A full weekend coming up, with the Church Hill Theatre, and the Presbyterian Church of Chestertown as bookends. Last week, when this marquis was posted, Charie' began receiving text messages from her friends wondering what her brother was doing at the Theatre. I think we all have it straight, now.

Posted the first videos on my new (3rd) 2009 YouTube channel. don't know anyone who adds a new channel each year (by 2020 I'll need a full time employee just to administer this), but it continues to make sense to me to organize and document the "evolution". Next weekend I have both the "Evening of Piano Improvisation" concert at the Church Hill Theatre, and a concert at the Presbyterian Church of Chestertown, after which the 2009 channel will really get rolling!

Everyone in my family, and those who've known me long enough, has a "Joe has no night vision" story to tell - often involving a near "collision" while walking in poor lighting; avoided only by a warning from someone waiting for me to notice, and eventually intervening. Ironic(al) that my profession requires so much late night driving (we'll discuss the sleepiness some other time). I (and my guardian angels) make it work, in part by driving slower at night (also motivated by the increased deer activity). While outside this evening, standing alongside my car in the driveway, it seemed sensible to go and retrieve the trash can. I proceed cautiously, avoiding the small trees in the front yard (which I sometimes don't notice prior to impact) as I make my way to the street. Perhaps I've not attempted to retrieve the trash can at night before, as it was weird to walk toward the object that I couldn't see, though I knew where it was (having put it there last night). Kind of like faith, perhaps; where "knowing" and not (necessarily) "seeing" provide one's compass. Eventually the blue can came into faint view as I came up upon it, providing what was necessary to pick it up (the trash guys have a thing for leaving the can on it's side) and wheel it back to the house. For whatever reason, this routine task made an impression on me tonite. Faith and sight. I'm sure I'll be thinking some more about that (yes, that's a picture of our trash can in the dark - from my perspective).

Today it happened, we passed 100,000 total views on my video channels. Although I have a (slow but) steady stream of new subscribers and commenting visitors, my channels have not achieved the momentum of some of the pianists who post (particularly those who post jazz education videos). I'm actually in a funny kind of non-category, as categories go. Not purely "trad" jazz, not (to some) truly "modern" jazz, certainly not "smooth" jazz, sometimes not even "jazz" at all (fine with me, as I am largely avoiding that word in describing myself these days). This I'm used to: people "find" me, one listener at a time. Discoveries are good, vital, really. As you may know, although jazz fans are among those who "find" me, I'm really not playing to this narrow niche. Rather, seeking to "connect" with whoever is in the room (as much as I can). This is misinterpreted by a few as "compromise", or a lack of proper substance. I believe (and hope) that it is best understood as authenticity. It took many years to come to understand who, as an artist, I am. Now, I feel I can run with it.

One more (perhaps) "Christmas" post. After stumbling across the Winterfest lights display in Ocean City, MD a few weeks ago, I planned to bring the family down over Christmas break (That's the back of Robbie's head, and, above that, the top of Charie's hat). Like Robbie would say: "That makes me happy!"

The waning days of Christmas (count to twelve, or, if a musician, count to 4 - 3 times). The lower photo is from my New Year's eve gig with Dave Ross (his gig, but I get to tag along) at "The Inn at 202 Dover", in Easton MD. As upscale as an Inn/B&B can be. Just a small slice of the "atmosphere". The top photo is a "slice" of the super-sized (live) Christmas tree still situated (as of tonite, anyway) in the lobby of the Globe, in Berlin, MD, where I gigged with Mike and Holly. A part of me remains melancholy, bordering on sad about now, as Christmas retreats. That's the worst part about Christmas - it ends. Okay, not the meaning, but you still get it. In opposition to all this, however, our live tree (that we've had for over three weeks) is still taking water at near the pint a day rate as when we first brought it home. Never had this happen before. Usually it quits after the first few days (if not right away), and by now, the needles are starting to pile up (Carol "decrees" that the tree stay up until at least her birthday -1/14). Never in a hurry to "disassemble" Christmas. Hope yours was joyful. Happy New Year!