Sitting in the airport in Sacramento. Wound up eating dinner at midnight, and had to get up early for a morning show, thereafter going straight to the airport. About yesterday: we had some good sets, and at times I could dig in somewhat substantively. I feel good , overall about the whole deal. Our radio broadcast last night went especially well, all things considered. Joe
idiri has been especially gracious in announcing me as "The Other Brother". He has owned that, as if he came up with it. That's a good thing. Also, I am wholly embraced by the other guys, and that's nice. I have enjoyed this change of pace. I'll admit that I have just a little bit of "back to the grind" dread. That means that I'll look forward to the next one. Time to prepare to board.

I'm staying up later than I should. This post, like the last, is registering as the next day because it is after midnight means that my body clock says post-3am (accounting for time zones). It would not be difficult, or take long for me to revert back to the (pre-school-age children) schedule of going to bed at 5am and getting up at the crack of noon. Since I often must be up by 6am, this wouldn't work. Anyway, I took some time this evening to walk around our part of the city and visit some of the performing venues. At the last one, I actually sat (still - almost) for 45 minutes to hear Howard Alden's (all stars) band. Thereafter, I felt revived, and better connected to this whole deal. And about my day? 3 more concerts, and able to increasingly dig in. It's going well.

Did I say "off to the races"? Yup. Our first set (and everything else around that time), was made more challenging by the visit of (Mexican president) Vincente Fox to our hotel. The security presence was extreme, but understandable, I suppose. I heard that earlier he decided to walk to whatever venue he was to visit, the result of which was the shutting down of 8 blocks. Oh (well). Once in route to our first stage in Old Sacramento, we encountered a parade (put on by the festival - what planning) that blocked our van(s) from proceeding. We schlepped all of our stuff several blocks through town to find that, as of 15 minutes before hit, the (rented) vibes had not yet arrived. All this (in addition to a carton of pre-shipped band CD's getting misplaced), I'm told, is normal festival mayhem (the vibes did show up). We played 3 concerts today. I felt increasingly comfortable with each one. Tomorrow (Saturday) the crowds will be bigger. More mayhem?

Am out in Sacramento, Calif with the Midiri brothers for the big jazz festival ("Jubilee"). We arrived last night. I'm rooming (at the Sheraton grand downtown - nice) with Gary (the bass player). I told him I'd wait for him to go out to breakfast. It's 8:30 am, and I've been up for 3 hours. I finally gave in to in-room coffee. Gary is stirring and snorting more. Perhaps he'll get up soon. Our first set is at 1pm today, then it's off to the races.

The trip out yesterday helped me with something with which I've been struggling. It's been some years since I've flown, and I've lost somewhat the sense of it. It "dawned" on me that to travel to an event like this (with 5+ hours in the air, check-ins, layovers, delays, and whatever else) is to, essentially, give up a day. Ouch. A day without routine is like a day without imposed structure is like is like a day without routine... I've already acknowledged my "trapped-ness" (at least to myself). Yesterday gave me a Sabbath opportunity, which I (eventually) decided not to resist.

I wonder if/when Gary will ever wake up (he's silent now).

Had fun last night at Sullivan's. Every bass player has a different approach to what they do, and I profit from playing with each of them (and, most often, enjoy the process). Where two or more (musicians) gather....God is in the midst of them. Now, that's not what I intended to say here, but it just came out that way. And yes, I will affirm this. I was going to say that two or more musicians (and especially two) will agree on a "place to hold hands" and "stand" in that particular place together as they share their common connection - with themselves and others.

It's looking like we are going to pull off (in God's provision) having the Midiri Brothers project in our hands in Sacramento on Memorial day weekend. Under the gun, but getting it done. Here are the first draft liner notes for "Joe Holt presents the Midiri Brothers - The Other Brother"
Beginning in high school in the mid 1970's a brotherhood was born. Not of blood, certainly (no Italian in mine), but of shared persuits, shared vision, shared faith. Strained at times, vibrant at others, together, then apart, the connection, the brotherhood remains, to be picked up again as if nothing changed . And that's what relatives (brothers) do , of any stripe. They keep rediscovering home, to continually find that they still have a place. A place not to live, but in which to remain connected, acknowledging that some bonds are just not to be severed. So here we are, 30+ years later, living the perpetual reunion, coming back home (as long as someone remembers to take out the garbage).