“SEND ME, GATE!”: DEEP GROOVES AT JAZZ AT CHAUTAUQUA: MARTY GROSZ, JON-ERIK KELLSO, RANDY REINHART, SCOTT ROBINSON, DAN BLOCK, BOB HAVENS, JOHN SHERIDAN, FRANK TATE, PETE SIERS (September 21, 2012)

My heroes.  Marty Grosz (guitar and moral leadership); Jon-Erik Kellso (trumpet); Randy Reinhart (cornet); Scott Robinson (Joe Muranyi’s taragoto, his own tenor sax); Dan Block (clarinet and slightly recalcitrant bass clarinet); John Sheridan (piano); Frank Tate (string bass); Pete Siers (drums).

Jelly Roll Morton’s SHOE SHINER’S DRAG:

JADA — taken at the kind of tempo you don’t hear often enough these days.  Soaring and sweet and rocking.

We were sent.  No question about it.

Your homework: find the computer in your home that has the best speakers and the largest monitor, turn up the sound, make sure the picture is “full-screen,” gather the family and pets . . . show ’em what Swing’s about.

May your happiness increase.

DAN BLOCK and FRIENDS: NEW YORK DUETS (January 10, 2013)

Dan Block’s new CD — a series of duets (and one trio), called DUALITY, is a truly rewarding series of uplifting improvisations — not surprising, considering Dan’s vivid imaginations. Here’s what I wrote about it in September 2012.

And Dan has scheduled a live performance to celebrate the CD release and to make more music — on Thursday, January 10, at 8 PM at Zebulon Sound and Light, 223 West 28th St (3nd floor) 212 695 8081. Dan will once again be collaborating with Ted Rosenthall on piano, Chris Haney on bass, Saul Rubin and Paul Meyers on guitar, Tim Horner on drums, and Mark Sherman on vibraphone.  Admission is $10.

I will still be at the other side of the continent when all this fascinating exploration is taking place . . . so save your quarters, find the other glove, put on your down coat, and make a beeline to Zebulon Sound and Light.  It’s what I would do . . .

May your happiness increase.