Back and Better Than Ever!

I have returned from a job transition during which I was focused on the more concrete aspects of life and living. I have thoroughly enjoyed the time off with my children and wife but it is good to be back in the land of the living/working. Most of my energies have been turned toward professional development, including the Minnesota Health IT Blog which although somewhat light on content was not completely ignored.

I have found an excellent new source for the latest on jazz for the newbie. Check out Nextbop.com for the traditional and the avant garde. I am a little disappointed in my inability to access some of the content via the new iPhone 3GS but what the site has to offer via my laptop more than makes up for this shortfall (which may be entirely Apple's or my fault).

Also, since my new work digs will be in St. Paul, MN I plan to update readers on jazz happenings there (see The Artists' Quarter!) as well as continue to provide you with the latest goings on at the Dakota and other venues.

Twin Cities Jazz Festival

This weekend marks the return of the Twin Cities Jazz Festival. Although recent changes have prevented me from attending many events in the local jazz scene, I am hopeful that the upcoming year will result in a change in that lack of involvement. In addition, I am conflicted about attending events this evening as a friend and hockey teammate will be performing live with The Walleyes tonight at the Wild Tymes Cafe in St. Paul at 8:30. Check them out!

Barristers Cup International Hockey Tournament - 3rd Place Finish

The Barristers Cup International Hockey Tournament was held this past weekend. I played with the Ramsey County Bar Association team. Other teams compete from Hennepin County, Duluth, and Thunder Bay, Ontario. Thunder Bay fielded an excellent team again this year and won the Cup for the second year in a row. My RCBA team lost to Thunder Bay in the first game 3-0. However, we came back and beat Duluth for 3rd Place. The Duluth game was extremely close and went into sudden death overtime tied 1-1. After 10 minutes of overtime play, with the score still tied at 1-1, we went into a 3 player shootout. We scored on our first and second attempts and I was able to stop both of their chances for our victory.

Here are some photographs of the team and the game.

Barristers Cup International Hockey Tournament

It is that time of year again. I will be playing in the Barristers Cup International Hockey Tournament this Saturday, April 25th. Teams are organized by the Hennepin County, Ramsey County, Duluth, and Thunder Bay, Ontario Bar Associations. I will be playing goaltender for the Ramsey County team. As many of you may recall, this event was hosted last year in Thunder Bay. This year's Tournament is hosted by the Hennepin County team and will be held at the Maple Grove Community Center, at 12591 Weaver Lake Road, Maple Grove, MN 55369. Directions are here.

My team will be taking the ice at 10:00 am to take on the Thunder Bay team in a battle for the "Cane" which is awarded each year to the winner of the game between these two aged and decrepit teams. Since neither team will accept "ringers" the average age of the players has steadily increased (especially after it was decided that my 7 year-old son was not to be included in the computations). The winner of our first game will play at either 1:00 pm for Third Place or at 2:30 pm for the Championship and the Cup (you can probably guess which game we will be playing in...).

Many of you have asked about last year's Tournament, which I had announced but had not further commented on. There are very good reasons for that. First, a charter bus full of attorneys and Judges traveling together -- even across international boundaries -- can result in spontaneous bouts of delirium (chemically induced and otherwise). Second, we improbably failed to win either of our games. I lay the blame squarely on the shoulders of our team leader and combative defenseman, Judge Michael "Deke" DeCourcy, who seemed to be unable to prevent the opposition from approaching within 100 yards of the goaltenders, thus ensuring a goal would be scored. Coach/Judge Michael Fetsch was also ineffectual in his attempts to rally/revive the team. I would comment on the other members of the team but am concerned that immunity from defamation may not apply outside of the judiciary.

I am not going to guarantee a win this year but I can state that our team will be better rested (since there will be no bus travel and no pre-game "socials"). If you are interested in seeing some old guys play hockey and represent your and other bar associations, then this is an event from you. In addition, I will be playing in both games this year since our team's other goalie cannot attend. Because of my double-duty I may not be able to spend time conversing with you between games. However, please don't take this personally since I will likely be hooked up with an oxygen mask and receiving Red Bull intravenously.


What: Barristers Cup International Hockey Tournament
When: Saturday April 25, 2009, 10:00 am - 3:45 pm
Where: Maple Grove Community Center, 12591 Weaver Lake Road, Maple Grove, MN

Wycliffe Gordon in the Twin Cities!

The Twin Cities Jazz Society and the Northwestern College Music Department present “Jazz in the Heartland,” an evening of music featuring renowned trombonist Wycliffe Gordon. The evening starts out with a free master class by Gordon, followed by a concert by The Noteables (part of the United States Air Force Heartland of America Band) with special guest Gordon. The concert will take place Wednesday April 22, 2009 at 8:00 p.m. The master class starts at 5:00 p.m.

Wycliffe Gordon is one of the top jazz artists in the country. He is a frequent performer with Wynton Marsalis at the Lincoln Center and serves on the faculty of the jazz studies program at The Juilliard School.

The Noteables, part of the United States Air Force Heartland of America Band, is a jazz ensemble that presents exciting, uplifting music which inspires audiences to increased patriotism. The group has appeared in concert and on national television with Bob Hope, jazz trumpeter Bobby Shew, composer/arranger Frank Mantooth, former “The Tonight Show” band leader Doc Severinsen and pop singer Lee Greenwood.

The event will take place at Maranatha Hall, Northwestern College, 3003 Snelling Ave. N., St. Paul, MN.