On Saturday, August 14th of 2010, I attended the Paul McCartney concert at the Wachovia (soon to be Wells Fargo) Center in Philadelphia. This was the first time I had ever seen any of the former Beatles perform live. I was accompanied by my friend Kevin York, who took all of the photos you see here.

Paul rocked, plain and simple, but you expect that from a former Beatle I suppose. By far the greatest concert (yes, the greatest) I’ve ever been to.  McCartney learned how to “Mach Shau” in Hamburg half a century ago. It was ten songs into the show when Paul broke into the Wings hit Let Em In that Kevin looked at me and said with enthusiasm, “He’s still got it.”  I guess that’s what sums it up best…  He does still got it.

The last two concerts I’ve seen of older groups have been  Van Halen and The Eagles “Hell Freezes Over” tour, and in both instances I’d been fairly disappointed.  I feared the same of this in some ways, and I was glad to be dead wrong.  This was no “reunion” tour of a band that hadn’t played together for a decade, this was a performer who has never stopped touring.

McCartney’s rapport with the audience was one of familiarity and intimacy.  The audience was  bantered with, serenaded, and Rock n Rolled.  He jockeyed between the piano, acoustic and electric guitars, his legendary Hoffner bass and even a ukulele.  The set list was chocked full of Beatles and Wings classics, as well as as well as some welcome surprises that were not on the list, like Give Peace A Chance and Hendrix’s Foxy Lady.

Might I add that Kevin York was able to capture these vibrant images with a pocket camera, which proves my point once again that what a real photographer can achieve with a $500.00 camera is far greater than what the amateur (like myself) could accomplish with a professional grade camera.

In the first rough of writing this article, I found myself going on and on about McCartney’s “epicness” referring to him in most cases as a superlative. Then I went droning on and on about the concert itself, filling it with lots of exciting and powerful Rock n Roll appropriate adjectives.  So yeah, Paul McCartney put on an epic show, and it was likely the greatest concert I have ever seen, and the most fun I’d ever had at a concert.  I danced, I sang, and I smiled from start to finish.

To the folks who have already seen Paul McCartney perform live, this is no great revelation, and to those of you who haven’t, McCartney really is a performer you shouldn’t miss.  Did I forget to mention that Paul McCartney is a superlative and epic Rock n Roll God and perhaps one of the greatest performers of all time?  Oh yeah, that too.

Bravo Sir Paul, that was really cool.

-Craig

Photography by Kevin York
www.kevinyorkphotography.com

www.kevinyorkphotographer.com

www.cuttingedgedjs.com

There has been much frenzy around the life and death of the late Michael Jackson, but I am here, as an entertainer, to pay a small tribute to a man who may arguably be the greatest entertainer to ever grace the stage. I discovered at an early age that I loved entertaining, and I looked to MJ as a role model and an inspiration on how to perform in the spotlight. I separate Michael’s life on and off the stage. Some will say what they want about his private life, but very few can deny that no entertainer put on a show like Mike. I learned to sing and taught myself to dance because of the way he captivated people, but the thing that Michael taught me most was something that can’t be learned in a studio. When MJ was on stage, you could FEEL his aura. He brought a passion and charisma to the stage that had never been seen before, and perhaps may never be seen again. As he sang, jumped, screamed and glided all over the stage, Michael Jackson was no longer a person. He became an entity when he performed, a force of pure energy that could change the way you felt and truly excite and move you when he put on a show. Many athletes want to “be like Mike”, but when it comes to entertaining nobody will ever “be like Mike.”

Michael Jackson was the King of Pop because of his unique perception and connection with the performance that he was giving to the world. I went to see ‘This Is It’ last weekend and was absolutely blown away. Not only was the show out of this world, but Michael was moon walking on some other planet as well. This brings me to the point of this blog post. I suggest to any and all entertainers out there – whether you like MJ or not – to go and check this movie out. I know that, personally, as an entertainer, I try to be in tune with every facet of an event possible. I like to be immersed in it, so that it can be made into an unforgettable moment. Michael did this in a way that was truly mind boggling. There is a scene that shows Michael beat boxing one of his songs, so that the band could hear how it was supposed to sound. He was so in tune to the sounds and the instruments that he could repeat back the PROPER way for them to perform it. Later on, he vocally mimics his guitarist’s solo so that she doesn’t feel alone on the stage. His ear for music thoughout the film was astounding, while his ear for a performance was unmatched. He knew how music would make energy, and how the lights and visuals could compliment the sound. He sang all out during duets in rehearsal, because he knew the others fed off of him. He saw the big picture, knowing where everyone should be and exactly how they should be performing. Michael was showing off his performer’s intuition. He told his band to pause in the middle of ‘The Way You Make Me Feel’ because he was locked in on the energy that filled the room. He told them “let it simmer…don’t rush the moment.” During ‘Smooth Criminal’, Kenny Ortega asked MJ how he would know when the screen changed to cue him, since it was behind him. Michael simply said, “I’ll feel it.” While all these moments were amazing in their own way, nothing took my breath away like Michael performing ‘Billie Jean.’ In the beginning, it seemed as if MJ was just going through the motions, but as he stood on stage by himself, a transformation occurred right in front of my eyes. Encouraged by the cheers of his backup dancers and the production staff, and fueled by the life of the music, Michael took off, as the spirit of a younger MJ took over the body of this fifty year old man. He sang and danced as if no one was watching, although he knew everyone was watching. In an instant everyone was taken to another place. In that moment, I realized what made a show in his eyes. taking his audience to a place far from reality.

Every time I step into the spotlight, I try to give the same world to my audience and clients. I believe all entertainers have this inside of them, and like MJ, we just need to figure out exactly how to free it. Michael said it best at the end of the movie when he stood in the middle of all his staff, “Don’t be nervous or scared. We are on an adventure, a fun adventure to take these people to another world.” I strongly suggest that everyone see this movie for it is truly moving in many ways; but I urge every entertainer out there to go see it as well, because in his final moment, Michael Jackson gives the lesson of a lifetime… This is the way to entertain. This is it.

Thank You Michael. Rest In Peace.

-Tony Azzaro

Photos by Kevin York

www.cuttingedgedjs.com

At Cutting Edge Entertainment we don’t mess around because we know that dependability is #1. When it comes to the choice of work vehicle to haul bazillions of tons of sound, lighting and production equipment, this Disc Jockey company puts it’s trust in Ford.

For almost two decades we have depended on the unwavering reliability of Ford to deliver, and our trucks have never let us down. Unlike other companies that might do things the easy way, the rough and rugged DJs of C.E.E. brave the extreme weather conditions of the Philadelphia region in our trusty and reliable E 150 class Econoline vans. Come rain, snow, sleet or hail our fleet is ever at the ready.  These are truly mighty machines.

These fearsome road warriors boast 145 and 195 horse power fuel injected six cylinder engines, returning a stellar 14 mpg average. Combining raw power and sleek design, these sporty work horses – sometimes referred to as ‘The Hammer Of The Trade’  – have yet to fail us.  The simplicity of the vinyl interior, crank-up windows, manual lock doors and standard AM/FM radio lend to the genius of its hardcore design.  Hardcore machines for hardcore DJs.

Special thanks to Kevin York whose background in NASCAR photography made him the perfect choice to immortalize the awesome power of our small yet fierce fleet in photographs.  Like our Ford trucks, Cutting Edge Entertainment is all-American and proud.

-Craig

Photos by Kevin York (thanks Kevin) – www.kevinyorkphotography.com

www.cuttingedgedjs.com

Kelly Ayn McKay of Culinary Concepts was wise to choose photographer Kevin York to do the promotional photography for The Independence Seaport Museum and Events at I.S.M. Likewise, Kevin York chose Cutting Edge Entertainment’s own Shoshana and Tony to pose for the shoot. These breathtaking photos are only a few of the many beautiful views from and around the Seaport Museum – located at Penn’s Landing in Philadelphia – and truly show what a world-class photographer can do with such an amazing and scenic venue.

Tony (MC, DJ and dancer) and Shoshana (MC, dancer and choreographer) have both been with Cutting Edge Entertainment since 2002, and we at C.E.E. were honored to have had been asked to represent Kevin York and Events at I.S.M.

The Independence Seaport Museum is a fresh and exciting new hot-spot for weddings as well as any other type of event you can imagine.

Culinary Concepts

Events at I.S.M.

Kevin York Photography

www.cuttingedgedjs.com

When Bob Gruen – John Lennon’s personal photographer – emailed to thank me for the review I had written about his book ‘John Lennon: The New York Years’, I responded by asking him if he wouldn’t mind signing a few copies of his book that I had purchased.  Within twenty four hours, his studio manager Sarah emailed to make the arrangements… I was to meet Bob Gruen on Sept 9, 2009.

The date – 09.09.09 – was already practically a Beatles national holiday.  It was on that day that both The Beatles Rock Band video game and The Beatles re-mastered boxed sets (in stereo and mono) were slated to be released, while rumors abounded about The Beatles music finally being made available for download on iTunes.  What better day to travel to The Big Apple and have a Beatles adventure?

I contacted my friend and colleague Kevin York, who is an accomplished photographer and a fan of both John Lennon and Bob Gruen , and asked him to join me.  Admittedly I thought it would be a great idea to have a photojournalist along to record the trip, but I thought it would be even better to to recruit a helper to schlep all of those books I wanted signed all around Manhattan.

Kevin and I took the Amtrak train from Trenton into Penn Station in N.Y.C. and then hopped a taxi to Mr. Gruen’s studio. We arrived shortly after 11:00 a.m. and we were greeted by Sarah who brought us inside to meet Bob.

Bob Gruen in person is very real, and very down-to-earth.  He is as much of a witness as he is a photographer, considering he is the man who had not only documented the last decade of John Lennon’s life, immortalizing him in photo after photo, but is also likely one of the greatest and most accomplished rock and roll photographers in the world.

After some initial chit-chat, Bob got down to business, signing almost a dozen copies of his book for us and graciously answering a barrage of questions I had about John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Mick Jagger, and a multitude of other rock legends who Bob had had the pleasure of meeting and photographing. Looking around his studio, it was clear to see that he is a true music enthusiast, having what seemed to be thousands of CDs and records (while Ringo Starr played in the background) and walls filled with photos of almost every imaginable famous rocker.  Although the camera that Bob’s mother bought for him as a youth may have introduced him to the art, when I asked, “Why rock & roll photography specifically?”, he smiled and replied “I’m not a 9 to 5 kind of guy… especially the 9 part.”

After an hour or so of chatting with Bob, he asked if we would like to see the John Lennon exhibit at the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Annex.  Naturally we said yes, and he arranged a few complimentary passes for us, yet another unexpected treat.  All in all, I am grateful for Bob Gruen’s willingness to not only sign some books, but to take the time out of his busy schedule to meet and chat with us.  The measure of Bob’s generosity particularly hit home when, on our way out we met some folks on the way in who asked “Are you with Rolling Stone or VH1?” to which I replied, “Nahhh, I’m just Craig.”

Our next stop was the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Annex, which was really cool, particularly the opening film (you were right, Bob), and the Lennon exhibit.  Unfortunately we weren’t permitted to take photos inside, so you’ll just have to check that one out for yourself.

Lastly, the one place I just had to see for myself was The Dakota, John & Yoko’s New York home on Central Park, and the place where in December of 1980, John Lennon was needlessly taken from us all.  The doorman behind me in the photo is about to tell me to move along, so at least it’s good to know The Dakota has ’stepped up’ the security since that fateful night.

I was happy to return home that night, put down those books (have I mentioned how heavy they were?) and kick my shoes off.  I still haven’t picked up my Beatles Rock Band or boxed set or any of that yet, but thanks to Bob Gruen, I have a 09.09.09 memory that I won’t soon forget.  Thank you Bob.

-Craig Sumsky

Photos by Kevin York
(Be sure to visit Kevin’s blog for more photos from our visit with Bob Gruen)

www.cuttingedgedjs.com

So as I mentioned in my previous blog, Kevin York came out to Cutting Edge Entertainment’s studio in Huntingdon Valley, PA for an impromptu photo shoot last week, and as expected came through with some amazing shots of a few of our MC/DJs, myself included (that’s me above with the Cutting Edge sign behind me.  Kevin had a natural knack for using the buildings on the lot as backdrops for some creative and fun pictures.  Ironically it’s the first time we had done something so ‘off the cuff’ and I was really pleased at the pictures we got.  I think Kevin took about five hundred pictures all tolled, with these being some of the ones I liked best (I liked them all really, so it wasn’t an easy choice).

Richie (above), a Temple graduate, has been with Cutting Edge since he was about fourteen years old, starting out shlepping equipment and moving his way up through the ranks first to DJ, then to MC.  I liked this picture for so many reasons (besides how it looks like some kind of boy-band shot), but mostly because it really shows how cool Richie is.  Rich is probably the ‘workingest’ DJ at Cutting Edge, spinning at clubs and bars all over Philly when he isn’t doing Weddings and Bar Mitzvahs on the weekends.  Likely (one of) our most requested wedding DJs, Rich has a profound knowledge of music and how to apply it at events that is virtually unparalelled.

The ‘new’ Marc Mednick (above) is literally that, as Marc has ‘reinvented’ himself this year.  Marc – like Richie – has been at Cutting Edge since about 1995.  Also a Temple graduate, Marc works during the week as a teacher in the Neshaminy School District, and hence is a natural with kids.  Marc often kids Rich that although Rich might rule the wedding circuit, Marc is the CEE Mitzvah King, with enough thank you letters to fill a file cabinet.  This picture shows Marc just chilling, but those of us ‘in the know’ realize how hard it was for him to keep a straight face while Rich and I were goofing off in the background. (Yep, that’s me choking Rich… He must have claimed to be the better DJ again!)

Ahhh Pedro (above).  Pedro – a veteran of Cutting Edge for fifteen years and a graduate of Drexel U – also fills his week nights working bars and clubs in the Philadelphia area.  Unlike Rich and Marc, Pedro cannot be defined as either mitzvah or wedding DJ, as he is the ‘jack of all trades.’  Zany, silly and goofy Pedro embodies all that is fun, while his corporate background coupled with his experience as a Disney cast member bring a level of professionalism and attention to detail that makes me rest easy knowing he is representing Cutting Edge Entertainment.  The picture above was Pedro’s idea, but ironically shows his hidden quest for ‘power’ at CEE, as he furthers his plans for world domination.

Unfortunately some of our other MC/DJs like Adam, Jason, Justin, Nate, Shoshana & Tony (as well as Kevin who thinks he’s retired) weren’t able to make it, which is fine by me because it leaves the door open for us to work with more great photographers in the future.  Photo shoots are a good time, and I look forward to doing them more often.

Thanks again to Kevin York for these and all the other great photos.

Kevin York Photography – www.kyorkphoto.com

www.cuttingedgedjs.com

There are only a handful of what I would term ‘really talented’ event photographers in the Philadelphia area, and last Thursday we were lucky enough to have one of them come out and do a little impromptu photo shoot with a few of my top event DJs.  Kevin York – whom I have known for about three years now – is one of a group of ‘edgier’ and more creative photographers that I have come to discover.  In my twenty-plus years of being in the event industry it is only in the past three or four years that I have become ‘enlightened’ you might say.  Prior to that my experience with photographers had always been what I term the ‘pose and shoot’ variety, simply aiming and shooting.  To be honest, the first time I ever even noticed a photographer bothering to change lenses was a great photographer named Dawn Deppe about eight years ago, but at the time I thought to myself that she was working way too hard shlepping all this gear and changing cameras and lenses all the time and that she seemed more like she should be shooting for National Geographic.

Let’s just say I’ve learned a thing or two in the past few years.  A videographer colleague of mine – Dave Williams of D’Videography – once told me that if a client wanted to only spend $1,500.00 on a videographer for their event, they would be better off spending that money on a really good video camera and handing it off to a guest to take the footage, because in the end at least they would own the camera when they found their footage wasn’t very good.  Dave couldn’t be more right.  Photography (and videography) is an art, and a camera in the hands of someone without real skills gets you pictures (or video) you might as well have taken the pictures yourself.

So yeah, Kevin York is an excellent photographer.  Over the next six months, I will be featuring several ‘excellent’ photographers here on the blog, professional photographers that are masters of their craft.

I have been asked in the past why I don’t offer photography as an add-on to my service, essentially offering photography through Cutting Edge Entertainment like many other DJ companies do.  The answer is quite simple, and it’s always the same… because at Cutting Edge Entertainment we focus on what we do best, Event Entertainment.  I know what some of these other companies are doing is making them a lot of money, but the product they are delivering is average at best.  If you want an excellent photographer, hire and excellent photographer, not a DJ Entertainment company that ‘also offers’ photography.

Oh, and if the selling point is “Our photographers have shot hundreds…  even thousands of weddings.”  Who cares?  The amount of events an individual has worked does not ensure quality, it might simply mean that the price is cheap enough to book hundreds and thousands of jobs.  Very much like furniture made of cheap materials; It certainly sells more than the good stuff and it might even look good when it’s new, but it certainly isn’t a family heirloom.

Always remember, quality remains long after price is forgotten.  Better yet, you get what you pay for.

-Craig Sumsky

www.cuttingedgedjs.com