May 15, 2019
The Redwood Coast Music Festival was literally incredible; so many great musicians and friends, and probably the best music performed at a festival in many years! I was fortunate to play with some outstanding groups:
Pappy and Junior's Western Swing All - Stars with Elana James
The Jazz Guitars
On The Levee Jazz Band
I also played with Dan Walton and the Jump Swing Imperials, Swing Central and groups led by Jonathan Doyle and Jacob Zimmerman. All the sets were a blast!
Tomorrow I head for Chicago, and engagements with Paul Asaro and his Rhythm; the Swell Sisters; and the Chicago Cellar Boys. As the great New Orleans clarinetist Orange Kellin would say, “Can’t WAIT!”
After the Chicago trip I will be back in one of my favorite places — Hilton Head Island, South Carolina — for concerts at the Jazz Corner with Duke Heitger, Tim Laughlin and Kris Tokarski.
I will finish out the month of may in New Orleans: Concerts at Twilight in City Park with Banu Gibson and the Bombay Club with vocalist Meryl Zimmerman, Kris on piano and bassist Nobu Ozaki. I can hardly believe that I was able to play so much good music in just one month — !!!
The cats are just getting used to my being home, but it will be another month before I have more than a couple days to hang out with them.
(I will try to find some special toys and treats for them, to make up for my continued absence in May).
— Hal
