It’s an amazing time of year in Chicago. All the summer festivals are beginning, but we’re enjoying unseasonably mild days and nights. Speaking of summer festivals, head out to Glen Ellyn for their jazz fest on July 10; my trio is opening up the day, really looking forward to that. Also, please give the “photos” section of the site a look—there are now pictures from the trip to Madagascar there. We are eagerly exploring options to return to Madagascar to make music soon, hoping to collaborate with local musicians to concoct some wonderful new sounds.

with vocalist Alison Ruble

I’ll be accompanying Alison, along with bassist Bryan Doherty, for live interview and in-studio perforamance. Listen live at www.Avenue950.com

New beginnings all around! I just returned from a mind-blowingly amazing trip to Madagascar, where I had the distinct privilege of playing with some fabulous local musicians—many thanks to Desire and Luis for making that a trip to remember! The Jersey Boys chapter of life in Chicago has closed for now, making room for a whole host of new projects and collaborations. You can still find me at Bandera with my jazz trio on Wednesday and Friday nights. Pictures from Madagascar will be on the site soon, stay tuned.

Please give the calendar a look, there are lots of fun shows coming up—with Jersey Boys, of course, and other new and exciting projects. I’m really digging playing with Michael Ingersoll’s solo project and looking forward to playing singer/songwriter Tara Macri’s original tunes, in addition to some regular recurring stuff. I’m thrilled to still be playing with and writing for my jazz trio at Bandera, as well, so stop by and say hello!

Kyle Woodring was a gift in my life, one that has left us prematurely. An amazing drummer, father, friend—it was a privilege to know and watch him in all these roles. My life will be different without Kyle, but richer for having known him. Rest in a peace that surpasses all understanding, my dear friend.

Well, we’re hoping at least.
Lots of cool stuff going on—still with the J Boys, enjoying both playing my regular chair and conducting as often as possible. Also, I’ve really been digging playing the jazz with chanteuse Typhanie Monique at the new Jazz Showcase, what an awesome room. I’ll be there again with Ty, Pat Williams and Greg Wyser-Pratte on June 15. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the amazing (and challenging!) new music that John Elmquist composed for Easter Service. It was a real honor to play all those notes.

It’s going to be a blast! My group performs at noon on Saturday 8/30; I’m also thrilled to be joining vocalist Alison Ruble’s band on Friday 8/29 at 2:20 p.m. Both events are the Jazz on Jackson stage (at Jackson and Columbus). Also on Friday I’ll be joining Mark Ruffin at his new digs on XM Radio for an interview and some music; check it out.

...with the cast of Jersey Boys, of course. What a rush! The Navy Seals parachuted into the stadium and got everyone fired up. Then we sang a great arrangement (by Ron Melrose) that ends up in the stratosphere. What a thrill to be generating the sound that filled up the stadium, to actually feel the sound on my skin. But wait, there’s more—Billy D. Williams threw out the first pitch and was kind enough to hang with us for a bit. What a night.

It’s turning out to be a good one.
Lots of fun jazz coming up—two appearances (!) at the Chicago Jazz Festival this year (check the Events page for details), Bandera is still a great venue and creative outlet for me, and I’m gearing up for a couple of really fun concerts later this year. Please check in for updates.
Jersey Boys is still going strong. I’ve enjoyed learning to conduct the show as well as playing my usual chair—it’s like driving a very large bus (you know, one of those with the accordion-like middles) down a cobblestone path in a medieval European village. I love it!

So I left town for awhile, started playing the Jersey Boys show, got my mind all entangled in new and exciting things and almost forgot about how much fun work I had done on recordings before I left town. And now, I’m hearing these finished products on the radio!
Check these out—I’ll be adding links in the discography page (when I figure out how to do that…)
Alison Ruble “This is a Bird”
Mitch Paliga “Fall Night”
Rob Parton’s Jazztech Big Band “Just One of Those Things”

Thanks to everyone who invited me to be part of their projects.