Saalik Ziyad... one of the most positive human beings I've had the the pleasure of knowing... missing your presence personally and musically... you "left town," as Charles Lloyd would say, way, way too soon... I'll play Polka Dots and Moonbeams this Sunday thinking of you... Peace … [Read more...]

Well, the rest of Summer 2022 consisted of the annual July gig with The SJE Big Band in Park Forest, duo performances with bassist Matt Thompson at the Olympia Fields Country Club, and an early September hit with the JJC Faculty Jazz Quintet. Coming up: JJC Faculty Jazz Quintet, Sunday, October 23rd at 3:00 p.m., and I'll be playing a solo guitar piece for the JJC Music Faculty Showcase, Sunday, November 13th at 3:00.  Both performances will … [Read more...]

I am grateful for these upcoming gigs in 2022: The SJE Big Band - February 18 @ 7:30pm - Prairie State College Jazz Fest. The JJC Faculty Jazz Quintet - March 20 @ 3:00pm - Joliet Junior College. … [Read more...]

Well, it’s been a busier summer than I expected! In June, I had my first gig in front of a live audience with the JJC Faculty Jazz Quintet and did some rehearsing and recording with the JJC Alumni and Friends Jazz Band. Great to be playing with other musicians again! This month, I have been performing weekly duo gigs at Olympia Fields Country Club (w/bassists Matt Thompson or John Hurtubise). So much fun to dust off the duo chops! This Wednesday, … [Read more...]

Well it's been a long time coming, but live music is emerging from the virtual world it has been stuck in for far too long! I have a gig! Make that two gigs!! Live, in front of an audience!!! The JJC Faculty Jazz Quintet performs in Joliet on June 17. Details here. The Southland Jazz Ensemble returns to Main Street Nights in Park Forest on July 21. Details Here. … [Read more...]

  The JJC Faculty Jazz Quintet emerges from obscurity, streaming on Sunday, April 18, 2021 @ 3:00 pm Central Daylight Time (1:00 pm for my West Coast Peeps). We recorded the video a couple of weeks ago after a few rehearsals, most tunes in one take, so excuse the rough edges. Here's the best link to the performance: https://www.jjc.edu/musica-viva-jjc-faculty-jazz-quintet-0 It has been a long, long year without live music, so it was a joy to … [Read more...]

It’s been a long time since I’ve posted, but the passing of the great bassist Gary Peacock has me reflecting on everything he taught me many years ago, and on how his wisdom inhabits my musical universe today. Overtones and the physics of sound, the “Wheel” of tritone resolutions, the “tendencies of tones,” and so much more. With a chalk board, a grand piano, and a healthy dose of humor, Peacock showed us how to enjoy music theory. In my … [Read more...]

The 2019 gig season is shaping up! First, in June, two hits with JJC Alumni & Friends Jazz Band... on the 18th, 7-8 pm @ La Quinta De Los Reyes in Aurora, and on the 20th, 7-8 pm @ Bicentennial Park in Joliet. On July 24th, 7:30-9 pm, the Southland Jazz Ensemble with vocalist Ava Logan returns to Main Street nights in Park Forest. Later, on October 20th, 3 pm, The JJC Faculty Jazz Quintet performs at Joliet Junior College. See the calendar … [Read more...]

I miss playing with like-minded musicians and would like to get out and do more playing. So, if anyone out there needs a guitarist for that upcoming gig, please get in touch! … [Read more...]

Well here we go again, the summer lineup is looking predictably fun: The JJC Alumni and Friends: June 19th, 7:00-8:00 p.m. @ La Quinta de los Reyes in Aurora opening for Pete Ellman's Big Band, and June 21st, 7:15-8:30 p.m. @ Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park in Joliet. The Southland Jazz Ensemble returns to Main Street Nights in Park Forest, July 18th, 6:30 p.m. Looking forward to backing up vocalists Ava Logan and Saalik Ziyad in this … [Read more...]