Looking forward with optimism

. . . not the easist thing in today's world.

But last Friday's gig--our first with Janice--was very promising indeed. She sang All of Me, Jazzman (at this point we turned up her mic), then in the next set "every bridesmaid's favorite song," I Will Survive, Son of a Preacher Man -- at this point she was really belting it out, but I wan't prepared for what was to come, the third set, where she did the one-two punch of You Make Me Feel Like a Natural Woman and Respect. She knocked 'em dead. Altogether a few thousand notes, every one of them in tune. Beautifully musical.

We're still a little shaky on a couple endings, but right now we sound as good as any band out there in our neck fo the woods. It's coming on faster than I ever thought it would. And I am convinced that every gig is the WORST we will ever sound.

Added a few new charts: At Last, Rock Steady, Squib Cakes, 25 or 6 to Four, She Caught the Katy, At This Moment, Higher & Higher . . . Most were trades, but all I had to rewrite.

This Friday we'll be up there again in Lago Vista. Jimmy'll be there on drums, Janice again, Shortell on trumpet, Monty Mann on bass, Javi, Leroy, Kapral, and a trombonist to be named later. Should be a great big fun thing!