“They always say that some white guy did it.”

That’s Miles.

Last night I played BeBop Coffee House. It was an Andy Armer production, so there was plenty of creativity in the air. Or, maybe the bass player had hot dogs for dinner. I like playing with Andy, because he listens. We can take a standard tune that has been played thirty gazillion times, and turn it into something never heard before–and will never be heard again. Andy and I have been doing this for years, and it never gets old or tiresome. Here’s a shout out to Randy, a young tenor player in the area–thanks for your kind words last night. I have listened to many players that made me want to drop everything and run home to hit the shed. If my playing had that effect on you, I am honored.

Friday night was Slick Side Down at Vino Mercato. Usually we pack the place, but Friday was pretty quiet. Perhaps worthy of note–this was essentially our first gig to really hear what our new phallically-inspired sound system can do in a club setting. (I guess we did play a party with the systems last week, but it was in a basement and it wasn’t a very good test.)

It went surprisingly well. The main thing I am trying to get used to is the way I hear myself. I am going into my system dry without effects. It sounds great, but it exposes every nuance of my playing. It will take some getting used to.

Tonight I am playing alto in the infamous Betty Berger Big Band. Every once in a while, I get called to sub in Betty’s band. It is a rag-tag group of generally good-natured jazzers playing all the old school big band charts. I play this gig because it is always good for a laugh, and it is good practice trying to read the often indecipherable charts on the fly.

Experience enables you to recognize a mistake when you make it again.
Whatever.