30th anniversary of 'Know it? I Wrote it!' jazz record to be celebrated with concert

Some 30-odd-years ago, a trio of local jazz icons, guitarist Paul Kogut, keyboardist Rick Montalbano and drummer Jimmy Johns recorded an album, almost by accident, that one reviewer described as “a balanced recording of up-tempo and ballad arrangements worthy of repeated listenings.”

Now The Other Side is celebrating the thirtieth anniversary of “Know it? I Wrote it!” by reuniting the trio (together with sax player Mike Dubaniewicz) at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 22

Tickets are $20 or $10 for students. To reserve call: 315-735-4825, email kodomenico@verizon.net or stop by Cafe Domenico.

In the late ‘90s, Kogut was teaching jazz guitar at Hamilton College, which began utilizing its newly built pub for “Jazz Wednesdays,” many of which included Paul, Rick and Jimmy. When the college expanded the program to a full-on festival, they brought in Grammy-winning engineer David Baker to record the headliner.

But Kogut had other plans.

“We developed a real ‘group’ sound, and I convinced David Baker to hang out a couple of extra days, and we went into Rick’s studio in Rome to record,” recalls Kogut.

The record was initially picked up by a British label that promptly went out of business. After a few years in limbo, it was re-released on Chicago-based Blujazz records.

“This concert is a celebration of a joyous album of mostly Kogut originals with the exception of Victor Young’s classic ‘Stella By Starlight’ and Lennon & McCartney’s ‘Can’t Buy Me Love’,” says Other Side co-owner Orin Domenico. “My guess is that with musicians this dynamic they will not stick strictly to the given text and may play some new and other pieces.”

While the recording and release are decades old, this won’t be the first time since then these stellar players will have performed together.

“This past February I was booked to play a private party in Utica,” notes Kogut. “I hadn’t seen Rick in a while, but playing with him was as comfortable and inspiring as ever.”

“I know Mike Dubaniewicz will be joining in on alto sax,” Paul adds, “and you can never tell what other special guests might show up.”

For the past 25 years, Kogut has been steadily building an international reputation as a jazz guitarist and composer.

He has worked with artists like Charles Earland, Clark Terry, J.R. Monterose and countless others, and he has led his own trio at numerous venues, including Manhattan’s renowned 55 Bar, Chicago’s Jazz Showcase, Cleveland’s legendary Nighttown, Chris’ Jazz Cafe in Philadelphia, and Austin's Elephant Room, as well as festivals all over the world.

For his part, Kogut sees this concert as another part of The Other Side’s efforts to reignite the Utica Jazz scene.

“They’ve had some great shows at The Other Side lately,” says Paul. “I’m honored and excited to be a part of the scene, playing with such wonderful musicians.”

This article originally appeared on Observer-Dispatch: 'Know it? I Wrote it!' jazz record celebrates 30 years with concert