Monday, March 31, 2003

        Good day to you!  Today is a gorgeous 34 degrees outside and not a cloud in sight.  We just got over a funky rain/sleet/snow storm this weekend.  It seems as though this winter doesn't want to give up without a fight.  Tomorrow will start a new month of  gigging entertainment and hopefully better weather.  Be sure to check the shows page to see when and where I'll be playing next.

        In other related news, it looks as though I may end up keeping that Michael Kelly bass guitar after all.  I spoke with one of the head guys at Mailbox Music, the distributor for Michael Kelly, and they agreed to ship me another bass in replacement of the defective one I purchased.  They assured me that they will have several of their techs look over the bass so that it plays as flawlessly as acoustically possible.

        About those gigs I mentioned earlier.  John and I will be playing at a new place in Woodbridge, NJ called The Zen Den Cafe.  It's a quaint little coffee house and should be perfect for the type of music we're playing.  I'm looking forward to it along with all the others we have booked in April.

Jim

Saturday, March 22, 2003

        Alright, so what's new?  Absolutely nothing!  Except for the bass I bought on e-bay.  It is a Michael Kelly Custom fretless acoustic 5-string bass with a custom abalone and pearl vine inlay on the neck.  It's a nice looking bass, that's for sure.  Does it play well?  No, but by purchasing this one off of e-bay, I got a deal.  The neck it a little warped causing a serious fret buzz which really shouldn't be possible with a fretless neck.

        Fortunately, in my case, since I purchased the bass through them directly, I will be returning it for a refund.  It's better this way.  But this is going to be a lesson for me.  One that has taught me to buy the best and avoid crying in the future.  Heck, I didn't have the instrument for more than a week before deciding to throw in the towel.

        Why even consider a new instrument?  It was an impulse.  I came across something unique and different and at a decent price.  So I bought it.  Lesson #2, never buy an instrument without trying it first.  But, with respect to what I've been doing for the last year--folk music with a twist via John Mazzarella style--acoustic bass seemed to fit so well with that notion.

        Don't forget John Mazzarella's playing Sweet Dreams, Friday, March 28, 2003.  I would be there, but I got tix to Tony Levin, so I'll be worshiping the bass gods that night.

Thursday, March 13, 2003

        Greetings, the last couple days have been such a relief.  This winter has been nothing but cold, cold and more cold!  Oh, and let's not forget the blizzard-like snow storms.  It's no wonder these past few days of 40-degree weather feel more like 60-degree spring!  There is a lot going on this month and this weather puts me in even higher spirits.

        First, the JMB played a great show at Woody's Roadhouse in Farmingdale, NJ.  We hired a fill-in drummer, John Oakes, to perform most of the songs with us.  We managed to squeeze in a quick practice before the gig and it certainly paid off.  People reacted well and really enjoyed the group.  John took some extended lap steel solos that were incredible!  We actually took the songs into extended jam sections that featured more of John's abilities.  He made me trance out a couple times with the little single note polyrhythmic patterns he was playing--awesome!  To me, that is what it's all about.  Elevating your senses, getting into the zone, feeling.

        John has a few more solo gigs scheduled throughout the month.  For more info, check out his website at www.johnmazzarella.com.

        I would be playing Sweet Dreams Cafe with him on the 28th, but I stumbled across some obscure Tony Levin Band tour dates; Levin's playing in Trenton on the same day!  So, I just can't pass it up.  He'll be playing in such a small club that I could literally be right next to him while he's doing is thing!  I am totally psyched for this show.

        I'm also going to see Ani DiFranco on the 22nd and Bela Flek on April 2nd.  So, now you can see how busy and exciting the next month is going to be for me.

Thanks for reading,

Jim