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Q2 PROGRESS REPORT | 2015 RESOLUTIONS
Practice Art Farmer improv method religiously.
Q1—I've been inconsistent in my practice. Will recommit.
Q2 — Doing a little better with this. Teaching helps.
Finish writing Jazz Noir material for 2016 recording.
Q1—Wrote 3 new charts. 2 are keepers. More to come.
Q2 — Now have more than enough material and ready to record.
Create and learn fresh DMG sets: 11 tunes, 2 original.
Q1—Done!
Q2 — Focused on next season’s material now.
Pay health insurance first every month, no matter what.
Q1—So far, so good!
Q2 — Ditto.
Walk or swim daily. Lose 5 pounds monthly, 60 by year-end.
Q1— Down 16 pounds since Jan 1.
Q2 — Cut 36 pounds since Jan 1.
Increase number of workshops nationally from 54 to 100.
Q1—Way behind; only 23 booked so far. Redoubling my efforts.
Q2 — Some progress; 39 booked. Still at it.
Increase touring income by 20% while playing 20 fewer shows.
Q1—Results are mixed: so far I'm working more but making less.
Net income YTD is 43% greater than in Q1 2014, but 40% short of goal,
and per gig average is only 88% of 2014 levels.
Q2 — Still working more, making less...
Bump per gig average by 5% and increase total net income by 27%.
Q1—Not looking good (see above). Imperative that we book considerably more workshops this fall.
Q2 — Ditto.
Eschew cynicism, laugh often and see the best in people.
Q1—They don't make it easy but I'm mostly grateful and happy.
Q2 — Life is good.
When the time is right, get a dog!
Q1—Not yet...
Q2 — Soon!
THE HOLY GRAIL
2015 RESOLUTIONS | PROGRESS REPORT
It's hard to believe that Q1 of 2015 is already behind us.
I set some pretty ambitious goals in January.
Here's where things stand today:
Practice Art Farmer improv method religiously.
I've been inconsistent in my practice. Will recommit.
Finish writing Jazz Noir material for 2016 recording.
Wrote 3 new charts. 2 are keepers. More to come.
Create and learn fresh DMG sets: 11 tunes, 2 original.
Done!
Pay health insurance first every month, no matter what.
So far, so good.
Walk or swim daily. Lose 5 pounds monthly, 60 by year-end.
On track: eating right and walking every day.
Down 16 pounds since the new year.
Increase number of workshops nationally from 54 to 100.
Way behind on this. Only 23 booked so far.
Redoubling my efforts.
Increase touring income by 20% while playing 20 fewer shows.
Fail. I'm working more but making less.
Net income YTD is 43% greater than in Q1 2014, but 40% short of goal,
and per gig average is only 88% of 2014 levels.
Bump per gig average by 5% and increase total net income by 27%.
Not looking good (see above). Need to improve these margins.
Eschew cynicism, laugh often and see the best in people.
They sure don't make it easy but I'm mostly grateful and happy.
When the time is right, get a dog!
Not yet...
MASTER FLUGELHORNIST ACK VAN ROOYEN
To my ears, now that AF and CT have passed, Ack may very well be
the greatest living practitioner of the Big Horn. Such subtlety,
style, soul and finesse. And what a gorgeous tone!
If I ever have occasion to return to Holland,
I'm definitely going to inquire about
getting a lesson from this
master musician.
A WORK OF ART
RESOLUTIONS
THAT COLD BLUE LIGHT
SUPER FLUGIO
Big Time Tour Manager
Hip Licks
The Holy Grail
Work Station
Move Along
The Frugal Flugel recommends: Gas Buddy!
How To
Resolutions
Sidemen Beware
The Most Wonderful Time
Strong & Content
Henceforth I ask not good-fortune, I myself am good-fortune,
Henceforth I whimper no more, postpone no more, need nothing,
Done with indoor complaints, libraries, querulous criticisms,
Strong and content I travel the open road.
—From Song of the Open Road by Walt Whitman
Broaden Your Horizons
Disavowed
I Know This Sounds Crazy
TWO, FIVE, WONDER WHAT'S FOR LUNCH?
INTENDED approach to improvising:
Don't think. Just listen and react. Don't play licks and patterns. Create melodies. Let the horn sing, and play from the heart.
ACTUAL thoughts while improvising:
Here comes the turnaround...classic Brownie riff goes here...nope, this tempo's all wrong. Bop scale! Cleverly ironic Daft Punk quote! Ooh, that was hip. Nobody caught it, of course. Now C-sharp diminished up the...Fail! Awww. Nick Payton wouldn't have missed that high note. Third valve is sticky...uh...where does the bridge go again? No idea. Blues lick! What the hell is happening? I wish the bass player would play the damn roots. Sloan Sabbith. Sloan Sabbith. Sloan Sabbith. Two, five, wonder what's for lunch? Hey now, that was kinda awesome. Sloan Sabbith. Oops, lost the form.