Trumpet High Note Lessons Online Decision Made!

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After struggling a second day with my old laptop, we made the corporate decision that we were going to HAVE to get a new computer. I'd been around enough folks with Mac's that we pretty much knew that it would be a Macbook Pro - as our iPhone was the only device that wasn't having any trouble loading, working, connecting, etc. We would also be able to offer online trumpet lessons via the built in webcam which was a goal for many months!

We were gearing up for our second day / performance in Montreux, but are going to start the day off at the castle right on Lake Geneva! This was a boat cruise on the lake and was an AMAZING way to pull up to the Castle!! Check out the pix - you can feel the spirits of the past era's that had been there centuries before!

After our tour of the castle, it was back to town so we could grab some lunch before our performance at the Jazz Festival...

Once again the crowd was very appreciative, and loved the band! It's really great having the opportunity to perform with musicians that are skilled and be appreciated as a group by people who are there giving back as much as they are receiving!

After the performance, we went back to the hotel room to change clothes, drop off the horn and head back down to the festival so we could gather some shirts, etc. We also got some good shots of the statue of Freddie Mercury right on the shore of Lake Geneva. He apparently loved Montreux... we can see why!

Montreux Jazz Festival - Here We Come!

We were up at 7:15 in the morning to get packed, eat breakfast and head to the bus by 9am.

On the ride to Montreux, we stopped at a truck stop along the way and were able to get out and literally smell the roses! In the middle of the mountains along the highway! Just beautiful! And I can't really remember ever saying that about a truck stop!

We stopped in Lausanne, Switzerland for lunch. This was a cute little lake shore town along Lake Geneva. Anna and I stopped in to a place that one of the locals we ran in to recommended for just a salad. Still VERY expensive... but the coolest toilets I've ever seen! Not to be disgusting, but when you stand up this little mechanical arm comes out, makes the lid spin around as it wipes the lid!

We have a 4:30pm hit time in Montreux and no real time to warm up properly... so, it's back to hurry and pray!

Great show over all! Very hot under the black tarp tent, but the crowd was fantastic! Fun to see lots of people from all over the world come together to enjoy music!

We got back to the hotel with enough time to check our email on the computer and hang out for a minute before heading back to the festival to walk a bit. My 5 year old laptop is dying a slow painful death and is even more frustrating now because it won't connect to the internet more than half the time. My iPhone does a much better job! A Macbook Pro is in our future!!! We will then start offering trumpet lessons online!

TJO & Trumpet High Notes in Geneva, Switzerland!

We did a 4 hour drive from Lyon, France to Geneva, Switzerland to play for the 4th of July celebration that was being thrown at the American Consulate!

The weather was a bit warm (but nothing like Texas) and we were greeted by friendly delegates from all over the world!
The band hadn't played since Friday (6/26/09) before we had left for Europe, but played well! The Delegates and invited guests were very receptive and enjoyed the show!

After leaving the stage, we literally had to jump back on the bus and head to the Boujulais Wine & Jazz Festival where Band of the West opened for us! This was a great band from Lyon, France that played very well together!

This was great to be able to hang out with Band of the West after the performances... music is amazing!



After the show, we headed back to our room in Lyon at the Hotel Ibis... where a cold shower and sleep was much needed. We're to leave at 8:15 the next morning to go to Montreux, Switzerland! The part of the trip I've been really looking forward to!

Trumpet High Notes For the Delegates!

We woke up at 7am to be dressed, packed, and ready for a L O N G bus ride to Lyon! While driving through Paris, one of our own delegates realized that he'd left items of value and importance in the hotel room safe. So, he and Colin had to take the subway train back to the hotel. We had to stop and wait at the "Bercy" stop along the subway route to wait.

2 hours behind schedule, we arrived at our hotel in Lyon at 5:40pm - sound check was scheduled for 6:30 and we're still 30 minutes away from Jazz A'Vienne.

As we're driving to the gig, Colin received a call saying that our first performance in Europe had been canceled due to a heavy thunderstorm. So, we adjourned to a Pizzeria for dinner before we were to attend the Roy Hargrove Big Band performance in the Roman Amphitheater ruins. What an incredible venue!!!!

To my delight, I found out that Frank Greene was playing lead trumpet and Greg Gisbert playing 2nd! What a treat to hear them!!!! And Roy sounded amazing as well.

Disappointed that we couldn't perform, but satisfied from hearing a great performance, we all loaded back on the bus to return to Lyon and head to Geneva, Switzerland in the morning to play for the 4th of July celebration at the American Consulate!

Last Day In Paris - Jazz Jam!

Wednesday July 1, 2009

After eating breakfast at the hotel, we met up with Sparky and Tim to visit the Louvre and other historic destinations. I was at the Louvre in 1985 with my High School Jazz band on a trip to Europe, but didn't remember much and had since lost most of the pictures taken... although the French people were much friendlier this go-round, I still am not crazy about Paris. It's another big city similar to New York / L.A. in many respects, but certainly worth a visit if you've never been.

Seeing amazing works of art from centuries past, eating lunch at the cafeteria and checking out the gift shop, Anna and I decided to part ways with Tim and Sparky so we could walk to Notre Dame. This was easily a 3 mile hike, but well worth it. We wound around the old streets and stayed off the main roads... finally feeling like we were in Europe and not N.Y.!

We stopped off at a street cafe (one of the thousands) for a beer and a slice of tort so we could officially use the restrooms. There is a charge if you are not a customer... well worth the very needed break!

We decided after giving our feet a break and getting a little bit more energy that we should venture in to Notre Dame! There was a service under way with a female Cantor with an angelic voice! VERY haunting - yet beautiful! We were captivated!

Since the Sgt. Recruiter area was somewhat familiar, we decided to walk back down that way to window shop a bit. Anna found a Parisian designer store with a purse that even I have to admit was way cool! The owner of the shop spoke some English and was very friendly... offered advice on where to eat that wasn't going to break us nor poison us with dirty bathwater like the previous night!

Upon catching the last train back to our hotel, we ran in to a group from Temple Jazz Orchestra and they told me about a jazz jam just around the corner... so I hurried and grabbed my horn! Tim Cates, Sparky Thomason, Dave Wild, Ben Irom, Vince Bryce and myself all got a chance to jam with the locals at a place called "The Cave". A cool little underground dive!!! What a treat!

Days Without A Show To Go!

Tuesday - 6/30/2009
Our first chance to sleep in since... man, who knows how long it's been!
As Anna was in the shower, I decided to warm up a bit. My chops are still swollen and a bit battered from the heavy week previously, but now I'm starting to get a little concerned about not getting enough playing time in. That old concern that I think each player has enter in their minds when they tour and gigs are days between. I am NOT one of those players that can go without touching the horn for a few days!

We had slept too long to make the hotel breakfast, so we decided to walk to the McDonald's to check email ONLY!!! Then off to a local cafe near the hotel for crepes. They weren't what we were hoping for, but we were sitting in a Paris cafe drinking a cappuccino and eating crepes.

We caught the M13 train to Auiliedes station, and picked up the "C" train to Versailles to see the palace!

We arrived at Versailles a little after 1pm, so we bought 2 passes at 10 Euro each. Audio walking tour of the Daughters Apartments and the Kings quarters. Amazing sights, but you could feel the power and presence within the palace!

We left the palace at 5pm and jumped on a train heading to a station that would put us right near Notre Dame as we were to meet the rest of TJO for dinner at a place called Sergent Recruiter. The trains are not air conditioned and we were head long in to rush hour time in Paris - it was hot! Long about the "Javel" stop, we noticed that the train was sitting for an extremely long period of time... the announcements were only in French, so understanding was not happening! As our time was running short, we opted to get off the train and hail a taxi... we were at least 6 kilometers from Notre Dame and had to meet the group! Our meet time was 6:30 and it was well past that!

Finally making it after attempting to hail many taxi's, we met up with everyone and had an okay dinner... very expensive and only so-so on the quality. The salad was great because they brought fresh veggies in a basket so you can make your own... the soup tasted like dirty bathwater and the main course was... hmmm.

Reflections of Europe 2009 - Just Getting There!

The week before we were to fly out to Europe was jam packed with activity! Preparations, gigs, teaching, etc. was absolutely consuming my days... Monday and Tuesday consisted of rehearsals with Temple Jazz Orchestra in Temple (about an hour drive from home).

Wednesday was jammed with teaching, Thursday was a rehearsal with Memphis Train for a wedding in Dallas on Saturday as well as teaching...

Friday night was a "Bon-Voyage" concert in Temple that we arranged to say "Thank You" to Scott & White for helping fund our tour.

Saturday was the drive up to Dallas, perform for the wedding till 12:30am, drive home and basically sleep for about 4 hours. We were to meet the group at the airport at 10am. I hadn't packed yet, so getting up at 7 was mandatory.

We were shot! Because of adrenaline and excitement, Anna and I were unable to sleep for most of the 1 hour / 9 hour flight (Austin - Houston / Houston to Paris)!

Once in Paris, it was 7:30Am, our tour group leaders told us all to NOT sleep... so our day was filled with activity from the moment we got off the plane.

One member (who shall remain nameless) left his passport in the seat pocket and forgot to grab it as we exited the plane in Paris. This delayed things by nearly 2 1/2 hours (lots of hurry up and wait). Then, we couldn't locate the bus that was to be our mode of transportation for the next 2 weeks. So, by 11am we were loaded on to the bus and on our way to a river tour in Paris. Beautiful sights as you can see above!

After the boat tour, we were once again dropped off (by the famous Opera House) for a 1 hour look-see. Tim Cates, Sparky Thomason, Anna and myself walked around and even stopped in for a tort.

Once we all got to the hotel, the temptation to lay down and sleep was extreme... but we persevered and went to have some mussells at a nearby street cafe - then found Tom (director of TJO) and walked to the Moulin Rouge. Dinner at 6:30pm with the group and then time to CRASH! No alarms for us!!!!