I'm In The Army Now

A long-time acquaintance of mine recruited me to join the Fourth Army Reunion Band. It is an honor to participate in this group that has been officially decomissioned since 1991 but lives on due to the efforts of its former membership.

"Members of the US 4th Army Band stationed in San Antonio, TX have met for reunions the past 20 years. They will visit Kansas City landmarks, enjoy a banquet, and fellowship. They will be assisted by community musicians to present a free public concert with music by jazz band, orchestra, chorus, and concert band at the Community Christian Church, Kansas City. The US Fourth Army was decommissioned in 1991--the group prides itself as the active remnant of the US Fourth Army. We expect 150 musicians and spouses to attend."

Come join us for some fabulous music Tuesday, 7/1 starting at 7pm.

Big Girl

I've been a bit distracted the last few days. One of my cats has been feeling poorly. Her name is Alceste but most everyone knows her as "Big Girl" or "Big Red".

She hadn't eaten for 3-days. But she was finally enticed to consume some raw tuna this afternoon.


We'll see how she feels tomorrow.

C-Melody Saxophone

I recently posted about Dave Pietro and his appearance in Kansas City. In that post I mis-identified the instrument Pietro was playing that night. He was not playing an alto sax. He was playing a C-Melody horn. I realized my mistake once I read the liner notes of the Pietro CD's I bought subsequent to hearing him play. I feel embarrassed by my failure to correctly recognize the instrument.




I have a C-Melody Saxophone.















To not recognize this instrument at first blush is not a surprise. It could easily be confused with both the Alto and Tenor saxophones and hasn't been made since the 1930's.

















I do not know the precise provenance of this particular instrument beyond the facts that it has been in my possession for well over 20 years and in my family since the mid-70's, perhaps longer considering my father's long-ago exploits as a dance band leader in Des Moines, Iowa.
According to the C.G. Conn company's serial numbers, this horn dates to 1921. Other then replacing a few pieces of cork and a new reed, this horn is still good to go. My neighbors may think I have adopted some geese but I'm having fun honking on this old thing.

Missed Call

The other morning my phone rang early in the morning. Five-thirty-one, to be exact. Although I am usually an early riser, I was not so cognizant as to recognize my mother's ring tone until it had stopped. Then the voice-mail tone chimed. Understand that my mother is tech-savvy for a woman with grandchildren graduating from college and like all of us, technology sometimes gets the better of her. My mother's phone has called and left messages before. Usually they are unintelligible mumblings muffled from the inside of a purse. That is what I heard once I got up and checked my phone. I giggled a bit and thought nothing more of the incident for I knew they were to be traveling to London explaining the early hour of the missed call.

The next day I get another call from my mother's phone except that it was later in the day and I was able to answer prior to going to voice-mail mode. "Hello?" I hear the familiar sounds of the interior of my mother's purse. I persisted a little louder, "Hello?!" More rustling. I vaguely hear my father giving an apparent address, ".... Nrfumberland ...mfmpl....off Trafalger Sqrmllmmm...". I'm so glad my mother's phone has decided to take me on this vicarious trip. I wonder if it can send me a pint of Old Speckled Hen?

White/Pietro Quintet

For those of you that did not attend the Friday night appearance at Kansas City's Blue Room of the Darryl White/Dave Pietro Quintet, you missed out on some truly fabulous jazz.

The two leaders come to the stage with impressive credentials as seasoned performers. Dave Pietro has played in New York for 20 years and with the likes of Toshiko Akiyoshi and her big band.

Darryl White comes to the stage via Lincoln, Nebraska where he holds the position as associate professor of trumpet at the University of Nebraska School of Music.

The rhythm section for this duo is anchored by Denver's Jeff Jenkins on piano and Moog synthesizer.



Craig Akin, formerly of Kansas City, handled the bass chores while current KC resident Brandon Draper played the drum set and a variety of percussive noise makers.


For me, this quintet represents the best of contemporary jazz. Offering up Monk's Straight, No Chaser to Too High by Stevie Wonder.


Sophisticated and high energy music was delivered by all of the players. Well worth the $10 cover charge. About 75 other patrons agreed. I've already added recordings from Jenkins and Pietro to my collection.