Versatility

Two new photo collections illustrating a Jekyll and Hyde type of trumpet performance transition in the same day:

Day:  Elkton, MD - performing original ska with the Bullbuckers at the RamJam festival. Think hippie girls in bikini tops with hula hoops:
(Wanna see videos of our RamJam performance? LOOK HERE)

 

Night:  Ocean City, MD - performing a 20's show with Pam Miller at a Rotary Convention. Think attentive, dressed up mature types:  

New Australian Tour

Just announced! Returning for my fourth jaunt down under to perform with Jay Hoad, in support of his new CD "Stories For The Soul". Shows are scheduled at the Fringe Festival and various venues around South Australia. Here's the lineup so far:

• 2/25 - The Oriental (Norwood)
  
• 2/26 - Bay Bar Dos (Glenelg, afternoon show)
  
• 2/26 - Crown & Sceptre (Fringe Festival show)
• 2/27 - Seacliff Beach (Seacliff)
  
• 2/28 - The Jetty (Glenelg)
  
• 3/3 - The Haus (Hahndorf)
  
• 3/4 - Komodo (Fringe Festival show)
• 3/5 - Komodo (Fringe Festival show)
• 3/6 - Red Poles Winery (McLaren Vale)

By the way, The first single from Jay's CD has been released and is available as a FREE download. Recommended. Go HERE to fetch it.

Rams Head Live

I was pretty fatigued after our NYE extravaganza but had to head to Baltimore for a Bullbuckers New Year's Day show at Rams Head Live to open for the Pietasters.
This embedded video is a playlist of our eleven song set that night:

Update 5/1/11: Most of the vids from this playlist have been removed from public consumption for reasons I won't get into. The one song I was able to salvage is called "Time".

Happy New Year

Had a swell time this year, thanks to the Bullbuckers and Dogfish.
(For contrast, to see what my last New Year's consisted of look HERE)

We were privileged to be the featured performers at Dogfish Head. Thanks to the Discovery Channel's Brewmaster series, Dogfish has become quite the destination! Dogfish served us a five-course gourmet meal that featured a unique beer paired with every course.

Here's a video link to the New Years countdown (and Auld Anxiety).
We surely didn't disappoint as we're booked to perform there again several more times in 2011. It's worth checking out.

Poland in Philly

Had to blog about this show I played Saturday night... It was a last minute show arranged by our guitarist Jesse. Apparently his neighbor is involved with the venue.

This charming restaurant and nightspot is in the middle of a Polish neighborhood in Philadelphia. When we got there I couldn't quite overcome my initial impression of "Polish Mafia" but it couldn't have been nicer. There were a few guys who helped us move our gear in and made sure that we were accommodated in every way. Everybody in the place spoke Polish, except when they were speaking with us. I had a nice selection of Polish beers and home cooked food.

After we got down to business I could sense that we weren't quite what they expected. On our set break they even said as much to us but also indicated that they liked it anyway ("is it ska mixed with jazz?"). We wound up playing well past the legal closing time.

Check out these links for a few more reviews of this eclectic place:
Philly Food Guys blog
Yelp.com reviews
Philly Phoodie blog

Trombone Shorty

Trombone Shorty's career is on a rocket ship trajectory. Literally. And I am a total fan. Do yourself a favor and check him out.

I've now had the distinct privilege of sharing the stage with this prodigy three times in 2010 already. The photo above was taken in the "green room" after our performance at the Bottle and Cork with his band and the Bullbuckers last month, who might just be his favorite local support band!

Additional photo links for our combined shows:
● 605 Market Street, Wilmington, DE -- 2/26/10
● Bottle & Cork, Dewey Beach, DE -- 8/15/10
● Light Up The Queen Foundation -- 9/24/10

Check out this brief clip of Troy's wicked trpt notes at our last show:

Update: June 2012- we returned to the Bottle & Cork on 6/28 for another combined show. Read the review!

Summer Madness

"A trumpet man possessed"

*click the photo for the zoomed version*

The tally: (see the details at my constantly updated gig schedule)

● June: 21 shows
● July: 25 shows
● August: 29 shows

These are personal records for me. It is a direct result of hard work on the horn along with successful networking - but also not learning how to say "no" when it might have been in my best interests!

(I think I can lay claim to being the hardest working trpt player in the area this season - higher gig totals if I could have cloned myself!)

PS: -"Summer Madness" is by Kool and The Gang. Check out the live version, released in 1976. Awesome.

Jay Hoad Summer 2010 Tour

I'll be filling this post with a few mementos from our collaboration this summer of a very successful tour with Jay. Some info is also available now on Jay's blog. Stop back for updates!

Cherry Poppin'

...Daddies that is.

Great show last night and great getting to meet and hang with those guys in our meager Green Room accommodations.

Of course, I told them I've been covering "Zoot Suit Riot" in my society band ("Images") for years. They only became impressed when they came to understand I had transcribed it myself and cover it in their original key. Apparently there are stock charts out in the wild that are in a different (easier) key. Good times!

New Larks Photos

I performed a couple of back to back shows with The Larks on 3/10. First at the local mall in support of the current US Census promotion, then on to our local bar haunt. We had a professional photographer along for the ride (SDMI). Check out his handiwork:

• Salisbury Centre
• Market Street Inn

PS, The Larks get a nice mention at afterthegoldrush

The Note

Bullbuckers recently played a show at The Note in West Chester, PA
A kind fan took a few photos and posted them:

Bullbuckers (Jan 02 2010)

They're pretty nice shots - big cheers to Greg.
I made this blog post just so I could save the link somewhere!

Theatre of the Living Arts

Photo collection from the Bullbuckers performance in Philadelphia on December 21, opening for The Slackers

Our show was delayed by one day, courtesy of the giant snowstorm that rolled up the East Coast that weekend. Still, quite a few people came out. Good times.

Twenty years ago...

Newspaper clipping of me that I decided to scan before it totally disintegrated (note the date - click image to enlarge).
The Shore Jazz All-Stars included Lenny Grazier, Bill Nelson and Jackie Mofitt. Lenny and Bill are long deceased; 'survivors' from an earlier jazz era. I learned a lot from them.


This is a photo of me with Lenny and Jackie at another festival a couple of years later (I think - not really sure of the date on this one).

And from Summer '88- Shore Jazz All-Stars in concert at the OC Boardwalk (Jackie is hidden behind my flugelhorn):

Bullbuckers

New band for me. First show last night. Have a look... 

(More photos here)

I'll also be participating in the Bullbuckers debut CD which will feature Kirk Joseph on Sousaphone as part of our horn section.

'No-No Nonette' at the Avalon Theatre

This Halloween I did a show at the Avalon Theatre in Easton, MD.
It's a live-to-air variety radio show called "Radio From Downtown", loosely affiliated with NPR. Click the link to learn more about it.
(The guy holding the 'applause' sign is Van Williamson, the band guitarist and show producer).

Anyway, the gig is basically a run-through in the afternoon followed by a dinner break and then the show that night. I'm in the house band (called the 'No-No Nonette'). We play a bunch of interludes and the like, plus get a few featured numbers. Not my usual kind of gig but I'm not knocking the variety and I always like a challenge.

So for your critique I'm posting links to four of the featured tunes we performed (mp3 format), excerpted from the live radio feed that went out that night - essentially a sight read. They're mainly stock charts from Dave Pell, which were perfectly suited for the Nonette:

• Blue Room (mp3)
  
• Java Junction (mp3)
  
• Jazz Me Blues (mp3)
  
• Suze Blues (mp3)
  

Australian Mini Tour

Well, I just returned from an end of Summer mini tour to Australia to perform with Jay Hoad (it was still winter down there!). Here are a couple of photo slide shows from our performances down under:

Crown & Sceptre in Adelaide - with full band

Hotel Elliot in Port Elliot - Jay with me and Mat

As you can see the fans at these shows were really into it - and no wonder! We really had it going on. Plus, there is nothing more fun than total immersion into Aussie culture. Cheers everybody!

Bayside Jazz Festival

Here I am performing with the Joe Baione Sextet. Killer band!

Full concert photos HERE

Australian Tour

My tour with Jay Hoad starts in Adelaide with shows at the Fringe Festival and then will continue throughout the region.

The Australian "Warmth In The White" CD release event will be held in conjunction with the Mango Tree Festival on 29 March, to be headlined by the Jay Hoad Band!

27 Feb - Komodo (Fringe Opener!)

1 Mar - Komodo (4pm afternoon jazz show)

2 Mar - Crown & Anchor (Jay solo/duo show)

4 Mar - Wheatsheaf (Jay & Jim w/ The Neo)

5 Mar - Wheatsheaf (Jay & Jim w/ Jigsaw)

12 Mar - Crown & Anchor (Jay solo/duo show)

14 Mar - Crown & Sceptre (band extravagnza!)

15 Mar - Austral 4pm (Jay solo/duo show)

15 Mar - Crown & Anchor 9pm (Jay/Jim duo show)

20 Mar - Komodo (Fringe Spectacular!)

21 Mar - Komodo (Fringe Finale!)

27 Mar - Austral 6pm (Jay solo show)

29 Mar - Austral 4pm (Jay solo show)

29 Mar - Mango Tree Festival (CD release!)

2 April - Radio Adelaide 4pm (live interview)

2 April - Crown & Anchor 9pm (Jay/Jim duo show)

3 April - Austral 4pm (Jay/Jim duo show)

3 April - Rhino Room 9pm (w/ Alias & the Jams)

4 April - Austral 2pm (Jay solo/duo show)

4 April - Higher Ground Theatre 9pm (4 bands!!)

6 April - Crown & Anchor (Jay solo show)