Improvisations on Reality

The more I think about what I’m doing lately, the more my logical side is forcing me to ask the crucial question of, “Woman, are you planning to sleep?!”

Uh…not really?

And yeah, the lack of sleep is starting to make my short-term memory go off-kilter, which blows.

However! This year had started with some very exciting things, and I have been delighted to wrap up an edit for a client, do two new graphic designs for another two, and am kicking off the photo sessions with Big Bad Voodoo Daddy at BB King’s tomorrow. Hotdamn, swing in the city! I feel all sorts of glamorous, even though I’m not quite ready… and yes, I’m breaking out the pencil skirt for this one. For those of you who know me, you guys know I’d rather keep my yoga pants on 24-7…but hey, swing music in BB King’s demands it.

…Now that the good stuff is out of the way…

I find myself gravitating more and more towards photography. In fact, I’m finding that a lot of my writing had become more visual, so to speak, and having been previously described as cinematic in my writing, I’m wondering if that’s the direction that I need to pursue in further endeavors. I briefly mentioned wanting to screenplay The Index Series, and I think I am going to get brave and do it. The only problem is, of course, is that I have no idea how the film industry works. A lot to learn and dig into, and if there’s a producer in this world who’s willing to take a shot and make this series something awesome…well, if it’ll help me finally have my own apartment, I’m game for it.

There’s a lot on the menu travel-wise, and what better way to start the year than DC? Yes, the capital. I’m going to see Cheikh N’Doye, a bassist, whose special guests include Lao Tizer, Karen Briggs, and Chieli Minucci. My camera and I are ready, and I’ll get into town early enough to do some sightseeing, and get out of there midday Sunday.

However, all that being what it is, I will be keeping my money very close to the vest for the time being. I’m not in good shape, and I know it. Tax time will be kind, but just enough to fill the stopgap; the real rescue will be coming to me in the form of overtime. By then, though, I will have the coveted Newport Beach tickets.

This is the thing with Newport: I will buy out the room, if I can handle it. If people want to share with me, fabulous – just reimburse me the costs. I will also get to CA early, rent a car, and hit the road…why? Because there are people and places to visit. I can’t wait to see San Diego.

My traveling will likely be limited, and I want to make sure that I will save up enough to not make CapJazz a misadventure any more than what it has been financially in the past. This time, I want to actually finish this year at zero revolving debt, if possible, while doing all the traveling I can.

But I will see to getting out of town often. NY is great, but life outside of NY is even better.

K.G.

Now that I’m back on dry land, I can tell you that it has been quite a trip. I’ll have only a few highlights, since – for once!!! - I focused on relaxing much more than I did on the music. And man, it paid off. I wrapped up Book 5, at long last, my first two days into the cruise. The rest of the cruise, I had, well, cruised.

I won’t lie, it’s the first time I’ve had a trip with any sort of traveling issues. You have the posts below as evidence of that, I’m sure! And now that I’m here, back at my desk, and staving off the oncoming Annual Throat Bug(tm), I am reflecting back on everything that happened there.

From the top!

1. Gerald Veasley & Sounds of Philadelphia - Excellent show, no question there. And watching Gerald on the bass is a show within a show; he is an absolute gas when he plays. No question, he’s an ideal host for a jam session, and he proved it time and again.

Which brings me to…

2. The Jam Sessions –  One fine day, I’ll stay up long enough to see one all the way through. And let’s just put it this way: Patti. Austin. Just…wow. She made the entire audience blush on the first night, and none of us are saints to begin with.

3. Vinx - Granted, I saw him only in jam session (the Pieces of a Dream show ran a bit long, and I couldn’t make it to the Underground to check him out in a solo show…pity) but he was impressive. Not every day you hear someone do a bass line with a djembe drum, and not every day you encounter someone with a Vandross voice in a vocal-percussion medium.

4. Nick Colionne & Norman Brown - last jam session, they turned up their inner George Benson on Breezin’ and that brought back memories. For a second, I could’ve sworn I was in the theatre at the Celebrity Century again, and waiting for Boney James to jump in from the sidelines.

5. Phil Perry - One word: damn!

6. Fourplay - I will be honest, I would’ve loved to see them have the theatre rather than the pool deck, but they did wonderfully with it, and the sound was outstanding. Sunburn can get bent. That’s where the party is.

7. Ken Ford - …daaaaaammmmmn, That is all I can say. First show of the cruise, and he did not disappoint.

8. Sinbad - Aside from being pretty damn hilarious, I had no idea that he played guitar.

Aside from the minor brouhaha escaping Hurricane Rina, which was effectively in the ship’s path if we were to continue onto the course to Belize, it was a wonderful, amazing vacation. Key word is vacation.

And just to note, rough waters because of hurricanes are not a fun way to navigate. The ship was rocking violently enough to make me quite seasick, and I don’t get seasick at all. My sunglasses actually broke because they bounced off the desk, and the sound of flapping closet doors and drawers kept me awake until I used my luggage to barricade it. Not fun. But that’s what I get for cruising in hurricane season!

Now…to have a hot cuppa, snack a little, and get work done. Glad to be home.

K.G.