Christmas; Past

As I listen to the Gypsy Hombres' Christmas album, Django Bells, on this last day of 2020, I remember meeting GH's Peter Hyrka while working at Swift Music Group in 2002.  I was fortunate to witness the Hombres' unique blend of acoustic-violin/guitar-based jazz and classical music live at Nashville's now-defunct Cafe 123.  Another on-the-job discovery -- as well as a Cafe 123 live performance experience -- I made the acquaintance of guitar virtuoso David Andersen in '03 as an employee of Castle Technology.  Swift and Castle replicated/duplicated CDs for the Hombres and Andersen, respectively, and I will always be grateful to have discovered their music.

Happy Hour with Beegie

During this completely crazy COVID chapter in history, in addition to the Nashville Jazz Workshop's online offerings, Happy Hour with Beegie, hosted by jazz pianist Beegie Adair and vocalist Monica Ramey, has been my musical lifeline and source of sonic sanity.  I have absolutely enjoyed "meeting" Beegie's musician friends and learning about others through their walks down memory lane.  I've "met" pianist Matt Baker, drummer Chris Brown, actor/vocalist Jim Caruso, bassist/author Bill Crow, actor/singer/songwriter Clifton Davis, vocalist Natalie Douglas, pianist Tamir Hendelman, singer/songwriter Delbert McClinton, multi-instrumentalist Buddy Skipper, saxophonist Denis Solee, bassist Roger Spencer, pianist/vocalist Billy Stritch, trumpeter George Tidwell, drummer Jim White, and musician Jack Williams, among many other fine folks.

Christmas & Cocktails, COVID Style

Tonight, my spouse and I enjoyed Cocktails & Christmas (live!) with Beegie and Monica.  It was a great way to cap off this crazy COVID chapter from the comfort of home.  As I will soon explain, Beegie Adair (right) and Monica Ramey (left) have been my musical lifeline during these last many months.  Merry COVID Christmas!

A Very COVID Christmas

My spouse and I donated toward Over the Rhine's 2020 Christmas Special and enjoyed viewing it virtually tonight.  When life gives you a pandemic, you stream your holiday cheer.  Cheers to making it through December!  We're gonna pull through.

A Look Back: Velour 100 in Concert

I was fortunate to be able to witness the dream pop/indie rock outfit Velour 100 in concert twice -- once at the now defunct Four Friends Coffeehouse and once at Blind Pig, where they opened for Pedro the Lion.  While I have no idea where the Four Friends date fell on the calendar, according to The Concert Database, the Blind Pig show occurred on Mar. 4, 1999.  The latter concert may have been where David Bazan signed my Pedro booklet (middle).  I do not recall, however, if the members of Velour signed my Of Color Bright booklet (left) at that show -- or if they signed it at the Four Friends gig where I am certain that they signed my For an Open Sky booklet (right).