My big news is that I've been asked by Steve Lewandowski and the other members of The Milwaukee Connection (Bob Maynard, George Welland, and Jack Carr) to join their band. I'll start with them at The Grove Restaurant on March 4 and be there every Thursday evening. This the band that has backed Chuck Hedges at the Grove for several years, a very tight, hard swinging band.
In other news, I'll be playing a few games at Wrigley this year with the Chicago Cubs Dixieland Band. Check my list of public gigs for the dates. I also continue to play with Pete Wood's Missippi Mudcats (Pete, Gary Meisner, and Mike Britz) at the Wisconsin Club in Milwaukee on alternate Fridays.
I'm heading up the Interstate this afternoon to play at the Grove restaurant in Elm Grove, WI, just west of Milwaukee, with Chuck Hedges' marvelous Milwaukee Connection band. The band consists of Dave Sullivan, guitar, Bob Maynard, vibes, George Welland, bass, and Jack Carr on drums. Chuck has another obligation and can't be there tonight. He has been playing this date regularly and intends to do so as long as he can. Chuck is without any doubt the finest swing clarinetist in the midwest and is right up there with the likes of Ken Peplowski, so it's a great honor and more than a little terrifying to step into his spot every now and then. But the musical support from this band is extraordinary, and, every time I play with them, I feel that they carry me way beyond my very real limitations. And that's how jazz works.
I hope to see you soon!
John