I left off with the weekend of NO WORK in my last post. Thursday was a great night and I decided to hit the road again on Friday night! I had received a message on Face Book that a great singer I met at NAMM was going to be at the Marriott in Anaheim. AJ DeGrasse is a very talented singer, keyboardist and writer and I had just hung with his drummer at Hennessy's the night before - Frank Reina.

Well, by the time I got there I found out the gig was not a sit in and blow hang at all. I did enjoy the end of AJ's show and a young guy fresh out of Boston that had an old friend Robin Demajio playing drums so the drive was well worth it. I then bailed to Oyster's in Newport Beach because another Face Book friend had suggested the Ron Kobayashi band and I found them listed at Oyster's on a Friday night! I headed straight over there because I knew I could play some Jazz and that sounded really good. Babe Elephante and Steve Dixon are the regular Bass and Drum guys and it was the old band I remember and so love.

I played a set and closed that room, hung for a while with the guys and started for home. But, because I had no real schedule or plans, I decided to take the scenic route thru downtown Laguna home. As I hit downtown, it was obvious that there was stuff going on! I remembered the Marine Room and thought I would see if I knew anybody playing there.

As I walked up to the door, a familiar new friend stopped me and it was one of the Guitar Players from Hennessy's - Larry Green. Sure enough I knew a few of the guys and was introduced to the leader chick - Tricia Freeman and was on my way to another amazing night of blues and rock! Thanks for the hook up Larry! It was a great night, closing another club before heading home.

If this is not enough, I had Saturday still before me. Debbie Parks had told me about a fun sounding night! I played at church for a few services and ran out as fast as I could to Long Beach CA. My good friend and future labelmate, Blake Aaron, was playing at The Cellar. I knew he had the sensational OC Derek Bordauex on Vocals, but had no idea how cool the gig would be! the Rhythm Section was amazing! Bill Cantos on Keys and Vocals, Andre Berry on Bass and Tony Moore on Drums! Listed as an All Star band - this was making more sense to me until I went on break with the guys and was introduced to Freddie Fox and his wife, who's name was long and I forgot until getting home and looking up Freddie online. OK - It was a club, loud and dark and loud so please forgive me on this one. Freddie's wife was Evelyn Champagne King - amazing singer and 70's goddess with numerous hits on the radio. Made a whole bunch of sense once I was home and online. They both could sing, but something was over the top with their presence and the gig got crazy good at some point.

Playing with a band that was sooooo tight and working sax fills around the vocals of Derek, Freddie, Bill and Evelyn - WOW!! It was an amazing night!! As good as it gets!!

SOOOOO, in one weekend I was swinging and rocking, listened to and played amazing music, and all when I could have sat home and bitched about it all. So very cool to live in LA and have great entertainment options, but also blessed that I could play so much this weekend and hang with so many amazing people!!!!!

Thanks to all listed and the many I missed!

Hangin with Freddie Fox and his lovely wife, Evelyn Champagne King after the Blake Aaron All Star Show!!