Jazz in the House That Grunge Built

February 24, 2010

I’m super excited that my friend Andrew asked my band Water Babies to open for his band Zubatto Syndicate at Seattle’s famed Crocodile Cafe on April 15th. For you non-Seattlites, The Croc, as we call it, opened just as the Grunge revolution was taking flight, and was home to early concerts by Nirvana, Pearl Jam, […]

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I Have Been Awarded A 2010 Jack Straw Artist Assistance Program Grant!

February 18, 2010

I am thrilled to report that I have been awarded a 2010 Artist Assistance Program Grant from Jack Straw Productions! Jack Straw is a non-profit multidisciplinary audio arts center that provides a production facility that is unlike any other in the region for local artists who work creatively with sound. They host annual residencies for […]

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100 CD’s Project – CD’s Dropped in Copenhagen!

February 17, 2010

Thanks to my dear friend Max the 100 CD’s Project has taken “No More, No Less” to Copenhagen, Denmark! Max was the original keyboard player in my band Water Babies and one of the sweetest guys I know. He and his wife have been globe-trotting the last few years and recently landed in Copenhagen. They […]

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Listen To My Interview on “The Jazz Session”

February 14, 2010

The Jazz Session is an online show focusing on in-depth interviews with jazz musicians. The show is hosted by Jason Crane, a saxophone player, radio host, commentator and one of the finest interviewers in jazz today. His unique view of jazz from many different angles allows him to speak to the musicians with authority and […]

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Makin’ it Happen – Farnell Newton

February 12, 2010

Fridays on this blog is “Makin’ it Happen Friday”, where I feature another musician who’s found a way to make a living playing music. I am constantly inspired by others, and hope to pass that inspiration on to you. The first time I saw Farnell Newton I had no idea who he was, but he […]

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How I’ve Kept My Band Together For 3 Years

February 9, 2010

Recently I had two experiences that made me think about how fortunate I am to have a band that has been playing together for three years now. The first was an interview I did with Jason Crane for The Jazz Session, an online show focusing on in-depth interviews with jazz musicians. The second was seeing […]

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13 Things I Learned at the Chris Botti Show

February 7, 2010

I saw Chris Botti for the first time tonight at The Paramount Theater in Seattle. Thanks to my Twitter buddy Tim Lefebvre, who plays bass is Chris’ band (among others), I had KILLER 4th row center seats. Thanks Tim! The show was an eye-opening experience in many ways. I have heard all the talk about […]

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Need An Electronic Press Kit? Make Your Own!

February 6, 2010

As I’ve mentioned before, I’m in the middle of planning a tour for the Jason Parker Quartet. We’re going out in May and I’m busy contacting venues up and down the West Coast, from Vancouver BC to San Diego. I realized early on in the process that I needed an EPK, or Eletronic Press Kit. […]

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A Few More Thoughts On Jazz Tribute Shows

February 2, 2010

As I mentioned in my last post, there’s been some negative talk about jazz musicians playing tribute shows to other jazz musicians recently. Journalist Phil Freeman discussed the idea in this Twitter conversation, jazz blogger Peter Hum took a little shot in this post, and trombonist Vincent Gardner wrote the most extensive piece on the […]

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Grammys: That’s Not MY Music Industry

February 1, 2010

Watching the Grammy Awards tonight I was struck with one thought: they might call that the Music Industry, but that has nothing to do with what I do as a working musician. I have been a professional musician for 15 years, and it’s been my sole job for 9 of those years. But whatever that […]

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