I’ll be joined by the fabulous pianist Dan Zemelman, who is so much fun to listen to and watch! It’s always a joy to play together, and I’m really excited to do it again this weekend!

Spread the love and tell your San Francisco friends!

We also do workshops in schools in the U.S., so don’t hesitate to be in touch!

(And yes, that is the snowbank at the bottom!)

I’m going there to make and hear music – jazz music – with a few lovely people, with the intent of a cross-cultural exchange. Burlington, Vermont and Yaroslavl are “sister cities,” and as part of this program, valve trombonist George Voland has put together a quartet to perform in the “Jazz on the Volga” festival there. I’ll be singing and playing slide trombone, Ali Ryerson will be playing flute, and Joe Davidian will be on piano.

George has written an article, published in this past Sunday’s Burlington Free Press, which gives you a sense of how he views the world, and music within the world. And that in turn gives you a sense about why I love to make music with him! Here’s a taste, but do check out the link above to find out more:

Jazz can make differences between people vanish into thin — and, this time of year — cold air, replaced by a warm sense of community that erases ethnicity, religious affiliation, social class, political persuasions, language differences, Seasonal Affective Disorder and hangnails. (Well, maybe not those!)

Tina Fey won the 13th annual Mark Twain Prize for American Humor on Tuesday, and I was fortunate to be playing trombone for the awards show at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC!

The star-studded line-up included Steve Martin, Betty White, Steve Carell, Lorne Michaels, Amy Poehler, Seth Myers, Fred Armisen, and many more! What a red carpet!

The band – Crispin Cioe’s Cracked Ice – was made up of incredible musicians, with credits including Bruce Springsteen, Michael Jackson, Aretha Franklin, The Rolling Stones, and many more!

We had such a great time, and really enjoyed backing up Jane Krakowski, Jimmy Fallon, and Jennifer Hudson for their musical numbers!

You can catch the broadcast nationally on PBS at 9pm this Sunday, November 14!

P.S. One of these things is not like the others:

Some great photos from Sierra Leone’s Refugee All-Stars show at the Life is Good Festival in Canton, MA on September 12, 2010. These are by photographer Adam Guindon.

The festival was a blast! There were tons of great bands, along with excellent food and lots of activities for kids and families. Some highlights were Trombone Shorty, Galactic (featuring Cyril Neville! – check out the “Ooh Nah Nay” video here), OK Go, and Jason Mraz.

I feel like a new person.

If I hadn’t been outside, I would have missed the gorgeous sunset on the Summer Solstice the other evening.

If I hadn’t been outside, I would have missed meeting an adorably exasperated 10-year-old boy who was dogsitting for a very hyper and friendly beagle. “I don’t know how I’ll last another two and a half hours,” he sighed.

If I hadn’t been outside, I would have missed watching bugs crawl through damp grass, and the salty smell of the evening air, and the graceful, meticulous details on an old Victorian home.

Slow down today. Go outside. Open your eyes.

Rather, I was born lucky.

I get to play music with my Dad.

I grew up listening to my father practice the acoustic and electric bass, and the trombone. He also sings. (Hmm… wonder why I’m a singing trombone player and my brother is a singing bassist?) Since I was in high school, I’ve been playing gigs with my Dad. His band, Swing Machine, is in demand throughout Vermont and New Hampshire for private functions, and I have learned a lot from playing with them. I’ve also learned a lot about being a bandleader by eavesdropping on phone conversations with prospective clients, band members, wedding planners, and venue managers. Dad is a consummate professional who takes his responsibilities seriously, but with a healthy dose of fun!

Of course, the best part of all of this is getting to make music together! What do you do with your Dad?

Happy Father’s Day!

I used to forget items when I traveled … landing without a certain type of trombone mute … or shoes … or razors. Some people advise taking nothing with you, and buying what you need when you get there. I’m not always in a position to do that – both logistically and financially. It seems wasteful to buy new things when I have perfectly good ones at home that I forgot… and often I don’t have easy access to transportation wherever I end up!

So, I developed a packing list.

Before a trip, I print it out, and do two things before packing:

- cross out whatever does not apply to this trip
- add whatever special items I need for this trip

And then I get cracking! Now I feel prepared when I head out the door, and have worked to be sure that I am only bringing what I can carry and what is necessary for this particular trip.

Perhaps my list will help you?

PERSONAL STUFF

Perfromance Wear
Nice dress
Jewelry
Nice shoes
Shawl or cardigan
Show clothes

Clothing
Underwear
Socks
Shirts
Pants
Skirts
Shoes
Sweater
Jacket
Hat etc.
Bathing suit

“Personal Maintenance”
Toilettries
Razor
Make-up
Hair accessories
Pajamas
Journal
Medicine
Sleeping mask
Travel pillow

Electronics
Phone charger
Camera w/ charger
Laptop w/ charger
Ethernet cable
Flash drive
iPod
Reading material
Current work to take with me
Info/directions for destination

Important Items
Purse
Bag for gig stuff (flat bag)
Phone
Wallet
Checkbook
Keys
Sunglasses (driving?)
Car phone charger
Passport
Snacks
Water
Gifts for hosts
Gum
Earplugs

MUSIC STUFF

Equipment
Trombone
Trombone stand
Mutes – Best Brass, Straight, Plunger, Others?
Metronome/Tuner
Music stand
Microphone & cable
Microphone stand

Music – Gig
Music – Mine
Backstage pass
Mailing list
Business cards
CDs

TO DO

Luggage tags
Charge phone
Charge camera
Put gas in car
Calling card has $?
EZPass has $?
Call VISA re: travel activity?
Change voicemail?
Someone to get mail / water plants?
Park car
Take out trash
Water plants
Change sheets?

Some of these to-do items are valid only for trips where I’ll be driving. Some are valid only for international travel. What’s your routine when you’re heading out the door for a trip? What do you pack? What do you make sure to do?