Tonight was Pepe's last night with the band. We all wish him well with his new Criss Angel gig, and I know we'll all miss him. Beyond his killer chops and push-it-to-the-firewall feel, he is one of the friendliest and most humble dudes I've ever met.
Above, subbing on bari sax tonight was Garrett Hypes. Garrett played with Santa Fe several years ago over at Palace Station. Fine player, really nice cat.
Below, what can you say? The legendary Tom Scott in The House!
The full blog report will have to wait 'til tomorrow, my friends, I am dawg-assed tired (got some pretty good shots, but I don't have the energy to sit up late going though them). I got up in Walnut Creek CA (just NE of Oakland) at 6:30 Monday morning, after Cheryl and I drove up there Sunday to take a load of stuff up in her car (she'd flown home Friday to fetch things for her apartment and get her car). I flew back Monday afternoon. We had a great weekend together, but I am really tired right now. _______
TUESDAY UPDATE
I gotta go run and see my Ma, but here are some more pics from the evening:
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Below, yesterday's stock market Dow-Jones plunge:
Hahahaha.. It's back up 500 since yesterday's loss. I'm getting whiplash. _____ BILL CHAMPLIN'S NEW CD
When it came time to ask Champlin to join Chicago in 1981, it seemed like a no-brainer because both Chicago and The Sons of Champlin had horns. All of Champlin’s CDs have at least one song that puts the horns up front and in your face. This time out, it’s the Fat City Horns from Santa Fe and the Fat City Horns. And when they say fat, they really mean it. “Stone Cold Hollywood” is that song on this album. Six horns, bleeting and blowing, complete with a nasty bari sax, man, it’s like a tune from the dirty side of town. Did I mention the bari sax? Man, throw on some headphones and just listen for it. It’ll make you grin like you just ate all the cranberry sauce before the Thanksgiving dinner was supposed to start. You know it’s wrong but, damn, it’s so good.
Our bro' Bill Champlin has finally released his new body of work. It's released first via either iTunes or Amazon. I got it immediately via my iTunes account. Thirteen wonderful, varied, slammin' songs for $9.99. Buy it today. Then buy the hardcopy CD once it's out.I know I will.
I got no time to blog this weekend. Cheryl's here from Walnut Creek to pack some stuff up and take her car back over the California tomorrow. Bill told me I could post a blog mp3 excerpt of "Stone Cold Hollywood" (which features our Fat City Horns), and I'll get to it ASAP. It is so fine!
O/T, Proud Gwandaddy moment Yesterday my grandson Keenan's football team (Henderson International) played Tonapah, and notched their 4th win of the season, 64-16 (they are now 4-0). This shot below of Keenan exulting in the end zone after his first of two TDs on the day (he's got 8 on the year now) was shot by world-renowned sport/entertainment photographer Tom Donoghue, who graciously sent us about two dozen shots he took of Keenan and the team. Tom was there shooting as a favor to one of his friends who is the father of one of Keenan's teammates.
Check out Tom's website. Cat is The Real Deal. Below, one more for now, Keenan jammin' downfield.
Keenan missed a 3rd TD by one yard after a roughly 50 yard run wide right with less than two minutes in the game. The Wolverines coach then magnanimously had them take a knee three times from the one to melt the clock and end the game.
I've got video footage, but YouTube processing will have to wait.
What a night! Tom Politzer from Tower of Power on Sax, Taku Hiranu of the Stevie Nicks tour and Bette Midler show, along with our awesome homie Michito Sanchez sittin' in on percussion, and Spyro Gyra's totally off-the-hook Bad Boy Bonny B sitting' in on drums.
We also had kick-ass drummer Robert Shipley sit in on "Brother to Brother." He got the call to come open the set for Pepe, who'd expected to run late from his new Chris Angel show gig. But, Pepe was there on time and opened the show. Then, a few tunes in, Jerry brought Robert on to throw down the intmidating "Brother to Brother" chart, and Mr. Shipley certainly delivered. One snappy, in-the-pocket drummer, this cat.
Robert showed up way early, to 'shed the chart one more, final time. I was sittin' in the back talking with a few early arrivals, and I hear this cat bangin' away on the tubs all by himself, and I think, 'wait a minute, he's not just riffing around, that's the "Brother to Brother" drum chart!'
Yep. Cat did his homework.
OK, here's the latest. Beginning October 6th and continuing to year's end, our L.A. bro' the incredible Joey Heredia (drummer for our friends and repeated guest artists the Marco Mendoza TRIO) will be on the kit for Santa Fe. He's gonna fly up every Monday just to do the gig, and Jerry tells me he's all psyched up about it and ready to Take No Prisoners.
It will be slammin'!
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Below, Some shots from tonight's gig.
Email I just got from Jamie:
If you think it is appropriate, my friend Geoff Meyers was in tonight to spread the word about St. Jude's Ranch, perhaps you could mention it on the blog? Geoff owns a financial services company called Perpetual Wealth, but he is very active in reaching out and helping the community. Links to the St Jude websites are www.homeforteens.org and stjudesranch.org.
Seems like a really great organization.
Cool. ______
Below, a couple of YouTubes, [1] Joey Heredia with Marco Mendoza and Michael Ruff, and [2] Bonny B setting the bar for drum solos during a Spyro Gyra show.
Tonight was Pepe's last night with the band. We all wish him well with his new Criss Angel gig, and I know we'll all miss him. Beyond his killer chops and push-it-to-the-firewall feel, he is one of the friendliest and most humble dudes I've ever met.
Below, Jeff Ray once again opened to show for Jerry. BTW, in case you've not heard, Jeff is the opening artist on my Podcast #8, "Friends of Santa Fe, Volume Four."
Above, subbing on bari sax tonight was Garrett Hypes. Garrett played with Santa Fe several years ago over at Palace Station. Fine player, really nice cat.
The full blog report will have to wait 'til tomorrow, my friends, I am dawg-assed tired (got some pretty good shots, but I don't have the energy to sit up late going though them). I got up in Walnut Creek CA (just NE of Oakland) at 6:30 Monday morning, after Cheryl and I drove up there Sunday to take a load of stuff up in her car (she'd flown home Friday to fetch things for her apartment and get her car). I flew back Monday afternoon. We had a great weekend together, but I am really tired right now.
_____
Hahahaha.. It's back up 500 since yesterday's loss. I'm getting whiplash.
Below, an excerpt from "Stone Cold Hollywood," prefaced by a review posted on another blog:
