Feliz Navidad Fine Folks!
We’re coming up to our big weekend of two nights of music (this Friday and Saturday) at the incredible Conrad Theatre in La Jolla. As we’ve done in the past we’re letting the piano influence of Vince Guaraldi seep in with the quest of Charlie Brown who is in search of the true meaning of Christmas. This reminds me of a funny interaction from the Charlie Brown Christmas movie:
Lucy Van Pelt: I know how you feel about all this Christmas business, getting depressed and all that. It happens to me every year. I never get what I really want. I always get a lot of stupid toys or a bicycle or clothes or something like that.
Charlie Brown: What is it you want?
Lucy Van Pelt: Real estate.
Hah!
Hope you can make it to the concerts and we’ve worked in 4 new songs to the program. The band is on fire (“bass on fire” as Carlitos Del Puerto likes to say), and spending an evening in beautiful downtown La Jolla during Christmas week is pretty special. Look below for the details.
photo by Mike Reardon
Actual CD Alert!
I went ahead and got CD’s printed for those of you that still listen to music on discs. Here’s the info on how you can order them. (They will be available at the concert too.)
Here’s a vid from a couple of years back of us skating on one of Vince’s classic songs:
Giving a shout out to our very own Digital Brian who you may remember was our tech commentator during the covid era of “Live (ish) From SpragueLand.” In the early days of his career, yes for certain he was hacking code but he was also hacking his vocal cords too. He was taking guitar lessons from me and we came up with this idea to make a Christmas album. We were making slow progress as his guitar abilities were just getting going and then I discovered his true gift – singing! We bailed on his guitar playing and focused instead on coming up with full band arrangements and tracking his vocals.
The album came out, it commercially crashed and burned like all of ours do, but more importantly, it’s a true hoot to have a listen after 14 years have passed. High points — on “Chris Ms.” (which is a reworking of “Moon Dance”) Brian’s singing up high on the chorus and really belts it out. Woo hoo! Also at 1:36 on the “Christmas Blues” Brian signals Tripp to take a solo. With his mid-western roots coming through in his accent he yells, “do it Tripp!” and I’m still laughing…
Check ‘er out, click here.
Early days playing jazz Christmas music with (left to right) Mike Shapiro, Tripp, John Leftwich, Digital Brian, and me.
Good times friends, all the best, Peter