Sacramento, Napa, Santa Rosa and Baltimore.

April 27th.

Another rainy day here in Balmville, NY. Heater has kicked on and neither of us are happy about that. 49 degrees again today but they say that Friday will bring warmth and sun to my little corner of the World.

In chronological order:

Flew to Sacramento to do 2 concerts with my Big Band and the Four Freshmen. Sacramento audience numbered in the 2000's and the show was great. Napa Opera House the next night. Beautiful venue and another swell show. Had some Ayotte drums provided for me on the Napa gig. Nice sounding, very open drums. Kind of a pale blue wash for a finish. Was like playing on a drum set that would have been seen in Yellow Submarine...Brought my Bosphorous Cymbals and they were once again amazing to play on. Many people came up to me and said that my cymbals sounded amazing...and they were right! Thank you Michael Vosbein and Bosphorous.

Flew back to NY. Gave a few pints of blood to the IRS and then right back to Northern California, this time for two Concerts with the Santa Rosa Pops. The act was Jim Curry and his Tribute to John Denver. Charts by Lee Holdridge who was John Denver's own arranger. This is one amazing Pops Show. Jim sounds naturally like Denver and looks like him too. When he first came out, the audience didn't know what to expect but after about 5 seconds of him singing Rocky Mountain High you could feel everyone relax and a spontaneous round of applause came up from the audience. They knew the Concert was going to be a treat. Jim's group includes his wife on vocals and guitar/mandolin, an amazing flute player, another multi instrumentalist on all kinds of stringed things, a Bassist and Richie Garcia on drums and percussion. Richie had worked with John Denver for a number of years and it was so nice to have him on the gig. One of the best Pops Shows I've ever conducted and one that Orchestras should be booking NOW!

Took the Red Eye home on Sunday night. Home for two days and then a 4 hour (schlep) drive down the NJ Turnpike to Baltimore where I was a last minute replacement Conductor for the BSO's Concerts with SPECTRUM.

A quick 2 hour rehearsal at Meyerhoff with the BSO and then 4 Concerts. The first one was at Strathmore in Bethesda, MD. What a beautiful Hall!!! I can't say enough about this place. It's all wood and the sound is amazing, both onstage and in the House...A true Gem of a Hall.

Then 3 more in Baltimore at Meyerhoff. Audiences were very lively, singing along, clapping on 2 and 4, (most of the time) and dancing in the aisles and in their seats. That's what Spectrum concerts are like> These four guys plus their four man rhythm section, led by Tex Richardson on Piano, do an amazing show of the Best of R & B, The Sounds of Philadelphia and Motown. With the uncanny ability to sing like the artists they are covering, Spectrum is really a very special Pops show. Nobody does this music better, plus with their costumes, choreography and tip top arrangements for Symphony, they are truly Living Legends, which they were named in Las Vegas last year.

A few words about the BSO. GREAT! WONDERFUL! AFFABLE! FRIENDLY! COURTEOUS! AMAZING MUSICIANS!!!! My thanks to all of them, the crew, Spectrum, Mary Plaine and Eric and also Paul Meecham for having me.

That's it. One last drum set to sell. Call or write. Didn't hear from anyone as to my question last month on whether I should be more forthcoming about people and places...Either no one is reading this or no one cares I guess. In either case, the elegant solution might not always be the way to go.

Until next time,
Stay warm and dry...
MB

April...So far, so good.

April 14th. Day before Tax Day and my taxes are all screwed up. Obviously my Accountant of 25 years is taking it easy in his old age and my return is now being done by 100 Monkeys wearing Green Eye Shades using Texas Instrument Calculators from 1988 to do my forms.

Have today and tomorrow to get it right before I am forced to go the Extension route and find someone who knows about the Music Biz to do it all over for me.

Music Stuff...

Two Concerts last week with my Band and the Four Freshmen. Sacramento on Thursday night and then the Napa Opera House on Friday. 2000 people attended the Sacramento Show and the Napa gig, with a seating capacity of about 400, was a swell place to play.

First of all, the Freshmen sound great. Those great harmonies and the amazing musicianship on display by all of them is a pleasure to watch and listen to. We did about 5 tunes with them and I always love to channel Jimmy Campbell, Stan Kenton's drummer on the Road Show album with his band, the Freshmen and June Christy. Nice rolling energy and I love to try and get that feel.

Sold out all the CD's brought so we took orders in Napa and sold some more. True to my word, all were shipped out on Monday and they should arrive in California as we speak.

Home until Friday when I go to Santa Rosa again, (you ask, "Why didn't he just stay in California for the week?"...Too much to do and also there's the lovely Deirdre at home.) to do a John Denver Tribute with Jim Curry and his Band. Shows on Saturday night at 8 and Sunday at 3. This guy looks and sounds like John. Nice arrangements done by Lee Holdridge and some lovely slides and film to accompany the music. Come on out all you John Denver fans...Wells Fargo Center!!!!

Then, I will be off to Baltimore to conduct 4 concerts with the BSO and Spectrum, the World's Greatest Motown Tribute Show. Love these guys and looking forward to 4 great performances.

Still waiting for Susan Boyle to get her self ready to tour. We've been on Red Alert for months about this and we all hope that it will come to pass in the months ahead.

Miss Minnelli has decided to work with a trio for the present, ridding herself of the 12 piece band that has played behind her for over 30 years. We wish her luck and look forward to her returning to the format that has worked so well for her all these years and that her fans expect. The band is such a large part of her show it's a shame that her new advisors don't understand that fact.

In the meantime, I'm back booking Corporate talent with some nice projects looming overseas for some high end clients. More about this next time.

Is this just a place to discuss upcoming gigs or should I start telling people things I know and talk about how I feel about them?

If you have an opinion, email me. berkowitz66@msn.com

Talk soon.

Best,
MB