random thoughts...music related

well, ok, if these are musical random thoughts then I guess they're not so random...

Regattabar May 30th
Thanks to all who turned out to see me play with the snakes. We had a pretty healthy crowd on hand, hopefully we'll return soon. If you weren't able to make out you can learn more about the Revolutionary Snake Ensemble by visiting their website.

Wednesday night jam sessions
I've been frequenting the Wednesday night jazz jam at My House in Quincy. It's co-hosted by Rachel Burns (vocals) and her husband Tim (bass). Rachel and Tim are moving to Washington D.C. mid-June, but the jam will apparently continue with drummer Renato Malavasi hosting. Come down and check it out and play, I've had a blast sitting in and getting my jazz fix. Couple of notable jammers I've met include Steve Fell (guitar), Face (piano), John Demacy (trombone), and Andrew Hickman (tenor sax).

heavy play on the iPod these days
Grant Green – Alive!
Lettuce – Outta Here
Chick Corea – Three Quartets

also random 50's stuff for an upcoming gig;
That'll Be The Day (Buddy Holly)
All Shook Up (Elvis Presley)
Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On (Jerry Lee Lewis)
Rock Around The CLock (Bill Haley)
Tequila (The Champs)
Great Balls Of Fire (Jerry Lee Lewis)
La Bamba (Richie Valens)
Mack The Knife (Bobby Darin)
Johnny B. Goode (Chuck Berry)
Jailhouse Rock (Elvis Presley)
The Twist (Chubby Checker)

more in the way of shameless plugs...

Saturday, May 26
9 p.m. with Groove Alliance
The Yard
1211 S Mammoth Rd
Manchester, NH

Wednesday, May 30
7:30 p.m. with Ken Field's Revolutionary Snake Ensemble
Regattabar
Charles Hotel
1 Bennett Street
Cambridge, MA

random thoughts...

time for a brief respite from gigs....here's what bouncing around my brain at the moment

March Madness
stick a fork in it—my bracket is officially busted, oh well there's always next year. Go Hoyas!

Red Sox
7 days and counting!

Gracie's 5th birthday
27 days and counting!

dub'ya's last day
665 days and counting!

shameless plug department

Time for another round of upcoming gigs...

Friday, March 23
7 p.m. with Paul Combs' Dameron Project Quintet
Acton Jazz Cafe
452 Great Road (Rte. 2A/119)
Acton, MA


Saturday, March 24
9 p.m. with Groove Alliance
Whippersnappers
44B Nashua Road
Londonderry, NH


Hope to see you there!

yawn...

I've been struggling with insomnia the past few nights...which is really annoying considering that my new day gig has miraculously helped me with my arthritic back. oh, well—for the last week or so around 1:30 I awaken and either toss and turn which makes the wif join me in my sleeplessness or I just head downstairs...this seems to confuse my cat—he starts following me around with a longing in his eyes that can only say "c'mon it's time to feed me right?"

meanwhile the red flops can't seem to catch a break. they have the uncanny ability to play to the level of their competition, lately this means losing 2/3 from the devil dogs, and last night against AAA Witchita

I'm supposed to "wake up" at 5:15, it's now 3:30..dare I attempt to go back to sleep?

a long time coming...

holy cow has it been 3+ months?
ok...so here's the deal, my life got really out of hand, but it's all good now. in fact it's much better than all good. long story short is that I just (finally) changed day gigs.

but of course there is a long story.
I had been working at the former employer for 9+ years. it was a great job for about 7 of those years, and the last 2+ steadily deteriorated until things were pretty much intolerable. trouble is I didn't realize just how toxic my former situation really was until this past week, not coincidentally my first week at the new gig. since I left my former job the following has happened; I haven't needed any medication for my arthritic back, my wife and I have begun communicating again, overall I feel re-energized, and I sincerely wish that everyone can experience this. I had no idea the degree of stress that I have been carrying over from my former workplace to home and beyond. the peace that I'm beginning to feel is almost illicit—there are moments when I catch myself thinking that I don't deserve to feel this good.


alright already, this is getting out of control sappy...
oops, sorry....at any rate this also means of course that I've had bigger fish to fry for the last few months...but I'm back now

is "the Monster" Jonathan Papelbon's long lost grandfather?

Is Papelbon going to remain in 'pen, or will he return to the rotation? One thing's for sure, he has the stuff of a top-shelf pitcher.


Dick Radatz emerged as one of the most dominant relievers of the 60's.