This is an interesting picture. Doug and I are wearing short sleeves and it’s the middle of summer, but doesn’t it look like winter outside? Even the trees look like they are flocked with snow.

The pic was taken by my friends when Doug and I filled in at Lilianas Restaurant recently. Our home base is definitely Delaney’s but we play other venues, too: weddings, private parties, retail shops, retirement homes, and anywhere people are interested in live jazz. When a larger sound is needed my quartet performs.  For example, this month Doug and I played twice at Delaney’s, and my quartet played two weddings and a private function.

Add in the jam sessions I host for Madison Jazz Jam, and the redecorating we’re doing in our house, and July was a busy month. We are painting and putting in new carpeting in two rooms. Quite a project. Right now our living room is filled with all the junk from those rooms. In the end it will be worth it though, because one of the rooms will be my new music room. When you practice 3 hours a day and spend many additional hours either writing music or listening to music it’s important to have a decent space.

I know, that sounds like a lot of time on music! That’s how it is, though, ask any professional musician. Most people don’t realize the time and commitment needed to play music at a high level. It never ends either. There’s always more to work on, and that is part of the attraction – music never gets old or boring.

“What a waste it is to lose one’s mind. Or not to have a mind is being very wasteful. How true that is.”
– Former Vice President Dan Quayle

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It’s been an up and down ride for me recently. The music is going great but I hope I’m not losing my mind. [Read more…]

Some good news and bad news…

The bad news is Doug Brown won’t be performing with me in December at Delaney’s. He’ll be busy rehearsing and performing as the Fiddler in CTM’s production of “A Christmas Carol.” Doug returns in January.

The good news is Doug White is filling in on piano during his absence. Doug White performed at Nadia’s Restaurant on State St for many years and is currently in the house band rotation for Madison Jazz Jam. He is a talented musician familiar with many standards and we’ve been having a blast jamming together. A piano-sax duo has a different sound and I think you’ll like it. I hope to see you there.

 

Every year I host a plant sale to benefit Madison Jazz Jam, a  nonprofit that runs an all-ages jam session. It’s a major time commitment collecting plants from neighbors and friends, digging out plants and labeling, and running the sale. I like dealing with plants and people and we raise a fair amount of cash for the jam so it’s worth it. I also benefit from the leftovers. I donate most to my friend’s plant sale for Midvale PTA and the Healthy Lawn team, but a few choice leftovers make it into my garden. This was one of them and it is spectacular! I’d give you the name but I only know it is some kind of giant daylily.

My wife Mary took this picture near dusk with her phone camera. Despite the dwindling light the flower seems to capture and radiate light. I love it!

Doug and I have been playing together for 2 years. When he can’t make it Dan is the man. Here is a pic of Dan Flynn and me last night at Delaney’s. Dan’s soft spoken approach to jazz standards reflects his personality and goes over well with listeners.

We are finally taking it out of the basement. “So What” is playing it’s first show 7 – 9 pm this Saturday at Lakeside Coffeehouse. We play jazz, blues, and standards and try to keep it interesting by incorporating elements of reggae, New Orleans rhythms, funk, and whatever else sounds good. It’s going to be fun. Hope to see you there!

 

Nothing says spring like a clump of Tulip Tarda eagerly reaching toward the sun. These dependable flowers are among my favorites. When I’m not playing the sax or at work I’m in the yard with my hands in the dirt. This weekend I’ll continue to revamp the backyard which was transformed from shade to sun when a giant white pine died last fall.

Here’s a pic of Doug and I playing at Delaney’s last Friday. It is approaching sunset so the blinds are down on the west facing window. I really like the huge windows in their lounge. In the summer you can sit outside, or if it’s too hot, stay inside and still enjoy the light.

It is almost always packed when Doug and I play at Delaney’s. They have good food, it’s a nice venue, and maybe, just maybe, people like jazz. But wait, that can’t be… jazz is dead isn’t it? Magazine articles, online forums, blog posts – that’s what they say. They’ve been saying it for years. Okay then, it must be the good food. But how do you explain the packed house at the Fountain for last Sunday’s jazz jam? Hmmm…..

Is jazz dead or not? What can be done to keep it alive? There are no easy answers, but the topic is fun to thrash around anyway. For several months I’ve been getting together with five guys to play through jazz standards. As we were wrapping up last Wednesday [Read more…]

Lately, the crowds have been large at Delaney’s. Everyone loves the warm, friendly vibe of the lounge and it fills up fast. The next option is eating in the dining room and it’s nice for quiet, intimate meals, but the music is hard to hear.  You can make reservations for the dining room, but with rare exceptions they don’t allow reservations for the lounge. My advice: get there early (6ish) if you are coming for the music.

Lounge reservations are allowed for those with special needs (wheelchairs, etc), or traveling long distances. Last night my brother Tom brought my mom up from Milwaukee to hear Doug and I – she asked for this for Christmas. Between playing for a packed house and having my mom and brother there, it was a very special evening.