davidhallblog.com

2011-12-09T06:34:00.002-05:00

I have added a Facebook site for David Hall Musical Services. I will use this vechicle to post upcoming gigs and interesting music information that I run across.

My Old Reel-To-Reel Tapes

2011-11-26T12:52:00.001-05:00

In the late 70's and early 80's, I recorded a lot of live music. I dug out a tape this morning of Vince DiMartino and friends playing at Patchen Village on 9/20/80.

Vince, Dave Anderson, Chuck Adair, Larry Harris, Stewart Miller, and Bob Rummage sound great on this recording. I can't believe that this tape is 31 years old. It seems like only yesterday when Kim Harrod and I attended this concert.

Saxman David Hall To Play At Laurel County Public Library

2011-11-17T16:05:00.005-05:00

I look forward each Christmas season to playing at the Laurel County Public Library. My performance will include some holiday, jazz, and pop tunes. It is a wonderful facility and is always well attended by lots of great folks. Lee and Jean Askew come out every year to this event. I look forward to seeing them again.

Wedding Reception Gig At Dale Hollow Lake State Park

2011-10-23T09:16:00.004-04:00

Last night I played a wedding reception gig at Dale Hollow Lake State Park. Matthew came with me and helped with moving the musical equipment.

After he set everything up, we had about an hour of free time until the gig was to start. Because he had his newly issued driver's permit, we decided that it was time for his first driving lesson. As his instructor, we focused on the use of the brake pedal. I explained that the pressure needed to apply on the brake pedal is directly correlated to the volume of my voice when shouting "BRAKE NOW!!!"

Who Dey! Bengals Win Again!

2011-10-16T17:55:00.001-04:00

Kim Harrod and I had a blast today at Paul Brown Stadium. The Bengals Beat the Colts to improve their record to 4-2.

Matthew Assumes Roadie Duties

2011-10-09T10:40:00.003-04:00

Son Matthew is doing a nice job carrying out roadie duties. Tonight I played a wedding reception at The Limestone Center in Maysville. He met Democratic Secretary of State candidate Alison Lundergan Grimes at the event.

On the way home, we made a stop in Nicholas County at Ladobee's Steak House. Matthew enjoyed it and suggested that we do this again.

Bass Solo Talk

2011-10-08T09:03:00.001-04:00

Playing The Steel Pan Drum - Tropical Sounds In Kentucky

2011-06-19T15:53:00.022-04:00

Years ago I heard a steel pan band while vacationing with my parents, brother and sister in Myrtle Beach. I was just a kid and loved the sound from the first time I heard it. As I walked along the beach, I could hear the hypnotic sounds of calypso and reggae being played. I followed the sound to a nearby hotel where a steel band was playing poolside. I listened until they had finished playing that day and later came back every afternoon that week to hear more.

Recently the steel pan drum topic came up when I was talking to Jeff Bayerle, the assistant band director at Henry Clay High School. He told me that the school owned some quality pan drums and that he knew where to buy the good ones. I then talked with several percussionist friends of mine (David, Bryan, Teresa, and Andrew) and they all recommended the same instrument and dealer. Panyard, a company out of Akron, Ohio, imports the instruments from Trinidad, where master pan makers build the instruments to Panyard specifications. When finished, they are shipped to the Ohio factory for tuning and tweaking of the instrument. I ordered a pan made from a 55 gallon drum about a month ago and was excited to receive it this past Monday.

I took a week of vacation from Hurst Music so that I could get a good start on learning to play the instrument. I practiced along with background tracks all day long on Monday and Tuesday. On Wednesday I played until I had to leave for my night gig at Giuseppe's. By Thursday I was getting around suffiently on the instrument and had put together a twenty minute playlist.

A Trial Run Gig In The Howell's Backyard
As a trial run for a gig, I took the instrument to the a neighbor's house and played in their backyard by the pool. Though I did okay, I was not confident enough to bring the instrument to my Thursday night gig at Giuseppe's. After the Thursday night gig, I practiced all night long and throughout the day Friday. On Friday night, I brought the instrument with me to Giuseppe's and played a couple of tunes each set. I had fun playing and the audience liked it. I practiced again on Saturday and took the drum with me to my gig at Caproni's Restaurant that evening. Again, it went over well.

Playing At Giuseppe's
As time goes by I will get better and more fluent in my playing. I look forward to the time when I can relax and play the tunes easily using muscle memory instead of having to think about everything and working so hard the way I currently do. I want to be able to make it look easy. I have some nice tropical shirts and a cool Panama Jack straw hat. I'll be ready when that time comes.

Playing The Opening Of The New UK Medical Center Pavilion

2011-05-16T21:02:00.004-04:00

Sandra Chambers and I played for the opening and dedication of the new University of Kentucky Chandler Medical Center Pavilion building yesterday. We played in the beautiful 305 seat auditorium of the magificent structure.

Celebrating Melody's UK Graduation

2011-05-08T23:33:00.004-04:00

Twenty seven members of our family met at Sal's in Lexington to celebrate Melody's outstanding college performance and graduation. Everyone had a great time.

Joanna & Rachel

Joe & Keith

Mary Lou, Mom & Dad

I picked up the tab

Tower Of Power's 40th Anniversary DVD

2011-01-11T08:31:00.005-05:00

TOP Live @ The Fillmore "I Got To Groove" from Tower of Power on Vimeo.

Tower of Power's 40th anniversary cd and dvd is coming soon. Here's a taste. I can't wait!

My Conversation With Jazz Vocalist Gail Wynters

2010-12-30T06:15:00.014-05:00

With Gail Wynters
I was playing a gig at Giuseppe's Ristorante Italiano last night and noticed a blonde lady sitting at the bar, having coffee, and listening to me play. It was hard to see in the dimly lit room. She looked a lot like the fine jazz singer Gail Wynters, but I couldn't tell for sure. Fifteen or twenty years ago Ms. Wynters sat in with me on a gig, but we haven't played together since.

Because I wasn't positive that it was Ms. Wynters, I took a break and, through my sound system, played a Gail Wynters recording from my iPod and watched her closely to see her expression. I chose to play her version of "How Deep Is The Ocean", a cut from her "Boogie To Heaven" cd. I started the track, and within four beats, she lit up with a big smile, laughed, and said "I can't believe you are playing that! That's Dr. John playing the piano intro." It WAS Ms. Wynters!

We then had a wonderful conversation about music, musical venues, and musicians. She described some of her recording projects and talked a little about the time she spent singing in New York. Before I began my next set, she gave me a copy of her latest cd, one that has yet to be released. It is a fine recording featuring her, the fantastic pianist Roger Kellaway, and the great bassist Jay Leonhart. I sure enjoyed our conversation, the cd, and am hoping that we perform together onstage sometime soon. What a treat for me! She is great.

The Airmen Of Note "Cool Yule" CD

2010-12-16T07:08:00.009-05:00

One of the great benefits available to those who teach music is the opportunity to receive great, free recordings from the service bands. They offer these cds as educational and recruiting material. Last month I received The United States Air Force Airmen of Note's "Cool Yule" cd. It is absolutely fantastic.

The musical arrangements played on the cd are witty, fun, and swinging! The album opens with "Jing, Jing, Jing", a combination of Benny Goodman's "Sing, Sing, Sing" and the traditional "Jingle Bells". Also included is "Santanooga Choo Choo" (Chatanoogo Choo Choo/Santa Claus Is Coming To Town), "Faithful In Paris" (April In Paris/O Come All Ye Faithful), and many more. My favorite is their version of "Up On The Housetop". It is done with Stan Kenton's "Peanut Vendor" in mind.

I have played this cd for my students, for friends at my gigs at Giuseppe's Ristorante Italiano and Caproni's Restaurant, and for the school band directors I visit each week. Everyone loves it.

Fun At The Kentucky Funeral Directors Convention

2010-06-29T21:26:00.006-04:00

Trombonist Carroll Hall

Dad and I played four gigs at the Kentucky Funeral Directors Association annual convention this week. We always enjoy the great folks at the convention. It was nice hearing friend David Haldeman's trombone when he sit in on a few tunes. I particularily enjoyed hearing Dad and David trading fours on a blues shuffle we played.

Meeting A Future Musician

2010-05-08T12:37:00.004-04:00

Last night at my gig I met a nice young man who aspires to be a musician. He stood next to me and listened for over an hour. I asked him if he wanted to become a sax player and he answered "No, I'm going to play guitar".

Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band Was Burning At Cincy's Princeton High School

2010-04-20T06:39:00.051-04:00

The tightest and most powerful big band performing today has to be Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band. My pals Wayne Miller and Kim Harrod joined me for a road trip yesterday to Princeton High School in Cincinnati to hear the incredible band. It was nice seeing that friends Miles Osland, Rich Byrd, and Gregory Wing had also made the journey up I-75 to witness and enjoy the event.

Phat Band Sound Check
Arriving early, we made our way down the long hallway to the back of the stage hoping to meet some of the musicians before the show. We found the band onstage executing a sound check and having a short rehearsal. The three of us had fun looking on.

With Gordon Goodwin
It was cool meeting Gordon Goodwin. I told him that I have been enjoying following him and the band on Twitter and on the web. He has a great talent for marketing the band and is a phenomenal composer, arranger, and player. During the concert he primarily played piano, but he did blow a great solo on tenor sax as well.

The band played some of my favorite Big Phat Band charts including "Hit The Ground Running", "Watermelon Man", "That's How We Roll", "Backrow Politics", "The Jazz Police", and a great arrangement of Gershwin's "Rhapsody In Blue". They also played "Race To The Bridge", a chart that will be included on their upcoming album. Fine jazz solos were heard from Francisco Torres, Wayne Bergeron, Bob Summers, Brian Scanlon, Jay Mason, and many others. Drummer Bernie Dresel and bassist Rick Shaw cooked all night long. I particularily enjoyed a tune that featured the wonderful trombone section of John Allred, Charlie Morrilas, Francisco Torres, and Craig Ware.

Eric Marienthal Was Smokin' On His Alto Sax
Lead alto saxman Eric Marienthal, whose new cd "Just Around The Corner" made it to #1 on the R & R Smooth Jazz Charts, played several fiery solos during the concert. I enjoyed his feature on "Play That Funky Music". What a hot player he is!

With Trumpet Ace Wayne Bergeron
The only thing that could have been better is the pa system. The main house speakers clipped and crackled throughout the evening during many of the solos. The eq setting on the primary solo microphone in front of the bandstand needed serious adjustment. I was sitting in the front row, so it didn't bother me too much, as I could hear the natural sound of the instruments on most of the solos.

On the way home, Kim, Wayne, and I stopped at Shakey's Pub & Grub for some of their award winning fish. We talked about the concert. Wayne was impressed with the tightness of the ensemble. Kim liked the players' mastery of their instruments. We all liked the power, technique, great charts, high energy, and exciting solos the unit offered up. This is a big band on steroids! It's Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band.

Celebrating Our 25th Year Wedding Anniversary In Gatlinburg

2010-04-09T06:56:00.008-04:00

January 19th marked our 25th year wedding anniversary. We decided to go to Gatlinburg for a few days during the kids' spring break in April. We dropped them off the other day at the farm to stay with Papaw & Mamaw Lucas and headed to the Smoky Mountains.

We stayed at Shakey Puddin', a cabin in the mountains between Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. The Puddin' was well equipped with a game room featuring a pool table and Ms. Pacman. The cabin also offered a hot tub, jacuzzi, a nice deck, direct tv, and lots more. Sharon liked everything about the cabin, except for the name.

We ate at several fine restaurants. I think my favorite dinner was at Bubba Gump Shrimp Company. Louisiana cajun shrimp and rice...mmm, mmm, mighty nice. Sharon's favorite was a fantastic steak at Bear Creek Grill. We also liked the apple fritters at The Apple Barn in Pigeon Forge.

Hot Sauce Heaven At Pepper Palace
We visited some of the downtown stores. Sharon spent lots of time looking at the stupid stuff. I, on the other hand, spend quality shopping time in The Original Jerky Store and Pepper Palace. The Original Jerky Store offered all kinds of jerky. I found elk, venison, kangaroo, buffalo, alligator, and oh, so much more. Pepper Palace had shelves and shelves of sauces and dips. They also offered chips and taste samples of many flavors. I think I was in there over an hour.

The Original Jerky Store Offered So Much From Which To Choose
The entire getaway was fun. It was great that I didn't even have to miss any gigs. I was able to play my Sunday gig at Caproni's Restaurant in Maysville, make the Tennessee trip, and still get back in time for my Wednesday evening gig at Giuseppe's Ristorante Italiano in Lexington. Sharon and I agree that we will do this more often.

Good Time At Bristol

2010-03-22T06:32:00.008-04:00

An Intense Barry Warfield

Barry and I had a great time yesterday at Bristol. Lee Greenwood sang "God Bless The USA" before the race and sounded great.

The grandstands hold 160,000 people, but this year the attendance was down. They announced that there were 140,000 people there, but I think that estimate was a tad generous. The Food City 500 races have been sold out for many years, but not for this year's race. Hopefully the economy will pick up soon.

Hearing Toots Thielemans & Kenny Werner Was A Treat

2010-02-28T23:09:00.042-05:00

I remember the first time I heard a Toots Thielemans recording. I was visiting my friend Paul Weiler, who had broken his leg and was unable to get around for several months. He had a cassette playing in his boombox beside the bed. As it played, I heard the most unique musical sound I had ever experienced...a harmonica player burning up a bebop tune and playing stuff that Charlie "Bird" Parker might have played on alto sax. The next song on the tape featured the harmonica player playing a bluesy ballad that knocked my socks off. Of course, I was hearing Toots.

Toots and piano virtuoso Kenny Werner played today at the University of Louisville in the Margaret Comstock Concert Hall. It was the finale of the school's "Jazz Week 2010".

Jazz fan friends Zack, Kim, and Wayne made the trip with me. We arrived at the concert hall about an hour prior to the start time of the performance. In the back hall of the building, I saw Toots just outside the green room. He was heading to the stage for a sound check and short rehearsal. At age 87, he walked carefully and held the arm of his assistant as he made his way to the stage. I followed them in and decided to stay awhile, or at least until someone asked me to leave. Kenny was already sitting at the piano and playing a beautiful and lush ballad. Toots joined in playing with the most heartfelt and soulful sound one could imagine, and as the two jazz masters played, I marveled at the communication between the two as they prepared the concert. They were choosing the songs to be played, the keys they were going to play them in, and shaping a rough sketch of the form and interpretation of the tunes they were planning to use. No words were spoken, only eye contact, nodding, chuckling, winking, pointing, and the playing of song introductions, heads, and phrases on their instruments. They have played together many times before, so not a lot of time was needed. I stood about ten feet away from them and watched these masters work until they were satisfied that they were on the same page for the upcoming concert. It was an amazing twenty minutes.

The concert was fabulous and an absolute treat for everyone in the audience. Lexington Herald Leader music critic Walter Tunis was sitting next to me and enjoying the concert as he scribbled in his notebook. Jazz educator Jamey Aebersold was intense as he operated his video camera. U of L saxophone professor Mike Tracy listened carefully to each musical line offered by the musicians. My jazz buddies, all sitting within twenty feet of the duo, were grinning and shaking their heads in amazement.

They played many great tunes, including "Autumn Leaves", "Bluesette", "The Days of Wine and Roses", "The Dolphin", as well as a gorgeous and interesting medley of songs made popular by Frank Sinatra. Throughout the day, it was obvious that the two musicians enjoyed performing together. The standing ovations from the audience, both before and after the performance, made it obvious just how much everyone appreciated this treat.

This Will Be A Great Jazz Weekend At University of Louisville

2010-02-26T06:34:00.005-05:00

Houston Person is one of my favorite tenor sax players. It bums me out that I can't make his concert tommorrow due to a scheduling conflict. The good news for me is that I should be able to make the Toots Thielemans concert on Sunday. Toots is an incredible musician and considered by many to be the finest hamonica player in the world.

Going Through Old Home Music Videos

2010-02-22T22:02:00.012-05:00

I've been having a ball going through a box full of old home videos. Last night I ran across a video of "The Sensations" playing a gig at Masterson Station Park in 1989. My friend Jill Coffman was sounding great on vocals. The keyboard player in the band is Jeff Kazee, who went on to fame playing on the David Letterman Show as a sub for Paul Shaffer, and touring with Jeff Golub, Bon Jovi, Southside Johnny and many others. It was a good band that also included J.R. Hardin, Robert Moser, David Devore, George "Boogie Man" Burdette, Tim Tyler, and Anthony Key.

I also found a video that my daughter Melody recorded when I was playing a gig for President Bill Clinton. Melody met President Clinton, Governor John Y. Brown, Governor Martha Layne Collins, and many other political figures at the event.

Our ESPN GameDay Experience

2010-02-15T06:11:00.041-05:00

Matthew and I had ordered tickets for the ESPN GameDay event at Rupp Arena held this past Saturday. When the tickets arrived, I saw that the seats were way up in the crow's nest, so I wasn't overly excited about going. Matthew, however, thinks Coach Calipari hung the moon and insisted that we attend.

As I drove down East Main Street toward Rupp Arena, Matthew shouted "Dad, Coach Cal is inside Dunkin' Donuts! I see him through the window. There's nobody else in there!" I immediately whipped our '87 Nova into a parking spot and we hurried into the shop. Coach was tweeting and talking on his phone, so we waited until he finished to approach him.

Matthew was thrilled to have his photo taken with Coach Calipari. Coach asked if we needed tickets to Gameday as he pulled some out of his pocket to give us. After letting him know that we already had tickets, I thought of the poor location of our seats and regretted not having taken him up on his offer. I would imagine he has access to some pretty good seats!

In addition to thanking him for the great job he has done coaching the team, I told Coach how much we enjoy watching his television show. We record the show on our dvr and watch it as soon as we arrive home from church each week.

When we made it back to our car, Matthew wished he had asked for an autograph. I gave him our tickets and an ink pen and sent him back to see Coach Calipari. Just as I had figured, Coach generously accomodated, much to Matthew's delight.

Rupp Arena was electric. Though our seats were crummy, the experience was fantastic. The 22,144 fans in attendance stood the entire time. Rece Davis, host of ESPN's College GameDay, said "We've never seen anything like this. This place is so special."

During the broadcast, ESPN reporter Erin Andrews, who has been voted "America's Sexiest Sportscaster" by readers of Playboy magazine, came up to the crow's nest to do an interview. What I had thought were bad seats ended up being the best seats in the house!

UK Wildcats Pregame Party Music By David & Dad Duo

2010-02-10T05:12:00.003-05:00

Dad and I had a ball last night playing a pregame party at the Lexington Downtown Hotel & Conference Center. The private party was for members of the Kentucky Funeral Directors Association at their 2010 Mid-Winter Conference.

We played plenty of dixieland, big band, swing, blues, rock & roll, and of course, "On, On, U of K". One of the highlights of the evening was when Dad wowed the crowd with his stunning version of "Chantilly Lace".

At every gig I've played with Dad, he has commented on the food table selections. No matter what is served, he always says "They really don't have much in the way of crackers". Last night, for the first time in 35 years of playing gigs with him, he exclaimed "Nice selection of crackers!"

Super Bowl Fun

2010-02-08T18:09:00.009-05:00

Matt and I watched the big game yesterday with Robert and Zack Howell. We had hot wings from Hooters, chips, dip, shrimp, pizza, pop, and more. Matt and Zack wore special helmets allowing for hands-free consumption of mass quantities. In addition to watching the game, we played some competitive ping pong. The boys also went head to head playing "Call of Duty" on the PS3.

We all had a great time. We also had some preliminary discussion regarding next year's Bengals road trip. We are leaning towards Atlanta.

Richmond KY Clarinet & Saxophone Teacher

2010-02-04T06:32:00.015-05:00

I enjoy teaching young students to play the clarinet or saxophone. Students and I have lots of fun playing many styles of music together. Scale study, tone and technique development, sight reading, jazz reading, classical solo preparation, and jazz improvisation are offered in the lessons. Areas of focus are influenced by the student's musical interest. It is very rewarding to watch my students as they advance their playing skills and improve their self confidence along the way. I am designing two new websites to advertise my teaching service, http://www.learnsax.net for sax students and http://www.learnclarinet.net for clarinet students. These websites will be enhanced in the future.

Meeting The Great Joe Lovano

2010-01-29T17:09:00.024-05:00

It was a treat for me to meet Joe Lovano today. He is one of the giants of the tenor saxophone.

I first heard him when he worked with Woody Herman & The Thundering Herd. I attended a concert they played in UK's Memorial Coliseum in the late '70's and remember how impressive he was then. He is now acknowledged as one of the greatest jazz improvisors in the world.

Mr. Lovano returned to Lexington today and conducted a master class. He shared stories about his life and musical journey and demonstrated his command of the horn. From my front row seat, I used my iPhone to record Mr. Lovano playing Thelonious Monk's "Work". He will be playing tonight at Natasha's and tomorrow at Singletary Center.

I brought my favorite Lovano cd, "I'm All For You", and had him autograph it for me. It was a fun day.

Hanging Out With Nick Clooney, Nina Clooney & The West Union Red Hat Society

2010-01-17T07:51:00.001-05:00

I had another great gig last night at Caproni's Restaurant in Maysville, KY. Nick & Nina Clooney and I enjoyed our time spent with members of the West Union Ohio Red Hat Society. Nick, Nina and I are the ones pictured above without hats.

David Hall Musical Services, A Member Of The Berea Chamber Of Commerce

2010-01-12T17:45:00.005-05:00

I am pleased to be a member of the Berea Chamber of Commerce. Known as "The Folk Arts and Crafts Capital of Kentucky", Berea is a wonderful and beautiful town.

I look forward to playing more music in this area. Also this year, I hope to enroll additional students from Richmond and Berea for private saxophone and clarinet music lessons.

John Henry Faulk's Christmas Story

2009-12-24T10:56:00.002-05:00

I enjoy listening to John Henry Faulk's "Christmas Story" on Christmas Eve. It is ten minutes well spent each year.

Click here to hear the story.

Meeting Santa & Mrs. Claus At The Gig

2009-12-16T06:47:00.002-05:00

Dad and I played a fun Christmas party gig last night. It was great seeing Mr. and Mrs. Claus there.

I spent a good deal of time with Santa making sure he accurately understood everything on my wish list. He explained that I will get what's coming to me.

Replicas Of Christopher Columbus' Ships In Maysville

2009-12-02T07:02:00.011-05:00

I worked a gig at Caproni's Restaurant on Thanksgiving Day. As I played, two ships making their way up the Ohio River became visible through the restaurant window. They looked to me like the type of ships early explorers might have sailed. It was an amazing spectacle.

Many people in the restaurant left their tables to go outside to take photographs and get a closer look. I too, had to check it out more closely. It turned out that we were looking at replicas of the Nina and Pinta, built to scale. The wooden replicas are owned by the nonprofit Columbus Foundation. The original ships were part of Columbus' fleet when he sailed to the West Indies in 1492.

The ships fired their cannons as the restaurant customers waved. The replicas served their purpose well, as many in the crowd wondered aloud what it must have been like in 1492 to be on the ships.

Transferring My LPs To iPod & Compact Disc Is Time Consuming, But Great Fun

2009-10-17T12:21:00.010-04:00

I have a very large collection of lp records and have been slowly transferring many of them to compact disc and loading them in my iPod. In addition to the several thousand lps that I have purchased over the years, my collection keeps growing as several of my friends have recently given me their old lps when making room in their homes for other things (Thanks Bruce & Ora). It's just the opposite at my home, as I am getting rid of other things to make room for more lps!

The transfer to digital media is very time consuming. I first listen to the entire album and then decide if I want to burn a disc or load it into my iPod. If so, then I'll listen again as I am doing the transfer. The simple transfer of one lp to disc and then to iPod, including the audition play and labeling, will end up taking me almost two hours. Though the process takes a lot of time, it sure is a lot of fun and therefore time well spent. My goal is to transfer an album each day, though I generally end up completing only about four per week.

Today I'm burning "Don't Look Away Now!", a swinging recording on the Prestige label by jazz great James Moody. Vocalese master Eddie Jefferson sings on one cut too. I'll bet that I haven't listened to this lp in ten or fifteen years. It is excellent and I love it! If not for this transfer endeavor, no telling when I would have heard it again. I'll probably dig it for a third time today on the way to my gig, this time by conveniently popping the newly burned cd into the van cd player.

A Great Trip To Cleveland To Watch Our Bengals Defeat The Browns

2009-10-06T17:07:00.049-04:00

Kim Harrod, Robert Howell, Matthew Hall, Zack Howell, Steve Garth and I had a great trip to Cleveland this past weekend. We left early Saturday morning in the Howell suv and headed north for some NFL football and fun.

Our first stop was at a northern Kentucky McDonalds restaurant to stretch and have a breakfast sandwich and coffee. Next on the agenda was a rest area stop in northern Ohio where we broke out my grill and let Chef Steve work his magic.

This Kabob Is Kim's...Stay Away!
My great friend Kim devoured kabobs prepared by Chef Steve Garth (of Giuseppe's fame). Matthew laughed at the large amount of barbeque sauce left on Kim's face caused by his aggressive eating style. He ate much like a protective dog unwilling to share a bone. Though Kim's eating style is relentless, I would have to give The Zackster the award for most food consumed. That guy can really put it away! He is an eating machine.

Upon arrival in Cleveland, we checked in to the Crowne Plaza Hotel. It was a good choice, as it was conveniently located within walking distance of Cleveland Browns Stadium, The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame, Lake Erie, and several nice sports bars and restaurants.

The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Was Cool
We enjoyed a couple of hours in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. I checked out a couple of Selmer Mark VI saxophones and a Hammond B-3 organ that were on display. There is a lot of stuff at the H.O.F. and I'll probably go back again sometime to examine everything more thoroughly.

On Saturday night we walked downtown to find a restaurant. I enjoyed stopping in at The House of Blues for a few minutes, but we decided to have fish and chips at Flannery's. The food was just average, but the atmosphere was excellent. Several college football games were winding down and we were able to check them out on the televisions in the restaurant. We returned to the hotel in time to watch the Tennessee-Auburn and Miami-Oklahoma games on tv.

I Paid Cash For This Muffin
On Sunday morning we hit a fantastic breakfast buffet at the Hyatt Regency. Afterwards, Steve, Matt, Kim, and I each grabbed an apple and muffin to take with us while standing outside the restaurant at the buffet table waiting for the rest of our group. An employee saw us taking the food and quickly came over to us and disgustingly proclaimed, "This food is not free, you have to pay for it!" He scolded us pretty good. As Steve was letting him know that we had just spent about $150 at the restaurant for the breakfast, I went back to the buffet table and grabbed another apple or two.

It Was Tough To Get Steve To Leave The Tailgating Lot
One of the most fun things to do on our away game trips is to visit the opposing team's tailgating lot. We get called a lot of names, but we can handle it. The Browns fans were a little more subdued than usual this year, as their team had an 0-3 record going into the game.

Blues Traveler John Popper Performed The National Anthem
It was a treat hearing John Popper, vocalist and harp player for the band "Blues Traveler", perform the National Anthem on harmonica. It was a very bluesy version, to say the least.

A Great View Of The Game From Our Seats
Our seats were practically on the field. We were in the third row right beside the tunnel where the Bengals came out of the locker room. When the action was on our end of the field, we could hear the popping of the pads and see the expressions on players' faces.

The Bengals pulled out a thrilling 23-20 win in overtime. The trip couldn't have been any better. Click here to view a photo slideshow of our fun trip.

Fun Times In Maysville At The 2009 Rosemary Clooney Festival With Smokey Robinson

2009-09-28T07:06:00.009-04:00

With Motown Legend Smokey Robinson
I had a wonderful time at my gig Saturday night in Maysville. The 2009 Rosemary Clooney Festival was a great success. King of Motown Smokey Robinson performed some of his biggest hits before the show was halted due to rain. He sang "Going To A Go-Go", "Ooh Baby, Baby", "My Girl", "I Second That Emotion", "Tears Of A Clown" and others to a large and enthusiastic crowd.

Nick and Nina Clooney, Rosemary Clooney's daughter Monsita Botwick, Speaker of the Kentucky House of Representative Greg Stumbo, State Senator Robin Webb, and Kentucky Speedway owner Jerry Carroll were part of the large crowd.

The party continued at Caproni's, where Smokey and many fans gathered for a fantastic time. I enjoyed playing sax for everyone and also had fun performing the dj duties for the event.

Smokey And Two Fans

David Hall Trio Has A Fun Gig At McCready Manor

2009-09-14T21:07:00.028-04:00

We had a fun gig this past Sunday afternoon. As he does each year, Dad wowed the crowd at McCready Manor Grandparent's Celebration Day. He always gives it "a little extra" for this gig.

We were joined onstage by saxophonist Zack Howell. Zack and I prepared some special tunes specifically for this occasion. He sounded great, was comfortable on the bandstand, and was enjoyed by an enthusiastic and appreciative audience.

Check out Dad's clinched fist in the above photo. This action shot was taken during the last chorus of "New York, New York" as he prepared to really "take it home" by dropping to one knee for maximum audience response after the line leg kick.

Being the consummate entertainer, Dad likes to roam the crowd and sing songs specially chosen for members of the audience. Here (see the two photos above) he entertained lovely ladies by singing "When You're Smiling".

My wonderful wife Sharon and daughter Michelle came to the event and enjoyed seeing my father and participating in the festivities. They enjoyed the animal petting zoo and the antique car rides.

My friend Big Boy, from Frisch's, stopped by and brought plenty of pie. Son Matt, who was my official roadie for the gig, secured a Big Boy bank, and has requested that I fill it up for him. We are still in negotiations over the appropriate wage earned for his roadie efforts.

We enjoyed performing at McCready Manor and look forward to the next time we play for these fine folks. I plan to have some 8x10 glossies of Dad available for purchase by his many fans. I'm sure we could rake in the big bucks, as he is a hot ticket. I overheard several of the ladies using descriptive terms such as "dreamboat" and "doll baby" when referring to him. I am currently in serious negotiations with Dad over how the money from the sale of the photos will be distributed. He prefers a percentage of the sales, but I am urging him to accept a one time lump sum. More on this later...

Caproni's Restaurant Voted Best Romantic Restaurant

2009-08-30T07:58:00.003-04:00

The results are in and Caproni's Restaurant & Bar was voted the "Best Romantic Restaurant" by the readers of The Ledger Independent in the 2009 Best Of The Best Readers Choice poll. I am proud of the award and always enjoy playing music at this fine establishment. The food, service, and atmosphere at Caproni's are fantastic.

Men of Note Are Bowing Out

2009-08-17T08:22:00.005-04:00

A nice article in the Lexington Herald-Leader: Men of Note are bowing out

I'll always remember the fun times I had playing with The Men of Note. My first gig with them was in 1976. Phil Collier was the lead alto sax player and we were both members of the University of Kentucky Jazz Ensemble. He recommended me to the band to play the 2nd tenor sax book. I enjoyed many gigs with them over the years. I remember that first gig in Frankfort like it was yesterday. That gig payed $30.

Football Season Is Here

2009-08-11T06:33:00.007-04:00

Anticipation of another season of football enjoyment is exciting. Matthew is playing for the B. Michael Caudill Middle School Spartans. They played the new school's first annual Red/White game this past Sunday. Grandpa Hall & Grandma Kay, Papaw & Mamaw Lucas, Sharon, Michelle & I, and many proud parents and friends of the players were in attendance.

Matthew (#4) played quarterback on offense and linebacker on defense for the red team. They won the game in convincing fashion. Click here to see a slideshow of football photos. Luckily, there were no serious injuries during the game.

Playing Music In The Arlington Country Club Dining Room

2009-08-06T06:07:00.006-04:00

I enjoyed playing this past Tuesday evening in the main dining room at Richmond's Arlington Country Club. This was the first in a series of August gigs there for me.

The facility is gorgeous and Arlington is known for the excellent food they serve. The pasta dish I had after the gig was very tasty. I am hoping for continued good crowds for these Tuesday night dinner gigs, as I had a lot of fun playing and would like for my engagement at Arlington to be extended.

My Bengal Buggy Is A Casualty Of The Cash For Clunkers Program

2009-08-05T23:45:00.011-04:00

I loved my 95 Chevy Astro Van, aka The Bengal Buggy. I drove her 278,441 miles. She was always there for me.

The air conditioner wasn't working.

She took my family and friends to many Cincinnati Bengals games, even some road games. Her interior was decorated with "everything Bengals".

The cd changer wasn't working.

She took us on vacations, to all kinds of sporting events, concerts, shopping, numerous music gigs, and many other places. She pulled our bass boat to many lakes and creeks. Her sound system entertained us with the best jazz in the world. I had her outfitted with a cool Kenwood ham radio.

The power windows weren't working.

Her engine was still strong. I know she would have run for another 100,000 miles.

The brakes needed to be replaced.

The Cash For Clunkers Program was too tempting. A brand new car for less than $10,000...I just couldn't pass it up. Though I loved The Bengal Buggy, I sold her out by accepting the $4500 offered by the government program. Even after all she had done for my family and me over the past 14 years, I allowed them to take her to be destroyed. I am now in a grieving state of mind.

The battery needed to be replaced.

Oh well, we do have a new car. It gets 32 mpg. It will never be The Bengal Buggy, just a Nissan Versa, but it should get my oldest daughter through college and law school and still have plenty of miles left to drive by the time I get it back.

I have assigned our 1987 Chevy Nova (37 mpg) the duties formerly handled by The Bengal Buggy, though the Nova will never be referred to as "The Bengal Buggy". I have some Bengals interior decorating to do. Perhaps that will take my mind off of The Bengal Buggy's upcoming appointment at Baker Iron & Metal.

Patio Fun August 2009 At Franky & Annette's At The Signature Club Of Lansdowne

2009-07-28T06:22:00.002-04:00

I found this advertisement on the internet today. I'm certainly looking forward to "patio fun" and hope there will be good crowds on these Sunday evenings at Franky & Annette's at The Signature Club of Lansdowne.

Jazz Presentation At Clark County Public Library

2009-07-23T06:36:00.012-04:00

A couple weeks ago I had a great time at the Clark County Public Library playing and sharing musical experiences with old and new friends. I enjoyed seeing John Maruskin, Jeff Sames, Michelle Sames, Kyle Fugate, and others.

John, my college "Creative Writing" teacher, invited me to present a program of music and stories. He emailed the day of the performance to check on any last minute items that I might need. With tongue firmly in cheek, I replied to him, writing that when I perform, it is necessary that the employer provide me with a deli tray, M & M's (no red ones), Snapple Diet Peach Tea, and a Balinese massage. Below is a photo of what John had waiting for me at the gig.

Meeting Twilight's Michael Welch At The Signature Club

2009-07-21T23:42:00.005-04:00

I had a fun gig tonight at Franky & Annette's in Lexington's famous Signature Club. We had a good and enthusiastic crowd. Later in the evening the cast of the upcoming movie "Unrequited" came to the club.

Michael Welch & Me
It was a pleasure meeting "Twilight" star Michael Welch, who is a leading actor in the new movie "Unrequited". Everyone enjoyed Franky & Annette's great food and I had a lot of fun playing music for the event.

Smokey Robinson Set To Play 2009 Rosemary Clooney Festival In Maysville, KY

2009-07-20T07:06:00.000-04:00

I always look forward to playing in Maysville on Rosemary Clooney Festival weekend. Past festival concerts have featured Michael Bolton, The Pointer Sisters, Neil Sedaka, Roberto Flack, and others. This year will be extra special, as the legendary Smokey Robinson will be the featured performer. Some of the hits he has been a part of are Bad Girl (1959), Way Over There (1960), Who's Loving You (1960), You've Really Got a Hold on Me (1962), What's So Good About Goodbye (1962), I'll Try Something New (1962), Mickey's Monkey (1963), I Gotta Dance to Keep From Crying (1963) I Like It Like That (1964), Ooo Baby Baby (1965), The Tracks of My Tears (1965), Going to a Go-Go (1965), My Girl Has Gone (1965), (Come Round Here) I'm The One You Need (1966), More Love (1967), Just A Mirage (1967), I Second That Emotion (1967), Special Occasion (1968), If You Can Want (1968}, Baby, Baby Don't Cry (1969), The Tears of a Clown (1970), I Don't Blame You At All (1971).

It will be fun to meet him and to enjoy what promises be a great concert. The concert will be Saturday evening, September 26, 2009, in downtown Maysville. Click here for ticket information.

Saxmandavid Twitter Posts

2009-07-09T06:12:00.002-04:00

I am giving this Twitter thing a try. I will post some one or two sentence entries at various times each day. I have included a feed of those entries in this blog. These entries are shown in the right hand column of this blog, beneath "My Music", for friends who would like to see the posts, but don't particularily want to join Twitter at this time.

A Different Fourth Of July In Downtown Lexington

2009-07-04T09:00:00.011-04:00

In a way it's kind of sad. This year there will not be music in downtown Lexington performed on the street corners by members of the American Federation of Musicians. I have played in various musical groups in downtown Lexington on every Independence Day since I became a professional musician in the early 70's. Dad has played the downtown festivities for about fifty consecutive years. This year the musicians have been told by the city that there is not enough funding available to pay the union musicians.

I remember some years having to carry multiple instruments for a variety of gigs. Several times I would have to carry a baritone sax, tenor sax, alto sax, and clarinet. Sometimes it would be raining and sometimes the temperature would reach 95 or 100 degrees. It was hard work carrying those horns all over town. I worked gigs with Ed Minor's Big Band, Men of Note, Swingmasters, Polytones, David & Dad Duo, Courtney Bonner Big Band, Lexington German Band, Jazz Arts Foundation Band, and various others.

The Men of Note, Downtown Lexington Independence Day, Circa 1990
The pay for these gigs is very low, in fact, they only pay the minimum union scale. I would think to myself each year that it was not worth playing the jobs due to the low pay, tough parking, the lugging of the horns, and the uncomfortable weather. Each Independence Day I would vow not to work the gigs the following year. Of course I always ended up playing them, as I didn't want to break tradition.

Instead of working these gigs today, I am sitting here in front of my computer on 7/4 at 9:00am writing this blog entry. Man, I should be playing at the bus depot right now with the Lexington German Band. When that is over, I'm supposed to be playing with the Lexington Concert Band. After that comes the parade and playing on the float, and then the big band & jazz gigs begin. Now that they are gone I'm thinking that it really wasn't that bad lugging all those horns in the heat of the day all over downtown Lexington. I wish I was there today vowing to never play the gigs again.

Clark County Public Library Gig Set For 7/6/09

2009-06-29T06:20:00.004-04:00

I'm looking forward to playing sax and clarinet at the Clark County Public Library in Winchester, Kentucky, on Monday, July 6, 2009. They have asked that I play some tunes and share several stories of experiences encountered while working as a professional musician.

I'm not sure yet of the tunes or the stories I will choose to include in my presentation. Since the event will be held in a library, I'll certainly play very softly and keep my voice to a whisper. I can still remember hearing Mrs. Smart's "Shhhhhhhhhhh's" in the Woodford County High School Library.

Video Of Dining Experience At Caproni's Restaurant

2009-06-28T17:36:00.004-04:00

The food, the river, the music, the train, the service...all of these are reasons why Caproni's Restaurant is a Kentucky favorite. During my first music set last night, I used my iPhone to make a short video when the first train went by. Click here to view the video.

It was great seeing so many friends later in the evening at the restaurant. I look forward to every gig at Caproni's.

Fun Gig At Caproni's Restaurant

2009-06-27T20:10:00.004-04:00

I'm having a good time at my gig tonight. Patrons are enjoying dinner
and my music. As a bonus, two trains have passed by already. I took this photo on my new iPhone and am mobile uploading this blog entry while on my break. Technology...wow!

Colonel's Choice Concert In The Park

2009-06-23T23:02:00.012-04:00

Michelle was playing softball tonight at Irvine McDowell Park. From my seat at the ball field, I heard the sweet sound of Dad's trombone. Though I couldn't see the band and didn't know he was gigging tonight, I knew immediately that it was Dad playing. I walked up the hill to check out the band and saw that it was Colonel's Choice. Dad blew trombone, David "Hot Lips" Hummel was on trumpet, Big Bill McGinnis played clarinet and sax, Mean Gene Witt handled keys, Bob Hackett was on bass, and Rockin' Ron Salmon laid down the beat on drums.

I had my new iPhone with me and decided to try out the video recorder that is included on the phone. I uploaded the two videos from the park and they were on You Tube by the time I arrived home. How neat is that?

Here are the links to view:

Video #1 - Dixieland

Video #2 - Tuxedo Junction

I made it back to the game in the second inning and enjoyed watching Michelle play. Her team faced one of the best pitchers in the league tonight. Michelle did a great job hitting each time she came to the plate.

Remembering Mike Pugh

2009-06-04T23:58:00.019-04:00

My friend Mike Pugh passed away last week at age 56. I'll miss him greatly.

I first met Mike on a gig years ago with The Sensations. He subbed for our regular keyboard player and instantly became one of my favorite people. He was a fine musician, businessman, and a very funny and clever individual.

On that first night we met, he told me about his passion for amateur radio (KA4MKG). The energy and excitement in his voice when telling me stories about the fun he experienced with amateur radio peaked my interest in the subject. I called him a few days later to find out how I could become a ham. He supplied me with support and the information needed to study and pass the Federal Communications Commission exam for amateur radio licensing.

I took my exam about a month later in Northern Kentucky. It was graded immediately afterwards. I remember the thrill I experienced when learning that I had successfully passed the test. The first person I called with the good news was Mike. He congratulated me and offered to drive to R & L Electronics in Hamilton, Ohio, that weekend to help me pick out a radio.

Mike and I also played music together as a duo or in a trio setting. Though we did not play together as much as we would have liked (for years he played every weekend as part of the Kentucky Jamboree and I played my solo restaurant gigs), we surely enjoyed the times we were able to play together. One of the fun gigs we played was the annual Kentucky Derby breakfast at Shirley Cunningham's home in Georgetown, KY. Vocalist Kyle Fugate joined us that day to perform for a large crowd. Mike had heard Kyle sing at the Kentucky Jamboree during an open microphone night, liked her voice, and asked her to join us for the Derby gig. Former UK Coach Tubby Smith was in attendance and told us how much he enjoyed the music. I know that Mike appreciated the compliment as much as Kyle and I did.

One of the things Mike liked best was getting friends together. Many weekday mornings he would talk about lunch plans in his ham radio transmissions. There were times when five or ten hams would hear the conversation and show up at the restaurant mentioned. Though I wasn't able to join the lunch group as much as I would have liked, it sure was fun when I did. Mike had a great sense of humor, and decided to help form a club made up of the folks meeting for lunch. He named the club "Fayette Amateur Radio Transmitting Society", also known as "FARTS".

I joined with several of Mike's musician friends tonight and played at the memorial service. It was a beautiful service that allowed everyone to remember the exceptional life of Mike. People shared humorous and engaging stories about their experiences with him.

I'll miss talking with Mike on the radio. I'll miss playing music with him. I'll miss seeing him at lunch meetings. Mike was a great person and everyone who knew him was touched by his kindness and friendship. He is survived by his wonderful wife Jeanie (KB8QLC).

Fun At Franky & Annette's Resort Style Restaurant

2009-06-03T06:30:00.006-04:00

The rain held off long enough so that everyone had a nice time at Franky & Annette's at The Lansdowne Club last night. It was fun playing for the nice crowd as they enjoyed dinner on the patio. Read more about the menu in Business Lexington.

I played a variety of music, including songs made popular by Stevie Wonder, Duke Ellington, Diana Krall, Patsy Cline, Chicago, Tony Bennett, Jimmy Buffett, and Spyro Gyra. The relaxed patio atmosphere also provides me an ideal opportunity for to play some music with beach and island flavor. I played some tunes on my EWI using sounds of the marimba and steel pan drums.

Upcoming Gigs At Franky & Annette's At The Signature Club Of Lansdowne

2009-06-02T07:50:00.006-04:00

I'll be working some this summer, starting tonight, on the patio at Franky & Annette's at The Signature Club of Lansdowne. Tonight's show starts at 5:30. I am greatly looking forward to these gigs and will write more about them on future blog entries. I look forward to seeing lots of my friends at this beautiful venue. Many consider the patio to be the best in Lexington.

Playing For Cordia Jones' 100th Birthday

2009-05-25T06:56:00.008-04:00

Dad & I played a fun gig yesterday at the beautiful Equestrian Woods Country Club in Nicholasville, Kentucky. The special event was held in celebration of Cordia Jones' 100th birthday. About 150 of her friends and family attended the gathering.

Ms. Jones looked great, told interesting stories, and sang along to much of the music of the afternoon. Dad and I played some good ol' good ones and tried our best to sound like the Guy Lombardo and Lawrence Welk orchestras. Dad sang sweet standards and some fun tunes such as "Ain't She Sweet", "When You're Smiling", and "Five Foot Two". We also played songs made popular by Glenn Miller, Frank Sinatra, Patsy Cline, Patti Page, Andy Williams and Eddie Cantor.

At the conclusion of the festivites, Dad sang a special medley of roaring twenties songs for Ms. Jones. I was impressed that she knew almost all of the lyrics!

A Cool Gig At The Howell Residence

2009-05-17T21:14:00.022-04:00

I played a great gig at the Howell residence today. The event was held in celebration of Chris Howell's graduation from Lexington Catholic High School. He will begin his college studies this fall at Wake Forest.

The Howells are fine people and good friends. I look forward each Saturday to working with Zack, Chris' younger brother, at his saxophone lesson. We had a lot of fun today when he played his sax with me at the event. Zack did not appear to be nervous and played like a seasoned pro. I know that his parents Robert and Lisa are proud of him.

One of the highlights of the afternoon was watching Chris & Zack's sister Katie hula hoop to the music. She was fantastic and had a ball.

It was very cool to see Pastor Marty Frazer and his wife Cindy come to the celebration on their Harley Davidson bike. I'm proud to have a pastor who is as genuinely hip as Marty! Like sax great Cannonball Adderley said when describing hipness, "You don't just decide one day that you are going to be hip...it just happens that way." It happens for Marty.

Gigs are always fun, but it is special to play for friends. A good time was had by all and everyone knows that Chris will achieve tremendous success at Wake Forest and beyond.

Playing For The Dedication & Ribbon Cutting Of The Russell County Auditorium & Natatorium Complex

2009-05-03T21:17:00.021-04:00

I had a great time playing for the dedication and ribbon cutting ceremony for the Russell County Auditorium and Natatorium Complex this afternoon. It was an honor to be the first musician to perform in the auditorium of this magnificent structure.

Fine acoustics and a truly exceptional house sound system make the auditorium a great venue for live music and theatrical performances. The facility is also ideal for art shows, business meetings, community gatherings, presentations, swim meets, and many other functions.

The people of Russell County should be very proud of this building. I believe that it will be enjoyed by many people and be a true asset to the community for many years to come.

Tower Of Power Rocks Norton Center For The Arts

2009-04-18T07:59:00.040-04:00

Tower of Power brought their Oakland brand of soul to Danville last night and performed for an enthusiastic crowd at Centre College's Norton Center For The Arts. Friends in attendance included Kim & Jennifer Harrod, Miles Osland, Lisa Osland, Jerry & Angela Martin, Vince DiMartino, Bridge Bickel, Mr. & Mrs. David Cox, Kevin Dennison, Stevie DiMartino, Wayne & Shirley Miller, Robbie Wood, Robbie & Marti Reid, Frank & Lori Spragens, Carl Collins, Dr. & Mrs. Cody Birdwell, Keith & Arlene Rector, Hunt Butler, Robert Griffin, Bob Bryant, Jill Coffman, Robert Moser, Ben Lacy, Clyde & Patty Gilpin, David & Teresa Tope, Roddy "Paradiddle" Tate, Mr. & Mrs. Tom Binford, Rick Cook, Tom Senff, and many, many more. Everyone was excited about hearing some serious horn-driven East Bay soul.

Though I was spoiled several weeks ago hearing TOP in the accoustically impressive Orleans Showroom in Las Vegas, Norton Center's Newlin Hall was pretty decent. Of course the band was outstanding and burned all night, though I would have liked for the sound technician to have brought Iron Mike Bogart's lead trumpet level up somewhat. Other than that, the mix was pretty good. As long as I am able to hear saxman Tom Politzer's blazing altissimo register tenor solos and Doc Kupka's fat and funky baritone sax licks, I'm good to go. Soulful vocalist Larry Braggs was fighting a hoarse throat, but worked around it beautifully and was very impressive nevertheless. After the show, he told me that he had been trying to get over the problem for the past several days. He was looking forward to being off next week to fully recuperate before the tour continues in Japan. Emilio Castillo sang lead on "You Got To Funkifize, "Diggin' On James Brown", and "It's Not The Crime", which gave Larry a chance to rest his voice a little. "You're Still A Young Man" was the last song of the night and Larry brought everyone to their feet as he displayed his incredible chops on the vamp at the end of the song.

I had fun talking with all the guys after the concert. Great barbecue was catered in and everyone enjoyed it. I brought with me several nice photos of the band that my friend RC Smith and I had taken in Las Vegas a few weeks ago. The bandmembers each signed the photos as we tried to keep the barbeque sauce off of the 8x10's as best we could. They all commented on how much they liked them. RC is a fine photographer and had taken some truly outstanding shots. In fact, Larry Braggs, Tom Politzer, and trumpeter Adolfo Acosta liked them enough that they asked me to mail them each a copy.

Tom is a very aggressive and funky player. He sounds better every time I hear him. I met Tom several years ago at a TOP concert in Louisville and enjoy "talking saxophone" with him every chance I get. Last night he was telling me how much he loves his Yamaha tenor setup playing in this band. As well as being a phenomenal player, he is a really cool guy.

Having heard them four times over the past month, I guess I have satisfied my immediate craving for live TOP, though the need never goes away for long periods of time. I'm sure I'll be on the TOP website in a week or so checking their updated tour schedule and trying to plan my next soul vaccination.

Fun Times With "The Sensations"

2009-04-09T06:55:00.008-04:00

I always enjoy playing in the Lexington showband "The Sensations". Due to my full solo gig schedule, I am not able to play much with them anymore. I'm reminded of the fun I've had playing with the band when watching this promo video or viewing this photo slideshow. The band works lots of nice events and always brings energy to the party.

Giuseppe's Risorante Italiano Celebrates 15th Year

2009-03-31T23:05:00.001-04:00

Tonight at Giuseppe's was a blast...as usual. We celebrated the restaurant's 15th birthday in grand fashion. Free food and drinks were enjoyed by all the folks that came by to celebrate with us. Many regulars attended the grand soiree.

I have been blessed having the opportunity of playing music and meeting so many wonderful friends at this great restaurant. Here is a slideshow of photos I have taken at Giuseppe's over the years.

A Great Trip To Las Vegas

2009-03-11T23:12:00.008-04:00

Sharon and I had a ball on our Vegas vacation. Our Richmond friends Bob and Rachel did too. Visiting the Grand Canyon, Red Rock Canyon, Hoover Dam, and the Las Vegas strip were all fun, but the highlight of the trip for me was attending Tower of Power concerts on three consecutive nights. They were incredible.

I was fortunate to be able to talk with many of the band members including Steve "Funky Doctor" Kupka (bari sax), Emilio Castillo (tenor sax),Francis Rocco Prestia (bass), Roger Smith (keys), Iron Mike Bogart (trumpet), Tom Politzer (tenor sax), Mark Harper (guitar), David Garibaldi (drums) and Larry Braggs (vocals). I also met former Supreme Mary Wilson at one of the concerts. Later, Sharon and I ran into Coach Pat Riley at the airport. He was "smooth with a capital s".

Sharon and I agree that this trip ranks up there as one of our all time favorites. I'm keeping a close eye on Tower of Power's schedule, as we may just have to do something like this again.

Grand Opening Gig For Ricardo's Grill & Pub

2009-03-03T22:52:00.001-05:00

I enjoyed playing music at the grand opening of Ricardo's Grill & Pub in Versailles. I saw many old friends at the event and had a great time.

Tower Of Power Tickets Now Available For 4/17/09 Show In Danville

2009-02-17T08:04:00.006-05:00

I am pumped up as I have secured tickets for the Tower of Power concert to be held 4/17/09 at Norton Center For The Arts on the campus of Centre College in Danville. This concert has not yet been announced on the Norton Center website and there is no link on that site to purchase tickets. Over the past month, I have been calling the Norton Center ticket office every day or so for ticket availability updates. Yesterday, they agreed to release tickets to me. I was able to pick any seats in the house, except for the first four rows which are reserved for sponsors of the concert. I will be sitting in the center of the fifth row. I have told some of my TOP friends and they, too, have secured prime seats already. The phone number for the ticket office is 859-236-4692.

Jazz Musicians Gerry Niewood & Coleman Mellett Die In Airplane Crash

2009-02-16T22:25:00.014-05:00

Gerry Niewood & Me In 2007
I have listened to woodwind ace Gerry Niewood play on Chuck Mangione albums for many years and was thrilled to meet him on a 11/07/07 gig in Lexington. I found him to be a beautiful person and fantastic musician.

I was stunned and extremely saddened to learn that he and guitarist Coleman Mellett lost their lives in the Flight 3407 airplane crash last Thursday. They were on their way to perform a concert with Chuck Mangione.

From The New York Times, 2/15/09, by Nate Schweber, "For Two Jazzmen, Work Meant Life on the Road":

GLEN RIDGE, N.J. — From the day she was born, Elizabeth Niewood kept what she called a “daddy doll,” a cloth figure about 18 inches tall with a shock of ochre yarn for hair and eyes stitched with light blue thread.

The doll was made to look like her father, the saxophonist Gerry Niewood, and was a gift from a family friend intended to comfort Ms. Niewood whenever her father was out of town plying his trade. The doll now has greater poignancy for Ms. Niewood, who is 23: her father was on his way to perform at a concert when he was killed on Thursday night in the crash of Flight 3407 outside Buffalo.

“It was just another outing for dad,” Ms. Niewood said as she cradled the doll and fought back tears during an interview on Saturday on the porch of the beige, three-story home here that her father bought more than 30 years ago.

Mr. Niewood, 64, and Coleman Mellett, 33, were scheduled to perform with the jazz musician Chuck Mangione when their Continental Connection flight from Newark slammed into a house as it approached the Buffalo airport, killing all 49 aboard.

In the world of jazz, the two men were largely successful, able to carve out middle-class existences solely through their music and not needing to rely on day jobs to pay their bills. But their lives as musicians were hardly glamorous; flying in a cramped turboprop plane to play a show in Buffalo in February was not an unfamiliar routine.

Family and friends of both men said they accepted the rigors of life on the road as the sacrifice they had to make in order to create the music they were passionate about.

“Ever since Sept. 11, he said the travel has been harder on him,” said Bob Sneider, a jazz musician and a friend of Mr. Mellett’s who teaches at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, N.Y. “But music was his passion, and he loved to go and perform for people.” Mr. Niewood had also toured with Simon and Garfunkel and Liza Minnelli and had appeared on “Saturday Night Live.”

He had known Mr. Mangione since they were grade-school classmates in Rochester, N.Y., said Adam Niewood, Mr. Niewood’s son, who is also a musician even though his father had encouraged him to do something that offered more financial security.

“I marvel at the fact that my dad’s mother hardly went anywhere besides her hometown, and he set foot on almost every continent just by playing saxophone,” Adam Niewood, 31, said.

“He’d say, ‘A lot of people have to save up all year to take one vacation; I go on vacation 10 months out of the year and I don’t have to pay, I get paid.’ ”

Mr. Mellett grew up near Washington and studied music at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh before transferring to William Paterson University in Wayne, N.J., said his friend and former roommate Paul Wells, 35, who is also a jazz musician.

Mr. Mellett was married to Jeanie Bryson, 50, a jazz singer and the daughter of Dizzy Gillespie, with whom he would often perform. They lived in a ranch-style house in East Brunswick, N.J., a lifestyle that Mr. Mellett found ideal, far from the famed jazz clubs of Manhattan. Though he occasionally taught lessons to supplement his income, Mr. Mellett earned a steady salary from being part of Mr. Mangione’s ensemble. At Mr. Niewood’s prompting, Mr. Mellett also worked with the Radio City Music Hall orchestra during the “Christmas Spectacular” show.

“He loved his wife, he loved his home, he loved the town where they lived, and he loved the life they built up,” Mr. Wells said. “We both shared the common goal of being working New York City musicians. As we got older, we found it was more complicated than we thought when we were 20 years old.”

Saxophonist Hank Crawford Passes Away

2009-02-12T07:47:00.007-05:00

I always enjoy hearing Hank Crawford play the saxophone. He was a very soulful player and I will miss him. The following was published 2/2/09 in The New York Times and written by Bruce Weber:

Hank Crawford, whose fluidly emotional saxophone solos as a sideman for Ray Charles led to a long career as a leader of jazz and soul bands and a lengthy discography for Atlantic, Kudu and Milestone Records, died Thursday at his home in Memphis. He was 74. The cause was complications of a stroke he had in 2000, his sister Delores said.

Beginning in the early 1960s, when Mr. Crawford was music director for Charles’s big band and also recorded on his own as a bandleader, he was best known as an alto saxophonist who melded a wailing blues style to the melodic and rhythmic exigencies of modern jazz, funk and soul. He proved an especially flexible musician over the decades as styles of popular music swiveled hither and yon.

A sampling of his recorded tracks from the ’60s and ’70s would encompass, say, “The Peeper,” a bluesy swing number reminiscent of the Duke Ellington tunes he first listened to at home as a child; “New York’s One Soulful City,” an example of the rhythmically funky if melodically saccharine sounds of some television themes of the ’70s; and “I Hear a Symphony,” a soulful disco cover of the 1965 Supremes hit.

But Mr. Crawford’s distinctively piercing sound remained constant, a forceful and urgent plaintiveness that was rooted in the blues and delivered with a preacher’s fervor. In addition to working with Charles, over the years he was an arranger, co-leader or sideman for blues masters of several different stripes, among them Eric Clapton, Etta James, B. B. King and Jimmy McGriff.

“He has a rich, throbbing tone and a way of phrasing like a blues singer,” Jon Pareles wrote in The New York Times in 1986. “Mr. Crawford’s solos are artfully shaped, but they convey a naked emotionality.”

Bennie Ross Crawford Jr. was born in Memphis on Dec. 21, 1934, into a large family and “a jazz and gospel household,” as Delores Crawford described it in a phone interview Monday. A pianist who played in church, he attended Manassas High School, an incubator of musical talent with alumni including Jimmie Lunceford and Isaac Hayes. Among Mr. Crawford’s own schoolmates were the future jazz notables George Coleman, Harold Mabern and Charles Lloyd.

Mr. Crawford’s father was a truck driver who badly wanted to play the saxophone but did not have the chops; still, he contributed to the history of music.

“He was a confused saxophone player,” Ms. Crawford said. “But he brought a saxophone home with him from the Army, and put it in Hank’s hands.”

Mr. Crawford was given his nickname as a teenager by some fellow musicians who thought he sounded like a local saxophonist named Hank. He attended Tennessee State University in Nashville and was just short of a degree when Ray Charles came to town and offered him a gig in his band playing baritone sax.

Mr. Crawford played baritone on several of Charles’s records, including “Ray Charles at Newport” and “What’d I Say.” During his years with Charles, the saxophone section also included David (Fathead) Newman, with whom he later collaborated frequently, and Leroy (Hog) Cooper. Both Mr. Newman and Mr. Cooper also died in January.

Mr. Crawford, whose first marriage ended in divorce, was a widower. In addition to Delores Crawford, he is survived by two brothers, Danny and Ceylon; three sisters, Shirley, Marva and Alma; a son, Michael; a daughter, Sherri; and a granddaughter. All live in Memphis.

Tower Of Power Coming To Danville KY

2009-02-11T07:01:00.000-05:00

TOP's website shows a 4/17/09 upcoming show at Centre College in Danville at Norton Center For The Arts. The Norton Center website does not yet have any information yet, so I called the ticket office. They promised to call me as soon as tickets are available.

You Know Times Are Tough When...

2009-01-29T06:52:00.004-05:00

You know times are tough when you lose a gig to a solo dulcimer player. Dad and I have played 15 consecutive years for a three day convention held in Louisville. It is a fun gig and we have met many friends there. This year, instead of hearing the swinging sounds of "David & Dad", the audience will be treated to three days of solo dulcimer music.

I'd sure like to get this gig back next year. I'm thinking about asking Dad to take dulcimer lessons.

Tower Of Power Excitement

2009-01-11T16:29:00.019-05:00

I think the best soul band in the world is Tower of Power. The first time I heard them was in 1973 on a television broadcast of "Don Kirshner's Rock Concert" and I remember how impressed I was with the band. The next week I told members of our school band about them and how I thought they were the funkiest group that I'd ever heard. Fellow band member Harry Bradley had a copy of TOP's "Bump City" lp album and offered it to me in exchange for clarinet reed and $2.50. I accepted the trade and have never looked back. Since that acquisition I have collected all of their albums and videos, attended concerts, and met many of the members. Without a doubt, they are my favorite band.

The first time I heard them live in concert wasn't until much later, as they do not play in this area often. "T.O.P.", one of my favorite TOP albums, had just been released and they played a concert at Bogart's in Cincinnati on October 24, 1993. Sharon and I were there and were blown away by their awesome sound. Our seats were located about 20 feet from center stage. Friends Robbie & Marty Reid, Robert & Kelly Moser, JR Hardin, Clyde and Patty Gilpin, Jerry and Angela Martin, Charlie Shuck, and Anthony & Tasha Key were there too. Other TOP concerts I have attended were at the Executive Inn In Owensboro, Kentucky Center in Louisville, at the Kentucky State Fair in Louisville, at Rupp Arena in Lexington as part of a B.B. King tour, at a blues festival at the Kentucky Horse Park, with Huey Lewis & The News at Rupp Arena, and at the Riverblast Festival in Dayton.

Sharon and I celebrate our 24th wedding anniversary this month. Our anniversary present to each other is a trip to Las Vegas in March. We will be staying at the legendary Flamingo. Just down the road a couple of miles is the Orleans Showroom, a beautiful 850 seat theater, where Tower of Power will be in concert three consecutive nights. Sharon and I have secured our front row tickets and will be in attendance all three nights. The room is infamous for it's great acoustics and TOP is in top form, so these should be the best TOP concerts we've attended. Our friends RC and Rachel will be making the trip to Vegas too. This is going to be awesome! Life is good.

The Orleans Showroom

www.saxmandavid.com

2009-01-01T07:40:00.000-05:00

David Hall Musical Services website: www.saxmandavid.com.

www.davidhall.us.com

2009-01-01T07:30:00.000-05:00

David Hall Musical Services: www.davidhall.us.com.

www.davidhallonline.com

2009-01-01T07:19:00.000-05:00

The website for David Hall Musical Services: www.davidhallonline.com.

Lexington Kentucky Jazz

2009-01-01T07:06:00.000-05:00

I love playing at Giuseppe's on Wednesday, Thursday & Friday nights. It is a blast to see so many friends there each week. Tom Senff or Keith Otherson play on Saturday evenings.

www.learnclarinet.net

2009-01-01T06:21:00.000-05:00

Visit www.learnclarinet for information on private clarinet lessons in Richmond, Kentucky.

Jazz Trumpeter Freddie Hubbard Passes Away

2008-12-30T06:40:00.010-05:00

I started listening to Freddie Hubbard in 1976. Trumpeter Vince DiMartino was the director of the UK Jazz Ensemble at that time (of which I was a member) and I remember hearing him talk about the playing of Mr. Hubbard on many occasions. Based upon Vince's praise of Hubbard, I bought a Blue Note re-issue album compilation called "Here To Stay". It was my first Hubbard album and included tracks from "Hub Cap" as well as some previously unreleased material featuring many great players. Among them were Freddie, Wayne Shorter, Cedar Walton, Reggie Workman, Philly Joe Jones, Jimmy Heath, Julian Priester, and Larry Ridley. I liked this two album set and listened to it quite a bit, though I must admit that I haven't spun those lps in a number of years. On New Year's Day, instead of watching football all day, I think I'll use a couple of hours to transfer this lp album to compact disc so that I can listen and enjoy this great music in my vehicle while driving to and from gigs.

I was fortunate to hear Mr. Hubbard perform live in a concert at Bogart's in Cincinnati around 1980. The concert included sets by Freddie, Stanley Turrentine, and Dave Valentine. On Hubbard's set, he played both straight ahead jazz and popjazz including music from his Creed Taylor produced studio sessions. It was a fantastic musical evening that I'll always remember fondly. His playing was fiery and featured dazzling technique.

The following article by Peter Keepnews was published 12/29/08 in the New York Times:

Freddie Hubbard, a jazz trumpeter who dazzled audiences and critics alike with his virtuosity, his melodicism and his infectious energy, died on Monday in Sherman Oaks, Calif. He was 70 and lived in Sherman Oaks.

Freddie Hubbard performing at Iridium in New York last year.
The cause was complications of a heart attack he had on Nov. 26, said his spokesman, Don Lucoff of DL Media.

Over a career that began in the late 1950s, Mr. Hubbard earned both critical praise and commercial success — although rarely for the same projects.

He attracted attention in the 1960s for his bravura work as a member of the Jazz Messengers, the valuable training ground for young musicians led by the veteran drummer Art Blakey, and on albums by Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter and many others. He also recorded several well-regarded albums as a leader. And although he was not an avant-gardist by temperament, he participated in three of the seminal recordings of the 1960s jazz avant-garde: Ornette Coleman’s “Free Jazz” (1960), Eric Dolphy’s “Out to Lunch” (1964) and John Coltrane’s “Ascension” (1965).

In the 1970s Mr. Hubbard, like many other jazz musicians of his generation, began courting a larger audience, with albums that featured electric instruments, rock and funk rhythms, string arrangements and repertory sprinkled with pop and R&B songs like Paul McCartney’s “Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey” and the Stylistics’ “Betcha by Golly, Wow.” His audience did indeed grow, but his standing in the jazz world diminished.

By the start of the next decade he had largely abandoned his more commercial approach and returned to his jazz roots. But his career came to a virtual halt in 1992 when he damaged his lip, and although he resumed performing and recording after an extended hiatus, he was never again as powerful a player as he had been in his prime.

Frederick Dewayne Hubbard was born on April 7, 1938, in Indianapolis. His first instrument was the alto-brass mellophone, and in high school he studied French horn and tuba as well as trumpet. After taking lessons with Max Woodbury, the first trumpeter of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, at the Arthur Jordan Conservatory of Music, he performed locally with, among others, the guitarist Wes Montgomery and his brothers.

Mr. Hubbard moved to New York in 1958 and almost immediately began working with groups led by the saxophonist Sonny Rollins, the drummer Philly Joe Jones and others. His profile rose in 1960 when he joined the roster of Blue Note, a leading jazz label; it rose further the next year when he was hired by Blakey, widely regarded as the music’s premier talent scout.

Adding his own spin to a style informed by Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis and Clifford Brown, Mr. Hubbard played trumpet with an unusual mix of melodic inventiveness and technical razzle-dazzle. The critics took notice. Leonard Feather called him “one of the most skilled, original and forceful trumpeters of the ’60s.”

After leaving Blakey’s band in 1964, Mr. Hubbard worked for a while with another drummer-bandleader, Max Roach, before forming his own group in 1966. Four years later he began recording for CTI, a record company that would soon become known for its aggressive efforts to market jazz musicians beyond the confines of the jazz audience.

His first albums for the label, notably “Red Clay,” contained some of the best playing of his career and, except for slicker production and the presence of some electric instruments, were not significantly different from his work for Blue Note. But his later albums on CTI, and the ones he made after leaving the label for Columbia in 1974, put less and less emphasis on improvisation and relied more and more on glossy arrangements and pop appeal. They sold well, for the most part, but were attacked, or in some cases simply ignored, by jazz critics. Within a few years Mr. Hubbard was expressing regrets about his career path.

Most of his recordings as a leader from the early 1980s on, for Pablo, Musicmasters and other labels, were small-group sessions emphasizing his gifts as an improviser that helped restore his critical reputation. But in 1992 he suffered a setback from which he never fully recovered.

By Mr. Hubbard’s own account, he seriously injured his upper lip that year by playing too hard, without warming up, once too often. The lip became infected, and for the rest of his life it was a struggle for him to play with his trademark strength and fire. As Howard Mandel explained in a 2008 Down Beat article, “His ability to project and hold a clear tone was damaged, so his fast finger flurries often result in blurts and blurs rather than explosive phrases.”

Mr. Hubbard nonetheless continued to perform and record sporadically, primarily on fluegelhorn rather than on the more demanding trumpet. In his last years he worked mostly with the trumpeter David Weiss, who featured Mr. Hubbard as a guest artist with his group, the New Jazz Composers Octet, on albums released under Mr. Hubbard’s name in 2001 and 2008, and at occasional nightclub engagements.

Mr. Hubbard won a Grammy Award for the album “First Light” in 1972 and was named a National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master in 2006.

He is survived by his wife of 35 years, Briggie Hubbard, and his son, Duane.

Mr. Hubbard was once known as the brashest of jazzmen, but his personality as well as his music mellowed in the wake of his lip problems. In a 1995 interview with Fred Shuster of Down Beat, he offered some sober advice to younger musicians: “Don’t make the mistake I made of not taking care of myself. Please, keep your chops cool and don’t overblow.”

Watching The UK Game From The eRUPPtion Zone

2008-12-23T06:13:00.003-05:00

Matthew and I went to Rupp Arena last night to watch the UK basketball game against Tennessee State. We figured that we could find some inexpensive tickets on the street since it was a weeknight game, the outdoor temperature was frigid, and the fact that the game was played during the students' Christmas break. What I didn't figure on was that I would be able to purchase two $5 tickets in the eRUPPtion zone on floor level.

What a view we had! We were within fifteen feet of the basket at floor level. The great athleticism these athletes exhibit is really awesome to see up close like we were. We saw numerous rim shattering dunks, extreme quickness, physical positioning, good peripheral vision and passing, and fine outside shooting.

Next to us was the UK Alumni Pep Band. I saw many old friends in the group including Joel Lovan, Brent Hobbs, Tracy Lovan, Mike Poor, Sean Owens, Terry Keith, Ray Rector, and Brian Gorrell. My son Matthew took notice of the fun they were having and suggested that I ought to be playing with them. I've never played with the Alumni Band, but intend to change that in the future.

Dressing Warmly For The Bengals Game

2008-12-15T07:22:00.014-05:00

For the Bengals/Redskins game yesterday, I was properly prepared and warmly dressed so I would avoid catching a cold. My cheerleader friends, well, not so much.

As Johnny Mathis and Andy Williams sing, "It's the most wonderful time of the year". Matt's friend Ben agreed.

A Fun Gig At Giuseppe's Ristorante Italiano

2008-12-11T23:37:00.003-05:00

I had a great gig tonight at Giuseppe's. It's a tough job, but somebody's got to do it.

Christmas Jazz At The Laurel County Public Library

2008-12-09T23:27:00.008-05:00

I'm looking forward to playing jazz and mixing in some Christmas favorites next week at the Laurel County Public Library. I enjoy working this gig each December and seeing my London and Corbin friends at this wonderful facility. I found the ad banner shown above on the library's website.

A Jam Packed Weekend

2008-12-01T03:17:00.018-05:00

This weekend was jam packed with fun. It started on Friday evening when I played jazz at Giuseppe's. Many of my friends were there, which made the gig extra fun. The UK basketball game in Las Vegas started about the time my last set ended, so I recorded it on my dvr and watched when I arrived home around midnight. Kentucky beat Kansas State and picked up a nice win.

I was up early on Saturday morning to pack the grill and get everything ready for our road trip to Knoxville to watch the UK-TN football game. Chef Steve Garth (Giuseppe's), Sharon, Melody, Michelle, Matthew and I all packed into the Windstar and headed to Rocky Top.

Steve had the grill smoking with hamburgers, hotdogs, chili, deerburgers, shrimp, peppers, mushrooms, beef, and more. The kabobs tasted fantastic.

Though the Cats were terrible, we had a blast. Melody, Steve, Sharon, Michelle and Matthew all wore layers of clothing and rain ponchos to stay warm and dry.

We arrived home around midnight and immediately cranked up the dvr to watch the Las Vegas Tournament championship basketball game between UK and West Virginia. It was nice watching Coach Gillispie beat Coach Huggins.

Matthew and I were up early on Saturday morning and headed to Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati to watch the Bengals get blown out by the Ravens. This very well may have been the poorest Bengals' performance we've yet seen...and that's saying something! It didn't help that they had twelve starters out with injury as well as several key role players.

Matthew and I stopped at a bbq joint on the way home and enjoyed ribs and chicken. It was was great, but still didn't come close to Chef Steve's grilled delights. Though our teams went 2-2, we consider the weekend a complete success.

A Good Wedding Reception Gig

2008-11-23T19:36:00.024-05:00

Dad and I worked a very nice wedding reception gig in Maysville last night. A year or so ago the couple, now Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Koenig, came to Caproni's Restaurant on a date. They reminded me last night that I had played a special Kenny G style love song at their table that night and how special it was to them. Mr. Koenig picked up my business card that evening and called a couple of months ago to book me for the wedding reception.

Per the couple's request, Dad and I played lots of standards, love songs, and big band tunes. Dad played great and did an outstanding job singing songs Sinatra made famous. Everyone had a wonderful time and the reception was a great success.

So be warned...if you are a person who wants to remain single, and if you bring your date to hear me play...if I start to play a Kenny G love song, that might be a good time to excuse yourself from the room for a few moments. After I finish the song it should be safe to return.

Gig In The Winchester Opera House Ballroom

2008-11-15T14:04:00.005-05:00

I enjoyed playing in the beautiful Winchester Opera House Ballroom earlier this week. The Clark Regional Medical Center Employee Service Award Banquet was held in the ballroom and I played dinner music for the event. It is always a pleasure to play for these fine folks and friends.

2008 STARS Concert Featured Don McLean

2008-11-03T07:34:00.019-05:00

The 2008 STARS event was held at Lexington Downtown Hotel & Conference Center. I had a good time playing and meeting the legendary singer/songwriter Don McLean. He performed his signature songs "American Pie" and "Vincent (Starry Starry Night)" as well as many others, both old and new. A Tops In Lex photographer covered the event and posted a slideshow photos on their website.

With Don McLean After The Rehearsal & Soundcheck
I very much enjoyed talking with Don. I remember buying the "American Pie" lp album years ago when it was first released and listening to that song hundreds of times. I found him to be a nice and interesting fellow and fine musician. After rehearsal he was gracious to sign a copy of my "American Pie" album cover before sitting down to enjoy the pre-concert meal for the band.

Cutting Those Expenses

2008-10-29T07:12:00.004-04:00

As I observe the declining economy and watch the value of my IRA dwindle, I keep a keen eye out for ways to cut expenses and save a few bucks. My homeowners insurance carrier will give me a discounted premium if I install a new smoke alarm in my basement, so I decided to shop around to find the best price on a smoke alarm. I asked several friends for advice, and one sent me a picture of the lowest priced smoke alarm he has seen.

(Click on the photo for enlargement)

Giuseppe's Ristorante Italiano Voted Best Italian Restaurant In Lexington Again

2008-10-26T08:13:00.009-04:00

The results are in from the 2008 Lexington Herald-Leader Reader's Choice poll, and there are no hanging chads. Giuseppe's Ristorante Italiano once again received the most votes for the category "Favorite Place To Eat Italian". I love playing sax at Giuseppe's and am very proud that we won the award for the second year in a row. We were also honored by receiving the third highest vote total in the category "Favorite Date Restaurant".

Thanks to our many friends and patrons who voted and made us winner of this prestigious honor. They come to Giuseppe's for traditional and nouveau Italian dishes and to hear live music in a contemporary atmosphere. I play alto sax, soprano sax, clarinet, and ewi on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday evenings.

Don McLean Concert Scheduled In Lexington

2008-10-24T06:30:00.009-04:00

I am honored and certainly looking forward to playing at the 11/1/08 S*T*A*R*S event featuring Don McLean. The dinner and concert will be held at the Lexington Downtown Hotel & Conference Center. McLean is most widely known for his huge hits "American Pie" and "Vincent (Starry Starry Night)". It should be a great night of fun and music.

It Was A Fun Musical Season On The Signature Club Of Lansdowne Patio

2008-10-11T08:22:00.004-04:00

Due to the cooler outdoor temperatures at this time of the year, my Tuesday night patio gig at The Signature Club of Lansdowne has ended. I enjoyed playing the gigs this summer and meeting so many new friends. It was nice when some of them came out this week to hear me at Giuseppe's after missing me on the Signature Club patio.

I am looking forward to next spring and playing on the patio once again. It is a nice gig.

2008 Rosemary Clooney Festival, Maysville KY

2008-09-28T19:37:00.023-04:00

The 2008 Rosemary Clooney Festival was a lot of fun. The 10th annual event was held this weekend. I certainly enjoyed playing sax and the people of Maysville absolutely loved Grammy award winning vocalist Michael Bolton. Many celebrities and friends were there, including Kentucky Attorney General Greg Stumbo, Jerry Lundergan, Steve Henry & Heather Renee French Henry, Mark Wallingford, Nick Clooney, Mayor David Cartmell, Joel and Jessica Lavinder, and many others.

With Michael Bolton

At noon on Saturday, Michael decided that he would like to get in 18 holes of golf at Maysville Country Club before the concert. Not only is the guy a fantastic singer having sold over 53 million records, but he is a scratch golfer. He seemed to enjoy his time at the festival and Maysville certainly appreciated him and his talent.

Looking Forward To Rosemary Clooney Day 2008

2008-09-24T07:15:00.000-04:00

I'm especially looking forward to playing in Maysville this Saturday during the Rosemary Clooney Festival. Vocalist Michael Bolton will be there. It should be a lot of fun.

Facebook

2008-09-24T07:07:00.002-04:00

Many of my friends have been using and enjoying Facebook. I have now joined and have found it to be a great tool for networking and finding old friends. I hope to see you there!

Playing The Fall Fashion Show At Lexington Country Club

2008-09-20T08:35:00.020-04:00

On Thursday I played for the 2008 Fall Fashion Show at Lexington Country Club. The show featured clothing inspired by New York City's famous fashion industry. The crowd enjoyed the stylish clothing provided by several of Lexington's finest boutiques.

I set up my bandstand between the large main entrance door and the stage to be used by the models. This location allowed me the opportunity to see the models and their wardrobe up close so that I could better choose the appropriate music to play for each presentation. It was tough job, but someone had to do it.

The event was well attended and everyone had a good time. The grand ballroom looked great and Jessica and the LCC staff did an excellent job with all of the arrangements.

Good Crowd Last Night At Signature Club Of Lansdowne

2008-09-17T07:39:00.005-04:00

When I first arrived at my Signature Club gig last night, I was a little irritated that the lower parking lot was closed for repair. I generally park and unload my equipment in that lot and then have easy access (no steps) to the bandstand on the patio. Last night I had to park in the upper lot and move my equipment down the stairs. With some help from a friend at the club, I was able to get everything down the stairs and set up.

I had a pretty large crowd. Former UK football star and Cleveland Browns starting quarterback Tim Couch came by for dinner. I've always been a fan and followed his career closely. He is now a broadcaster and is the football analyst on the local Wildcat games.

I don't know how much longer these patio gigs will last, as cooler weather is approaching. It certainly has been fun working them during the nice weather this summer.

A Rendition Of The National Anthem Like I've Not Heard Before

2008-09-16T23:06:00.003-04:00

This was "performed" before last night's game between the Eagles and Cowboys. They introduced her as a "20 year old pop sensation". I just don't quite know what to say.

Giuseppe's Ristorante Italiano Photo Slideshow

2008-09-15T20:32:00.011-04:00

This is a slideshow of some of the photos taken on my gig nights at Giuseppe's over the years. There are many photos included in the slideshow and may be a few short pauses during the viewing. A message will appear at the end of the show letting you know the last photo has been shown.

This a great and fun place to work!

Bengals Get Blown Away

2008-09-15T06:47:00.004-04:00

Michelle and I went to Cincinnati yesterday to watch the Bengals. They were pushed around the field all day long by both the Titans and the wind. We had a good time anyway and were thankful that we didn't get hurt by flying debris during the game. I heard on a Cincinnati television station that winds were gusting in the area up to 74 mph.

After the game, we returned to the Bengalmobile and found uprooted trees and broken limbs everywhere. Luckily, our vehicle escaped damage. We had to alter our route back to I-75 due to blocked streets. We stopped in Florence at Shakey's Pub & Grub hoping to have a fish sandwich (voted several years as Cincy's best fish sandwich) and to watch some of the Jets game. Unfortunately, Shakey's and all restaurants in the area were closed due to downed power lines.

Despite the Bengals' loss and missing out on the fish sandwich, Michelle and I had a great day together. We hope the football team improves, but our Sunday afternoon fun times together are always a winner.

Lots Of Friends At Giuseppe's Ristorante Italiano Tonight

2008-09-12T23:58:00.005-04:00

We had a great crowd tonight at Giuseppe's. Friends Crystal, Nicky, Tom, Deb, Joe, Kyle, Paula, Steve, Jim, Sarah, Walter and many others came out to hear me play jazz and to enjoy the fantastic food. Gigs are always fun when my friends are enjoying themselves.

Kalimba & Sax

2008-09-12T07:59:00.006-04:00

What a treat it was last night to play music with Kevin "KalimbaMan" Spears. Kevin came by Giuseppe's during my gig. He had his kalimba and equipment in his vehicle, so I asked him to bring it inside and join me for a set.

We had a good time and played some pretty neat stuff. I look forward to the next time we get together for a good jam.

Meeting "KalimbaMan" Kevin Spears

2008-09-11T06:49:00.013-04:00

Last night I met Kevin Spears, a master of the kalimba. His sister Joyce is a very good friend of mine and brought him to Giuseppe's so that we could talk about music.

Kevin lives in Atlanta and was visiting Kentucky this week. He has a gig this weekend in Lexington. He is a beautiful cat and I enjoyed hearing him talk about music and the kalimba. Kevin provided me one of his cds and I have been checking it out closely. He is a soulful player and produces some exceptional sounds of beauty from this unique instrument. He plays with an interesting and wonderful, almost hypnotic at times, tonal quality and style.

I was honored when he offered to let me play with his band should I visit the Atlanta area. It would certainly be a thrill to jam with him and explore the sound of a kalimba and saxophone being played together.

Missing Maynard Ferguson

2008-09-09T06:44:00.004-04:00

I've been revisiting my Maynard Ferguson recordings recently, so Maynard has been on my mind. I woke up early this morning, made coffee, and searched youtube.com for Maynard videos. His performance of "Maria" on this video showcases his power and brings back great memories of the MF concerts I was fortunate to attend.

Man, how I miss that guy!

Swinging At McCready Manor

2008-09-08T07:28:00.018-04:00

Yesterday afternoon Dad and I played big band and swing music at Richmond's McCready Manor. Songs we played included In The Mood, Woodchopper's Ball, Tuxedo Junction, Jumpin' At The Woodside, Little Brown Jug, and I'm Beginning To See The Light. Everyone had a wonderful time.

McCready Manor is a retirement community. Dad is always very popular there and draws lots of attention from the ladies. They are particularily impressed with his rendition of "My Way". During the last chorus of the song, Dad will generally drop down to one knee and really bring the song home. The pure power, relentless energy, and stirring emotion he brings to the bandstand must be experienced in person to fully comprehend. When folks at McCready Manor think of "My Way", they don't think of Elvis or Frank. They think of Carroll.

Frisch's Big Boy was in attendance. He brought plenty of Frisch's pies for everyone. I enjoyed a slice of cherry and Dad went with pecan. What's your favorite thing?

Gatorade, Schmaderade...Give Me A Coca Cola

2008-09-03T07:18:00.002-04:00

Why bother with a Gatorade, PowerAid, or an energy drink if a Coca Cola is available? If legendary coach Adolph Rupp endorsed Coke, it's good enough for me!

Coach Rupp's Wildcats and Coca Cola were the real thing!

Kentucky 27, Louisville 2

2008-09-01T12:29:00.012-04:00

Matthew and I went to Papa John's Stadium yesterday and thoroughly enjoyed the whipping that our Wildcats administered to the Cardinals. We went early, found a parking space beside a shade tree, set up the grill, and hit our ribeye steaks (marinaded overnight with Dale's seasoning) hard. They may very well have been the best tasting steaks ever produced from our trusty Coleman's portable grill, if I do say so myself. That's really saying something, as that grill has produced some outstanding grub over the years.

Matthew Enjoying A Ribeye Steak Sandwich
We had time to mingle with other fans before game. Though the Louisville team did not show much energy during the game, the tailgating fans exhibited a high level of excitement that really needs to be experienced to fully understand.

We agreed that the pole dancing (shown below) was a bit much. For what it's worth, Kentucky fans were not participating, only Cardinal fans.

Our favorite play of the game is when 310 pound defensive lineman Myron Pryor picked up a fumble and ran it back for a touchdown. Matthew and I can actually be seen in the crowd when viewing the ESPN broadcast on a big screen television. Matthew spotted us when we were watching the dvr recording we made of the game. He was pretty excited about it.

"Myron Pryor...310 Pounds Of Glory"