Hi,
Thought I should do some writing before I leave for South America with Liza and the Minnoollians for a couple of weeks.
Bringing things up to date:
We lost Gerry Niewood and Louis Bellson in February. Both of them wonderful musicians and both of them among the nicest people in the Music Business.
Two Liza dates in Naples, Fl and Key Largo the last week of February. Left for Naples on my Birthday, the 23rd. The lovely Deirdre and I had dinner at Truluck's in downtown Naples, a great restaurant. Nice to be able to sit outdoors too, after the NY winter we've been having. The best chocolate cake I've had in years BTW.
The Naples concert was sold out and it was good to get the rust off as we had been off since the Palace closed on January 4th.
The next morning Deirdre and I left as the sun rose and drove the Tamiami Trail to Key Largo. This goes through the Everglades and many Native American settlements. We were in no hurry and enjoyed the beautiful views of the Florida landscape.
Arrived at the Ocean Reef Club. Golf Courses, Boating, Dressing for Dinner, No Cellphones in the restaurants. In other words...not my kind of place. The best part of our stay at Ocean Reef was our renting of a golf cart and driving around the joint.
Liza did a swell concert for the Ocean Reefers, (?) and the entourage left for NY the next day. Not Deirdre and I though. We went to Key West and saw the sights. The Aquarium, Sloppy Joe's, The Hemingway House, etc. We walked and ate and came back to the Ocean Reef for one more day of collared shirts and expensive food.
Our last day there, we sat by the pool, drove the golf cart past every house in the place and generally just enjoyed each other's company.
Sunday morning I took Deirdre to the Miami airport for her flight back to NY. I then spent the day with Gary LaBriola at his beautiful home north of Ft. Lauderdale. It's an amazing place...something God would have done if he had the money.
Then I was off to Palm Beach Garden. 5 days at the Hilton on Singer Island where I headquartered for the next week of Big Band Concerts.
Monday I was off to Sun City, around Tampa, about a 3.5 hour drive. Band Concert was at 7:30...back in the car by 10...1:30 in bed.
9:30 AM on Tuesday, met Chuck Bergeron to go to the U of Miami together. Chuck had me lecture 2 of his Jazz History Classes (170 people in one of them!) about Frank Sinatra. And then I worked with Chuck's Big Band for about 75 minutes. At the end of Tuesday, I was the most tired I have ever been. Teaching is hard work!
Wednesday, the day was free. 8 pm concert in Palm Beach Gardens at Eissey Theatre. Nice crowd. Frank Derrick, drummer and Conductor attended. Very nice of him to show.
Thursday, Stuart, Fl. at the Lyric Theatre. Best band dinner of real BBQ! Two quick shows...6 and 8:30 PM and then back to NY on Friday.
Sunday, I did a Master Class at NYU for the students of Professor Jonathan Haas. As usual, I did a stream of consciousness lecture, talking about drums and drumming, explaining as best I could what it is I do for a living.
And now off the South America with Liza.
Will post from there.
Be good...Spend some money if you can, get the economy going again!
Until then,
Mike B
