OK – In typical fashion, for many freelancers and creative types, my January is somewhat slow. I’m working on a bunch of ‘stuff’ and ‘things’ in the background here that will be manifesting themselves over this coming year. I am definitely looking forward to sharing those plans with you but I’m not quite ready to…

Greetings and salutations all you true believers (no matter what you believe in)! It has been a fantastic year from a learning, growing, and playing perspective. Every gig has allowed me to explore new avenues of musical expression, fresh compositional approaches and the intricacies human interactions. On the home front my Dad, my brothers, my…

How are you doing? I’m good. It’s my birthday month and as usual, I’m in a reflective mood. I’ve had a pretty dang good year on the music side of things and overall my family and friends are healthy. That is a win in my opinion and I’m super thankful for it. I’ve had the…

Greetings and salutations all you fine people! Happy to report that music is still really fun to play, listen to, and experience! I’ve done extensive testing on this theory (conducting numerous interviews with lay people and known experts) and the conclusion is that even if you don’t connect with a song or performance immediately there…

I’m definitely stealing that headline from some place I played at in the ’90’s. After a busy June filled with plenty of teaching, flying, general airport chaos, playing and even relaxing for a few days with family it looks like July is, dare I say, ‘heating up’, with some real fine music! Come on feel…

The Thanks have been given and continue to be perpetuated by our own attitudes for gratitude! Continuous support from family, loved ones, friends, colleagues, and YOU; inspires me and fuels my musical life. Thank you!!!! Atlantis Quartet just returned from a two-day mini-tour that was super fun and rewarding. It’s such a rarity to get…

October is upon us. Not much to share other than this run on sentence. Playing music is a fascinating and bizarre career path with many ups and downs that don’t always align with the norms of normalcy within the social construct of 9-5 concepts that dominate our societal systems based on one’s expected alignment within…

Hey everyone! It’s been a whirlwind here in Batesland with summer in full effect and I’m already thru Jazz Camp teaching season as well as the Twin Cities Jazz Fest! Highlights from the last month include teaching the Minneapolis Public Schools JAM (Jazz Around Minneapolis) Camp and my annual week of combo and improv at…

Hey everyone what’s happening?! I can only hope you are getting outside and enjoying this fantastic spring weather. It’s been a tremendous turnaround since we were deluged with that snowstorm a couple of weeks ago.  This month I’m keeping it simple and focusing on making and presenting music. The work of play and the benefits…

Well all the snow melted. Then it came back. And Old Man Winter laughs as our feeble minds attempt to reconcile. Indeed discontentedness is prevalent in all aspects of our lives. American politics is a shit show and the polarization of the American populace continues unabated as our so call leaders play teenage games with…