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2017 RESOLUTIONS
The year of community.
Put down roots. Carve out a niche. Make new friends. Be a good neighbor.
Cultivate relationships close to home. Favor work within the region.
Learn the local ways. Meet the leadership and form alliances.
Age gracefully. Identify elder role models and study how they live.
Embrace the current stage of life while preparing for the next.
Get over the past. Celebrate the present. Practice gratitude.
Develop and maintain good, sustainable health and fitness habits.
Go outdoors. Keep moving! Walk, swim, ride. Play with Scout.
Drink water. Eat vegetables. Take naps. Pace yourself.
Stay in touch with family and friends.
Keep home and horn in good repair.
Tell people you love them.
Make better music.
Stay positive.
JUST DO IT
MISE EN PLACE
A FEW THOUGHTS ON JAZZ & COMPETITION
To my ears, “Jazz Competition” is an oxymoron.
We’re going to have a contest to see who can be the most vulnerable? The most sensitive or sincere?
To find out who among us can best lay bare our soul and play from the heart?
Every year on tour I hear dozens of excellent high school groups, all over the country, investing hours of rehearsal time, polishing the same Duke Ellington charts in preparation for the annual Jazz Hunger Games.
While it’s gratifying to witness Duke’s music being disseminated so widely, I wonder if these young musicians might be better off exploring a larger repertoire of sounds and styles, learning to sight read, listen and improvise.
Of course, there is such a thing as “healthy competition” in the arts. Setting challenges and overcoming them is how we improve.
Competitive, however, is not the correct mindset for quality music-making. This art form is interactive. It’s about listening and openness. Conversation, not competition.
Personally, I don’t feel that I’m in competition with other artists. I’m competing with Netflix, spectator sports, video games, social media and all the other distractions that vie for your leisure time, attention and dollars.
I welcome opportunities to work alongside and learn from my betters. I always try to surround myself with talents greater than my own. Art Farmer said “if you’re the smartest cat in the room, you’re in the wrong room.”
One time Nicholas Payton dropped by my gig in San Francisco and schooled me on a ballad. It was like a ten-minute graduate seminar on understatement and grace.
This week I had the opportunity to participate in a tribute to one of my longtime heroes, Tom Harrell, along with Joe Lovano, Kenny Werner, Sean Jones, Johnathan Blake, and several other world class musicians, including the man himself, who has never sounded better.
Everyone involved was more capable and experienced than I. It was humbling but thrilling. I learned a lot and felt nothing but love and support in the room. There was no vibe. Everyone was there for Mr. Harrell.
Wynton Marsalis says a cutting session is like a debate. And debates have their place, especially in the classroom. But wouldn’t you really rather have a conversation?
Personally, I think cutting sessions are a drag. Everyone posturing, posing, showing off, going for house. The atmosphere of a cutting session is like a Michael Bay movie full of explosions. I usually end up resenting the audience for enjoying such tripe.
Here’s a challenge: let’s play lower, softer, slower -- with intensity.
Let’s play more soulfully.
Let’s just play.
NOW I KNOW
THE FORCE WILL BE WITH YOU. ALWAYS.
RAIN DANCE
A GOOD OMEN
2016 is going to be fully loaded and soulfully delicious.
IT'S A THIN LINE
2016 RESOLUTIONS
The year of Scout! Train puppy to be a good home dog and road dog.
Coordinate distribution of Jazz Noir to radio and reviewers.
Prepare fresh DMG sets. Focus touring mostly in the northwest region.
Fewer gigs, higher fees, larger audiences.
Get back to playing long tones every day. Make it a habit.
Continue to eat right, exercise, lose weight and build muscle.
Take good care of Sassy, Scout, Ninji, Boo and the Fortress of Sassitude.
Plant a vegetable garden and a Japanese Maple.
Don’t be afraid. Play your way. Find your voice.
Get out from under the master’s shadow. It’s time.
THE PLAN
TIME IS PRECIOUS
A NUMBERS GAME
THE APEX
BETWEEN BATTLES
ROAD DOGS
Walkies with Weimaraner wonder dog Lara Knific!
THANK YOU!
THE HARD PART
CHRISTMAS IN JULY!
CRUISIN'
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
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...