10.21.04
For those of you who have bookmarked this page, it will soon be going away, replaced by the new blog (see below). Also, the site has changed -- take a look around!

10.20.04
Hey. If you're here then you've seen the new blog. Post your comments. Don't be shy. You can always email me, too.

10.15.04
It's Friday nite, y'all. What's goin on? Any good music to be heard tonight? I'm waiting to hear from an old college buddy who I haven't seen in about 5 or 6 years, maybe longer. Time seems to run together the older you get. We'll be out and about, hitting a few of the old stomping grounds, I'm sure.

Well, the Astros finally got by the Braves but it looks like they are going to get steamrolled by the Cards. Only a miracle finish can get us to the World Series, now. Hey, if it all ends now, what a great season it's been. I don't think I'll get season tix again next year, though, as it has been too difficult to get to Houston for every weekend home game. Any baseball fans out there?

Baseball and jazz. Any parallels there? A few. Teamwork, passing moments of inspiration, improvisation, American traditions... How did I come to be so passionate about both? I think it goes pretty deep -- to quote writer Gerald Early, "... people will come to understand America when they look back 2000 years from now -- the three things that define us best are the Constitution, baseball and jazz music."

10.11.04
Gig updates:
Oct 28 @ Lakeway 7:30pm (see details below)
Nov 6 @ Elephant Room 9:30pm
Nov 24 @ Elephant Room w/Helen Sung (see details below)
Dec 17 @ Elephant Room 9:30pm

10.08.04
I've set up an email list on Yahoogroups for folks interested in keeping up with my live performance schedule. If you are interested, you can visit the site or you can subscribe to the list simply by sending an email. Check it out!

10.07.04
OK, so time for a little update. My house has been torn up and put back together over the last 6 weeks and I'm glad it's all ending soon. Monday, I'll be back in the crib, surveying the new digs and finally feeling like I'm settling back in Austin. I've been living out of boxes and suitcases for 6 months and it's getting more than a little old.

I've got a couple of shows coming up that I'd like to tell you about. First up is the free gig at Lakeway on Thursday, October 28. We will start at 7:30pm and play 2 sets of original music with the sextet. Check out the map of how to get there (105 Cross Creek tel: 261-1010).

I'll also being playing with pianist extraordinaire, Helen Sung, at the Elephant on Wednesday, November 24. Helen is a world class pianist who has played with the likes of Wayne Shorter and TS Monk. We will be playing her original music. Showtime, as always, is at 9:30pm.

Been checking out the debates? Finally, the Dems have started playing like the R's -- down and dirty. There's no room for "the high ground" when it comes to American politics. Go for blood and don't let up. I was thrilled to see Kerry finally look and act like a real person instead of the stuffy Washington lifer he's embodied to this point. How about Bush? Could he have looked any more pissed off? Man, this is the President of the United States and he's got as much composure under pressure as a 13 year debate club reject. Here's hoping the Dems can keep it up.

On the music front, things are going pretty well. I've got enough new material for the sextet to start recording but I don't want to rush into anything. I've been working with a variety of musicians and they all have played my music very well. The toughest thing about having a band is getting the same 6 people together on a regular basis so they sound like a cohesive unit instead of 6 great players. This will take time but it's well worth it. Please check back for updates on shows, etc. and if you feel like it, send me an email.

10.04.04
Thanks to everyone who came to the Elephant on Friday. I had a fantastic time and hope you all enjoyed the music. My next show will be a free show at Lakeway on Oct 28 at their events center. More details to come.

I met an aspiring young film maker Friday night who was interested in incorporating some of my music in his next project. I didn't catch his name but I did give him my info. Hey my man, are you out there? Would love to talk with you more about this so be sure to email or call. Anyone who knows this cat or was with his party, drop me a line.

09.28.04
Things have been nuts! I'm long overdue for a long journal entry but I simply haven't had time. Come to my gig this Friday, October 1 at the Elephant and I'll tell you all about it.

8.22.04
RIP Jazz Great Martin Banks

True legend of the Austin jazz world and beautiful person of the century, Martin Banks, passed away yesterday. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife, Leslie, and his surviving family. Martin was a true mentor to me, not with lessons or technique advice, but with stories and the way he approached playing the music. He was always smiling, telling jokes and embracing each person he met as if they were long time friends. His playing was as relaxed and warm as he was and you always felt good around Martin. He will be sorely missed but his legacy will surely live on forever.

Last night's show at the Elephant was dedicated to Martin and in true Martin Banks fashion, a FUN time was had by all. Thanks to everyone who came and supported the music. It is such a blast to play music for people who enjoy listening and I could tell, everyone on stage and in the audience was digging it. Good friend and pianist extraordinaire, Helen Sung, was in town from NYC and man does she play great! Thank you, Helen, for your music and friendship. Please check out her website and buy her CD.

UPCOMING SHOWS: August 26th at Luna then September 10 at the Elephant

08.08.04
Music, Baseball and Living in Austin

Love it all, really. Wish the Astros were doing better but I still enjoy going to the games. Had a great gig on the 30th with the band and also very much enjoyed playing with Heather Bennett last Thursday. Come check out the expanded (sextet) group on August 21st and the Elephant.

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT: I'm doing some remodeling on the house and need a place to stay through September (sublet). Anyone have any leads for me? Please shoot me an email.

07.21.04
Summer in Texas

It's hot but that's no secret, right? I'll tell you, I can handle the heat much better than the brutal cold of the winter in NYC. Been down to Houston quite a bit this summer to hang with family and also check out some baseball games which has been lots of fun. Just heard from Brannen that James Williams, pianist extraordinaire and head of the jazz dept at William Patterson, just passed away. Man, it seems we're losing the greats and there's no one there to fill their shoes. Is it me or is jazz fading in the mind of Americans?

Gig Reminders: July 30 at The Elephant, August 5 at the Elephant (w/Heather Bennett), August 21 at The Elephant, August 26 at Luna.

06.27.04
A Fun Time Was Had By All

Thanks to everyone who came out to the Elephant last night. I had a blast and I think there was a great energy in the club. We played almost all originals and the band was tight.

GIG UPDATE: July 30 at 9pm at the Elephant Room. Let's do this again! Also, check out Luna, a new club in San Antonio. I'll be there with a quartet on August 26 at 9pm.

06.12.04
The Giants Fall

RIP Ray Charles. We are losing the giants. What an amazing musician Ray Charles was. The man could play any style and play it with soul, conviction and honesty. There will never be another like him.

06.02.04
Gig Update

Got a couple of dates on the books: Elephant Room on the June 15th with JJ Johnson and the Elephant Room with my quintet on June 26th. Come on out and check out some jazz.

05.22.04
Jazz Session

Played a really cool session with John Fremgen and Leni Stern on Friday. John is an outstanding bassist/composer and Leni is a guitarist from NYC who also happens to be married to Mike Stern. We played a funky jazz tune with a really hip groove that was a lot of fun to play. The session was at Jack Rock's studio which is situated in beautiful west Austin; the heart of Central Texas. This is the type of gig I really like to do because the music was fun, the people were great and the setting was really beautiful. This is one of the major reasons I moved back to Texas.

On Monday, I'll be rehearsing with Wil Swindler's new group. He's got a ten-piece group with a french horn player so I know it will sound cool and different. Trying to book a gig soon so check back for dates.

05.19.04
A Great Loss

Last night, jazz pioneer Elvin Jones passed away. Probably the most influential drummer of his generation, Elvin was most famous for his collaboration with John Coltrane in the mid-to-late '60s. His tremendous driving force behind Coltrane created a thunderous sound of beauty that will live on forever. I had the great honor to see him play while living in NYC and even had a chance to chat with him briefly before one of his shows. His kindness and generosity in receiving me as a person and musician will never be forgotten. He certainly was and still is one of my main musical influences. He will be sorely missed.

05.13.04
Many Happy Returns

Ok so I made it back to Austin safe and sound. Well maybe just safe but quite contended nonetheless. It has been a whirlwind few weeks and I won't bore you with details, but I've traveled from NYC to Austin and in the process drove across the country, purchased a car, moved into my house, started a new job and ate way too much TexMex. That last one should be in the present tense; I'm still eating way too much TexMex.

Found Austin to be quite the same and a little different, too. Not really digging the SUV scene as it seems they've inherited the roads. What's with the 4 door pickup with the extra-long bed and big tires? It seems that trucks previously driven by only testosterone-filled teenage boys with inferiority/superiority complexes has now become de-riguer. The idea that one of these things is safer than a little car is ridiculous and has been debunked long ago. I guess I understand the attraction but intelligence and responsibility should take over as an adult.

RE: Music. Yes, I still do play the saxophone and have lots and lots of new music to try out on all you Austin folks. I'm in the process of trying to book some gigs so please check back with me as I settle in. A new CD is in the works and I will be making some stops in Houston, Dallas and New Orleans. It's great to be back!

04.06.04
An Ending, A New Begininng...

Big news! We're officially headed back to Austin. This morning, I signed and returned an offer letter from Critical Mass to work as a Web Developer in Austin. It's an exciting opportunity for me and a chance to return to Texas but it's certainly bittersweet as I do love being a New Yorker. Things I will miss: the energy, the experiences, and the opportunities. Things I will not miss: the trash, the weather, and the attitude. I've got so many things to do it's making my head spin, so I'm signing off for now. The next post will likely be from Austin so wish me luck and I'll see you all on the other side.

03.31.04
Where have all the heroes gone?

Meaning Trane, Miles, Duke, et al. Does anyone else feel the vacuum at the top of the jazz world right now? Even the Pope of Jazz, Wynton Marsalis, and his disciples Roy Hargrove and Josh Redman seem to be after-thoughts. Is there no-one that will rise and pull the sword from the Jazz Stone? I'm bored. Let the games begin!

Boy oh, boy. How many defectors from the Bush camp will it take to dethrone W? I can't believe the president has any credibility anymore. Paul O'Neill is NOT a liberal. This guy is as conservative as it gets and he slams the current administration in his book. Richard Clarke is the latest to call the president out and with good reason. We all believed Iraq was a personal issue for the president and now we have proof. How can Bush make jokes about the absent WMD's?

03.14.04
Computer madness

I've recently upgraded my computer to a new OS and increased the RAM to 512MB which in the long term has increased my productivity but in the short term has driven me crazy with the hours upon hours of trouble shooting, etc. I'm wondering, how did we ever get by without email and websites before 1994?

02.20.04
Gig Update

Spoke with my good friend Fredrick Sanders today and he was gracious enough to invite me to join him on stage for this year's JazzFest in New Orleans. I'm tremendously excited about it as I haven't played a show with Fred in over 4 years. The show will be April 30th and I guarantee it will be swinging. Thanks to all who sent me listening recommendations - it's good to see you guys are still into jazz.

02.02.04
Frozen tundra

Ah, Siberia. I remember my homeland. Icy roads, sub-freezing temperatures, mountains of snow; how I've missed it. The nights are long, days short, and many an hour is spent on-line, reading or listening to music. Anyone heard some good jazz recently? I'm listening to the same stuff and want some new sounds.

01.20.04
MLK Day

Martin Luther King, Jr. was a great man. An inspiring man. A man who had a vision of a better world. I hope and pray for another leader like him. People working together can make the world a better place. No more war. We want peace, justice and equality.

1.09.04
Yellow, Orange, Red, Blue, Green, Hyacynth, Vigilance

Is vigilance a color? That's what the the the government keeps telling us were supposed to do when the national color is orange. Stay vigilant. You mean Bernard Goetz style? What about red? They still haven't told us what to do when it's red. I guess they really want us to go nuts then. I'm really getting tired of the color coding system. It only promotes anxiety.

Run for your life! Mad Cow! I had the pleasure of working on the book Fast Food Nation by HarperPerennial (my imprint, ahem.) It is a must read for anyone who still eats fast food on a regular basis. Just to warn you, I didn't eat any meat at all for about 20 days. I do not eat fast food.

01.02.04
Happy New Year

Welcome to my online journal. I've truncated the writings I've posted here since the Fall of 2000 so as to give myself a sense of perspective over the last 4 years. I feel that New York and indeed the world is moving toward a noticeable change in the coming year. If you still want the whole journal post, please click here. Please note the new email address: elijazz2004@yahoo.com. Drop me a new year email!