Just got back from Indiana today. I had a great time at Ball State getting my award and working with the bass students there. I also got to see family which is always nice. Pictures to come.

But I'm back on the road tomorrow. All you New Yawkahs, I'll be back in the city next week, so mark it!

Well here it is. This is the weekend I head back to Ball State to get my alumni award.

I would be more excited but I've been really busy and stressed lately working out flights, itineraries, promotion, and press releases for my CD Release Show in May. Not to mention getting a little stress about the flight this weekend and working all week long. But I am really looking forward to it. I'll be heading to Muncie (where Ball State is) on Monday, attending a luncheon and reception for myself and the other award winners (Mom and Carrie get to attend) then the convocation is that afternoon. Afterwards I'm giving a masterclass for the bass students. And that evening I'll be seeing some family that lives in Muncie. It should be a lot of fun.

I'll be back on Wednesday with a full report before heading out on a two-week East Coast trip with Tyrell on Thursday. Wish me luck.

Happy Easter everyone!

Carrie and I had some friends over for dinner after going to church. I don't know if I've mentioned it but I've developed a real love for cooking recently (probably has something to do with my love for food). We had four geusts and I cooked up a storm. I made baked chicken with sauteed squash, mushrooms, and garlic, my Aunt Mary's sweet potato casserole, aspargus with parmesan cheese, and an apple pie for desert. Carrie made deviled eggs and bread in the bread-maker. We had a feast, I'm so stuffed I want to go to the bathroom and pull a Lindsay Lohan. (was that in poor taste? good!)

Of course for you midwesterners and east coasters the day has come and passed but I hope everyone had a good holiday.

You may recall me and my Aunt Kathy talking in the comments section a while back about a festival in Spain Tyrell was booked to play. I was told it wasn't going to happen but I just got an email today that says otherwise.

Looks like we are going on a full tour of Europe in July. Countries include Spain, France, Turkey, Italy, and England with possibly more dates to come.

Needless to say I'm looking forward to it.

So I haven't really caught up on my sleep yet. Yesterday I had a bunch of errands to run; get a new external hard drive for my comp, get a replacement iPod (mine was locking up on me, Apple doesn't fix iPods they just replace them), pick up comics, pick up Murphy, etc. Carrie had been in Chicago last weekend visiting her sister so I picked her up from the airport last night. Today I went to the grocery store.

I've got a lot of work coming up the next few months. Lots of stuff around town as well as tours with Tyrell and my CD release shows in Indy and Kalamazoo. I have two concerts booked with the Mancini Institute Alumni Orchestra. One of them is performing with Tony Bennett. I'm really looking forward to that one.

Okay, nap time before I head to my gig tonight.

Vegas Thursday, Kansas City on Friday, St Louis Saturday, and today in Jacksonville. This has been one busy trip, enough planes to make you sick for sure. I finally have some time to relax and sleep. Last night I only slept for two hours and I think the most I've had in the past three days is six. Granted I could've gotten more sleep had I chosen to go right to bed after the gig and not hang out having drinks with the boys. But what are you going to do? With so much to do you gotta let out some steam somehow.

Today we played at an outdoor jazz festival. There were two stages, geuss who was playing at the other stage while we were on ... Herbie freakin' Hancock. It was a wonder that anyone was there to see us at all.

And not only has the schedule been busy but the shows haven't been very good for me either. We have been renting basses on the road to save the hassle of flying with mine. Well this tour I've had to play some really crap instruments. And we haven't had good luck with the sound at any of the venues.

Back home tomorrow, that will be nice. It feels like I've been gone for longer than I have. Right now I need to get to bed.

Well I've got a busy few days ahead of me. I leave tomorrow morning for another tour with the boss-man; Vegas, Kansas City, St. Louis, and Jacksonville in five days. Crazy, right? I'll be back on Monday night.

Whenever I'm playing at a restaurant or bar or something like that the band always gets requests.

Now, I usually don't mind taking requests, they are usually followed by a nice tip. Especially if they are for standards that are well-loved by the requester. For instance, I was doing a restaurant gig last night with a piano player friend of mine and an elderly couple requested "Harlem Nocturne." Later they tell us they are there celebrating their 50th Wedding Anniversary and had danced to "Harlem Nocturne" all those years ago. Sweet right?

Then later comes a dreaded request. There are two songs that I and most every other jazz musician hate, HATE to get, and of course we had a request for one of them. They are requested at probably 90% of the club dates I do and I hate them both. Its like the requester doesn't really care to hear the song, they just want to you to know that they know a little something about jazz. Well, it's not appreciated folks! So please for the love of all things sacred never EVER request "Take Five" or "Linus and Lucy" whenever you see a jazz group. Think of another jazz tune if you want to make a request. Or just sit back and enjoy what the guys are playing themselves.

We played "Take Five" and it was a drag. We didn't even get any applause afterwards meaning the people who requested it weren't even paying attention. That's the worst.

In other news I'm doing a rehearsal with a really good and popular big band tomorrow. I'm a little nervous so wish me luck.

I had an ideal day off today. Granted, ever day is a day off for me when I'm not on the road but this one was particularly good.

I got up early and watched the Pacers stomp the Sixers. It's not easy watching Pacers games out here on the West Coast so I'm always happy when I catch one. Then I went to the gym (yup, got another gym membership recently) where I had a good workout watching the incredible George Mason/UConn NCAA game. Afterwards I went to my buddy Pasta's for a poker game (which I lost but playing cards is always fun). Then Carrie and I joined some friends for dinner at the Valley's best BBQ place, Hoggly Woggly's. Then Pasta and I headed to Simi Valley to watch my boy Corey play hockey. I love going to his games, they are always a lot of fun. After the game we headed to a bar called Ireland's where a friend of ours runs a kareoke night. No, I did not sing, but I had a good time hanging out.

And here I am, gonna fart around on the computer for a while and hit the sack.

"I didn't have to use my A-K, I'd have to say it was a good day ..."

I finally saw V last night. Have to admit I was a little disappointed. I should've seen it coming, I was way too attached to the original comic book. Don't get me wrong, I thought it was a really good movie. But it pulled too many punches. I don't mind changing the story around, that is a necessary evil when adapting a story (I loved how they attributed the futuristic fascist government to the US's current war). And while some of the changes seemed small they really changed the original intent of the comic and messed with the themes.

Before the movie was released the author of the comic Alan Moore asked that his name be removed from the movie entirely. Now I see why.

But don't get me wrong. I highly recommend it, it's great. I just had really high hopes for it.

As I left the theater I thought to myself 'whatever happened to original ideas? Why does everything have to be adapted? Give me Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Syriana, Being John Malkovich, Fargo, etc. Comic book adaptations, book adaptations, biopics, etc. ... They usually disappoint.

But a little birdie sent me the Capote DVD yesterday. I'll reserve judgment until I watch it ...

I love YouTube

We arrived in Michigan today. It's cold. I forget how cold cold can be, but boy is it cold. It's only been a few months since I was in NYC but it still feels like I haven't been in a winter like this for years. LA has spoiled me.

The gigs with the Houston Symphony were really great. It was a lot of fun playing with such a great orchestra. The musicians were terrific and the music sounded fresher to me than it has in years (change is a good thing!). In addition to playing with a great orchestra I also ate way too much good food. Steve has many 'cousins' that he grew up with in Houston that own fabulous restaurants ... Namely barbecue and Italian, my weaknesses. Better hit the hotel gym tomorrow!

So the news is out: The first Lower Level CD Release Show has been booked! Friday, May 26 at the Jazz Kitchen in Indianapolis, Indiana. The show starts at 7:30PM for the low, low cover charge of $12. I can't even tell you how hyped I am. My boys Rob and Jeff who are members of the Butterfat Trio with me are coming down to play the show. It will be a lot of fun. So all of you Indy types, start spreading the word. Any advice on how to advertise the show would be much appreciated.

Well I'm off for another tour. This one won't be that hectic; Houston until Sunday then a trip to East Lansing, MI for a show on Tuesday. Then home.

I just got home from the gym. It's currently 1:10 AM. That's right, I'm joining a 24 hr. Fitness. Its the closest gym to my place. Plus, I figure when joining a gym, the less excuses the better. I'm never going to get to tell myself "ahh man, I missed going to the gym today, they're closed already."

V for Vendetta comes out soon boys and girls!

Big news regarding Lower Level shows coming soon as well, stay on the lookout.

As we all know Dubya's approval rating is at an all-time low. But this article lets us know that support for him among Republicans is diminishing as well.

Almost no one likes the job he is doing. I why it took so long for them to see the light?

And I've heard excuses for everything; it wasn't his fault the Katrina relief was botched, it wasn't his fault that he started a war based on false information, it wasn't his fault, even it's not his fault his approval numbers are low (that's a REAL stretch). I geuss the blatant crony-ism he exhibited in his Supreme Court nominations and the port security debacle that WREAKED of back-handed Arab/Bush family kickbacks finally made his own party realize that he is one helluva bad president.

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My busy weekend is over. I'm pretty tired. I have a few days off before heading to Houston to play with the Houston Symphony, I'm really looking forward to that.

Today I make the 2.5-3 hour drive to Palm Springs for a gig with Tyrell. I drive right home after the gig only to get up early and catch a 10 AM plane to Carmel for another gig tomorrow night. To top it all off we are playing with a couple of new horn players which means our soundchecks will be really long as we'll have to rehears the set.

No rest for the wicked baby!

Click here to see a music video of the Disney song "Bella Note" featuring yours truly. Laugh at the cheesy hilarity that ensues.

I am beside myself.

This morning I turn on my phone to find a voicemail waiting for me. No one usually calls me that early so I was wondering what it was.

It turns out the voicemail was from Dr. Joseph Scagnoli the Associate Director of the School of Music at Ball State University. He informed me that the University has chosen me for an Alumni Citation of Achievement and would like me to come to the University on April 24th to be honored along with the other award winners. Evidently my bass professor from my BSU days nominated me for the award and I was chosen by an alumni panel to receive it.

ME? Are they sure?! I'm only 29 years old and my alma mater wants to honor me? This is pretty crazy. I can't believe it. I must admit this is a pretty proud moment for me.

Needless to say I will be there with bells on. I haven't been back to Ball State since the year after I graduated ('98). What a trip that will be.

The photo shoot went really well. Here are some contenders for my new 8x10s.





I think we got some really good shots.

I have been absolutely addicted to this game Bookworm. Click with caution, it has the potential to eat up massive amounts of your time.

I've been trying to book a CD release show here in LA, easier said than done. Being a bandleader can be rough.

Speaking of addictive games I've been playing some poker lately and doing okay for myself.

Later on today I'm taking more promo shots with my boy Vinnie. He has the impossible task of trying to make me look good, he's done it before, let's see if he can do it again.

Still owed on the taxes. A couple of G's actually, and that's after making four quarterly payments. I did well last year, it was bound to happen.