Excitement is an intregal part of true musicianship. Well, I am estactic about my upcoming gig with Onaje Allen Gumbs at Twins of D.C the 2nd weeekend in March. My gluteous maximus cheeks have tightened despite weekly gigs for months and a TV appearance on WJZ-TV channel 13 in Baltimore on Dec.25.

Onaje was Woody Shaw's pianist as well as Kenny Burrell. Man, I have to practice! I'll probably do more pitch recognition drills by transcribing with the intent of being more aware of possibilities I 've found that the ideas I've stolen from diverse instruments have become"mine" I really don't need more slick licks to impress other technicians. I find most transcriptions are exercises that acquaint one to different mathematically contrived juxtapositions of the 12 tones.

Try singing in public and its requirements to practice intelligently that will allow one after their first year of daily practice, to get words of encouragement from those who have sang 20 plus years. It's exciting. It requires "stress" beyond most who want to hide behind finger memory. I think George Benson best represents the impact of really "working" to technical bullshit that doesn't really tell a story! The truthful cats like the"artists" Kenny Burrell and Grant Green will outlast the technicians historically! They are/were not robots that can't think for themselves and have to clone ideas..They play soul music. I've walked out on a few name University reared technicians. They often are not spiritually tied to the battery that drove most of the real cats. There are a few innovative cats like Kurt Rosewinkel who have impressed me.

I don't really want to spend too much time on other cats.I have a hell of alot to say musically as well as nonmusically. More nonmusically in ways that outline a way for this planet to survive despite the massive hoodwinking and Bamboozling that this stolen country relies on to survive. It a pity that dishonest idiots have most of the power!

Mark