Philip Joseph LaTessa (born 1961) is an American businessman and politician from Syracuse, New York. He was elected as the City of Syracuse City Auditor in 2003 and currently is a candidate for re-election to that office.
Personal Life
Philip LaTessa was born in Manhattan and attended Immaculate Conception Grammar School on East 14th Street and lived at Stuyvesant Town . His parents relocated to Syracuse where he was enrolled in the public school systems in Syracuse and then graduated from Christian Brothers Academy High School in Syracuse [http://en. .org/wiki/Christian_Brothers_Academy_(Syracuse,_New_York)]. LaTessa lives on the east side of Syracuse, where he has resided since 1994 .
Business Career
LaTessa earned his Bachelor of Arts B.A. from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University in 1984. He briefly lived in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and returned to Syracuse. After working as a Financial Adviser, LaTessa was offered a position with JP Morgan Chase as a Mortgage Loan Officer.
In 1997 LaTessa started The Funding Source, a mortgage company . In 2001 the firm was licensed by the New York State Department of Banking as a Mortgage Banker and received HUD Approved FHA Lender status. The Funding Source has over 30 employees.
In 2002 LaTessa started Weichert Realtors, First Residential Group which grew to be the 7th largest real estate firm according to the Greater Syracuse Association of Realtors by 2006. LaTessa's real estate company has over 60 affiliated agents and staff.
LaTessa also started the Greatwood Companies in 2004: Greatwood Title and Abstract, LLC employs Attorneys and Paralegals who facilitate closings. Greatwood Appraisal, LLC offers appraisal services. Greatwood Property Management, LLC performs property management work for investors in Central New York.
Political Career
LaTessa ran for the city wide office of Syracuse City Auditor in 2003. He was elected with over 62% of the vote.
LaTessa has been an independent watchdog over the city finances performing financial and performance based audits on a regular basis. LaTessa has been cited in numerous publications including The Manhattan Institute following his audit of the national HUD 108 loan scandal in Syracuse .
LaTessa also performed the first Performance Audit of the HUD funded program Tomorrow's Neighborhoods Today (TNT). . This audit reviewed the pilot program in use in Syracuse and its impact on the neighborhoods and community.
In January of 2007 City Auditor LaTessa was interviewed for the position of New York State Comptroller following the resignation of New York State Comptroller Alan Hevesi . LaTessa was one of eighteen candidates interviewed by the New York State Legislature and
LaTessa is a member of the Democratic party and is running for re-election in 2007.
Personal Life
Philip LaTessa was born in Manhattan and attended Immaculate Conception Grammar School on East 14th Street and lived at Stuyvesant Town . His parents relocated to Syracuse where he was enrolled in the public school systems in Syracuse and then graduated from Christian Brothers Academy High School in Syracuse [http://en. .org/wiki/Christian_Brothers_Academy_(Syracuse,_New_York)]. LaTessa lives on the east side of Syracuse, where he has resided since 1994 .
Business Career
LaTessa earned his Bachelor of Arts B.A. from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University in 1984. He briefly lived in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and returned to Syracuse. After working as a Financial Adviser, LaTessa was offered a position with JP Morgan Chase as a Mortgage Loan Officer.
In 1997 LaTessa started The Funding Source, a mortgage company . In 2001 the firm was licensed by the New York State Department of Banking as a Mortgage Banker and received HUD Approved FHA Lender status. The Funding Source has over 30 employees.
In 2002 LaTessa started Weichert Realtors, First Residential Group which grew to be the 7th largest real estate firm according to the Greater Syracuse Association of Realtors by 2006. LaTessa's real estate company has over 60 affiliated agents and staff.
LaTessa also started the Greatwood Companies in 2004: Greatwood Title and Abstract, LLC employs Attorneys and Paralegals who facilitate closings. Greatwood Appraisal, LLC offers appraisal services. Greatwood Property Management, LLC performs property management work for investors in Central New York.
Political Career
LaTessa ran for the city wide office of Syracuse City Auditor in 2003. He was elected with over 62% of the vote.
LaTessa has been an independent watchdog over the city finances performing financial and performance based audits on a regular basis. LaTessa has been cited in numerous publications including The Manhattan Institute following his audit of the national HUD 108 loan scandal in Syracuse .
LaTessa also performed the first Performance Audit of the HUD funded program Tomorrow's Neighborhoods Today (TNT). . This audit reviewed the pilot program in use in Syracuse and its impact on the neighborhoods and community.
In January of 2007 City Auditor LaTessa was interviewed for the position of New York State Comptroller following the resignation of New York State Comptroller Alan Hevesi . LaTessa was one of eighteen candidates interviewed by the New York State Legislature and
LaTessa is a member of the Democratic party and is running for re-election in 2007.
Robert Joseph Jacoby (b. April 22 1988) is a New York based American jazz saxophonist and clarinetist.
Rob Jacoby grew up in White Plains, New York and graduated from Alexander Hamilton High School in Elmsford, New York. He began saxophone instruction at the age of eight with his mentor, Milt Williams, father of actress/singer Vanessa L. Williams and actor/comedian Chris Williams. By age eleven, his interests concentrated on jazz music and he began studies in this genre elsewhere.
When Jacoby was only twelve years old, he began playing in musical productions in local theaters, honing his reading abilities and doubling skills. Jacoby started his own group called the Westchester Blue Notes, a sextet, who performed throughout Westchester County in New York and the rest of the tri-state area. Jacoby began to lead his own quartet/quintet and started performing in local clubs, restaurants, and bars. At the age of fifteen, Jacoby began studying with Grammy Award-winning saxophonist Ralph Lalama, who took the young musician under his wing and became one of his mentors.
Over his short, yet fruitful, career, Jacoby has performed at the Blue Note, Jazz at Lincoln Center's Allen Room, the Garage, the Bowery Poetry Club, and has been seen at Smalls, Sweet Rhythm, Showman’s, and the Bar Next Door. He has had the pleasure of sharing the stage with greats including Joe Lovano, Ralph Lalama, Steve Turre, Dennis Irwin, Wynton Marsalis, Chris Potter, Brian Lynch, Joe Magnarelli, and Barry Ries.
Recent work
Jacoby has had the pleasure of recording for world-renowned jazz producer Teo Macero. The recording included legendary musicians such as Lee Konitz, Dave Liebman, Alex Sipiagin, George Garzone, and others. The album was released in the summer of 2007.
In addition to his first sideman recording, Rob also recorded his first album as a leader in 2007. The album is entitled, "Step Up," recorded on the Garagista Music label. The quartet/quintet album features Grammy Award winner Brian Lynch on trumpet, pianist David Hazeltine, bassist John Ray, and drummer Ron Vincent.
Jacoby is currently attending New York University in the Jazz Performance program, led by Dave Schroeder, and is given the opportunity to work with such luminaries as Don Friedman, Ralph Lalama, Brian Lynch, Joe Lovano, Billy Drewes, Jim McNeely, Dave Pietro, and Rich Shemaria.
Rob Jacoby grew up in White Plains, New York and graduated from Alexander Hamilton High School in Elmsford, New York. He began saxophone instruction at the age of eight with his mentor, Milt Williams, father of actress/singer Vanessa L. Williams and actor/comedian Chris Williams. By age eleven, his interests concentrated on jazz music and he began studies in this genre elsewhere.
When Jacoby was only twelve years old, he began playing in musical productions in local theaters, honing his reading abilities and doubling skills. Jacoby started his own group called the Westchester Blue Notes, a sextet, who performed throughout Westchester County in New York and the rest of the tri-state area. Jacoby began to lead his own quartet/quintet and started performing in local clubs, restaurants, and bars. At the age of fifteen, Jacoby began studying with Grammy Award-winning saxophonist Ralph Lalama, who took the young musician under his wing and became one of his mentors.
Over his short, yet fruitful, career, Jacoby has performed at the Blue Note, Jazz at Lincoln Center's Allen Room, the Garage, the Bowery Poetry Club, and has been seen at Smalls, Sweet Rhythm, Showman’s, and the Bar Next Door. He has had the pleasure of sharing the stage with greats including Joe Lovano, Ralph Lalama, Steve Turre, Dennis Irwin, Wynton Marsalis, Chris Potter, Brian Lynch, Joe Magnarelli, and Barry Ries.
Recent work
Jacoby has had the pleasure of recording for world-renowned jazz producer Teo Macero. The recording included legendary musicians such as Lee Konitz, Dave Liebman, Alex Sipiagin, George Garzone, and others. The album was released in the summer of 2007.
In addition to his first sideman recording, Rob also recorded his first album as a leader in 2007. The album is entitled, "Step Up," recorded on the Garagista Music label. The quartet/quintet album features Grammy Award winner Brian Lynch on trumpet, pianist David Hazeltine, bassist John Ray, and drummer Ron Vincent.
Jacoby is currently attending New York University in the Jazz Performance program, led by Dave Schroeder, and is given the opportunity to work with such luminaries as Don Friedman, Ralph Lalama, Brian Lynch, Joe Lovano, Billy Drewes, Jim McNeely, Dave Pietro, and Rich Shemaria.
The Small Mining Encyclopedia is a versatile three-volume reference edition in the fi eld of mining science and engineering. It describes about 18000 terminology and nomenclature units, which cover various aspects of exploration, extraction and primary processing of solid, liquid and gaseous minerals. The book is intended for specialists, particularly mining experts, geologists, research workers, post-graduate students, students majoring in mining and allied specialties as well as large sections of engineering and technical staff of mining companies and readers interested in development of mineral resources.
Unconventional Percussion
Unconventional percussion is the use of ones hands, fingers, knuckles or feet which is not directly related to the use of a drum set. For example: If someone uses a trash can lid as a symbol and the trash can as the drum, he can "Bang" his hands on the trash can to make a beat and hit the lid with a stick to make a noise similar to a symbol.
Unconventional percussion has been around since the beginning of music before drums were ever created. It does not have to directly refer to a certain beat however it can include simple rhythm and singing of a person or a group of people to create new music on the spot.
Some organizations, such as the Assembly of God Christian association Fine Arts Festival has grown to allow unconventional percussion as a new category, along with many other categories such as regular percussion and piano.
In my opinion, typical music can become repetitive and booring, whereas with unconventional percussion there is a new sound every time you hit a beat. And, you can make this sound anywhere: On your desk, in the office, or at school. Not everyone can play the conventional drum but everyone can play an unconventional percussion instrument.
Unconventional percussion is the use of ones hands, fingers, knuckles or feet which is not directly related to the use of a drum set. For example: If someone uses a trash can lid as a symbol and the trash can as the drum, he can "Bang" his hands on the trash can to make a beat and hit the lid with a stick to make a noise similar to a symbol.
Unconventional percussion has been around since the beginning of music before drums were ever created. It does not have to directly refer to a certain beat however it can include simple rhythm and singing of a person or a group of people to create new music on the spot.
Some organizations, such as the Assembly of God Christian association Fine Arts Festival has grown to allow unconventional percussion as a new category, along with many other categories such as regular percussion and piano.
In my opinion, typical music can become repetitive and booring, whereas with unconventional percussion there is a new sound every time you hit a beat. And, you can make this sound anywhere: On your desk, in the office, or at school. Not everyone can play the conventional drum but everyone can play an unconventional percussion instrument.