With the headstock broken clean off
UCLAN
Hi Friends, I'm back in one piece from an inspired adventure in NYC.
Starting with a long flight launching from innocent and quaint little
Carlsbad airport, Stef and I arrived late in the evening at JFK to the
sight that none of us musos ever want to see--a beaten up guitar case
coming out of the baggage conveyor belt. I'm thinking, bummer, my case
is going to need to be replaced but upon opening up the case I then
realize that the guitar has had a rough ride to New York. My Ibanez Pat
Metheny model is sitting there with the headstock broken clean off.
Either some big piece of luggage must have hit hard in the perfect spot
or a frustrated baggage dude was working on his Pete Townsend moves.
Mmmm...I then take the guitar to the baggage guys and they seem cool and
say that they'll either pay to have it fixed or replaced. Maybe they're
on their best behavior after the YouTube revolution of "United Breaks
Guitars". In any event, we leave the guitar at the airport and I then
work on how I'm going to get an instrument for the gigs with Diane.
Paul, the tour manager, calls in a favor and scores a classic Gibson L5
from guitar hero Russell Malone. It turns out Russell's a gem and the
guitar is top notch. From there it's a wonderful blur of rehearsals,
soundchecks, cab rides, lots of walking, supreme restaurants, meeting
up with old friends and making new friends. We played a show at a
private benefit concert for Blue Note Record's Bruce Lundvall and then
2 nights at Jazz at Lincoln Center. The venue at Lincoln Center has to
be one of the most amazing places I've ever played. From the sound
perspective it's absolute top notch and then you mix in the visual
magic of the glass wall behind the stage looking out onto the evening
light dance of Columbus Circle. Breathtaking! What a great trip and I
can't wait to return...
For this week I'm looking forward to some Roxy solo guitar
transcendence on Thursday evening. On Friday night my brother Tripp
along with Fred Benedetti will join me for a concert at the Arts Hall
at Cal State University San Marcos. Our group is called Blurring the
Edges and our music combines elements of jazz, classical, flamenco,
samba and the blues. We've recorded 2 CD's (Blurring the Edges and
Sombra) and won the Best Jazz Group award in the 1994 San Diego Music
Awards. Last night Tripp, Fred and I rehearsed the music and had some
great stories to share. I hope you can join in for the good times.
On Sunday night I'm meeting up with Holly Hofmann, Mike Wofford, Bob
Magnusson and Jim Plank for a concert at the Presbyterian Church in La
Jolla. We're all good friends and we have a long history of making
music together. It'll be fantastic! Hope you can make it out.
That's it folks. I'm in town for this week and then heading out again
next week with Dianne for a couple of gigs in Anguilla. I've never been
there but I'm told it's a beautiful island in the Caribbean with warm
water. I went surfing yesterday and the water here has turned cold. I
think I'll add this detail to my gig contracts from here until summer --
"artist must only play in places where the ocean temperature is 70
degrees and above". Do you think that'll fly? Stay well, Peter
Thursday, November 5, 2009 Peter Sprague Plays Solo The Roxy Restaurant
517 S. Coast Highway 101 Encinitas, CA 760-436-5001 Peter Sprague --
guitar 7 PM Still fun and a real highlight of the week for me.
Friday, November 6, 2009 Blurring The Edges Cal State University San
Marcos 333 S. Twin Oaks Valley Rd. San Marcos, CA 92096 (760) 750-4000
details Peter Sprague -- guitar Tripp Sprague -- sax, flute, ewi Fred
Benedettin -- guitar 7 PM Stoked to be doing a concert with Tripp and
Fred and together we'll rediscover some of our classic songs.
Sunday, November 8, 2009 San Diego Jazz All-Stars La Jolla
Presbyterian Church 7715 Draper Ave La Jolla, CA 92037-4380 (858)
454-0713 details Holly Hofmann -- flute Mike Wofford -- piano Peter
Sprague -- guitar Jim Plank -- drums Bob Magnusson -- bass 7 PM It'll be
great to hook up with Holly and Mike for a special evening of jazz in a
fantastic listening setting in La Jolla.
November 12 through 15, 2009 Dianne Reeves in Anguilla Anguilla's
Tranquility Jazz Festival details Dianne Reeves -- vocals John Beasely --
piano Peter Sprague -- guitar Rueben Rodgers -- bass Terry Lynn
Carrington -- drums 7:30 PM Heading to the Caribbean for some more great
music with Dianne!
Friday, November 20, 2009 Dance of the Universe Reunites! Tango del
Rey 3567 Del Rey Street San Diego, CA details Peter Sprague -- guitar
Kevyn Lettau -- vocals Tripp Sprague -- sax and flute John Leftwich --
bass 7:30 PM We had a mini SD revolution going on back in the 80's and
we're getting Lefty down from L.A. to stir it up again. I'm laughing,
it'll be a hoot!
--
Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens.