March Winds

Tues. March 16th, 2010. 4 am. I'm up thinking about things. My 50th Columbia High School Reunion is approaching in early June. Looking forward to seeing old friends, and think about lost friends. We had some severe storms with flooding and downed trees here in the NorthEast. A few rehearsals and meetings etc. were cancelled. A week ago Saturday, on March 6th our Blues Band, JJ Blues played at Hat City Kitchen in Orange, a rebuilt place (formerly Ricci's in the Valley). We tore it up man. The big crowd loved our band...the energy, the sound, the soulful sounds. Hope to go back in April. Thanks for coming out to hear us guys. Then on the next Monday I got a call that Music 4 Kids, I program/concert series I created 10 years ago needed a program for Saturday. Something happened to the original artists, so I put together our Jazz Band with some of our Blues Band and quickly created a "Jazz and Blues Connection" program. We did 2 shows with no rehearsals, just play the music. Big hit, both shows. Fun too. My favorite part was having my 10 year old neighbor Liah (a Seth Boyden School kid) sing "O Pato" (the Duck) with us in Portuguese, a Bossa Nova tune....her Dad's a fine Brazilian Tenor Man. Liah had sold me my Girl Scout Cookies this year. I still love those mints. Then on Sunday at 8:30 am I get a call that our Symphony Conductor was stuck at a hospital and could not conduct our rehearsal at 9:30. I swung by and picked up his scores, and conducted a 2 1/2 hour rehearsal. Fortunately I knew most of the tunes pretty well since I had been coming to rehearsals (Mozart's Magic Flute Overture, Symphony #40, and Bach Double Violin Concerto, and Bizet's Carmen Suite #1). It went well, everyone cooperated, but I was beat up. Couldn't do anything else but rest Sunday. (That concert is next Sunday and I hope brother Bruce can come hear it.)
Carol at the same time had a problem with the Prius and had to get towed back home, so she missed the Women's Seder at Rebekah's Synagogue (Temple Beth El where my Son in Law Greg is the Rabbi). Carol is disappointed to miss seeing the Grandkids but I'm very happy she got off the NJ Turnpike safely. That's a brutal place to be stuck. She was about 100 miles from home when it happened. Ouch!! It seems a pump on the Prius went bad. It'll be an expensive repair I'm afraid. I had to cancel my trip to Fla. for next week. Different things didn't workout schedule wise. We have to get ready for our Seders etc. So, no Spring Training this year. Next year we hope to go earlier in the season. I miss going to see Kim and Jane, but look forward to seeing them at the Beach soon. Speaking of summer approaching, the rest of this week will be highs in the 60s. I'm getting ready in my bones to get back to Woodstock. Can't wait. So everybody....Peace and good health to you all. Since I last wrote 2 more musicians are dealing with medical issues, and 2 young friends as well. My prayers go out to all for an immediate healing. Keep positive. It helps. JIMBO