Spring returns

Friday,March 18, 2011.5:00 am. I love to get up early in the Spring. Today will be warm enough that we will take a drive up to Woodstock to look in at the house. We're keeping healthy and playing alot of music. Carol is involved in the Community. Last night she hosted the Hilton Neighborhood Assn. meeting featuring the Board of Ed Candidates forum. She has also put in alot of time and energy into the Maplewood Library where she is Vice President of the Board. I did a recital last Sunday with our Brass Quintet on trombone and tuba. Next weekend I conduct a small Chamber Orchestra on a short Opera based on Green Eggs and Ham. Fun, but a real challenge. Next month Beethoven's 3rd Sym. again. Great opportunity, we haven't done it in 2 years. This Wed. I play a Community Band Concert on Tuba; I no longer conduct there, but I love to play tuba. I continue to play in Big Bands at the Union Hall on Mon (tbone) and Tuesday (Upright Bass). I'm also studying cello and practicing some duos with a violinist. Great fun. Read a recent book about The Bach Cello Suites. It is time to slow down and enjoy the outdoors. We've had our fill of snow and ice and things dangerous. I broke a rib on the ice the day after Thanksgiving. The snow arrived the day after Christmas (our 46th wedding anniversary) and it stayed until last week. I have some ice damage on the house which needs work. Last week we enjoyed a family gathering for a Bat Mitzvah in Nashville area. I had a ball, I was tooling around in a beautiful, hot. red Mustang. So sporty. Loved it. Did 2 museums with Cafes as well. Mom is doing well and may join us on today's field trip. Last night brother Bruce hosted the family for St. Patricks Day. Delicious Corn Beef and Cabbage, his wife's recipe. It was fun to see my cousins and catch up. Mary made fabulous soda bread. We read Elana's blog from Costa Rica, so fine. She can write. Well, time also to go hear music, maybe Jazz tonight; next week Elfin plays all Bach. Soon NY Phil. and others. Heard Israel Phil recently here in NJPAC. Zubin Mehta was brilliant putting the woodwinds in front for the Schubert Great C major. Enjoy the outdoors. Stay healthy. Peace. JIM

February

Feb. 5, 2011. 7:30 am. Well the schmutz continues. Ice, rain, snow. A dangerous combination in below freezing temperatures. Today we go to NYC to see Elfin's play. Tonight to Montclair State with Bud for a recital by Carter Brey and Christopher O'Rielly. We're missing Jon Flower who was in town for some recordings, he's a bit fluey and has to run back to LA at 1:30. Next time we'll get together. I'm watching beautiful videos of Balkan cities. Gotta get there one day. I want to do the entire Meditteranean cruise soon, and Croatian river cruise etc. Got to the Y to workout and swim yesterday. Am studying a chamber music piece to conduct in March; Green Eggs and Ham, an operatic piece based on the Dr. Seuss classic. It will be coupled with "Sneeches" as well. FUN.
After the holidays and our cruise I felt a bit out of shape playing instruments, but that is slowly returning. Aboard the ship we saw the Kindle was very popular. I love reading mine as well. Right now a Bio about Ron Carter. Had to buy 2 more bags of salt for the ice.But, of course, the sun is rising earlier and setting later now so I can hear birds in the morning which reminds me that Spring is not far off. We have so much snow in Woodstock I want to go up and see the nhouse, but I've been busy. Maybe tomorrow before the Super Bowl I'll get up there.I'm enjoying my neice's blog from Costa Rica. Gotta get there one day as well. Have a warm Valentine's Day. We're playing at Churrasco Feb. 10th. Peace, JIM

Winter Snow

1/26/11 12 noon. We're in another storm. We're wracking up the inches here in the NorthEast. Carol and I went to the Caribbean on a Cruise "SymphonicVoyages.com" and had a great time. Love that Kindle. We returned to some tragedies but then to Tampa for my nephew's Wedding Reception. Great fun. Riv joined us so it was heaven. Just took on a musical project for March, a chamber piece. Looking forward. Health issues holding steady. Feel good. Back to regular rehearsals and practice and teaching. Great to see everyone again since the holidays.

Happy Anniversary

Tues.,Dec. 28, 2010. We spent yesterday cleaning up from a brutal Nor'easter. About 16" of snow blown around into 4' drifts around the doors, porches, cars etc. Just as the storm began I went to Target and "Mo's with Maayan and we got good boots an gloves for the kids (and a couple of new sleds as well). Faith, the kids Au Pair is from South Africa and had not experienced snow like this before. Riv and Shosh and Faith trek back to Bethesda today and I'll take Ben and Maayan to the parks for some sledding and skiing. The wind was too much even for that yesterday, but they did get out and help shovel and play a bit in the drifts. I saw M making a fort. Tomorrow Lion King at night on Broadway, another tradition.
I grewup on a Dead End around the corner (Marion Terrace) and we could sled down the hill on the streets after a bad storm; build igloos and such, from which to chuck snowballs at each other. Great fun.
So on Christmas Eve I played bass with a Quartet at the Actor's Home (a nursing home for actors, musicians,stage hands etc.) in Englewood. The night before Brass Quintet Caroling for a Soup Kitchen in Plainfield. We love to see the eyes brighten and people come alive a bit when they hear familiar tunes. It's uplifting. Then after Shabbot dinner Friday I took Faith to an Episcopal Mass for Christmas Eve services. We selected a church with a Jazz Mass with T.S. Monk and his band with Willy Williams, my neighbor, sounding beautiful. The minister is very heavy and inspiring. Fine service, communion, etc. Then after gift giving Sat. am in Maplewood we went to Montclair to see all of Carol's family at Randi and Glenn's house. To eat, chat, give and receive gifts. An annual joy for all of us, but especially the children. On Sunday Carol and I celebrated our 46th Anniversary with our annual brunch with Budo, who made us candles and food. Another tradition. For the celebration we'll take the Cruise next week to the Caribbean. We need that break now. Thanks to all our relatives and friends who stay to take care of Millie. Well Happy New Year y'all. I've been celebrating performances from the past year on the DVD player. Fun. Stay healthy man.

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.