So, California . . . be prepared--this is a long one.

Being at the airport with the required time to spare for a 6:00 am flight sure is fun! Well, it may not have been fun, but it was worth it. What a beautiful week we had in CA. The weather rarely varied from sunny and 60s--only raining one morning in San Diego.

The first full day at NAMM was spent at a couple of classes and then going from booth to booth--purposefully but rather leisurely by comparison to the last two days. It was during the first day of looking at so many beautiful guitars and hearing Joe play them or the demo-ing musician playing them that made me decide that I want to put a little more effort than I have been into learning to play the lovely guitar that sits up in my room. I'd love to be able to pick up one of those guitars next year and actually play it.

So far since we've been back, that guitar has come out of its case once, and it got disgusted with me for forgetting the two chords that Joe taught me last year. It went back into its case. "I promise, I'll let you out again, and I'll be better." That's what I said, but it ignored me.

I digress. Anyway, on the second day I planned to get to the Kahler booth to see Victor Wooten who was scheduled to play at 2:00. I got there by 1:15. I was 5th in line right up at the counter. The crowd started to thicken. Victor arrived and got set up. The crowd became a problem, apparently, because right after Victor said hello to us and started talking about his bass and about playing (he was really personable) and played one--just one--tune, the Arena Police dispersed us. All of us. Even those of us who were 5th in line and leaning on the counter out of the way of the aisle. Dispersed!

So we all lurked like crows that have been scattered from their roadkill by a passing car. Looking, lurking, loitering . . . when finally the Arena Police were able to put us in an acceptable line for Victor to sign pictures. No more tunes. I went from Number 5, though, to Number I Don't Know What. I was sure I was never going to get up there, the Arena Police were keeping a tight rein on things and the threat of dispersement (I know that's not a real word) was ever-present. I got up there, Victor was great. He signed a picture for my son and the guy behind me took our picture with my camera. That picture and a few others are posted on my Facebook. Those of you with a Facebook account can see them there. The rest of you will have to wait until Uncle Wally shows me how to post photos here.

That was my excitement for Friday during the day. Also, we stood in a long--and long doesn't begin to describe it--line waiting to get into a show in which the headliner was John Mayer. I was very excited. Joe was more excited about another player, Phil Keaggy. We had been running all day at the show. We were tired. Our feet were past tired. We stood and got more and more aggravated at the "line-budgers" that were everywhere. There were no "Arena Police" here, and no one was keeping any order at all. So the line that was long to begin with just kept getting longer because of all the "special" people who felt too important to wait. Eventually, we got seats in the last row. The first act sucked. The second sucked so much that we left after one song. John Mayer wasn't scheduled to come on for a few hours, and we were too tired, hungry, and aggravated to wait. Sorry, John.

Saturday, Joe was on his own at the show as I spent the day with my childhood best friend, Maryann who lives in close proximity to Anaheim. She took me shopping and out to lunch and then to Huntington beach where we walked the pier and watched the surfers, swimmers, and volleyball players. It was a beautiful day.

That night, Joe and I stood in a long line with more line-budgers waiting for the Muriel Anderson All-Star Guitar review. We got in and were so far back that until I got home and looked him up, I had no idea that Andreas Oberg (one of the amazing jazz players we heard and I would jump at the chance to hear again) was so awesomely gorgeous! Check out his website, holy cow! Monte Montgomery played again this year and Joe was as impressed as last year. In fact, he said something like, "I'm going to go home and burn my guitar." In addition, Laurence Juber (formerly of Paul McCartney and Wings) played a beautiful version of While My Guitar Gently Weeps. Joe bought me his CD and had him sign it for me. Thank you, Joe.

So, I have to have a little rant (of course) because people are so freakin' RUDE! You know how I feel about the Talkers, and there were plenty of those, but the guy behind me took the cake. We called him "Flashlight/Baggie/Cell Phone Guy" and for good reason. To begin with, though the aud was darkened, it was most definitely not too dark to see. For some reason, he felt the need to shine a flashlight to illuminate the way for anyone going into his row or ours or down the aisle. Wasn't that nice of him? No, not really because every time I caught that flash of light in my peripheral vision, it was completely distracting. Beyond that, the man had a bazillion baggies (I think empty) in his briefcase that he kept taking out and reorganizing. That many baggies being ruffled and wrinkled actually make a lot of noise. I was becoming really annoyed and shot him a few "looks" but they went unnoticed. One time, he had the flashlight on, in his mouth, shining onto his briefcase of baggies which he was rifling through, and I turned around to give him yet another "look" and he looked up and shined the light right in my face. ANGRY. By the time he had the long and loud cell phone conversation with someone (while the performances were going on, mind you) about how great the show was--how did he even know, I wondered--Joe was grabbing my hand tight. I think he was afraid I might deck the guy. Though I wouldn't have done that, I did have many choice words floating around my mouth ready to be spewed on this guy, but that wouldn't have been very ladylike, and it might have embarrassed Joe or caused him to have to pound the guy, so I just kept my mouth shut. Though he didn't completely ruin the show for us, I can tell you that we will never forget Flashlight/Baggie/Cell Phone Guy.

Sunday we drove to San Diego, prowled around Balboa Park, had dinner at a place called The Hob Nob Hill Restaurant and had some well-deserved down time at our beautiful B&B. Monday we toured the USS Midway which was really cool and then walked through Old Town with all the Mexican stores, restaurants, art galleries and a beautiful church. We had a fabulous dinner in Little Italy at Buon Apetito. Tuesday found us on a pedi-cab ride along the harborfront and poking through some galleries and stores, then down to the Gaslamp Quarter where we parked in the Vegetable Garage and walked around. We planned on dinner there and music at Croce's that night, but after walking all the way to the Hillcrest Neighborhood for amazing desserts at Extraordinary Desserts (I had THE best coconut cake ever), we just ran out of steam. Knowing that we had to get up before dawn to make the ride back to Long Beach airport to leave the next day, clinched it. Dinner was at Avenue 5--tres chic--and that was about the end of our vacation.

Hope you enjoyed my little vacation epic. So, now that I've wrapped up California, perhaps tomorrow I'll be able to talk about the music scene in Rochester LAST weekend (before THIS weekend happens).

Don't forget Jim Allen's opening tomorrow night at A&CCGR!

yours in music,
Tracy

Quick note on an upcoming event at the Arts Council

This Friday night, from 5:00 until 8:00, the opening reception for Jim Allen's show of photographs of jazz musicians will take place at the Arts & Cultural Council for Greater Rochester's Gallery at 277 N. Goodman Street. Amazing photographs of jazz musicians in the midst of creating their art abound - including some of our local jazz greats like Steve Curry, Vince Ercolamento, Bob Sneider and more. This is the show I've been waiting for since I started working at the Arts Council in May.

The show is open now and runs until February 28th. Come and check it out - weekdays from 10:00 to 4:00, except the 18th when we are closed for President's Day.

yours in music,

Tracy

It's TIME to get writing . . .

A wise writing woman I met today read my blog and noted that I start so many of my posts with some words about TIME - the quick passage of TIME, apologies for not enough TIME to write, etc. Yes, that preoccupation I have with how TIME flies, which can verge on maudlin at TIMES, has been central to me for a very long time. That will not change, sadly, BUT I can stop mentioning it in every post.

So, this short post is to get me writing--get me current--again. I have much to say about what/who I saw in Anaheim a couple of weeks ago and the live music I saw right here in good old Rochester last weekend. I'll get to it as soon as I have some . . . well, you know.

Every good writer needs a good editor; point well taken, Marget!

Okay, that's all the TIME I have for that.

Yours in music,
T

Well, it's been a while.

Sorry to have been gone so long, but it's been pretty busy at home and at work. I haven't been out to see any music, except one lovely evening at Fairport High School on January 4th. There was a small group ensemble night with the students' jazz combo opening. This combo includes Kimmy Lourette killing on upright bass, Greg Hammond on trombone, Ben Tiberio on guitar, Colin Lyness on keyboards and John Meeske on drums and there were two more kids, I think (and sorry that I don't know), on trumpet and sax. All excellent musicians, but they could use some rehearsals. They need to be able to communicate with each other while they are playing so that they can end a tune, among other things. With a few rehearsals, this has the potential to be a really great little combo.

Then, Summer Salsa led by Paul Gaspar took the stage, and we enjoyed some good Latin jazz. It was a mixed-age-group ensemble with high school-age, college-age, and adult musicians. And one nine-year-old Latin percussion player. He was a very good musician and totally adorable as well.

Then the Fairport Jazz Quintet, playing together for the first time, took us to a delightful jazzy place. This group was comprised of Mark Viavattine on the drum set, Jon Viavattine, Jr. on bass (a certified California rock star who was loving playing jazz), Paul Gaspar on trumpet, Joe Chiappone on guitar and Bill Tiberio on sax. A great group playing so tightly together--without a rehearsal--I hope to see them playing together again soon.

Well, Wednesday I am off to California with Joe for the NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants) show at the Anaheim Convention Center and then three days in San Diego. I'm sure I'll have lots to post musically, because there are shows every night and amazing musicians demo-ing product all day. That's where, last year, I saw Frank Vignola (who I wish would come back to Rochester--he's been here before), Willy Porter and Monte Montgomery to name a few. I'll try to take good notes. If there's a "cyber-center" in the hotel or I can find a cybercafe, I'll post from there. If not, I'll try to take good notes and post when I get back. Talk to you soon.

yours in music,
Tracy

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a Good Night!

Greetings of the season! I marvel at how fast the time flies now between Thanksgiving and Christmas and how we fill it with so many tasks, so many things and so much tension. I remember, as a child, how long I seemed to have to wait until Santa came and the wonderful trip to Midtown to shop and see Santa and "going visiting" or entertaining friends and relatives in the days and weeks leading up to Christmas. I know I'm not the only person who is feeling like we've traded some of the magic in return for the madness of our hectic and non-stop lives. I'd like to go back.

In case anyone is in search of great music on their Christmas Eve, the 9:00 Mass at Spiritus Christi is sure to delight with Kathy Welch's choir accompanied by musicians like Bill Tiberio. Then, at 11:00, the "Midnight" Mass begins with the crowd-pleasing Gospel Choir. Come early and hear some of the choir members entertain you with music and carols of the season.

Well, packages await--needing to be wrapped and "bowed" and filled with love. I wish you all a merry, and musical, Christmas and a happy, healthy and peaceful New Year.

yours in music,
Tracy

Back from Carlisle

After almost 12 hours in the car and much good luck (given yesterday's weather), we have returned, triumphantly, home! Drew has new music to share (or old stuff), so I'll write about that when I can. Drew is encouraging his sister to sing with me at midnight Mass, but she is balking. Must run for now.

Two Fridays.

It's a crazy-busy time of year for me at work and at home. I did take a little "abuse" for not having posted in a while. So, a quick recap of December 7 and December 14, musically.

December 7th found me at Stucko's, once again, to check out Joe Chiappone and Greg Wachala. Greg had, earlier in the day, performed at the Arts & Cultural Council's legal workshop for musicians and was very well received. It was lovely to hear such good live music in our gallery.

My stay at Stucko's was short because I was headed over to the Immanuel Baptist Church for the Bill Welch Band's annual Advent Concert. The church was packed--standing room only upstairs and down--and the music was just phenomenal. Joe joined me after his Stucko's gig was over, and he was so impressed with their sound. This concert is always a great way to get into the spirit of what Christmas really is. I hope this is a tradition without end. That night, the Bill Welch Band included Bill on keyboard, guitar, percussion and vocals, Bill Tiberio on sax (multiple) , Gene Rogalski on guitar, Fred Welch on drums, Mike Keefe on bass, and Tina Albright, Damaris Rivera and Kathy Welch on vocals. Damaris and Tina sang some beautiful solos with a special request for Tina to sing her rich and soulful rendition of Silent Night. It was hard not to float out of that concert.

On the 14th, I was at Stucko's to hear Joe and Greg and was joined by Tina Albright and Dave Charneski (guitarist for Shinbone Alley) as well as many other friends. The guys played some Christmas music mixed in with their usual jazz standards, and it was great. Greg even had his Santa hat on. Joe, you know what's coming, right? Then Joe and I followed Tina and Dave to the Landing in Fairport to catch Shinbone Alley doing their bluesy-rocky thang. I haven't seen them in a while, and they were rocking the house, for sure. Dave broke out a new (for SBA) Hendrix tune, and the band was tight as usual.

Now, I know where I'm going to try to be next Saturday, the 22nd--the Baird Road Pub to see Northside Johnny with special guest, Bill Tiberio. And then on the 28th, the Bill Tiberio Group plays at Hi Fidelity. I haven't been there since I was so sadly disappointed in the renovations during the Jazz Fest. I mean, the place looks nicer on the inside, but as I said before, the bathrooms got nothing except paint over the graffiti and a bathroom attendant which, honestly, is unnecessary and downright intrusive in a bathroom of that size. Maybe they've improved that since June. I'll let you know!

Check out my cute little seasonal link at the top right of this blog. It was sent to me last year by Tina Albright and is my favorite holiday e-greeting, ever!

yours in music,
Tracy