What's Going On With Ham These Days

RADIO DAZE

I have three different radio interviews coming up in these next ten or so days before the Freight and Salvage gig on April 7!  Here are the listings.  I hope I sound okay.  I'm sure someone will tell me if I don't!

1. Larry Kelp will interview me live on KPFA (94.1 FM) "Sing Out," Wednesday, March 30, 2011, 11 p.m.

2. "I'm Talkin' Jazz" with Chris Cortez on KCSM (91.1 FM), Sunday morning, 8 a.m.

3. Greg Bridges will also do a live interview with me on "Transistions on Traditions. KPFA (94.1 FM), Monday evening, 8 p.m.

FREIGHT & SALVAGE

Flier for Freight and Salvage

Freight and Salvage

Thursday, April 7, 2011

8 p.m.

Tickets: $20.50 in advance, $22.50 at the door

under 21: $10.50 in advance, $11.50 at the door


 

The next big gig is going to be at the Freight and Salvage on Addison Street, "in the culture gulch" of Berkeley.  It came about when I obtained the Freight and Salvage last year for a rehearsal for the Yoshi's date. Steve Baker, who has been running the Freight and Salvage since 1983, asked, "When are you going to be performing here?" With the busy lives that all these excellent musicians run, it's been difficult to find times when we can all be together.  But this is it! April 7, 2011.

 

We were fortunate enough to get both Glen Pearson and Hitomi Oba on this date.  Glen Pearson is a good friend and colleague. He teaches at the College of Alameda and I've had the good fortune to perform many gigs with him.  Hiltmi Oba, former student of the award winning Berkeley High School Jazz Ensemble, class of 2002, whose CD, Nagai, won the Swing Journal's 42nd Annual Jazz Disk Awards "New Star" Award, was able to come up from Los Angeles to perform with us.  

 

This will actually be the last time we will all get together to perform the music from Mr. Hamudah.  So hear us while we're hot! Last Chance! Bon Voyage! This ship is sailing……..

Free tickets give away on KCSM for the Freight and Salvage show April 7, 2011

AT KCSM with Chuy Varela and Chris Cortez

I went down to KCSM and prerecorded an interview for Chris Cortez' show, "I'm Talkin' Jazz."  It will air April 3, at 8 a.m. I know that's early, but you can always download a podcast. Although there will be several giveaways of tickets for the Freight and Salvage that week, so you might not want to miss it.

Retirement is great!

I do recommend it.  I'm getting a lot of time to be with my boys.  Getting in some exercise at the "Y" and I'm hoping to do more writing and practicing as time goes on.

 

I was able to spend a month in Amman, Jordan, visiting my 14 year old daughter, who has the opportunity to spend this year at the International High School there.  She is in the ninth grade and doing very well in absorbing the language and culture of the Middle East.  

 

I am hoping to expand my musical horizon by making connections on the international as well as the domestic level. I've had the opportunity to perform in Jordan, Viet Nam, China, and Europe with other groups before, so my goal now is to continue on the international level with my own music. Yoshi's is a good place to start because it's home base, and has supported me in my educational efforts at Berkeley High for many years.

The Show was Great! Update on the Yoshi's Show

CD Release Party               

April 13, 2010                

Yoshi's Oakland                

510 Embarcadero West              

Oakland, CA                

(between Washington and Clay Streets)       

    (510) 238-9200             

More info         

Just an update on the Yoshi's show.  Things went really well.  There was a fairly good crowd there "for a Tuesday."  I had thought that just doing the music on the CD would not fill the time we had.  Was I ever wrong! With the addition of Leah Wollenberg on electric violin, and Elena Pinderhughes on flute, we not only went over our time, but didn't even get to play one of the tunes!

 

It was wonderful seeing all of you.  I got a few surprises from old friends I had not seen for ages.  I mean from my college days!

 

I've done a few gigs since then, more on that later.

 

Well, gotta go right now. "Til next time!