My Time

STOMP

Wow.  Valentine & I saw Stomp this weekend.  Incredible show. 

I have a new respect for the percussion (not that I didn't have before).  This show was one of the best I've seen. 

If you ever get the chance - See it !

You can see video of it here and here.

 

The Ventures!

Last weekend we saw The Brian Setzer Orchestra Christmas Rocks Extravaganza at the Gibson Amphitheater.  Always love his show, but this time he didn't seem to have the energy he usually has. I had heard he had to cut a performance short last week due to a medical issue, maybe that slowed him down ?  But still, even at not full speed, he's a great entertainer.  Click here to hear clips from his most recent album.

The surprise of the night was the opening act.  I did not recognize the name The Ventures, but boy did I know their music !  And I bet you would too.  Songs like -  Wipe Out, Hawaii Five-O, Secret Agent Man, Walk Don't Run.  Every song they played I just was amazed.  Really amazing - this band is still incredible after almost 50 years!

Just watch --

 

Playboy Jazz Festival

We spent this past Sunday at the Playboy Jazz Festival at the Hollywood Bowl.  Great music all day (very long day) and some pretty funny people watching too. 

Some of my favorite performers included  Alfredo Rodriguez, a youngster who already has an incredible life story --and he's only 24 -- what a future this guy has ! 

Monty Alexander - click here to hear this guy play - you won't be sorry ! 

Patti Austin was fabulous. Her voice is so powerful.

King Sunny Aide and His African Beats were great.  Would love to see them again. (This guy is actually Nigerian royalty.)

Anat Cohen, Wayne Shorter, Dave Holland Big Band, among others.

And then there was Kenny G.  This is Kenny as he was making his entrance playing through the crowd.  Wow.

Bill Cosby was the Master of Ceremonies.  Saw the new Miss California USA being interviewed just a few seats over from us.  And were amused by seemingly endless string of people stopping and chatting and hugging at what we can only assume was Hugh Heffner's table.  Plenty of cute girlies that's for sure.

Such a fun event - can't believe we've never gone before.  We'll for sure be back next year !

Valentines Day with my Valentine

Yesterday Val & I celebrated HIS day by going to The Roast House for dinner and seeing The Alan Wright Band perform.   Fabulous blues band.   Click on this link to hear some sample clips and even see videos of them.  Kick back and enjoy for a bit.  You'll be glad you did !

Jazz at the Hollywood Bowl

Last night at the Hollywood Bowl was Jazz legend George Benson - and he was great !  I was told he's in his late 60's but I wouldn't have guessed.  He is certainly still going strong.

We also got to see an incredible trio of bass players, SMV.  Stanley Clarke, Marcus Miller, and Victor Wooten.   Wow.  Individually these guys are called bass gods.  Get the 3 of them together and watch out !  I had never heard anything like it before and was blown away.  The only thing close I can think of to describe it - and it's not even close really - is dualing banjos.   They were promoting their new album - Thunder - and it's definitely on my "to buy" list now !

Reggae Night at the Hollywood Bowl

Tonight we went to Reggae Night at the Hollywood Bowl.  We saw UB40 , Beres Hammond, and Barrington Levy.  We somehow sat smack in the middle of a couple hundred very spirited Jamaicans.  Wow.  Let's just say I was way too sober to be in the crowd, but how fun !!   Now I have an insight to how Woodstock must have been :-)   

So Val & I have decided we need to get back to Jamaica very soon.  Depending on some financial issues we are going to shoot for next April/May.  Probably beginning of May.  

Now I've got to get some sleep.  Only got 2 hours last night as I'm getting ready for CKU !!

Swing Night at The Hollywood Bowl

  Last night was swing night at the Hollywood Bowl. We saw The Manhattan Transfer, and then Big Bad Voodoo Daddy.   Both really great groups. I really love Manhattan Transfer -- but Big Bad Voodoo Daddy just might be my favorite. 

Only bad thing was I sat right behind this really really tall kid and I had a great view of the back of his neck.  I'll be getting the kinks out of my neck (from looking around him) for a while !

The weather was georgous too-- But only got about 4 hours sleep and now I have to work !!

Concert Tonight

So who remembers  Manhattan Transfer ?  We are going to their concert tonight at our local Santa Clarita Performing Arts Center.   

The concert is sold out, but I got our tickets in the first hour they went on sale back in July.

We went to their Christmas concert a couple years ago at the Disney Concert hall -- and since that's in downtown L.A. of course we were late and we really missed more than half the concert.  This performance is just 2 miles down the road - so we should be good.   Great to have that venue so close by !