Friends! I’m back from a wild ride in Crazy Town! I joined the circus for a concert at Chapman College in Orange with Dianne Reeves and the band and from there we boarded an early morning flight to the mecca of madness—Las Vegas! We stayed at the Gold Diggers or is it the Golden Nugget? Funny name, hilarious place. It’s old style vintage Vegas, classic Frank Sinatra era at every turn. We played two shows and it was great music for an amped audience. Right outside the hotel the frantic world of the Fremont scene was in full swing. The highlight for me was the zip lines flying overhead complete with strapped in humans living out their superman flying fantasies. Vegas forever!
  Flying home just in time to do a noontime hit in downtown La Jolla at the Athenaeum yesterday. Great to be with Joshua White on piano and he had the clever notion of nothing planned, just make it up — freedom in sound. I loved every minute of it. It was a full on, around the block lined up turn out, hurray for free concerts serving up free music!   Up for this week, the always creative Leonard Patton is curating a concert series at Off Broadway Live in Santee and I’m thrilled to be included for a show on Thursday night. It’ll be just the two of us venturing off the page into the vast world of sound influenced by Hendrix, Cole Porter, The Beatles, the samba, the funk, the swing, Stevie Wonder, and our own creations. The venue is fantastic for sound and setup and I think you’ll love it!  On Friday night I’m meeting up with Mack on bass and Duncan on drums for a creative hit at the Harbor Music Hall in Little Italy. What a fantastic spot for music! The whole street is pulsing with activity and inside the Music Hall folks are listening and digging the sounds and the city vibe. Can’t wait!  Wonderful vocalist Gillian Margot is making the drive north along with my brother Tripp and together we’re having a night of music at Ki’s Restaurant in Cardiff. It’ll be on Saturday night at 7:30 pm. If you haven’t yet heard Gillian sing you’re in for a special treat—her sound is gorgeous and unique and she chooses some clever songs, a real mix of standards, Brazilian gems, Stevie Wonder,and I’m stoked that she learned a few tunes of mine. We’ll have fun and it’ll be even better if you’re there with us… See ya’!  Sunday isn’t a day of rest here at SpragueLand and instead it’s the last concert of the week, this time in Fallbrook. It’ll be Beth Ross Buckley on flute along with Fred Benedetti on guitar, Gunnar on bass, Duncan on drums, and me playing the twin neck. We’re playing my Sanctuary Suite composition along with more of my originals for a true chamber jazz experience. It all takes place at the Fallbrook Library which is a favorite venue for us musos as it sounds good and people really listen and stay quiet. We like it quiet except for the inspired hoots and hollers fueled by enthusiasm. Hope to see you there!  photo by Rick Sokol. Thanks for tuning in folks and see you on the next loop, Peter |
