Well it's 8:00AM in Benton La. That's really where DonM lives. He’s still asleep. That’s the sign of a true musician that makes a living at music. Me I’m up between 5 & 6 AM every day. That’s the sign of a real working man. Ha! Ha! We played from 4:00PM yesterday until about 10:PM. We got out about 11:PM.
I kept telling Cavanaugh to get out of there but he stayed and helped pack. What a great friend. He had to drive to Dallas for a 7:AM flight this morning. That's a 3-hour drive at 11:PM
They let Tom and me us play Ipanema, Don't Get Around Much Any More, among other standards and it looked like the country folk enjoyed the variety.
Tom gave us a CD of his Big Band. He said it was 16 pieces. It sounded just like Glenn Miller and Tommy Dorsey, and the Woody Herman Band.
Times like this is the only chance I get to play blues in A, D and E. It's always a new discovery.
Dean Mathis of I like Bread and Butter is a fine musician. He plays Fiddle, Piano and just recently got a Steel Pedal Guitar and Hank said after a month Dean is now a very good Steel Pedal player. He also played some Electric guitar. Pretty talented I'd say.
Tom helped me make it through the night. He does stuff in Eb, F, Bb etc. Man I like Tom. He'd make a good Cajun.
Hank and I couldn't hug enough. Man I like that guy too. By the next trip if one of us doesn't go on a diet, we'll need longer arms. He says his wife is progressing which was nice to hear.
Don is the king of country on a keyboard. He plays better guitar licks on the keyboard than most guitar players. And Susan looks great. I'm surprised how positive and happy she is with all she's been through. Penny and I love these folks.
I’m off to Hattiesburg in a bit. That’s where all of my in-laws reside. I like Hattiesburg a lot. It’s where I lived for about 3 years and where I met my wife Penny.
There were many other guitar players and a keyboard player named Dickey T, or was it Dickey D? Everyone had a very good time. I had more compliments from the patrons than I’ve ever had. It’s mostly because people really don’t get to hear a real sax anymore.
I recommend everyone that has the Glenn Miller Band or the Tommy Dorsey Band giving a concert in their town to pay the money no matter what it cost to attend a show like that. There’s nothing like sitting in a live audience and listening to a real Big Band. What a thrilling sound whether you like Big Band or not you’re sure to get something out of it. Nothing swings like a good Big Band.
I’d better leave something for Don, Tom and Hank to say. Oh, Oh it’s 8:45 and Don just hit the kitchen. He’s up early. Maybe I must have been typing too loud.
I forgot about Ray Logue. Man this guy could do shows for Willie Nelson. He naturally sounds just like Willie without even trying.




[This message has been edited by brickboo (edited 05-01-2006).]