Jazz Festival

I must start by saying that while I'm writing this Brad Turner is absolutely ripping the crap out of Tom Harrell's MOON ALLEY. WOW!!!! The festival is officially half over and I haven't heard anything outside of whats played at the club. Things started off a little bit slow but have since picked up a lot. We opened with THe Night Crawlers; a band that Im a part of that I happen to be very excited about. The crowd was a little lack lustre and didn't appear to really know when to clap and when not to but for the most part they enjoyed the band. Its a fun band playing the music of the likes of Jack McDuff, Lou Donaldson etc. All blues which is right up my alley. Saturday was quite a night with Tom Keenlyside and ALTERED LAWS occupying the stage. They sounded wonderful as they usually do. This band has a buzz about it similar to that of SKYWALK as Tom Keenlyside says. Sunday was the slowest night in jazz festival history while I have owned The Cellar. Its really to bad to because Matthias Lupri's Quintet really sounded wonderful.......It was back to being packed on Monday night with The Jill Townsend Big Band. This night was a lot of fun despite there being a lot of subs in the band. Hugh Fraser's VEJI took a lot of Jill's regulars out on the road for a CDN tour. You would've never known though. Everyone sounded great. The highlight of the night by far was baritone saxophonist Chad Makela's feature on a tune called 'Dont Call Before Ten." writting by Ross Taggart. It appears on Ross' quartet album recorded Live @ The Cellar called Thankfully. The big band chart was smoking and Makela tore it apart!!!! Tonight Brad Turner's TRIBUTE TO THE TRUMPET MASTERS has been awesome. The band of Jesse Cahill, bassist Paul Rushka, pianist Chris Gestrin, saxophonist Jon Bentley made their way through two sets of music ranging from Dizzy Gillespie to Woody Shaw to Tom Harrell beautifully. It was a good reminder that I don't have to go very far to hear world class music played by world class musicians. God we're so lucky!!

Tomorrow is a big day for me. Dr. Lonnie Smith at The Center for the performing arts. Im nervous and exicted. Mostly excited at yet another opprotunity to play with someone who has become a huge hero of mine. Im also excited to have the chance to play with Pete Bernstein who for many years has occupied a special place in my music loving heart. To me, Bernstein is the finest guitarist on the planet combining an incredible sound, a terrific touch and a sense of melody that is simply sublime. It should be a blast!!!!!