Pretty much the only good thing that came from my years in college and the everlasting mound of student loans is the people I met while serving my time. Don’t get me wrong, I worked hard and learned a lot in college but what continues to pay off day after day is not the A’s [...]
What I learned from Joshua Redman
A couple of years ago, I played a gig with my trombonist, Martin Sager, and a new drummer named Eric Ward. This trio gig was originally booked as a quartet (as most of my shows were at the time) but my guitarist couldn’t make it. Instead of finding a sub, I decided to go ahead [...]
I Get to Teach Again!
Today I went to an interview at a local church that hosts a really great music program. This place is huge and has about one hundred and fifty students across several disciplines. I noticed they didn’t have a bass instructor so I emailed them and enquired about the position. I met with the head of [...]
You can do that on a PC, you know!
There is a misguided assumption among hipsters and musicians, these days, that Mac is the Jesus Christ of computers and it is flawless in all ways. PC’s, in this scenario, are obviously Lucifer. Well, here’s the whole ball of wax… ***I want you to know that I am not saying PC OR Mac is inferior [...]
I Think I’m Ready (New Album volume 1)
A full length album has been hanging over my head for years. It has taken me a long time to be happy with where I am and figure out what I am. Well, I think I have gotten there. Though I have released an EP called Live at Featured Players, I haven’t actually organized my [...]
Droid Apps for working musicians
Obviously, the App selection is awesome. There REALLY is an App for everything. Yes, there are ones for leveling pictures and scanning barcodes or a compass or dinner reservations, etc, but there are several that are wonderful for the gigging musician who needs to keep track of expenses, income and mileage. So, I’m going to cover a couple that I use for business and convenience.
Music lessons from Figure skating
Ok, this is kind of an odd combination, I know. And, just prove how random it actually is, I will tell you this- I got the idea from an Olympics commercial. Anywho, pretty much the main focus of my short blogging career has been the mental side of being a musician, the problems that people [...]
The Living Jazz Duo
Several years ago, I was a pit musician for a couple college theatre department productions. It was one of those situations where you meet new people and, with one or two of them, you just know you will be working together in the future. You know how it is, you really hit it off musically, [...]
The Meaning behind the Music
Last weekend, the wife and I took a trip to our old stomping grounds, Atlanta, Ga. It’s a little over three hours from our home so, she thought it would be fun if we each made a playlist inspired by our lives as a couple. The way we separately interpreted this task was inspiring to [...]
Jazz Without Leaving The House
One thing that makes things difficult as a jazz musician in a small town is the limited (if any) chances to see/hear live jazz and it can be hard to “feel” your way through band leadership and…
