Blue Note Records 70th Anniversary Tour

Blue Note Records will be celebrating its 70th Anniversary with a tour which includes a stop in Minneapolis on March 29th. The engagement will feature Bill Charlap on piano, Peter Bernstein on guitar, Ravi Coltrane on tenor and soprano sax, Lewis Nash on drums, Nicholas Payton on trumpet, Peter Washington on bass, and Steve Wilson on alto sax. Buy tickets for this event through Minnesota Orchestra.

Weekend!

At last the weekend is here. I have been swamped over on Minnesota Health IT blog with the rollout of the Federal Stimulus Bill and the new HITECH Act. See here for more information.

We were hit with a snow storm yesterday. Today is a picture perfect day here in Minnesota. Snow every where but sunny and clear.

The countdown to Wynton Marsalis continues. 8 days until the show I am attending at Minnesota Orchestra Hall. Front row, center, in case you want to stop by and chat...

The Bad Plus

NPR Jazz has a free download of The Bad Plus' twist on The Bee Gees' "How Deep is Your Love." The song is a collaboration with local vocalist Wendy Lewis. The new album, "All I Care" is filled with nuggets like this one.

Wynton Marsalis

I am counting down the days until Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra visit Minneapolis. I have managed to swing front row seats and look forward to a lively evening. I may even introduce a few photos to the blog for the first time.

In the meantime, check out Wynton and former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor discussing jazz and the government.

Quiet

I apologize to any followers out there. I have been relatively quiet on the jazz front. The holidays, coupled with some other work items, have reduced my quality music time. I have been listening to some peppy Frank Sinatra to start my day.

I played in a charity hockey tournament Monday evening to benefit Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services. The event was held at the XCel Energy Center -- home of the Minnesota Wild of the NHL. It is a treat to play on the professional ice but I can never get my bearings straight. Needless to say there was not a "Team of 18,000" to cheer us on so the empty seats seemed to eat up the sound of any yells, shots, or saves. My team finished second.

I have moved internal offices and now have a lovely view of Nicollet Mall. Each day I am greeted by the statue of Mary Tyler Moore throwing her hat into the air. To you youngsters, that is the scene from a sit-com venued in Minneapolis from years ago. (No, not the black and white show, that was "Dick Van Dyke"!)