Just returned from a 10 day little tour with Natalie Cole in FL. Was great fun, terrific music and good to see some old friends. Nice to get some sun as well!! Tried to bring some warm weather back to IL as it is still cold here.
Taking the U of I Concert Jazz Band to the Notre Dame jazz fest this weekend so busy with that and then doing some adjudicating at the Rolling Meadows Jazz Fest the next day. When I get back home have a gig with the Dave Dickey big band. Nice group as he uses some of the U of I jazz faculty (Chip Stephens, Glenn Wilson, Dana Hall, etc...) and has good charts. Should be fun.
Happy Holidays to all and hope the New Year treats everyone great! Just chilling out after a busy semester of teaching and playing. Have a few gigs over the Holidays
12/27 My Quartet, Iron Post, Urbana, IL 12/29 Jazz Mayhem, Iron Post, Urbana, IL 1/2 My Quintet, Iron Post, Urbana, IL 1/3 Piano Trio, Jim Gould's, Champaign, IL 1/7 My sextet, Iron Post, Urbana, IL
If you are in the area please stop by. Most of these gigs are 9-12 pm except 1/7 that is 7-10 pm.
Busy with bringing in U of I guest artists. First Astral Project band with Steve Masakowski-guitar, Tony DaGradi-saxophone, Jim Singleton-bass and John Vadokovich-drums this Thurs. Oct. 23 from 12-1 pm then on Nov. 5 Phil Markowitz trio with Adam Nussbaum-drums and Jay Anderson-bass from 1-3 pm. Last, Kathy Kosins jazz vocalist on Nov. 13-14 for a small group concert on the 13th from 3-4:30 pm then jazz forum with the Concert Jazz Band on Nov. 14 from 12-1 pm. All concerts in Smith Hall room 25.
Then off to do a guest artist gig with East Tennessee State U. jazz band and perc. ens. Next on to University of North Texas for the retirement party/gig for Jim Riggs and Neil Slater. Then possibly another guest artist gig at Texas State U. for Dr. Carlos Vega (former DMA student now teaching saxophone/latin jazz there).
Have been playing locally quite a bit including 3 gigs last week with the quartet and one with Jeff Helgesen's quintet. Busy with school right now as far as teaching goes. Have some more quartet gigs coming up in early Oct. with Craig Russo's Latin jazz Project and then with my quartet in the middle of the month.
