i can tell you exactly when i became pro-trombone. the year was 1996. the venue was the Greek Theatre. the concert was Sting. i can't remember which song it was but his trombone player walked out from the horn section to do a little solo that i will never forget. i don't know what his name was but it was so cool. Sting was in the center of the stage with the spotlight on him. and then you could see the trombone player walking toward him in the darkness of the stage. suddenly the trombone player began to play for what seemed like 10 minutes. he was wearing a dark suit and dark sunglasses. think Blues Brothers with a trombone. i should try to find out his name on the internet (no internet for me until late 1997). i do have one cd by a trombone player whose name i have also forgotten but i have way too many cds to look thru now. i do know he plays...shells as well as the trombone on the cd. and i can also tell you when i became pro-bass but that will have to wait. back to the above video. the band is the Nervis Brothers. they were at the Mardi Gras party i thoroughly enjoyed this past saturday. oh, and they had a guest washboard player...Edie McClurg who has been in quite a few movies including a favorite from the 80's...Ferris Bueller's Day Off. she sat/stood in on a couple of songs...and the crowd began to shout Go Edie, Go Edie, Go Edie. they played tonite also for Fat Tuesday but i've decided to take the 630am flight back to Philly tomorrow as there are many seats open. i will begin a 4-day trip on thursday so i won't be home again until sunday (always subject to change). i am looking forward to San Francisco on friday. i am sure i can find some fun live music somewhere. possibly something for Chinese New Year, the Year of the Rat. and i may get to see my friend Mike and his family when i am in Tampa unless he is on a trip. his town's name is the best...Holiday, Florida. i still have a little 20 year anniversary gift to give him as we began our 21st year last november. we met 20 years ago in Sewickly, Pennsylvania while we were in training for our job or as i still like to callit, my vacation. wow, over 20 years have past since we played that first and last
touch/tackle football game. the next day i could barely walk but it was fun.
the photo below is in honor of the sunday's Superbowl. and what a great game it was. i am not sure if the lifeguard was for the Patriots or Giants. this is my attempt at a walk-on-the-beach-at-sunset self-portrait before i actually walked on the beach. it was so clear after sunday's rain that you could see across the ocean (bay) to Malibu but so cold because of the very strong wind.
sadly i saw a dead seal washed up on the south end of the beach. it became part of the circle
of life.
and finally here is a few minutes of the Dancing Waters at The Grove on saturday.
www.thegrovela.com this was while the jazz band was on a break or it is why the jazz band was on a break.
