It’s that time of year again. The Holidaze. Not being directly involved in retail has made this a great holiday season. I’m usually pretty laid back anyway, but this year there’s no pressure at all, just the holiday spirit which is actually quite nice! Okay, all is not well in the world for sure…the President I voted for just sold me out and decided to make this a windfall holiday for billionaires once again…$%^^(*&^…I’ve got nothing against billionaires, mind you, I just don’t think they are the ones that need a break. I’m not too surprised though. When you put a bunch of millionaires in charge of things you gotta know that their number one priority will be making sure they remain millionaires and also making sure that possibly someday they’ll have a chance at the big money! Ugh…the “system” is truly broken from my point of view but from theirs it’s working just fine!
Anyhow, the holidays! Yeah, good times. Friends, family, pets……a moment of silence please for the passing of Oscy the Oscar Fish. His last days were not fun for him but he will be remembered fondly for his penchant for snapping at the fingers that fed him…hmm, a politician in a former life?…..Sammy Claus over to your left here is keeping a watch on our freshly minted Zip-Tie tree. Pam loves to cut trees out of our woods for Christmas trees and this year she had a great idea. Grab two spindly hemlocks and put them together to form one slightly less spindly Charlie Brown hemlock tree. Two trees, a few zip-ties and a couple cups of Baileys and Coffee later, Sammy is proudly hangin’ in front of a zippy (ugh!) new tree. It kinda makes it feel like you’re sitting outside because these trees are all over the place here. Hope your holiday hangs are happy and you get to spend some time with the ones you care about. Here are a few opportunities to hear some music in the next few weeks. Hope to see you!
Sunday, December 12 – Second Christian Congregational Church, Kittery, ME – 10AM The second Sunday jazz service tradition continues with music director Mike Effenberger on the piano, Jim Rudolph at the mini kit and Myself quietly sub-toning away. Rev. Brad Hirst always has a few surprises in his sermons and we try to respond in kind. Join us!
Monday, December 13 – The Barley House, Concord, NH – 6PM Take a break from the holiday blitz with the David Tonkin Quartet. David on guitars, Don Williams on Bass, Tim Gilmore on drums and Myself on saxamaphones. Lot’s of people beck in town for the holidays, why not stop in and play a tune or two!
Thursday, December 16 – The Press Room, Portsmouth, NH – The Tim Webb Group – 8PM Bassist Tim Webb leads tonight at the Press Room. Should be a great night of music so please come in and join us. Bring your horn!
Saturday, December 18 – St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, Kennebunk, ME – Chris Humphrey Big Band – Chris’ big band will play a concert to benefit a local charity. This is a great band featuring many of the finest musicians of the great state of Maine. Chris is a great band leader and puts on a wonderful show and this church is his home turf!
Friday, December 24th – Second Congregational Church, Kittery Maine – Christmas Eve Jazz Service – 11PM Make your Christmas Eve Church visit a jazzy one this year with Rev. Brad Hirst, the 2CCUCC choir and trio.
Monday, December 28th – The Barley House, Concord, NH – Scott Solsky Quartet – 6PM Just over the Xmas hump and headed for New Years, you deserve a burger and a beer and an earful of great tunage. This is just the hang for you. 6PM start ensures you’ll be home in time to start sawing logs before the chariot turns back into a pumpkin. Scott Solsky is keeping Concord cool according to the local press and Jared Steer, Jesse Stern and myself are along for the ride hoping some of that coolness will manifest itself in the form of transcendental communication…hows ’bout you?