Hola Gente Hermosa! What a fantastic and busy week over here at SpragueLand. SF vocalist Jennifer Lee has occupied the studio for a week and we’ve been graced with creative rhythmic pulses from Duncan; low end stability from Bob Magnusson, Gunnar Biggs and Justin Grinnell; accordion (that most illegal of all instruments) from Rich Kohns of San Fran; Bay Area supreme pianist Adam Schulman; and coming in tomorrow ‘bro Tripp on sax and flute and Steve Dillard playing the trumpet. And keeping all things in line is Jennifer who wrote the music, plays guitar, piano, and sings. Folks in Nashville always talk about music row, well up here in Encinitas we’ve got a music box surrounded by avo trees. Hah!
 Jennifer Lee recording session, looking over the sheet music with (right to left) Jennifer, Duncan, Bob Magnusson, and me. A bit back we had a super killer hit at the Encinitas Library! Check out this vid from the concert and listen to Rebecca Jade singing so beautiful! P-L-A-N-E-T C-O-L-E P-O-R-T-E-R
All these years I’ve never had the good fortune of playing at Java Joe’s. Jason Mraz started his career there and the place has an illustrious history of showcasing up and coming musos. Mostly folksters and last week us jazz heads showed up and had a wonderful gig with Java tending to the details and guiding the ship. Vocalist Nina Francis organized the whole thing and she suggested a song circle, each muso sharing a tune and a story, then circling to the next person. It was Nina, Gregory Page, Leonard Patton and myself all spinning music together. Big fun and sure look forward to returning!  Java Joe’s with Gregory Page, Leonard Patton, Nina Francis, and Peter Sprague.  Super crowded stage but it only made the music better! Oh yeah, good Reader article about the show too:
This week for live music it’ll be a special night at Ki’s Restaurant in Cardiff on Friday night. As previously advertised, it was supposed to be Fred Benedetti and I playing together but I just got a call and poor Fred has a rad cold. I mean the moment I heard his voice I knew he’d need to rest and let the guitar sit idle for a few days. Heal up Fred! So instead, I am so happy that vocalist Gillian Margot was in town and free to play. Plus brother Tripp’s previous gig fell through and he’ll be in the loop with us too. Colliding schedules lining up for the good of humanity! Gillian sings up a storm and she was with us for last year’s Stevie Wonder gig at Dizzy’s plus this summer’s “Jazz Explorations of Rock Classics” concerts both in LA and Rancho Santa Fe. She’s amazing and you’ll love her voice! Check out this:
Oh my, killin’ it on Stevie’s “Do I Do!” Hope you can make it and see you soon, Peter |
