Sitting here on the veranda at Baywood after the gig. I forgot how difficult it can be to play an outdoor gig in the summertime. Bryan has given me more stuff (specific arrangements) to listen to, and I'm copying it onto the computer. Excited about the youtube progress. Not everyone appreciates the recording quality of some of the (non-professional) videos, but most get it. It's about sharing my experiences, not about a glitzy professional demo (although the purchase of a high res camera is somewhere in my future). Not everyone I work with is content to be videotaped under these conditions, therefore, my page is heavy on the solo, compared to everything else. In the coming days, I intend to rewrite my channel description to place the emphasis more on my solo performances. This is where the connections I make with others (off the bandstand) are the strongest, so it all makes sense.

Late Wednesday evening, just after 2am. Successful gig with Bryan Clark at the Globe tonite. Already have repeat bookings. Speaking of repeats; just got word that we'll (the Midiri bunch) have a return trip to the Orange County festival next year. That's pretty good, since we're still a week away from this year's festival. We're flying out next Thursday (hopefully) morning. As with Mammoth, I'll try to check in more often when there. Sorry I've been negligent over the past week. It's kind of like I never recuperated from the last trip. I think the biggest thing for me is the disruption of routine. Not only do the festivals put a big hole in my schedule, they also bunch things up on either side. As the trips may be coming more frequently, it's just something that I'll have to get used to. Hopefully tomorrow, I'll succeed in updating my schedule, at least for the coming months. Don't expect the August '08 gig to go up just yet, though. Because of how this is structured, I need to create each new month in order; meaning that I can't effectively post August until July (and everything properly before that) is up. Soon, though you'll see at least March go up, as we just booked a new festival (for us) in Monterey, Ca. Lots of stuff happening. it's cool. speaking of cool; my youtube videos have now generated over 1600 views, and the pace of new views is increasing. More to come on this. Okay, time for a nap.

Tuesday morning, and now home. Same deal as Friday; it's difficult to find time to do much anything but travel on those designated days (referring to yesterday: Monday). Getting on-line, especially, for any length of time seems to not work at all. At any rate, left (relatively) early, at returned home especially late; landing around 1am, and pulling into my driveway around 4am. It is possible, if not likely, that I will be able to post a solo cut from the "pianorama" today, and perhaps, a full band cut or two later this week (needing to take the time to review these sets more thoroughly). Got some nice video of the scenery on the car trip from Mammoth to Reno. I may play around with the possibility of posting some of this as well. Now home, all of the other ongoing concerns/responsibilities/quandaries crowd in rather quickly. Time to get busy. No coffee yet, but my sentences are still complete. Not bad.

Just after midnight now (Pacific time) on Sunday; taking a break from packing . We will leave (relatively) early in the morning. These festivals are a "mixed bag" for me, and I have a lot of jumbled emotions (at times) concerning this. I often say about the MB crew; to a person - at some level - it's about the art. This is the foundation upon which we build our performances (even in the "high shtick" zones). I can't say that I find much of this in some of the bands on this circuit. The bands/musicians that are artistically driven are why I'm here (at this point on the path). Although I shared a "build a ???" set tonight with some fine musicians, I can't say that the event was presented (by the "leader" of our set) as "about the art". It was, at times, frustrating, at least, on stage. I "needed" to watch my favorite Keith Jarrett video upon returning to the condo to regain some "perspective". There, now I've vented. The festival is officially over, and God will continue to do his work. I do feel good about the continuing application of "performance spirituality" (just made up that phrase) that allows me to connect in a performance where I'm as mad as **** about some of what's going on onstage. On that level, tonight was a success.

It all goes so quickly, especially when you lose the first day. All of our sets are completed, and the festival is now concluding. This year they have added a Sunday evening "build a band" buffet; taking the personnel from 3 bands and rearranging them ("build a train wreck" may be more fitting, we'll see). Actually, it could be fun. I'll try to check in briefly afterward. We (the MB sextet) were very well received. My short pianorama (solo piano set) went very well, and even there, the airline debauckle remained the storyline. Got some of the band, as well as the piano(-roni-riffic-licious- oscopy)-rama on video. after getting home and editing, I'm sure something will show up on video (youtube). The altitude bothered me again this year (perhaps more so, having no time to acclimate). It dawned on me this morning: they offer oxygen at all the venues. My headache is gone! Now I know.

Okay, now it's Saturday. So, what happened? How do you document a whirlwind? We left for the airport before dawn again (roughly same time, second day in a row), and this time we had a plane. By now, though, we had been told at least a half-dozen different accounts of the location of our luggage. Part of the problem is that the airline that cancelled us re-booked us on a different airline, which, upon check in, refused to accept us, as the flight was overbooked. Going back to our original airline got us seats the following day, but by this time each was insisting that the other had our bags (containing everything necessary including instruments and music), and that TSA rules forbade us from retrieving them. It turned out that our bags flew on both airlines (via a connecting flight), and were in Reno when we arrived. From Reno, a 3+ hour drive in the rental cars, to take us straight to our 2nd scheduled set (we had already missed the first). We all looked pretty ragged (and some of us, including me, hadn't showered in a couple of days). We literally ran out of our cars upon arrival, and immediately understood why you are told to allow time to acclimate to the altitude. I remained out of breath and week-legged for several hours. We did, however, pull off an entertaining set, and later, once slightly settled, a strong musical set. Our "harrowing tale" has become the talk of (a portion of) the festival, and the people are very responsive and appreciative. Needless to say, I didn't sleep well last night (this was expected, as last year, perhaps due to the altitude, I could only sleep for 2 hours at a time), but don't feel bad, really. We just returned from a hosted breakfast, and soon today's sets begin. I'll check in again when I can.

Curve ball. The short version (be grateful) is that our flight was cancelled, and we can't get out again until tomorrow morning. This situation is complicated by the 7 of us (the Midiri brtohers sextet plus Elizabeth - Paul's wife: the "band mom") needing to travel as a "clump". The airport is a 3 hour car trip from the festival; which provides rental transportation from Reno (necessitating that we all stay together). Thankfully, we were not stuck in some "far away place", we just (eventually) went back home (or some related place). One of the challenges here is that neither airline that we were bounced between acknowledges that they have our bags - however - we've been "assured" that they'll be waiting for us in Reno. More to come.

Now, a "season" of more intensive posting, perhaps. Sitting here at Phila. Intl. Airport, early Thursday morning) awaiting departure for (final destination) Mammoth Lakes, Ca., and the "jazz jubilee" (with the Midiri Brother's sextet). We're quite a sluggish bunch sitting here. Pat Mercuri (guitarist) drove straight from a orchestra gig in New York last night. No sleep for Gary Cattley (bass) either. I got 2 hours (more than most here, it seems), and not feeling that bad really. My body thinks I just took a nap, it seems (rather than getting an insufficient night's sleep). Wait 'till it finds out! I just added a wireless modem to my laptop, so I should be able to stay connected throughout the festival. I'll try to check in often. Now, time for coffee.

Really, late on Friday night; much later than I intended to stay up. Always stuff to take up time, you know. I "broke down" and ordered a wireless network broadband modem (the USB version of an "air card"), and spent a large amount of time getting the thing to work - and there still is an account issue that I'll have to resolve tomorrow; you know how it is. I wanted this in time to take to the Mammoth festival (next week). Last year I learned how little public wi-fi is available in such an isolated town. Now it's covered. It's something how involved with, and how dependant I become on the Internet. The Youtube channel is taking a lot of attention at the moment, and it's exciting to watch it come together. The online demos have already helped me secure a worship service at Dover AFB (no public access, hence it does not appear on my schedule) this Sunday. In addition, it appears to have helped spread the anticipation, as I am "checked out" on Youtube in advance. 18 videos now, and near to 1000 views. Check it out!

Solar

Okay, since I mentioned Keith (last post), as being a "place" of (my own) increased awareness (allowing my perception to begin to sharpen to recognize this elsewhere); here is the video that first really captured me. I watched it many times over the first sitting, and couldn't tell you how many times since. Even today, as I just watched, I was hit with an understanding - concerning my own playing - that makes me even more eager to get to my practice time, which is where I'm going next. I'll be thinking about what I've just realized for awhile. As it "unpacks", and words can be assigned to it (later), I'll attempt to share.