Brushing elbows with the Rock and Roll Aristocracy - Elvis Costello

Elvis Costello and Nenad Bach. photo by Elvis

Went to see City Winery, to check the place for our (my new band's) next gig. It was the night for book promotion and music. "The Levon Helm Midnight Ramble" Photographs by Paul Laraia. The Band played well. Levon didn't show up, but we had a privilege of seeing and listening to Elvis Costello. This is his photo of two of us. We both liked it. Pleasant artistic and authentic.

This was a great night November 9th 2009. 20 years ago the Berlin Wall came down. What a night THAT was!

The same night I met my old friend from The Band days Stuart Hruska and new found friends Chris and Marlene Knell. To my surprise Chris's family comes from Croatia, actually just few miles from where I grew up. Small world? I would say, world is always the same, only the paths are narrow. See the street signs. Holand Tunnel and Lower Manhattan.

Guggenheim Grotto at Fairfield Theatre

Guggenheim Grotto at Fairfield Theatre opened for Caravan of Thieves

Kevin May and Mick Lynch of Guggenheim Grotto

Kevin May, Nenad Bach and Mick Lynch at the Fairfield Theatre

On October 30th I went to see GG in concert beacause this is the band they recommend on Pandora.com Nenad Bach Radio . I loved their song Told You So that they play on Pandora. To make it short. It was a wonderful concert. Mick and Kevin delivered and so did the audience and the whole vibe at the Fairfield Theatre in Connecticut. Would love to play there with my new band.

Fairfield Theatre Co

www.fairfieldtheatre.org

70 Sanford St
Fairfield, CT 06824-5917
(203) 319-1404

Nenad's photo by John Holbrook

Photo taken on April 25-26, 2009, while recording a new material. This photo was taken by a world known engineer and a very good friend of mine John Holbrook. For your information, John is responsible for my logo as well. One strong talent is never alone. I know John for more then 20 years. Only good things come from John.

Here are few words that welcome you on his home page:

No one ever said you get famous from being an engineer. John Holbrook is a bit of an enigma. He’s worked on some of the best records of the last 20 years, but you’ve never seen his name on the cover of a magazine.
Nonetheless, very few people can claim to match the diversity of John’s career. He’s worked with everyone from Natalie Merchant to the Isley Brothers. B.B. King to Combustible Edison. Fountains of Wayne to Brian Setzer and Don Byron. John Holbrook remains a well respected, if somewhat mysterious name in the recording biz.

Hopefully, this website will fill in a blank or two...click here

www.johnholbrook.biz

www.johnholbrook.net

related photos 1 2

Here is an excerpt from Mix Magazine by Heather Davis on April 23rd, 2009

NEW YORK - APRIL 2009: John Holbrook commands a deep respect from his peers for engineering many of the world’s most vibrant rock ‘n roll albums. His career started in the seminal 1960s, where, as a disc-cutting engineer for IBC studios, he worked on masters for The Who’s “Tommy” and Jimi Hendrix’ “Electric Ladyland,” among many others. He has worked for analog synth manufacturer EMS, designed several well-regarded recording rooms in New York, and maintains an active freelance engineering schedule. His work has earned him five Grammy Awards and innumerable gold and platinum albums for work with such acts as Natalie Merchant, Elton John, The Brian Setzer Orchestra, B.B. King, and The Isley Brothers. He recently upgraded the monitors in his personal studio to a pair of Klein + Hummel O 300Ds.

Joan Osborne in concert at the Tarrytown Music Hall

Joan and Nenad

Yesterday on September 25th 2009 Richard (bass player in my band) and I went to see Joan Osborne performing at the Music Hall in Tarrytown. Joan promoted her new album 'Little Wild One'. The concert was very good. I especially liked how Joan played tambourine. First time we met in 2001 performing together for the We are Family music video and are in the same series of concerts done by Luciano Pavarotti, called "Pavarotti and Friends". I was there in Modena, Italy in 1995 and Joan was there in 1997.

Joan Osborne, Nenad Bach and Richard Lindsey

Concert For Global Peace, Kansas City

photo used in Kansas City Star by Zoran Orlic

Nenad Bach (piano), Vigthor Zophoniasson (tenor), Bunny Rodina (mezzo-soprano), Richard Lindsey (bass), Don Lipovac (accordion), Matt Leifer (drums). August 29, 2009 in Kansas City MO.

Nenad Bach, Matt Leifer and Richard Lindsey.
Performing "Time is All We Have"

Nenad on a piano playing "Everything is Forever"

Nenad Bach, Jonathan Borja (flute), Matt Leifer and Richard Lindsey. Performing "Daughter's Eyes"


Nenad Bach, Jonathan Borja, Don Lipovac and Richard Lindsey.

Nenad Bach and Don Lipovac with an ensemble Hrvatski Obicaj (Croatian Tradition)

Nenad Bach with an ensemble Hrvatski Obicaj (Croatian Tradition), singing "Festa"

All photos by generosity of Don Wolf www.dwolfphoto.com

Les Paul June 9, 1915 – August 13, 2009

Les Paul was a legendary musician. He was a pioneer in the development of the solid-body electric guitar, which "made the sound of rock and roll possible." He is credited with many recording innovations, including overdubbing (also known as sound on sound), delay effects such as tape delay, phasing effects, and multitrack recording.

I have a personal memory of a man who equally paid attention to everyone who approached him. Gentleman. Great talent on the guitar and inside of a guitar. Class act. Someone to emulate in life.

These photos have been taken on Dec 13 and Dec 18, 2007. First one at the ASCAP Awards from my hand and last one taken by Dino Rulli after the concert on Broadway. Are we lucky to witness it or what.

Danas je umro Les Paul, otac elektricne gitare i visekanalnog snimanja.

Takvi ljudi su stvorili bazu americke glazbe koja se i dan danas slusa i u upotrebi je. Les je temelj ne samo americke vec i svjetske glazbene bastine. Bio je pazljiv prema svim sugovornicima, bez obzira na moc i vaznost. Imam prelijepa sjecanja na njega i njegovu obitelj. Pravi gentelman.

Nenad N. Bach
New York 13 Kolovoz, 2009

Just came back from Croatia. It will take some time to publish "few" of the photos. Intense two months.

U2 arrived in Zagreb

U2 private jet parked at Pleso (Zagreb, Croatia), as seen from my window.

The best U2 show I've seen.

130.000 people have seen U2 in Zagreb 2009

Filming of the Music Theater Video "Dragi Kamen"

Nenad Bach and Bruno Krajcar in Rakalj, Croatia

Nenad Bach and Bruno Krajcar

Bruno Krajcar, Nenad Bach and Mirna Brkanovic (film director). Filmed on August 4th 2009. Rain just stopped.

Singing chorus. Isn't this wall beautiful? And how about the view behind us?

old church

Rijeka Moments

Nenad Bach, Miro Gavran, Jasna and Robert Bucnik just before the performance by Mladena Gavran in Bakar, Croatia.

My first drummer and high school buddy, Vladimir Korenic - Dadi. Dadi also wrote lyrics for the song from my first album "Dal da ostanem nepoznat i sam"

My "sivko" travelled across the ocean. This is the moment it came out of the container.

View from my balcony at night. Rijeka, Croatia.

The same view during the day.

School buddy Janez, dog and Nenad. Very nice memory. Some people are always happy and wise.

My dear friend Neno Crnkovic. We washed windows while studying. I learned a lot from him. We both finished Universities. Neno became Mechanical Engineer and I became a clown (actually I am a graduated civil engineer). Always a pleasure to see him. Photo above is a view from his new amazing villa.

My best high school friend Darko Tolja, a naval engineer and a keyboard player in my first band.

Bernardin Modric, a film director, and my first film score.

Rijeka's Mayor Vojko Obersnel and Nenad Bach at the Fender Awards on June 15th 2009.

Nenad and Darko (Tolja) on his boat.

Tolja family ready for sailing

"Vrijeme i Zemlja" drinking coffee on June 16th, the day we received a Mayor's recognition for 30 years of active artistic life. L-R. Edi Kraljic, Marinko Radetic (Mel Gibson), Davor Tolja, Josko Serdarevic, Nenad N. Bach and Jadranka Cubric, organizer for the whole event.

Visiting Agabekov family

Branca Agabekov, Nenad Bach, Mirna Brkanovic, Youri Agabekov and Denis Redic in Barci, Croatia.

Zagreb Moments like Charlie Chaplin and Arsen Dedic

Ivo and Nenad Bach with Charles Billich. Cvjetni Trg (Flower Square)

Dr. Ivan Bagaric and Nenad Bach in Sabor. Markov Trg.

Nice photo Ivo.

Andjelko Maletic (Radio Journalist from Radio Novi Sad, who helped me with my band Vrijeme i Zemlja) in Zagreb, before going home.

Dr. Bill Everett, Ivo Bach, Roberto, Nenad Bach

A nice touch. Donkey, a traditional animal from Croatia, outside presidential palace.

Amir Muharemi, chief of staff for the President of Croatia. Dear friend from New York and now from Zagreb as well.

Nenad Bach, Arsen Dedic, Gabi Novak and Ivo Bach at their (Arsen and Gabi) home. Arsen is a famous Croatian singer songwriter. He helped me secure my first and a second professional contract, when I just started. Gabi is a famous Croatian singer. I feel very grateful for their help early in life.

Always a special treat to spend time with Gavran family. Miro Gavran, the most prolific and frequently performed Croatian writer with his wife and famous actress Mladena Gavran and their son Jakov. My son Ivo is here as well. Never a dull moment. Check this about Miro.

Nenad Bach, Pero Gotovac and Mojimir Cacija. Three composers.

Radojka Sverko and Nenad Bach. Radojka is a Croatian Diva. One of the best vocals Croatia ever had. See her webpage

National Library

Structure and order in harmony.

On the roof of the building, with an angel, protecting Zagreb.

Tomislav Square from the same roof top.

Sipping first coffee on Saturday morning. prof.dr Slaven Letica, dr. Gordana Cerjan-Letica, prof. dr. Slobodan Lang, Ivo Bach and Nenad Bach. Tkalciceva Street.

Ksenija Prohaska. Met her on the street while she was looking to buy some dates (fruit). A dear friend from Los Angeles and a famous actress in her own right. Acted opposite Warren Beatty. See her new webpage

one more time

now with the flash. St. Peter's church in the background.

Mladen Magdalenic a legendary Croatian Radio journalist. Mladen helped me at the beginning of my musical career.

Nenad Bach being interviewed by Mladen Magdalenic for Croatian National Radio

I was just sitting and minding my own business, drinking cup of coffee and talking on the phone in Zagreb, Croatia, when suddenly Charlie showed up behind me. The same way he came, the same way he went away. Nice touch Zagreb.

Darko Glavan 1951 - 2009

Darko Glavan and Nenad Bach on June 9th 2009, at 4 PM in front of the Mimara Museum

It was a sad long lasting moment in the summer of 2009. Darko Glavan a known Croatian writer, journalist and art historian who established music and visual standards of our era together with Drazen Vrdoljak, tragicaly died on July 12 in Varazdin. Month before we met at the Mimara Museum, where he worked, and discussed his appearance at the celebration of the first Rijeka's LP "Vrijeme i Zemlja I" Since I was the founder of the group and Darko was born in Rijeka it was an obvious choice for us to invite him to give us his perspective of this unique event, plus evaluation of the music 30 years later.

This afternoon on June 9th we spent few hours together. Much more than probably both of us anticipated. At the door, I asked a passerby to take photo of us and although I met Darko many times in my life (in Zagreb, Rijeka and New York), I never asked for a photo. This time I did. Darko came on time on June 19th 2009 on Arca Fiumana, a ship located in Rijeka's harbour, gave his speech and a very good critique of the album. I was very happy since I didn't know what will he say. On July 12th I drove from Salzburg, Austria ( a Mozart town) to Varazdin where I enjoyed Santana's concert that Darko went to see as well . Darko tragically died in a car accident that night.

My memory of Darko Glavan is fresh and vivid. I enjoyed his company, didn't share his taste in music mostly, but loved his passion for art, cover art for music and life in general. We lost a gentleman and knowledgeable journalist who was not hungry for art. He spoke openly in what he believed and therefore established an authority in his field.

I stayed in Zagreb, for his funeral, and went to Rijeka for In Memoriam service.

I will miss you Darko.

Denis Redic of LivingStone Magazine and Nenad Bach, at the funeral.

Davor Tolja, Jadranka Cubric, Nenad Bach, Gloria Fabijanic Jelovic and Darko Glavan with a last moment coordination at the Vrijeme i Zemlja celebration in Rijeka, June 19th 2009

Darko Glavan and Nenad Bach on June 9th 2009, at 4 PM in front of the Mimara Museum

Salzburg, Austria July 10-12, 2009. 50 years of Zero movement

Universitat Mozarteum. Nenad Bach, Mirna Brkanovic and Roswitha Pross

Anne-Sofie Mutter playing violin.

Anne-Sofie Mutter and Gerhard Lenz

George Lenz and Nicole Stanner

Nenad Bach and Anne-Sofie Mutter

Nenad Bach, Mirna Brkanovic and Salzburg

Mirna Brkanovic, Gerhard Lenz and Nenad Bach

Mozart's sons

Mozart's instrument

Church in Anif

The cook

Going home to Croatia. Beautiful Austria

Ana Bach feeding horse and goats

Marie and Paolo D'Inca visit Rijeka, Croatia

D'Inca family. Friends from Italy and France

Marie's artistic camera eye. Sunset with clouds in Rijeka, Croatia

Nenad and Paolo

Nenad and Marie

Vrijeme i Zemlja 1979-2009. Celebration of the first LP in Rijeka, Croatia.

As soon I get more time to describe photos and circumstances, I will. As of now just watch the photos.

All photos by Miljenko Klepac

Vrijeme i Zemlja 30 years celebration 2

All photos by Ivo Bach

Nenad Bach with his new band recording the old way style. Photos by Zoran Orlic

Mick Hanson and Nenad N. Bach in action. Photo taken by Zoran Orlic, while we were recording.

Further down, randomly chosen photos. It took few months of preparation. Four days of technical home adaptation and two days of recording. April 25-26, 2009.

Nenad's new band. Mick Hanson - guitar, Richard Lindsey - bass, Michael O'Keefe - drums, Nenad Bach - guitar, piano, vocal, Joe DeSanctis - keyboards, accordion. Perfect combination.

Motion.

Emotion.

Nenad N. Bach, Richard Lindsey, Mick Hanson, John Holbrook.

Joe DeSanctis, keyboards. Now known as The Wedge.

Motion and emotion.

Reliable bass foundation. Richard Lindsey.

Playing keyboards and solving problems. Joe was crucial in an almost disaster situation.

Mick and Richard. Focus and intensity. Boys are playing together like there is no tomorrow.

Moment of joy. Nenad and Mick.

Zoran Orlic www.zerostudio.net a brilliant photographer. We are grateful for his presence and talent of capturing and documenting our musicianship.

Michael O'Keefe, drums.

Control room. Nenad, Chip, Mick and John Holbrook aka The Bishop

The Wedge. Joe's famous solution for the floor speaker position.

Our living room turned into recording room.

Number of tough decisions needed to be made in the dining area.

Nenad, John and Dino Rulli. Ana Bach in the mirror. Dino and Chip were great help to us. Dino does it for years for me. Friendship since 2000 when we met through Al Gore.

Quiet moment, practicing "Yes, I do"

Floor full of cables, neatly organized by John and Chip.

Not a lack of concentration but pure joy, playing with these guys.

Richard Lindsey, bass. You will hear it soon.

Mick on a guitar.

Michael on drums. Pleasure to work with.

Essential eye contacts.

and not.

Mick, the guitar man. Wait till you hear that one.

Simple chord chart for the song I Will Follow You.

Playing together. No headphones, no isolation booths, capturing the sound as is. One room, one sound, one band. I love it. The best experience of my life in a recording mode position. This constellation of musicians is the band for the orbit.

Details

Empty control room.

Not captured on the photos but we had a feast with Vjera, Ana and Lea Bach supplying the calories and delicious food. Thank you girls.

Nenad Bach: vocal, piano, guitar
Richard Lindsey: bass
Mick Hanson: electric guitar
Michael O'Keefe: drums
Joe DeSanctis: keyboards, melodica, accordion

Mastering session with John Holbrook

On March 31, 2009 album Vrijeme i Zemlja I was remastered at John Holbrook's studio. Cat helped.

Nenad goes to Washington

Barack and Michelle Obama dance in style. Photo by Nenad Bach

It started early morning of January 19th 2009 on New Jersey Turnpike. First sun beams. Baggy eyes. 2.5 hours of sleep that night. 5 hours of driving to Silver Spring MD. I don't like to stop, anywhere when I am driving. In the car and out of the car. No stops, unless I need to. Traffic was excellent.

Sunoco Gas station. All got excited about my trip to Washington. Croatians for Obama button worked.

Nenad Bach and Steve Rukavina. Croatians on the Hill.

Nenad Bach, left of my hat, Library of Congress. Photo by Joe Foley.

Steve Rukavina, Joe Foley and Nenad Bach, at Alaska Tea Reception

Marta Mattox, James Sterling "Jimmer" Mattox, Steve Rukavina and Nenad Bach

Steve Rukavina, Marta Mattox and Nenad Bach. Marta is Croatian from Texas. Full of creative energy. With a Croatian pin. Marta was very active during the war and as Steve and I talked about, many Croatian Americans did help locally in their own communities. Many not credited properly for the help, as the credit wasn't the reason, but still... I truly appreciate all of you who helped us when we needed it.

Nenad Bach, Congressman Keith Ellison and Steve Rukavina. We were lucky that day. The line in front of Longworth Building was cca 2 hour line. Some instinct and quick reaction made me jump to the entrance, where man that we stood next to in line was talking to Keith, mentioning Tom Rukavina, a state legislator (Steve Rukavina's cousin). Everybody knows Tom. On that note, Steve and I were invited to Keith's offices. He mentioned as well that he has Croatian roots as a reaction to Croatians for Obama button. So we didn't need to wait in line for the tickets that we didn't need anyway, but would miss Alaskan Tea reception. (photo by Dustin Brandenburg)

Nenad and Keith, more relaxed. Keith has Croatian roots. And friendliness.

Minnesotans support each other.

Washington Halls. One after another. offices, people, tax money at work.

Steve Rukavina, Tom Begich and Nenad Bach. Tom is a fellow musician, who impressed me very much with his knowledge of art and politics.

January 20th, early morning. Silver Spring Metro station. We stayed at Steven's friend Susan Heltemes. Thank you Susan for your hospitality.

Memorabilia Metro ticket, for the time spent in Washington D.C. I still have from 2-4 rides.


Debbie saw our Croatian Americans for Obama button and said, I am Croatian too. That button turn heads all the time. You wouldn't believe how many Croatians were at the inauguration.

Jesse Jackson, gave up on waiting in the "purple line", brushed shoulders with me. Not encouraging for the rest of us. We barely made it on time, due to our keen sense of orientation and completion.

This is famous Purple VIP ticket. Somebody was offering $10 for the ticket, after the inauguration. I kept mine.

The day was beautiful. Excitement in the air.

Steve and I got here together, although from time to time we were separated by masses of people. Ceremony is in progress. Kind person took photo of us. We are standing on newspapers, to avoid direct contact with frozen ground. At 12:04 Barack Hussein Obama was sworn in as our 44th president. 1.5 million people watched it live. No arrests. Day to remember.


Another bunch of Croatians from Virginia, Minnesota, who talked to us because of the button. They knew Steven's cousin Tom Rukavina as well. Woman's name is Kim Stokes. They are Croatians who never visited Croatia. Yet.

Inaugural Ball opened its doors at 6 PM on January 20th, 2009

Commemorative photos have been taken by people before or after you.

This is how the Presidential Ball ticket looked. If you can see on the bottom, there is a bar code. They scanned tickets as we were getting in. This time organization was much better, than Purple Ticket line.


The most famous Croatian American politician Congressman Dennis Kucinich, with his brother Frank. L-R. Nenad Bach, Congressman Dennis Kucinich and Frank Kucinich. I scored the movie Freedom from Despair that Dennis was interviewed for and also I agree with the Ministry of Peace, as oppose to Department of Defense. Department of Peace should and will exist one day. If we put that much money into progression of peace, World Peace would be already achieved. Photo by Elizabeth Kucinich.

Nenad Bach, Congressman Dennis Kucinich and Elizabeth Kucinich

Nenad and Dennis. Dennis was friendly, natural and intelligent. Proud Croatian American whose radical positive ideas are yet to come to the main stream. Photo by Elizabeth Kucinich.

Joe and Jill Biden. Eloquent and elegant.

Everybody Loves Joe. We Croatians certainly remember his support during our tough times. Joe was always, from the beginning on the right side. First Catholic vice-president ever.

I said elegant. If you didn't believe me, see this photo. All photos by Nenad Bach, unless told differently.

Sheryl Crow, was entertaining us, with singing teasing comments like "Dear President, would you be my man". Sheryl's good as always.

Barack spoke to us. Michelle with proud look. Who wouldn't be.

Obama was eager to go to work tomorrow. And he did. Ordered closing of the Guantanamo Bay, plus much more.

I was privileged to watch all of this from a close distance. See how they move together in rhythm.

Joe and Jill were elegant, but the First Lady and Barack didn't lack it either. Love that calm elegance.

Waiting for the meeting with the White House official for NDECC - National Democratic Ethnic Coordinating Council on January 21st. This administration is not wasting any time.

Here we are from all over the world.

This is what we used for making buttons. Thank you Dino and Marcie.

www.croatia.org
www.nenadbach.com