Behind the scenes, Street Report

It makes Cranky cranky to have to repeat himself, Cranky is not a Clown!

Laziness Cranky will give you the benefit of the doubt that you are just too lazy to speak two extra words. You know how people tend to shorten names, calling somebody named Joseph, Joe, or a Jennifer, Jen, without considering if they prefer the longer name, their actual name. Or perhaps you never noticed Cranky's… Continue reading It makes Cranky cranky to have to repeat himself, Cranky is not a Clown!

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Black Coffee, Billie Hibberd vocals. Bluebird B-6013-B Label
Behind the scenes, Repertoire

Black Coffee and other Delights

Cranky just put the finishing touches on his set list for the 2017 season. This year may see nine new song, bringing the Cranky Hit List (CHL) total to 77 songs. Cranky is hedging on the actual number of nine songs making the cut, since, if past years are any indication, some of these new… Continue reading Black Coffee and other Delights

Behind the scenes, Street Report

Equipment Failure – Achievements in the Pathetic.

Cranky’s seasons have a long tradition of ending on a sour note, so to speak. There was the time that Cranky was playing in Congress Square on a cold Friday evening toward the end of October.  A derelict fellow came up and insisted that that he should have a dollar out of Cranky’s bucket. When… Continue reading Equipment Failure – Achievements in the Pathetic.

Straw Boater and Chuck Taylor Hi-tops.
Street Report

Cranky head to toe.

If you blinked you missed it. Cranky's "soft-launch" of the 2016 season. A 90 minute appearance at the Portland Farmers Market in Deering Oaks. The big new Cranky accouterments this year (the picture is self-explanatory). Cranky changes the top and the bottom, everything  in the middle remains the same.

Cranky's reed refurbishment workshop
Behind the scenes, Street Report

Cranky’s dream comes true, a bad dream that is.

A brief peek into Cranky's brain. Here’s a behind the scenes story of Cranky’s that you are probably better off not knowing. So for all of you who have a rosy image of Cranky out there wearing his multi-colors, in a sax playing utopia, you can stop reading right now. No need to dirty up… Continue reading Cranky’s dream comes true, a bad dream that is.

As seen by Cranky, Street Report

Cranky digs the Old Port. (Well, not really, but it just happened to work out tonight because it totally sucked on Congress St. during the First Friday Art Walk.)

Cranky has a kind of annual amnesia when it comes to compatible places to play. Every year Cranky thinks it's a good idea to play at the First Friday Art Walk only to find out that it has become a different animal than it was in the early days eight or nine years ago. There's… Continue reading Cranky digs the Old Port. (Well, not really, but it just happened to work out tonight because it totally sucked on Congress St. during the First Friday Art Walk.)

As seen by Cranky, Street Report

A tale of 2 Cities

Friday, May 22nd 5pm. So Cranky headed up to last year's main haunt, Longfellow Square but there was a troupe of gregarious young actors in tunics preparing for a street performance of Shakespeare. They looked rather silly to Cranky, but who is he to judge. So that was out. Proceeding further downtown to last weeks… Continue reading A tale of 2 Cities

Keilwerth SX90 Straigh Alto Saxophone with black nickle finish
Repertoire

Cranky’s Spring Training

Cranky has been hard at work prepping for the coming 2015 season. The illustrious Keilwerth Straight Alto is in the shop for some much needed TLC. Some new pads and adjustments were long over due, but the well adjusted horn will be back in play by the end of April. In the meantime Cranky's back… Continue reading Cranky’s Spring Training

Jabbo Smith comic book story by Harvey Pekar, illustrated by Joe Sacco
Repertoire

Cranky luvs Jabbo

Many, many years before the origin of The Clown School Dropouts and the creation of Cranky. Ur-Cranky or Proto-Cranky, lets call him, discovered the early jazz trumpeter Jabbo Smith. Interestingly enough the discovery wasn't made through music but from a written story, a comic book, to be precise. The eye opening moment came from reading… Continue reading Cranky luvs Jabbo

Repertoire

This is your Cranky on Ellington.

Another Cranky inspiration. Long time member of Cranky's playlist is Everybody Stomp by the Cotton Club Orchestra (Duke Ellington). http://youtu.be/2rl6zY4Wcz4 Cranky likes songs that offer much more than appears on the surface. Sort of a, the whole is more than the sum of its parts, but inverted. The parts are more than the whole. So… Continue reading This is your Cranky on Ellington.