Just another gig?

I've been working late shifts since returning from holidays. An advantage is that I have time to get things done, spend time with the kids, a disadvantage is that I get to bed too late... However, I became very thankful for my late night tonight. I've just finished watching Maynard Ferguson and his big band in a one-off performance at 'the basement' on the ABC. He's disturbingly overweight, unnatractive, old, and sweat a lot - but I loved every second. It's not to everybodys taste, probably very few... but for a while there he was my hero - a trumpeter legend who played higher, louder and for longer than anyone else. I bought his albums, sheet music, etc and I know many jazz pieces of his, note for note, chord for chord, including solo's. I've never seen him live though - not even on the box - but tonight I did. And I could look past the superficial - for as the sound came from the horn, I smiled, and felt very comfortable. There are artists that can do that sort of thing for you - for Amy and I, both Stevie Wonder and James Taylor are artists whose music is 'home' for us. I'm not really talking about the music that reminds you of stuff - more that it just resonates at your personal frequency... I'll sleep soundly tonight - despite the squealing trumpets in my brain ;)

Here's something else that got us smiling recently....


Bethany - 1 month old... and seemingly lovin' it.