Lots of water under the bridge

I've been buried in work, and now it looks from the calendar like I'll not be working agian til the summer, yet so it goes in a musican's life.

Jan, my spouse, has been confident enough in what's happening that she calls the band "my retirement fund." She's making sure I keep things on an even keel.

In the beginning of February I've managed to work a gig with the Pictures in Bay City. Bay City gives new meaning to the term "middle of nowhere," which accounts somewhat for Jimmy Shortell getting lost trying to find our way to the interstate after the gig. On the way to Bay City we stopped for a bowl of gumbo at the Greek Brothers restuarant in El Campo. GRET food, and a band bus parked out front for Cooder somebody (an interesting double meaning for Floridians). We were mightily impressed.

After we had managed to find our way home, Laigh Langley informed me that he'd never actually BEEN to the Greek Bros, but had played lots of gigs in and around El Campo and was aware of their reputation as a music venue. He set up an email meeting with a friend of his who was known and beloved at the Greeks': Valerie, who used to be married to Jef of Jef and the Kickers. Turns out Valerie would like to have a band back her up down at that place, and we'd like to be that band. So we worked out some possibles with the owner, George, and we'll soon talk money. This could be a bog boost for the band--a club with a great reputation (and great food) as an antidote for the rather tepid pickings at Cabo Loco.

Then Jimmy and I did a Gigmasters quartet gig with Morris and Mark Nelms. Fenno brothers + Nelms brothers. Did a hotel semi-banquet for an exhibiting company at the Texas Music Educators convention in San Antonio. I knew that Bob Reynolds was down there in his capacity as a band director, so I asked him if he'd like to sit in on a few, Well, we truned into Stitt and Ammons, which ain't so bad. We were playing for band directors, which meant we didn't have to explain what we were doing. The rhythm section was superb start to finish. Both Jimmy and Morris sang, It was my favorite two hours this year. So far,

Then to Cabo Loco with a short band, made shorter by Janice who called at 9:15 to say she was sick. Lucky for us we had a sub bass player, Tony, who brought along his singer wife Vicky, who proceeded to knock 'em dead.

Monday, Valentines Day, I played a corporate gig with the Temptations in Dallas. It never gets any better than playing the Temps, but this one was great because the PA didn't fry and everything sounded GOOD!

Then the big one . . . Back to Dallas for a birthday party on Saturday with our band, playing very tall cotton. Money wise it was the best yet, and the suggested tunes were all fine, although I had to write three charts which will be useful on other gigs. The gig was at Smith & Wollinsky's Restaurant on the Dallas Tollway and we were more than well received by the partyers, the staff and the management. We're on a roll now.

Oh, I ran into the booker for the Temptations on Valentines. He said he was setting up the Texas office of an agency and he needed bands.

We will oblige.