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- May 25, 2012 at 08:42 AM
- Member Since:
- Dec 6, 2009
A joyful evening with one of my favorite musicians, Steve Winwood. A back to basics approach (he just played his Hammond B3 and Guitars, backed by a great drummer, percussionist, guitarist and horn/keyboard player - much like earlier iterations of Traffic. He played with taste and class and fun. An up-tempo version of Empty Pages, Dear Mr. Fantasy, Low Spark of High Heeled Boys, Cant Find My Way Home... all classics and all sounding fresh. What a great night, made better by sharing it with my daughter Sam along with Andy and "summer son" Aaron.
My adage is that complex jobs take much less time than I planned, whereas simple jobs take 10 times what I thought it would take. Case in point: this weekend I planned to build new window sills and radiator covers for our bedroom. Once the simple demolition started, we decided to try to uncover the old built in shutters that had long been since painted over. Hours later, I still have a long way to go -- but it is worth it -- they are beautiful and in amazingly good shape. One discovery -- there was paper that was used to back up the plaster used to seal them in. The paper was newspaper. While most of it was crumpled and disintegrated, we found one piece with a date on it: 1944. I love urban archaeology.
Table is set, food is prepared, wines have been selected (months ago). We are frighteningly ahead of schedule. I guess after 28 years of doing the B-G Seder Extravaganza, we finally have this sucker down. Now we need our 39 guests to show up on time (hopefully they won't be waylaid by the NY area Yid-Lock). I just love Passover. Chag Pesach Samayach to all the MOT - and for those who are celebrating Easter, may you find joy and happiness in these coming days.
sitting on the patio of our villa in Jamaica near Round Hill (Ralph Lauren's club) and he second round of martinis are about to be delivered. I can't think of anywhere else I would rather be (but Dweezilla would be on the top 5)
Leaving tomorrow morning for a conference in Boston - return Tuesday to give a lecture and then first thing Wednesday morning my wife and I and our three adult kids are off for a week in Jamaica (the first time we could coordinate our schedules in 6 1/2 years). B*****n' Ya Mon!
While I am verey disappointed that I will not be able to join in at Dweezilla this year (if you can: GO!!!) i am mollified by the fact that I have scored tickets to three DZPZ concerts in the NY Metro Area: Englewood, Westbury and Tarrytown. YES!
Just saw Lyle Lovett with a terrific band (all acoustic instruments). Today was the release of his new album (which arrived on my doorstep in time to listen to while I drove to pick up Marianne on our way to the concert). He had ten musicians with him three of whom doubled and tripled (guitar, violin, and mandolin) - including the sibs from Nickel Creek, and the brilliant Arnold McCullough on vocals - and Russ Kunkel on drums (a 4 piece small set) and Victor Krause on string bass. Lyle was very geneorus with the spotlight -giving all of his musicians a chance to shine, but it was his show and terrific through and through. The only complaint was the sound - the room was terrible acoustically and the sound folks didnt know how to compensate (it was like they were from the high school a/v squad). Boy oh Boy, did they need Glynn Wood!!! Yet the brilliance of the musicianship still carried the day and Lyle Lovett always puts on a great show.
90 minutes into the oscars and this is deadly boring - i can't believe how truly sucky this is -- this is any kind of pain
What a terrific show in Agoura Hills! My buddy Jonathan is doing much better and I just got a call from my daughter Samantha who has gotten accepted into Columbia University School of Social Work for a Masters - she was also accepted an 2 other schools and waiting to hear from a couple more, but she (and my wife and I) are on cloud-nine and so filled with pride. Great nigh last night, great day at hospital and great news -- I am still a LUCKY GUY!
on my way to airport now - flying to LA to see my buddy Jonathan as he works is way back in rehab after a terrible bicycle accident. The bonus is seeing DZPZ tomorrow night on the last night of this tour - and to see Sheila trade 4's with Holdsworth.
The Metropolitan Opera's Gotterdammerung - WOW WOW WOW -- loved every minute - every second --of the 6+ hours. Jay Hunter Morris and Deborah Voight were brilliant. Luisi's conducting was stellar. Such beauty and such pathos! My only complaint? The immolation scene -- with an unlimited budget and brilliant designers and technician,s one would think that the world going up in flames would be a little more impressive and less cheesy -- aside from that, pure joy. We have now seen the entire Ring - an impressive feat and one we can't wait to repeat. Tomorrow, Kevin Spacey in Richard III and NEXT SUNDAY? DWEEZIL ZAPPA AND THE BAND IN AGOURA HILLS! What culture!!!!!!!!!
Just got my tickets to DZPZ in Agora Hills - last night of the CA tour. Hope to see you all there!
Started teaching again yesterday (at a NY College) - It was fun to return to the class room part-time (one three hour lecture/class a week).
Off to LA tomorrow for 4 days to visit a friend who was in accident.
Off to LA tomorrow for 4 to visit a friend who was in an accident.
Enjoyed first night of Hanukah with my three beautiful children and my gorgeous wife -- it was a brilliant evening. Today we light candles for the second night of Hanukah and FZ's birthday. Happy Birthday FZ. (see my blog post on the relationship between FZ and Hanukah)
I just got my Martin back and I am so happy to be reunited with it. Almost 6 months in the shop! Plays beautifully and I am so happy with the work. My Les Paul is jealous.
I am supposed to receive my Martin MC-28 back from factory repair tomorrow -- I have one of the first that left the Martin factory in 1981 - due to neck and top problems Martin refered me to a NYC luthier for repairs (who will remain nameless but destroyed the top of the guitar). Martin agreed with me and consented to do all the necessary repairs butthey have had my guitar since July! It should arrive tommorow. Oh, the anticipation......
Just received my Carnegie Hall CD (I was there in the flesh in 1971). Just listened to Peaches En Regalia -- the sonic quality is phenomenal given that it was recorded at 7 1/2 ips in mono -- Cant wait to hear the rest and relive a spectacular evening. Joe Travers - you da man! -- Gail, Kisses and Thanks! What a Thanksgiving present. And for those of you celebrating the holiday, remember those less fortunate and remember what we have often comes at a price (remember the Native Americans, who were here first).
Three years ago tonight I got to jam with Dweezil and the band and walked away with a great Hagstrom guitar and a great wealth of memories. Lucky guy! Happy Halloween to all!
30,000 feet high on my way to San Francisco - got to give 9 talks in 4 days and then back to NYC. Nice to be able to reach out to friends when I am so high (thanks to American airlines - not digestible recreational suppliments).
Got through my marathon - last night three hours and today 9 hours on my feet, playing guitar, reading and speaking without sitting down and with no food or water for 25 hours. Some call it Yom Kippur, I just callz it Gary's Marathon - I won. Great day
To all MOT who celebrate the New Year starting tonight, Shana Tova u'mituka! To all of my friends here, may life continue to smile on you and may we be blessed with lots more music to share and more opportunities to hear FZ's music and the music from the wonderful band DZ has put together. I am grateful.
I paid for my god-son to see ZPZ and RTF in San Francisco, so I know that he is in for the time of his life. My wife and I were at the first of our many NY Philharmonic concerts - Mahler's 2nd Symphony (resurrection)-- what a brilliant piece of music played and sung by the world's finest musicians. I am happy to know that on both coasts, great music was shared. MUSIC IS THE BEST!
Today I worked on my own little corner of the universe. I rewired the starter circuit and repaired my car - and then I put the furniture back into the room whose floor I refinished. Thanks for the help I received from family and neighbors. Today was a day about putting things right again. The only possible response to the events of ten years ago.
Labor Day weekend and all I have done is work - physical backbreaking labor. Since our son moved to college, I looked at the carpet in his room and said "This has to go." So, took up carpet and discovered beautiful parquet hardwood floors (we have a 120 year old brownstone townhouse). So off I went to rent drum sander, edger, buffer, and got to work. Just put on the sealer coat -- three coats of oil-based poly and my labor should bear fruit in three more days. Ugh
Zach is safely ensconced in college, Irene had come and gone and we are unscathed. Bring on Labor Day weekend!
Tomorrow, my wife and I drive our son, Zach, to college. He is the last to go - empty-nesters! But, what do we get in return? Irene, the hurricaine is aiming right for us -- frankly even an adolescent is tamer than this storm promises to be.