Post Game Thoughts

Well, we're finally home. 29 shows - 38 days. It's been an amazing whirlwind of travel, music and fun. I am extraordinarily happy with what we have done here.
From the time almost a year and a half ago when Steve Lippia and I first started talking about the possibility of this tour, then a contract, then booking the musicians, airline tickets, arrival day in Minneapolis, rehearsal, the first show, then 28 more great shows, then departure from Minneapolis, lost luggage, then finally home. All with smiles from both Steve Lippia and myself.
I could not asked for more from one of the finest group of musicians, both on the bandstand and off that I have ever had the pleasure of working with.
I'll start with the reeds and work my way through the band:

Dan Salmasian - Lead Alto, Flute, Clarinet
Maybe I could have done this tour without him, but I certainly would not have wanted to. In addition to being an excellent musician, Dan was my right hand on every detail relating to the tour. He came with me to every venue to the equipment load-in to help with the load-in, render me advice when I needed it about setting the stage and made sure that we were selling merchandise in the right place in the lobby. He was also the band photographer, taking more than 400 photos during the tour.

Cliff Tracy - Tenor Sax, Clarinet, Flute
I first met Cliff when we had him on a show in Easton, PA last year. As well as being impressed by him as a player, he has a wonderful sense of humor a was a pleasure to have with us.

Nancy Boone - Baritone Sax, Alto Sax, Flute and Clarinet
Nancy and I reconnected last when she was on a show with us in Rochester, NY where she lives. She has worked with Steve Lippia several times in the past as a member of the Rochester Philharmonic conducted by Jeff Tyzik.
But that is not the full story of the history of Nancy and I. I have had the pleasure of knowing Nancy since she was probably 14 years old. Nancy and I grew up in the same community in Northern California and I was acquainted with her older sister Susan who is my same age.
Nancy is a marvelous multi-instrumentalist and it was great to have her on tour.

Mike Williams - Lead Trumpet
What can I say about one of the most exciting lead trumpet players in show business? Mike and I have know each other for about 17 years and I was very excited to have this be the first time that he and I have had the opportunity to travel together. I was sorry to have to give him back to the Count Basie Orchestra.

Joe Scannella - Split-Lead Trumpet
Joe and I almost didn't meet in Atlantic City approximately two years ago. He has probably accompanied Steve Lippia for more shows than anyone in the band - including me. I was very fortunate that he subbed in on the last night of a run at the Hilton in Atlantic City with us and the first thing out of my mouth was where have you been?
I have made sure ever since that we don't do a show in that area of the North East without him. He is a rock either in the first trumpet chair or sitting next to Mike Williams as one of the strongest one-two trumpet punches in show business. He did great on his first extended road job.

Jeff Kaye - Jazz Trumpet Soloist
One my oldest musical friends, Jeff and I have been all over the world together for close to twenty years now. He is a wonderful trumpet player and was the perfect third of this trumpet section. Some days, he was the only one who really understood and he was the only one on the bus who knew the "code".

The rhythm section are my new friends. I was very happy to have them with us and they did a great job together and I hope that we will play many more shows together.

Andy Nevala - Piano, Keyboards and Arranging on the fly
I met Andy last year in South Florida when I was subbing with the Glenn Miller Orchestra for a night and Andy was on tour with them. I knew immediately that Steve Lippia would like him and that he would be great for the tour. By the end of the show, I had already asked him if was available and if he would like to tour with us. I was happy that he accepted.

Matt Spencer - Bass
I had asked Andy if he could recommend to me a bass player that he thought would work well on our tour. I was very happy that he recommended Matt to me and that he agreed to come with us. Matt is a great musician and was the rock of the rhythm section.

Mark Holovnia - Drums
My search for a drummer was far and wide. At one point I put out a nationwide email to some of my most trusted musician friends all over the country and my good friend Doug Elliott in the Baltimore area recommended Mark to me. He and Mark play with the Artie Shaw Orchestra together. Doug is about as musically picky as they come so a recommendation from him I knew was going to be strong.
Mark did an amazing job with what I consider is one of the hardest chairs in the band. Steve Lippia and I are about as demanding on a drummer as you could be and Mark rose to the occasion every night.

I can not thank these musicians enough for their musicality, their dedication to making the show new and great every night and finally having a great time on and off the bandstand.

We look forward to a great continuation and finish of the mid-west tour at the end of April. Look for more blogging then.