Up Early

12.18.10 7am. Been up early, since 4:30...Coffee at 5..You tube of The Stones at 5:15 and since...Satisfaction...Meet Devil...You Can't Always Get...etc. Reading Keith's book on the new Kindle. Also Ben loaned me Ben Ratliff's book "Jazz Ears" to devour. Carol and I dig Crosswords. Getting gifts for friends, relatives, each other. "Tis the Season. The cards are going out. The gigs continue...some for pay, some for fun..some as a gift to people and the World...kids, neighbors, Vets, patients, the hungry, the masses. I love to be immersed in the music, whatever, the blues, country, chamber music, the orchestral stuff, the swing bands. It all involves the brain, the heart, the joy, the challenge, meeting all kinds of challenges from whoever/whatever you're playing, to where you're going etc. It's a great place to be. T and I talk about it all the time. We're getting ready to Cruise to the Caribbean with a Symphony Orchestra (listening/customer/traveler, not as a player this time). A getaway is necessary now. Usually it's Captiva, this year something different. Back to Captiva later. Waiting for a DVD of last weeks "Country For Kids" programs. I'll add it as soon as I get. Meantime here's a vid from last Summer. Have fun. Happy New Year. Stay healthy. Keep lovin'. Peace. Go For It. JIMBO

Lucky Music

11/12/10. Fri; 2:30 pm. I'm lucky to have the opportunities to make music. Yesterday morning Trombone 4 for the Veteran's ceremony;Last night rehearse in a Brass 5 for Sun. morning church service. Tonight a gig at shul, Congregation Beth El in South Orange, then to NJPAC to hear Wynton Marsalis and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra...Latin and swing. Sunday afternoon Dvorak's G Major Symphony and others. So another weekend of making music. I'll play Bass, trombone and tuba. I also rehearsed with my Country Band this week, upright bass although sometimes I use an acoustic electric bass there.
Hasn't this been a beautiful Fall?? I hit a peak weekend for my birthday in Woodstock (Columbus Day weekend) , then down to Bethesda for Ben's birthday and it was incredibly beautiful in the DC area, and here it is still pretty with sun and colorful leaves in Maplewood mid November. I love the seasons here, even in the extremes...which this past summer was..extreme heat. And we'll have some zreo degree days and snow and Ice in a few months as well. I do feel I am slower at adjusting to the changes of temperature, especially from warm to cold, as I get older, but I still love the seasons.
We're all well here at home. Looking forward to Thanksgiving and Christmas to see relatives and spend time with the Grands. Symphonic Voyages in January.
Keep well, stay healthy, keep the PEACE. JIMBO
(Picture is at Sesame Place with the kids last summer).

Ben's 10th

10.31.10; 9:45 pm. Go Giants!! Celebrated Ben's 10th birthday Fri and Sat nites. Checked out the Rally sat. Thanks to all who stayed with Mom. Sat nite at Blues Alley with Ben to hear Kenny Garrett Band; hip, funky, REAL; Riv had him meet the artist and sign a CD. So Cool. Carol and I loved this weekend.
Thursday got to the Arboretum for a hike. Amazing beauty. Thursday night fine Jazz set at Churrasco. Great food as well. We had a ball.
Now for more music in November and get ready for Tksgiving..our favorite. Peace.

A Weekend of Music

Sun. Oct. 3, 2010; 5:00pm. We had a ball playing at Hat City Kitchen Friday night...JJ Blues with guest Joel Perry. Saturday am back to South Mountain Brass 5 at Wyoming Church. Sat. afternoon Trout Quintet at the Chamber Music study group. This morning Dvorak G Major Sym. and La Gazza Ladra rehearsal for Novembers concert. So....the season has begun. Tomorrow back to the Big Bands. Our family is excited to be going to Dylan's Bar Mitzvah soon. Next week I'll go to Woodstock to enjoy my Birthday Weekend. Enjoy the Fall...Keep healthy. JIM

Fall Beach Day

Wed. Sept. 22 at 5:45 pm. Just got back from the Spring Lake, NJ Beach. Warm sun, nice breeze, cooling waves; Grandma and Grandpa took a good nap in our beach chairs. Fun to watch people, kids, beauties, in the sea and sand. Delicious. Last night open mic jam on Blues etc. Tomorrow classical duets on cello. The season of music has begun...tonight NY Phil on QXR. The Yankees are in 1st place and health is returning to the team. Carol is busy with her libraries. Mom is clever as ever. Saw most of the family this week with Break Fast at Randi and Glenn's, then a cabaret with Bruce's gang, then Sunday dinner with Deb and Elfin. Tonight dinner with Cousins Billy and Marty. Then Yankees.
Gotta go. Keep healthy. Enjoy the Fall. JIM

Shonah Tova

Sat. Sept. 11, 2010. A Momentous date. Memories etc. Enjoyed services in Bethesda with the family this week. Especially the Grandchildren. The maturing, playful, loving, laughing Grandchildren. They love music, math problems with Grandma, and hugs for all. Joy. Today Kappy joined us for 2 Garden visits, one in Peapack, one in Mendham or close by. Beautiful properties, a perfect day. Then a burger and beer at The Sterling Hotel. Fine. I'd like to bring the Country Band there sometime. On Wed. before Rosh Hoshanah we played again at the Maplewood Pool for the seniors. 5th year in a row. Fun. Also 5th gig there this summer. Fun. Gary and his bride are at the Woodstock house this weekend for Levon Helms Ramble. Gotta do that soon. Soon back to our regular schedule. We're fortunate to have these opportunities. Looking into some new playing venues this season. Be healthy. Thanks for keeping up with me. JIM

MSK Update

Thursday, August 5, 2010. Well I saw Dr. Berman yesterday and got a nice report...all good numbers and a long 4 months before the next checkup...WOW...that's good news. Going back December 6th. So, Carol and I will celebrate with a nice week in Woodstock beginning Sunday. Last night I had a Jazz Sextet at the Maplewood Pool doing Hard Bop /Soulful classics. Then this Sat. we're back there with our Country band "Jimmy Lee Band" which was cancelled out due to storms last Sunday. We're having fun with that one. The JJ Blues Band is on hiatus for the rest of the summer ever since our performance at MapleWoodstock. I have 1 more Big Band gig on bass and then we're done with performances for this summer. Started rehearsing however with a Piano Trio and will in the fall be working on the Trout Quintet with 1 or 2 groups. Carol and I just got back from a dip in the Pool....helps us keep cool in this heat. My cousin Rick needs a fire in the fireplace out there in the mountains above San Francisco.
In a few weeks Maayan will be here for Grandmapa Camp. Our usual is Woodstock, Beach (at Kim and Janies Seaside Park Beach house followed by Boardwalk fun), Broadway (maybe Lion King this year), Maplewood Pool, a movie, and alot of reading with Grandma...and usually a music lesson or 2 with Grandpa. Carol then makes a scrapbook of the vacation's events as memorabilia for the kids. We really love having the Grands here for summertime fun.
Well, I'm adding a little more to my Journals and I'm hoping to share those with family and friends soon. Nothing real formal like a biography or anything, just some casual stories and ideas. Started all that on the suggestion from a High School friend. We've been enjoying such stories from my Classmates.
Well, gotta go eat. Thanks for keeping up with me. I have to write more frequently because if I don't some of my buddies start getting nervous and wonder what's going on. We're ok guys and enjoying the summer. BUT...I bet we will really welcome the cooler weather come September. Meantime, enjoy the beauty.