Some of the years highlights, as I remember them.
FIRST TIME VISITING SEATTLE
- Met “Muse” in the flesh for the first time!
- First visit to Seattle
- Peter White playing my song “Perfect Moment” for the first time in the U.S. per my request (I was literally in tears). Enjoying Peter’s show with Barb W., Lisa, Anita, Sharon, Terri and meeting Karin.
LEMONADE WEEKEND (AKA CANCELLED OASIS AWARDS)
- Meeting Big Rich Edwards and Tony Exum Jr. for the first time.
- Rich having the privilege to name the Happy Hour beer of the night at the hotel bar!
- Going to the Concert for Cancer on a Naval Aircraft Carrier
- Meeting Vincent Ingala and his lovely family; Gary and Kelly (finally!), and seeing Dave Koz watching Vincent do his thing.
- Meeting Bob Baldwin, Elan Trotman, Art Sherrod Jr., Tony Moore; Ricky and Quina, and Karen F.
- Jam Session–(Get this): Bob Baldwin, Gary Stanionnis, Paul Brown, U-Nam, Blake Aaron, Jimmy Reid, Brad Rambur, Tony Exum, Elan Trotman, Jaared, Vincent Ingala and more on stage at once!
- Hearing that Peter White was going to come in and play for us disappointed Oasis ticket holders.
- Peter White actually coming in, and playing to us, with Jaared and Vincent on Sax, Ramon Yslas on percussion.
DESERT RIDGE JAZZ FEST
- Met Lori Maxwell for the first time!
- Pushing Lori Maxwell off the escalator to get a solo photo with Paul Taylor
- Jeff Golub joining us in the bar/restaurant for drinks and snacks, with Darryl Williams, Tim Gant, Chris Miskel, LJ Holifield and Tony Moore. Anisha, TJ and I had a great time!
- Getting to meet Maysa for the first time. She’s just beautiful!
- Estella, LeVore, Lori, Theresa and I dancing during the shows.
SEABREEZE JAZZ FESTIVAL
- Staying in a fabulous Condo with my girls, with my Detroit friends and Lisa staying in the condo building next to us!
- Seeing Boney James jump off the stage and dance with Carole and Anisha!
- Screaming “I Love Peter White” out to the beach, with Edwina from England, egging me on from Facebook!
- Meeting Facebook friends, Janet, DeAnna, De’Andrea and Hulon!
- Having PW stop buy to wish Carole a happy birthday–mind-boggling!
NEWPORT BEACH JAZZ FESTIVAL
- Len and Julie Seward joining us for their 25th Anniversary celebration-I actually jumped up and down when I went to greet them at my door!
- Grooving to Euge Groove and Mindi Abair with the Sewards and Joy, then having Anita be the “hostess with the mostest”.
- Len and Julie getting a shout out from Euge, then one from Shilts about their favorite team-Queens Park Rangers
- Julie and Lisa joining in the Mardi Gras walk, twirling their napkins in the air to Trombone Shorty
- Meeting David and Roslyn, although I was just coming out of an altered state….(nuff said) Meeting Katherine and Ed.
- Seeing Len have such a great time with DW3 and Vincent Ingala
- Getting a photo with Freddie Fox and his wife, Evelyn Champagne King
THE VORTEX (AKA PRIMM, NV)
- Getting together with Terri, Lisa and Pamela
- Hoover Dam with Muse
- The Euge Groove and Peter White concert
- Hanging with Euge Groove and PW afterward, with Onie and Michelle
- My saying to an Artist, “I thought I was your only Black female fan” and getting the response “Black Women love me!” Me ot falling to the floor in laughter!
COLORADO R&B AND JAZZ LOVERS WEEKEND
- Seeing Tony Exum Jr. in his own show for the first time
- Jamming with Joey Sommerville “Like I Mean It”, and meeting his lovely wife
- Reconnecting with Estella and Joe, Janet and Bettie, meeting Armed and Khalil
- Marcus Anderson sitting on a fan’s lap, then having her pretend to run after him afterwards…so funny!
- Seeing Nick Colionne and Tim Gant, and spending some time talking with them.
- Dancing to Paul Taylor‘s performance, then running out of oxygen and having to sit down–forgot I was in Colorado!
- Nico saying he didn’t care how over time he was, he was gonna do his show, and he did it well!
- Dinner at Pappadeaux for Anisha’s birthday with Tamara, Estella and Joe, Tony Exum Jr., Khalil, Armed and the crazy
- Marcus Anderson seated next to me!
JEFF GOLUB BENEFIT WEEKEND
- Highlight was seeing Jeff in the flesh after losing his sight.
- Seeing the little Golub’s. Seeing Jeff’s lovely wife Audrey for the first time.
- Having an all-star cast of musicians join in-concert for Jeff.
- Relaxing with Anita and Lisa.
- Meeting Barb S.
- Meeting Henry Butler. Watching fans who flew in from Japan to see Henry Butler being brought to tears when he spent time with them.
- Jumping on Marcus Miller’s back. Literally. (he was gracious).
- Next day, driving out to L.A. for a Birthday dinner and happily surprised to see Jimmy Reid performing.
- Driving to Temecula to see Jeff’s show. Having front row seats for it! Anita and I enjoyed our bottle(s) of Almond Champagne. Meeting Josh Dion, the drummer for the show.
SEDONA JAZZ FEST
- I get to see Tony Exum Jr. in concert again! He, of course, was great!
- Meeting Isaac Valenzuela, and catching his show–fabulous!
- Sitting up front for Dave Koz’s show, and Dave starting the show by coming through the crowd, and jumping on the chair right next to Muse, playing his Sax! Hilarious!!
- Sit up front again,(thanks, Muse) for Mindi Abair and Jeff Golub’s show!
- Getting a photo with Jeff and Mindi
DESERT RIDGE JAZZ FEST (FALL VERSION)
- Jam session with Tony Exum Jr., Lin Rountree, Elan Trotman, Euge Groove, Isaac Valenzuela, Will Donato. Even got Oli Silk up to play!
- Felt good to hoot and holler for Oli Silk, to let those who weren’t familiar with him or his music know that he could JAM!
- Muse, Anita, Anisha, TJ and I all had a blast with Gerey, Lj, Oli, Rob, and Kim Waters.
- Sunday, Boney did his thing! Muse seeing him for the first time.
- Seeing PW and Gerald Albright backstage before the Jazz Attack show.
- Gerald actually called my name from the stage to start a Soul Train line! Knowing I could not, I started a Samba line instead. If GA says do it, you do it!! I looked crazy!!
- Dancing with Elisabeth and Steve during the show!
LA QUINTA RESORT WITH PETER WHITE, GREGG KARUKAS AND MICHAEL PAULO
- Seeing the guys at Soundcheck (it’s just the little things, ya know?)
- Seeing friends Simone and Francisco (Fernando) and meeting Tina for the first time.
- Having PW sneak into the audience, I notice him from the back, and say “Hi, Peter White!” as he turns around in surprise.
- Meeting another PW fan in the signing line, and taking her photo with him. Us PW fans stick together!
- Coming into the restaurant after the show to see the entire band, but not one empty seat. Sitting at the bar, and having PW come over and talk to me while he waited for his dinner to arrive. That’s class!
My year is ending tomorrow with a New Year’s Eve gala, featuring Rick Braun, Jonathan Butler, and Euge Groove. Gregg Karukas, Nate Phillips, Eric Valentine and Ross Bolton will be there, too. I look forward to ending my year with music and good friends! Happy New Year!
