In like a lion

What a week... most of us New Yorkers started by shoveling! Anyway, it was a fun musical week. The trio did Friday night in Port Jeff at Ruvo and we had a nice crowd with some dancing going on. We even broke in our first reggae tune, Bob Marley's Stir It Up. Saturday brought us out to Duckwalk Vineyards as part of the Jazz On The Vine program. Lots of familiar faces and lots of fun. People hung out all day.
What have you folks been listening to? Anything interesting, anything good? I went to the record store last week to get the new Van Morrison live version of Astral Weeks but no luck... Second on the list is the new JJ Cale CD. Even though JJ is out west now that Tulsa groove is really still there. I recommend Jamie Oldaker's (JJ & Claptons long time sideman drummer) Mad Dogs and Okies CD if you like that Tulsa sound. It features Clapton, JJ, Vince Gill, Taj Mahal among others.

A special note! Recently we lost won of the best drummers to ever hold sticks. Louie Bellson died (the end of the big three, Krupa, Rich, Bellson) at 84. I was lucky enough to see Louie Bellson twice . Once was a drum clinic where he shared some of his technique to a crowd of young drummers. He graciously and constructively scared us all. The other time was in a small jazz club in Florida, his playing was amazing. I remember him as being very nice (I had to strike up a conversation with him being the up and coming player I was). Two standouts from Louie. First, he was credited with starting the double bass kit. Second he liked a bunch of rock n roll drummers before it ever became fashionable.

Please contribute.
Peace,
D