Its a Girl!!

Sun., May 4th, 12:05 am. What a week!!! Our 3rd grandchild was born yesterday (Friday I mean, May 2nd) at 2:34 pm. She weighed 6 lbs. 11 oz. and measures 19" tall. I'll let you know her name after Minyan on Monday. Meantime Carol is in Bethesda with Ben and Maayan, and visiting Mommy Rebekah, Baby and Dad Rabbi Greg Harris. Alot of Gregs family is there for support as well, and they have terrific friends with growing families all around. I had a gig tonight so I stayed home with the Great One (my Mother in Law Mildred) this weekend. Went to hear a fine choral concert last night at Montclair State (where I met my bride). Heather Buchanan is a magnificent conductor. She's taking those kids to Russia, a terrific program of American composers, some Russian and of course Gospel tunes. Bud and I really enjoyed the concert. Then at 4 today went to Bev Perlman's beautiful home for a fundraiser for Global Theater Arts Project performance/social with Bahati and Ahmondylla. Wonderful music and food and people. Tonight we had SwingTown play for the Livingston Arts Council fundraiser at the new Livingston Library. What a beautiful place. We were a big hit. Ronnie and Barbara were there; he said it was the first time in along time he could really enjoy the music at an affair. We tried to get everyone up on the dance floor. Worked very well. Tomorrow morning 9am rehearsal for a Church Service at 9:45-12 noon at Wyoming Presb. Ch in Millburn.Tuba/Brass Quintet. Then, 2 pm rehearsal with Jay for a TV spot next week (Upright Bass); then 4-6 Booksigning for Tricia at Emily and Dans beautiful home. I think I'll skip Mondays rehearsal and get down to see my new Grandaughter as soon as possible. Meantime, peace everyone. I'm feeling strong and feel blessed with your support, prayers, blood and platelets, friendship, and love. Thanks for all your support the past year plus. I've spoken to 2 close friends in our musicians family here this week who need this kind of support now. My heart, prayers, and love go to them as they work their way through to a life in which they can live beyond cancer. I'm trying to learn to be there for others what you have been for me. I'll never forget words to me from another musician when I was first diagnosed in the hospital. His support is with me every day. As Jon wrote about my Grandaughter : Mazeltov and "go TEAM "(the support TEAM which Runs for Leukemia and Lymphoma). There is joy in working on the TEAM to help patients, support survivors, and remember our dear friends and relatives who have dealt with disease. Enjoy this beautiful Spring. NEW LIFE. JIMBO

Art Show Coming

Wed. 4/22.11am. So on Monday, April 28 we have some pieces in the MSKCC Patients Art Exhibition (55th annual). The Opening starts 5:00-8:00 pm Monday in the Cafeteria on York Ave. by East 67th Street. Carol and I should be there for the opening, but if you're in town and want to drop by you have until May 1st. Then it closes. Anything I don't sell will be picked up Friday.
Enjoying this beautiful Spring. Carol is creating a Cottage Garden in the back here in Maplewood. We're going up to straighten up the Woodstock house tomorrow. Been to see the Cherry blossoms in Newark last Wed. Then to Grounds For Sculpture on Thursday. Beautiful. Went to hear David's brass quintet last week at Wm. Paterson U. Fun. Very good. Randi and Glenn hosted a Seder Sunday. Lots of excitement with the kids heading off to College. Elana to Wesleyan. Fantastic place for her to deepen her arts/intellectual sensibilties and skills. Great. Then TJ to, I think, Syracuse U. Science stuff. Amazing. We're all so proud of these kids. RJ and Martha are planning their wedding. More excitement. Rebekah is about to have her baby. We're sitting next to the phone. I called Tuesday and Greg answered "no baby yet!!". His parents were there for the Seders in Bethesda and everybody had a great family time. Now 4 grandchildren there, with #5 (our #3) about ready to bring us great joy.
Spring brings a number of fine concerts etc. We've been enjoying playing. More Swing band, Concert Band, Trombone 4, and Brass 5 gigs coming. A jazz gig here and there as well. Looking forward. George offered me my old job back as Cultural Affairs guy here in Maplewood. I'll offer some suggestions soon. Dr. Berman's last words were "see you in a month!". That's a 1st. I can go for monthly visits. That's progress. Can't wait until she says "see you in 6 months!!".
Gotta go, CB and I are going for lunch. Peace. Prayers. Love. Thanks. JIMBO

Concert Weekend

Sun. April 13; 8 pm. Yanks at Boston just starting. Masters just ended. I'm achy. Been a busy week. Played Haydn's St. Cecilia Mass last night in Plainfield. Carol came Fri night to rehearsal. Sounded great, but alot of intense work. Then Sat am Baseball Parade for the kiddies. Then Brass Quintet in the afternoon. Today a Combined Bands concert in Chatham. Lotsa fun. Especially the combined tunes. Tomorrow am back to MSK to see Dr. Berman. See what's up for the future. My feet and legs are tired tonight.
So even though it's cool Spring is popping out all over Maplewood. As I drove on Valley Street Friday past the Golf course, then the Baseball fieldslooking so quafed. Amazing.We will get to the cherry blossoms Tuesday down in Belleville/Newark. It's been a joy for us to visit and photograph for years but Joe D and Essex County have put some care and money into the parks and the display is getting richer and more beautiful each year.
Last weekend we loved being with the Grands. Carol was there again today; 3rd week in a row. Helping Becky (she's due real soon) and playing with the kids. Bike riding etc. Thanks for keeping up with us. Gotta go eat. JIM

April Fools Day

4/1/08. 5th Inning of Rained Out Opening Day. New Joe!
So today at the hospital Dr. Maslak released me from the Clinical Trial. My 2 bad reactions, 1st a swollen right leg, then last week a swollen left arm were enough evidence of potential future problems that the Docs decided to not put me through anymore of this routine. Frankly if they come up with any other such ideas I'll beg off until next winter. I'm a little bit tired of the number of runs into the hospital and look forward to minimizing that for a while. When the phlebotomist took 16 vials of blood I was surprised and looked at the order and saw the phrase "End of Study" so I knew in advance of seeing the docs today what was up.
We will miss Suzanne and Mariah who are such excellent special nurses. Thanks to my buddy John for providing transportation today. We had a good time catching up. Saw 2 of my previous roomates today; Brad looks fine, doing communications on his laptop; Moshe and his Mom are fine. I told him how much my Grandchildren love his music. His Mom offered me a good Pesach. Also saw Donna, our Social worker and asked for Saga, the art therapist. I dropped 3 frames off for the art show. I'll be posting invitations to the opening soon. Enjoying mostly good energy but am trying to slow down. I stayed home alot last weekend while Carol went to Beckys. Tomorrow night Swingtown plays at the Vets hospital. Thursday night a 4 piece Jazz gig in town. Fri-Sun down to Bethesda to celebrate Maayani's 5th Birthday (April 3rd). I'll try to take some pix to share. Spoke to cousin Billy today. He has some fine old slides to share; I gotta get up to see him. He was by here last week but I missed him. Kim was by to see me Sat. We had a good lunch at the pub. Bruce and Judy were up in the lake house. Sounds magnificent. We're getting ready to open the Woodstock house next week. Can't wait. I'm walking more and trying to up the exercise.
Enjoy the beautiful spring. Thanks again for your messages, prayers and support. JIM

Easter season

Monday, March 24, 2008. 8:30 pm. Hope you all had a nice Easter and Purim celebrations. We had a wonderful family celebration on Saturday honoring my sister in law Brenda. Celebrating her beauty and enthusiasm for life. The Queen of Presents my Grandchildren call her. We had a ball toasting her, singing to her, laughing with her. It was such a nice gathering everyone wants to keep enjoying such times together. We had it at a perfect little Italian Restaurant in Montclair, Marzullos. Fun. Joy.
This morning we played trombone for the dedication of the new Police station here in Maplewood on Springfield Ave. Funny, about 50 plus years ago I played trombone for the cornerstone ceremony of the Maplewood Memorial Library as well. Hah!! Also took a shot today. Wed. back to the hospital for a checkup and another Clinical Trial vaccination. Last week I had some energy problems and was getting worried, but now feel better. I must have been fighting something off. Or was getting dragged with the cloudy winter weather. When the sun broke through Sat. and Sunday everything felt better. Looking forward to the MSK patient art show at end of April. I'm having 3 tryptichs framed. 3 related pastels in each. We'll see how they look. Fri. I got the MacBook checked up. Added some Ram and bought a new printer. Sent Ben and Maayan some prints of some of those extraordinary self portraits they took last year. Fun!! Also got a backup system installed. Cool.
Well, enjoy the Spring.Thanks for keeping up with us. JIMBO

March

Mon. March 3, 7:30 pm. Enjoyed playing with Harmonium over the weekend: Vaughn Williams "Dona Nobis Pacem" and Mark Millers newest composition, based on Whitmans poem "Song of the Open Road". Great fun. Fine sound. Lori Sue went to camp with him when they were kids. Missed having Bud in the audience. He's in Fla. But Carol came by Sat. Loved it. Also, Jilana Dellal, a Caldwell Band horn player from the early 70s said hello. She babysat Rebekah all those years ago. She's back in NJ now at ATT. Others who haven't seen me recently were gracious. Lots of hugs, blessings etc. Today at MSK saw Brad. Looking fine. Goes back to work soon. Onward and upward. Saw others we know. All my numbers are good and we are proceeding with the Clinical Trial afrter last weeks brief hiatus due to a swollen leg. All seems ok. Went up to 15th floor and got application/invitation to the art show in April. We'll see. Maybe we'll play a recital or concert there as well. Could be healing for all.
Next weekend Beethovens 7th and Mozart Piano Cto. 21. In 2 weeks Crescent Ave gig. Played Fri at Harlem Hospital with Linsy's JazzBerries big band. Trying to keep up the chops and still studying Guitar styles. Keep the brain challenged. Spoke to cousin Billy yesterday. They've had 11 feet of snow up there in New Hampshire. He needs to use the tractor for snow removal. Had to hire someone to shovel snow off his roof!!! The ski resorts are ecstatic.Hope to get up to see him soon.
We're playing Blues March 15th at Heres 2 the Arts, 7:30-9. Early show.

I feel Spring in the air here. Or is it just a tease?? Looking forward to a beautiful Spring and Summer. See you. Continued thanks. Love and Peace. JIM

February Thaw

2/16/08 9 pm. Been a while since I've written. Been busy trying to enjoy a more normal life style. Fortunately the body/disease is mostly cooperating. Numbers are good, clinical trial is good and we're moving forward. The diabetes continues to be a challenge and we're meeting with doctors, nutritionist etc. to deal. Gotta exercise more, loose weight, eat healthy. Am trying to cleanup my act. Been playing alot of music, which is a joy and a challenge. Great way to keep the brain, lungs, coordination etc. happening. I also love it all very much. I respond to musical sounds in any and all forms/styles/venues. Been to hear Berio's Symphonia, Beethoven's 5th, Santi DiBriano's Bass Threesome, and Winard Harpers Band at Shanghai, as well as playing some jazz and blues and symphony and brass stuff myself. Whew!!! Soon, hopefully, Pink Martini and KD Lang. Last week a storm hit the East Coast, so we headed North to Rhinebeck, NY to get into the snow. Stayed on a 40 acre horse farm BnB, WhistleWood Farm. Delicious. Stayed in the Carriage House, Morningside Room. Met really interesting people (See their website:(usonfoot.com). Enjoyed the movie "The Savages". Restaurants, Bars etc. Here's some pictures from our little vacation. Enjoy the Thaw (whenever it comes and goes!!). Ah yes, and here's Carol at her 65th birthday bash: "Aged to Perfection!!" Love, peace, thanks. JIMBO