Guests

Our Bird's Birthday Bash on August 29th was incredibly fun! As Rob announced to the packed hall that evening "It's not about us, it's about Bird and his music!" In that spirit, we invited our local jazz 'hipsters' who were in attendance to join our revelries on the last tune before the break, Now is the Time/Billie's Bounce, if they liked. We had a taker! Pianist Darius Brotman shuffled from the back of the hall to the front, sat down at the piano and began gingerly in kool accompaniment and finally rockin' the house with his own hot piano licks playing more notes than any single member of our band can - at least all at once! That would be Cuckoo's Nest's first pianist. And perhaps not last.

After some birthday cake, our version of happy birthday to Charlie, and some brew, we returned to some thick jam on more 'Bird' tunes. Set II included Dewey square, I got Rhythm/An Oscar for Treadwell, How High the Moon/Ornithology, Body and Soul, Bloomdido, and Chi Chi. Instead of encores we extended another invitation which brought Darius, and bassist Baron Wolfe to the stage. Tami handed over her bass with a smile and took a seat in the front row as we started in on a very "plucky" version of My Little Suede Shoes - and Baron got to know that fingerboard over every inch, though I could have sworn he wasn't pressing on the strings! What a kool kat! We all jammed on Confirmation, Donna Lee, and there was Autumn Leaves. Local guitarist Duncan Burgess chose a guitar to have some fun with soloing and jamming with Dave, Darius and Baron... and the evening came to an end - as a rolling wave - all too early for me.

Thanks to all who joined our celebration, and who joined in the music making!

- Joli