Thursday nights are special nights for me; they’re the evenings that I usually go down to Wally’s (jazz bar on Mass Ave.) and check out Tim Mayer’s Latin jazz band. The guys he gets are some of the finest musicians in Boston. On piano, Aruan Ortiz. On congas, Gregorio Vento. On drums, Matt Brady. Earlier in the year, Tim had a rotating cast of great bass players: Esperanza Spalding (bassist for Ray Charles Big Band and Joe Lovano), Keala Kaumeheiwa (Thelonius Monk Institute alum), Alex Alvear (nominated for a 2004 Latin Grammy Award), Hogyu Hwang (original bassist for Prelude Sextet) … but lately, his main man has been Danny Weller (who is just a bad-ass, period!). I love going down to Wally’s on Thursdays to see Tim and the gang blaze through all kinds of Latin feels, man.

Anyways, tonight was supposed to be a really special night because Tim called Luques Curtis (bass player for Gary Burton "Generations" Quintet) to come up and play this week’s gig with him. Tim told me Luques was coming up, so I cleared my evening schedule to be sure to see him play. (I’ve known Luques for a while, and am good friends with his older brother Zaccai). Well, as fate would have it, the bus Luques was on broke down on its way up from NYC, and Tim couldn’t find anyone else to play the gig. So, he called me!!

Long story short, tonight was definitely a "trial by fire." I’d never really played any Latin feels before, so I was really just trying to hold down the fort. I think it blew away though or something! Geez! Anyways, I have been wanting to learn to play Latin music for a while now, so I guess this was a good initiation/entry point. And my first time playing at WALLY’S!!!

Last night, I did probably what I should’ve done 5 or more years ago. Thanks to the wonders of the Internet and Google, I tracked down my former Solfège & piano teacher Jackie Darvill and sent her an email to thank her for a job well done. After all, if it weren’t for those fixed-Do Solfège lessons from 3-5 years old, who knows if I’d be the same musician I am today. (My guess: Probably not). I’m happy to report that she wrote back and informed me she’s now teaching string orchestra in a public school somewhere in NY state. Glad to hear she’s doing well… Anyways, thanks Jackie!

I can’t wait to move out of my apartment and into a different one. I’m not totally sure where yet, but come Sept. 1st, I really hope my living situation turns around 180 degrees and that I can be happy again. That’s all for now.

So I’m really diggin’ the Czech-Ease bass by David Gage. I picked it up on Thursday afternoon before playing the NY Uke Fest. It actually doesn’t look much smaller than a regular 3/4-7/8 size bass, if you’re not used to looking at one. But when you pick the thing up, haul it around, and stuff … it’s TONS SMALLER. Get this: I was able to sling it on one shoulder, wear my backpack, and wheel a suitcase with one arm, and have my other hand free to eat a hot dog! All while walking down the street and and catching the NYC subway and stuff. It was sooo super easy to catch the subway with the Czech-Ease. It totally fits through the subway turnstiles and everything! Not to mention, we fit it in a cab with four people, 2 ukes, a guitar, and a suitcase … in a regular sedan cab! These are situations that just WOULDN’T BE POSSIBLE with a normal double bass. I gues you can tell that I’m a happy customer. Yesterday, I schlepped it on the T and then the Commuter Rail out to Norwood, MA. Who knows what the future holds, for me and my Czech-Ease!