Girl From Ipanema

Jazz at Brooklyn Girl Eatery this Sunday!!!!

Alto Madness this Sunday with a Secret Guest!  Come on out and join us!!!!  4:00-6:00pm in Mission Hills http://brooklyngirleatery.com/

Does this sax make me look fat? (lol)

Great gig last weekend with Blue Skies, et al

What a Valentine’s Day!

This year (2015), I played an engagement party in Del Mar for Valentine’s Day.  So romantic!  I’ll most likely be playing their Jewish wedding in June, either with my chamber music quartet “Sebastian With Strings” or solo with “SoloYo.”  I used to get down playing lots of weddings, much preferring concerts, recording sessions, corporate entertainment and doing instrumental synagogue services, but now I really enjoy them.  I think it’s because I’ve gotten more mature and can see the time coming when my own children will be standing under a chuppah.  Anyway, mazel tov to the beautiful couple and happy families!

My “new” Mark VI alto

Just got this beautiful Mark VI alto sax made in 1958.  It’s by far the best saxophone I’ve played in my entire life.  Although I’ve been playing a lot of tenor sax on my corporate and private events, I think I’m going to transition back to alto, since it is such a joy to play this horn.  I hope that I can figure out a way to incorporate this horn into my Jewish weddings and b’nai mitzvah simchas along with my soprano sax and beloved Brannen-Cooper flute.

My “new” 57 year old Mark VI alto saxophone

I can’t quite believe that this actually happened to me. These are pictures of my “new” Selmer Mark VI alto, #80xxx, made ca. 1958. Original lacquer – 100%(!); original pads(!), cork died (well, ok).

An older gentleman received this as a gift from his grandmother in 1958, he can no longer play it because of an injury but he wanted it to go to someone who CAN play AND is also a teacher. Teaching doesn’t pay particularly well but sometimes, just sometimes, you get these unexpected little blessings.

I want to thank the kind and sweet gentleman who chose to sell it to me at about 1/3 of what it could have fetched in the marketplace. I also want to thank my friend and former student John Avila for putting us together. It’s rare to get an instrument that you know you will never have to upgrade (‘cuz there ain’t ‘zactly an “upper” to upgrade to!)  Oh, by the way – throughout it’s long life, it has NEVER yet been to a repair person but plays as is anyway.  Weird.  Pads look new.  Can’t wait to get it playing perfectly – Valéri Ugorski is on that as we speak…

I usually play a lot of soprano on my b’nai mitzvah gigs and tenor on my corporate and private events.  I think I’ll have to figure out some cool ways to incorporate this bad boy into the active artillery.  Perfect for jazz gigs and SoloYo, for sure.

Wonderful NYE gig last night at Hexagone!

Thanks to everyone who came out last night!  What an amazing place!!!!!  If you’re in town and looking for an elegant place for dinner or lunch, check out Hexagone.  Tell “le patron” Patrick that I sent you!!!!!

Happy, healthy and prosperous New Year to all – and pray for an ‘O’ line for Philip et al…

Help ring in the New Year with me at Hexagone!

Wonderful French restaurant, conveniently located in Banker’s Hill on 5th and Laurel in San Diego.  I’m playing from 6:30pm-9:30pm and I’d just LOVE to see you there.  Please stop by and have a drink or make dinner reservations.  Happy New Year to all of you!!!!!

http://hexagonerestaurant.com/

Photograph by Kendra Truett

Selfie on a Christmas gig