In a groove...

Like the old song says, "Sometimes you're the windshield, sometimes you're the bug..." Last night, the Jazz Ambassadors opened the 10th annual Pittsfield Jazz Festival at Patrick's Pub - and we were clearly the windshield!  It felt so good to be making good, swingin' sounds with my band mates - and the enthusiasm of the audience pushed us to go deeper - it was simply electric.

Almost right out of the gate, after a little bossa nova opener, Andy called "All Blues" - my favorite Miles number - because Di has found her own way to sing the most excellent lyrics penned by Oscar Brown, Jr. and inspired by Ernestine Anderson.  She OWNED that tune last night - and being in such a deep jazz groove let us all go much deeper. Charlie took an extended journey into other planets on his alto sax break on "Take Five."  He did something similar at the end of "Blue Skies" - literally took the song to another place - which inspired Andy and Jonnie to break WAAAAY out of the box, too.  It was very tight but with lots of space to wander into the music.  
A few special guests kicked up the energy, too:  my young church buddy, Ethan, burned down the house with "Steam Roller Blues," local blues man Lee Everrit ripped it up with "God Bless the Child," too.  Clearly the packed house helped - and having lots of jazz fans out who both love and know the genre - was a blessing.  Their energy really pushed the whole band to be more playful and creative.

So, even when my nasty cold returned at the close of our last song, I was buzzin and in a groove because the music was so sweet.  Tonight, we play the Mission on North Street as part of the city's "ArtWalk" on night two the jazz festival.  Come on down if you are in town - Bennie will be with us on keys and that'll create something totally new.
Next Friday, we'll host Eser and Ahmet - two of our hosts from Turkey - at Dottie's Coffee House on North Street between 7-9 pm.  And they will also join us at worship on Sunday morning, October 14th - along with the rest of the Jazz Ambassadors - for a time of "peace making through jazz" during Sunday worship.  What a total gas!