Drum roll, please.

It's great to have John Vasquez back after a few years. It's also wonderful that a pair of timpani showed up, too. I'm looking forward to hearing "America, the Beautiful" without the percussion section playing the opening timpani roll on castanets.

It had to happen.

If you heard NMA member Stephanie Richards sing at last year's reunion, you know that this former Navy vocalist can sell a lyric. She's got a lot to work with this year; during Friday night's concert she'll perform "The Last Full Measure of Devotion," a moving tribute to those Americans who have sacrificed without limit.

Admittedly, rehearsals of the piece were troublesome until conductor Wilbur Smith identified the problem: every time he called up "The Last Full Measure of Devotion" and gave the downbeat, the trombone section began playing--yeah--on the last full measure. 

The storm is over.

This is more like what we visitors expect out of Florida in the summer. From talking with members who live in the area, it's also more like what people who live here expect out of Florida in the summer.

A new day begins.

As always, check the gig board. Schedules can--and will--change.

Big Band Tonight!

Same guys, same horns, same room, but something was differen at this evening's big band rehearsal. The band that rehearsed tonight was smoother than the band that stumbled out of bed this morning. That first meeting was a jittery affair; tonight, the band swung.

 Maybe it was because the players were warmed up after a busy day of playing. Maybe it was because the horns themselves were warmed up, fueled by a dayful of eighth notes.

And, of course, maybe it was because big band music was made for nighttime.

Waltz for trumpets.

1-2-3, 2-2-3, 3-2-3, 4-2-3, 5-2-3...