Hello All:

With the truly awful weather just on the other side of my windows it’s hard to fight off the desire that goes back to my grade school days when snow-days meant just shirking responsibility and hanging out at home. Well, there was the ‘in-the-snow’ thing that has pretty much worn off in the ensuing years….

I actually went out to clean the car (as if I have to rush away tomorrow in the am). ‘Why?’ was the operative word as soon as I emerged into the heavy wind-swept snow. But, I was there so….. I watched the snow immediate conceal the short-lived exposure of silvery sheet metal and plastic. Fifteen minutes were enough! (Ten of those were spent sitting in the car listening to Alan Holdsworth.)

Of course I need to conquer those childhood memories of jeopardized responsibility and get some calls and emails in — after all there are places without snow where people will actually be in their offices.

Musically, I’ve gotten back to those transcriptions of Satie’s Gymnopedies #2 and #3 as well as the Broadway-based If I Loved You and some newer pieces like the NAMM bossa nova. The Lowden feels and sounds great and brings out all the subtlety in the voicings I am working with. Gymnopedies #2 is a strange sort of piece, rather static compared to the other two and a real challenge to spike up a bit without sacrificing the original intention and feeling.

Now if I can avoid the rerunning reruns of Criminal Minds I may get something done…

I look forward to bringing some new music to the proceedings. Stay inside unless it’s over 60F in your neighborhood.

Matt