Hi Folks!
The drums we’re leading the way last week when Peter Erskine’s “Dr. Um Band” took the stage at KSDS’ Jazz Live and charged up the San Diego airwaves! We were all there in absortion mode. Great grooves from swinging blues to Peter’s signature Weather Reportian hard hitting back beat swunk — keep it going forever, it feels so good! Thanks to Peter and the band for driving down from L.A. to share the magic…
Hanging with Peter Erskine after the Jazz Live hit! Left to right, young bassist Ben Sheppard, Barbara Wise, John Beasley, Peter Erskine, Duncan Moore, Bob Magnusson, and PS.
photo by Vince Outlaw
I’ve had a wonderful week of no gigs but lots of studio work. I’m just completing a project with another fellow named Peter who hails from Coronado and he’s written a batch of Frank Sinatra-like songs. We tracked them with the gang, got a Frank Sinatra sound-a-like vocalist from Mexico (no kidding’), added real horns. Blast! Super fun and I’ll pass it along to you once it’s out there. We’re mixing today…
Yesterday was all about guitar synth explorations and I took this new box and focused in on the users manual and tried to make sense of how a Japanese tech head whose new to English explaining some very complicated technical issues sees the way this thing works. Urgghhhh! Read and Retain, oh please…
In line for this week’s live music gigs, it’s a week of jazz vocal universe over at Santee’s Off Broadway Live. The idea is one from Leonard who organized this event and each night, starting with Monday, will be two groups led by vocalist performing. First up is an up and coming act followed by a set from some of San Diego’s vocal treasures. I’m in the loop all week playing in a backup group along with Mack on bass and Johnny Steele on drums. Here’s the plan:
| 05/22/17 | Leonard Patton’s Vocal Workshop Jazz Jam | Off Broadway Live | Santee, CA | 7:30pm |  |
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| 05/23/17 | Vocal Workshop Zion Dyson and Lorraine Castellanos | Off Broadway Live | Santee, CA | 7:30pm | |
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| 05/24/17 | Vocal Workshop Emma Foster and Leonard Patton | Off Broadway Live | Santee, CA | 7:30pm | |
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| 05/25/17 | Vocal Workshop Sahara Grim and Steph Johnson | Off Broadway Live | Santee, CA | 7:30pm | |
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| 05/26/17 | Vocal Workshop Lizzi Trumbore and Allison Adams Tucker | Off Broadway Live | Santee, CA | 7:30pm | |
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The venue is a great place to hear music with good sound and none of the distractions of talkers and coffee machinery fighting for the sonic bandwidth. Good times ahead and I hope to see you there.
Last up for the week, we’re heading to Palm Springs to play a concert at Pete Carlson’s Golf Shop! You read it right! This fellow loves jazz and converts the showroom into a concert hall and has first class jazz once a month. On Saturday night it’ll be us playing the music from drummer Kelly Jocoy’s cd release “Verities.” It’s a beautiful blend of straight ahead, Metheny, Bobby McFerin, The Beatles, and a killer version of the Zombie’s hit “Time of the Season”. The band is stellar with Kelly on drums, Mike Wofford on piano, Darek Oles on bass, Tripp on sax, Allison Adams Tucker on vocals, Tommy Aros on percussion, and I get to play the guitar. Look below for the deets and we’d love to see you out there to roast in the heat!
From the Verities session with (left to right) Peter, Tommy, Kelly, Leonard, Darek, Tripp, and Mike.
Also, my friend Stan is having a house concert in Encinitas on 5/25 and he wanted me to share the info. He’s lined up an amazing young jazz guitarist from Italy who had a break in his schedule and agreed to come down and share his music. His name is Pasquale Grasso and here’s a vid of him ripping it up:
https://www.pasqualegrasso.com/
If you want to go to the concert contact Stan through his email:
stansolomonson@gmail.com
I wish I could be there but alas, jazz vocals in Santee beckon….
all the best to you, P