. There are a few backups used from The Jamey
Aebersold music minus one series, featuring live studio produced
backups. Note again, these songs are demo only, not for resale.
The CD cover is of my house before my son Adam and I painted it.
The point being, this was a HUGE job, one has to just hang with it
to get the job done and done right. The house is now green, I hope
you like it better. If you don't like the new color, LIE TO ME.
- Begin The Blues
- Harbor Lights/Embracable You/Skylark
- Blues For Alice
- Once In A While
- Now's The Time
- Big Butter And Egg Man
- Ornithology
- Blues In F
- Mood Indigo/Talk of The Town/Where Or When
- Yardbird Suite
- Way Down Yonder In New Orleans
- Billie's Bounce
- Nice Work If You Can Get It
- After You've Gone
- I Can't Give You Anything But Love
- Straight, No Chaser
- Scrapple From The Apple
- Sleepy Time Down South
- John Pfeiffer - guitar, programming
John Pfeiffer
Jazz Around Here, Solo 2
December 1998
Eighteen standards, three solo guitar. Most sequenced backgrounds are simply
bass and drums, occasionally piano was added. All backups were created
using Band-in-a-Box. Just in Case you don't know where Appleton, Wisconsin is,
I have included a map. Appleton is just north of Lake Winnabago.
- As Time Goes By
- Flinstones at 240
- Sweet Lorraine
- Quiet Nights Of Quiet Stars
- Stardust
- Donna Lee
- Stars Fell On Alabama
- The Shadow Of Your Smile
- Good Bait at 175
- What's New?
- St. Thomas
- Here's That Rainy Day
- A Foggy Day
- Georgia
- How Insensitive
- Satin Doll
- Willow Weep For Me
- Dessafinado
- John Pfeiffer - guitar, programming
John Pfeiffer
Enter John Pfeiffer, Solo 1
December 1998
Eighteen cuts, eleven of which are solo guitar (see song list for
titles). The songs chosen are a mixture of Jazz Standards, Blues,
Latin and Bebop songs. There are over 60 minutes of music on this CD.
Because many of these songs are solo guitar, this is pleasant
background music. There is good variety in the repertoire, offering a
depth of guitar work demonstrating chord melody and single note
improvisation in a mixed format of music and accompaniment.
The picture is a logo from Pfeiffer Beer used in the 50's. The
charactor's name was "Little Johnny Fifer", after which I was named.
- My Old Flame
- Pennies From Heaven
- Jordu
- Sophisticated Lady
- Moonlight In Vermont/Tenderly/Misty
- A Shanty In Old Shantytown
- Prelude To A Kiss
- On The Sunny Side Of The Street
- One Note Samba
- Mean To Me
- Body And Soul
- Joy Spring
- It Had To Be You
- Ain't She Sweet
- Darn That Dream
- All The Things You Are
- Green Dolphin Street
- If I Had You
- John Pfeiffer - guitar, programming
Engineering Notes - Recordings after September 2001
CD's were digitally recorded with a MOTU 2408 24 bit, 8-channel A/D converters, mixed on Cubase VST, mastered on Wavelab. The Dell PC is a 600MHz Pentium III. Drums were recorded using mikes for two overheads, a high hat, and bass drum. The guitar and bass are a mix of direct and miked inputs. I used all digital VST effects.
Engineering Notes - Solo CD's 4, 5, and 6
The three solo CD's above were recorded digitally to hard disk via a Soundblaster Live and into a Dell Pentium 3 600Mhz running SoundForge XP 4.5. The guitar is direct and uses a Hafler T3 tube pre-amp and Digitech GSP21 Pro digital effects processor.
Engineering Notes - Solo CD's 1, 2, and 3
The three solo CDs above were recorded digitally to hard disk via a Soundblaster 16. The PC was a Pentium class 133MHz running SoundForge XP 4.5. I used Alesis reverb and digital compression, the guitar uses a Hafler T3 tube pre-amp and Digitech GSP21 Pro digital effects processor.
Engineering Notes - The Geriatric Jazz Group Recordings
All music was recorded live on two-track cassette using Dolby B, then mastered and recorded digitally to hard disk via a Soundblaster 16. The PC was a Pentium class 133MHz running SoundForge XP 4.5. We used Audix, AKG, and Shure mikes with Alesis reverb (vocals and piano) and compression (Bass and Trumpet). The guitar uses a Hafler T3 tube pre-amp and Digitech GSP21 Pro digital effects' processor. Both the Roland piano and guitar record direct and mixdown is via a Mackie 1601.





