Very happy to start 2016 with some of my favorite musicians on the planet!
What a great time with guest drummer Brad Boal. Great to experience a fantastic response to our new material! Speaking of new things, recent and upcoming changes to Pearl Django have been announced. I’ve enjoyed being able to work with guitarists Ryan Hoffman and Troy Chapman but am excited about the chance to work with returning founding member Neil Andersson and Tim Lerch.
Come join us on Jan 30 at Whidbey Island Center for the Arts as the group wishes Troy a fond farewell at his last official concert and extends a welcome and welcome back to Tim and Neil.
Congratulations to producer Martin Lund for a very successful and well-received three days of exciting and diverse music! Also many thanks to Orcas Open Arts and the sponsors and volunteers, stage, lighting and sound crew who went “above and beyond” in every way. Besides the joy of being made to feel so welcome, the thing that made this festival so much fun for me was the variety of music. A huge thrill to share the stage with Martin, Brazilian vocalist Paula Santoro, guitarist Gene Nery, the excellent Jovino Santos Neto Quarteto and everyone’s favorite (mine for sure!) Hot Club style group, Pearl Django! But I also really enjoyed the quiet contrast of the small groups Martin put together on the spot throughout the festival. Here we are enjoying a tune with bassist Rick Leppanen.
No better way to celebrate National Jazz Appreciation Month than to spend two weeks performing in Russia! Looking forward to an exciting time of sharing music and making friends. See you soon, Moscow, Ufa, Ivanova, Perm, Novosibirsk and St.Petersburg!!!
So honored to be part of a benefit for arts education in my own community! Mercer Island Fine Arts Showcase, a 2-day fundraiser celebrating art education is put on by the Mercer Island Fine Arts Advisory Committee in conjunction with the School District and has been a tradition for over 30 years. Tuesday evenings “Spotlight of Visual Arts” will showcase an extensive art display along with an art scavenger hunt and other participatory activities. Music will be provided by MIHS Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Choir and other groups. On Wednesday evening I will be narrating the “Spotlight on Performing Arts” program. See website for a list of all artists and music groups for both nights and for ticket purchase.
Enjoyed contributing to a new project by producer, arranger and multi-instrumentalist, Martin Lund. Martin’s “Sentimental Journeys” is a collection of songs about all types of transportation. (Martin Lund, I think you’re going places!!!) Had fun with this inspirational R.Kelly song.
Very excited about the invitation to appear with this phenomenal group of musicians! Looking forward to this new collaboration and to our first show at the Whidbey Island Performing Center for the Arts on January 25th!
Having a wonderful time at the Port Jazz Festival at Asahi Hall celebrating 55 years of friendship between sister cities Kobe and Seattle! So delighted with the wonderful enthusiasm for jazz!
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