JAZZ MARATHON

The JVC Jazz Festival was in town, Jean and I took the plunge. Five acts over 7 hours, egads.

Worth it.

The line-up included Gerald Albright, Jeff Lorber, Richard Elliot, Lee Ritenour,
Rick Braun, Dave Koz, Wayman Tisdale, Jonathan Butler and drummers Rayford Griffin and Ricky Lawson, all heavies in the jazz and music scene.

Wayman's a former NBA player (and all-star I think). He turned his passion for music into a post-NBA career. Plays a mean bass guitar, clean tones and grooves hard. He's legit now. The show ended with Earth Wind & Fire's cover, "Can't Hide Love," which I was hoping they'd play. I was up off my seat. Last Friday we had two free tickets to see EWF at the same venue but we couldn't use them because we were travelling to Disneyland. I actually considered leaving for L.A. right after the show and driving through the night. It pained me not to see them but I had to get my little girl to the Happiest Place on Earth.

Gerald Albright plays a mean axe, they were doing a tribute to Grover Washington Jr. A definite crowd pleaser.

The main reason why we went to the show was to see Jonathan Butler, one of my all time favorite artists. I've been waiting for him to play in the Bay Area. He didn't disappoint. Classical guitar, smooth vocals, soulful and spiritual, entertaining savvy.

One of my life's edicts is "Do What You Love." Listening to good music that moves me is one of them.