Lloyd Robert Quintet Reunion 2006 Smashing Success

Ben Vitale     

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Lloyd Robert Quintet Reunion 2006 Smashing Success
Ben Vitale

The Lloyd Roberts Quintet Reunion Performance was outstanding! As I passed through the entrance of the Flaming Hearth (the old Country Tavern), in Farmingville, NY, I felt as if I had just passed through a time warp. I could swear that I was back in the seventies. The night club was filled to capacity, and the familiar musical arrangements of the Lloyd Roberts Quintet, caressed the jubilant crowd, as if to re-energize their spirit. A “higher state of being,” is exactly what was created! Facial expressions, smiles, cheers, and high pitched female scream type chants, told the story. The crowd was in ecstasy. The “time machine” actually worked, and the crowd was back in 1970, and they loved every minute of it!

The people that frequented the Country Tavern in the seventies are now, all in their fifties and sixties. The Band’s regular following, brought their children along with them to this event. The younger generation that also attended, were also filled with the free flowing spirit, and they too loved every minute of the performance. In the seventies the older crowd and the younger crowd strangely coexisted on the same dance floor, in the Country Tavern. The perpetual old verses young struggle did not exist at the Country Tavern.

It was like Deja Vu! During the past thirty years, nothing at all was changed at the Flaming Hearth. The Curtains and wooden superstructure, were exactly the same. The Bandstand and even the wooden paneling on the wall is exactly as it was in 1970. This helped to bolster our feeling of being captured in a time warp.

After the event ended I talked to many people that were looking forward to another reunion in 2007. Lloyd Roberts told me that it was my Blog, that prevented him from “bailing out” of this event, when it was in the discussion stage. It seems that I published the Reunion Announcement before Lloyd had agreed to get involved with this event. John Cassese forwarded a copy of the Blog Reunion Announcement to Lloyd; Lloyd exclaimed “Oh My God” I’m committed!” http://reunion98.blogspot.com/2006/04/lloyd-roberts-quintet-reunion.html

As a casual observer, you might say it is easy to put on a four hour performance. In actuality it takes mammoth amounts of time and dedication. The band members from Long Island, actually traveled to Florida, in order to have rehearsals, in preparation for this gala event. Kudos to the Lloyd Roberts Quintet; giving of yourself, is the most valuable gift that you can give. We are all indebted to the Lloyd Arrasate, Bob Greenwald, Richie Swettman, Frank Kito, Bud Mazura, Mike Mensch, Ralph LaFemina, Bob Lynch, and John Cassese, for giving us a piece of our valued past. Thank you so very much!

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You might want to read the beautiful comment by Kim.
(below)

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Comments:

Kim said...
 I, too, stepped into the aforementioned "Time Machine." As a child of one of the band members (Lloyd), I can't quite explain just how this evening has affected our family. We were moved, inspired, awestruck; suddenly Dad has carried us back to childhood where he had begun our "lessons" in music appreciation. We were "Pickin' Up the Pieces" of our lives from the last 30+ years...We all grew up with the LRQ. Whether as children or spouses or bandmembers. It's evident that it helped make us who we are: lovers of Chicago, Tijuana Brass, Blood, Sweat & Tears, 50's, 60's and 70's hits... As I created CDs from the old band tapes for Dad, I found myself reminiscing about being a little girl watching her daddy practice, write, transpose, arrange and sing all of these songs that, in essence, have become the soundtrack of our lives. I knew all the words to these songs; I knew the trumpet parts! Sometimes, as I listen to music today, I hear an old band song and recognize it by its trumpet part or harmonies. I frequent that "time warp" and welcome its return.We look at Dad in a whole new light now. He has added "performer" and "entertainer" to his job description in our family and we couldn't be more proud of him! We were all part of something very special Saturday night, something we children never thought possible. It really was history: our history.Thanks to Dad, John, Bob, and the rest of the members of the band and folks who helped make this night a reality. WE BELIEVE IN MUSIC! We really do...
11:31 PM

Joe Carbonaro said...
I'd like to echo the sentiments of probably everyone that was there, WHAT AN EXPERIENCE! One of my musical mentors is a member of LRQ, Frank Kito, and like he said, you can tell someone what it was like to experience the feeling of being in a club with the crowd at a fever pitch, but heck...nothing like being there yourself. Talk is talk....doing it, like they did on Saturday June 10th was it! Nuff said, hope to see you next year!
8:21 AM

Anonymous said...
DOM VERALDI SAID.....I CAN ONLY SAYA GREAT PLACEA GREAT BANDA GREAT CROWDSIMPLY A GRAT NIGHTTHANKS TO LLOYD AND ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE LRQ
10:39 AM


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