Let's see, since I last wrote I saw . . .
Jon Carroll at the Athenaeum in Alexandria.  He's a terrific performer.  His songs have a pop/soul/New Orleans flavor to them.   He won a ton of Wammies this year.  We're looking forward to playing the concert on March 12 in that same room. (Shameless plug, I know. . . ) http://www.myspace.com/joncarrollmusic
David Roth at a Focus Concert also in Alexandria.  I met David at Summersongs music camp a few years ago, and became a big fan.  His music can be topical, and it has a spiritual leaning without being cloying.  He has a beautiful baritone.  I stood next to him on purpose at a singing class at Summersongs because it was so nice to hear him singing the scales next to me.   http://www.myspace.com/davidrothmusic
Jelly Roll Mortals in Falls Church, VA at Clare and Don's Beach Shack.  Fun rock masterfully played. All the members of this band are well known roots/americana performers in the Washington DC area.  I'm such a fan! Check them out when they're near you - and they probably will be soon.  http://www.myspace.com/jellyrollmortals
As I've said before - get out and support live music! 
Best!
Pete

NovaZanz was nominated for a Washington Area Music Award, or Wammie,  for two categories:  Best Jazz Band and Best Jazz Album.  John was nominated for Best Jazz Instrumentalist.  We didn't win, but it was so nice to be recognized. 
John and I went to the Wammie Award Ceremony, and it was a very nice event.  Those of you who know us know that John and I are two introverted music geeks and aren't likely to attend functions like this.  But it was great!  There were terrific performances by persons nominated for awards, most notably the band 4 Out of 5 Doctors playing 80's flavored power pop. There's a nice article about the ceremony at http://voices.washingtonpost.com/postrock/2009/02/live_last_night_washington_are.html
The next day, I got sick with a virus that turned into laryngitis, but it's over for the most part now.  Didn't have to cancel any gigs, thank heaven. 
We're excited about our upcoming concert at the Athaenum in Alexandria on March 12.  It's so different to play for people who are actually listening rather than eating a meal or socializing at a bar.  Should be a lot of fun - hope some of you can make it. 
Best to you all!
Pete

On a whim, I entered a couple of our songs in the Mid-Atlantic Song Competition a few months ago, expecting never to hear from them again. Well guess what -- they both got honorable mention.  Night Walk for  the Jazz Vocal/Blues category and I Can Feel My Heart Again for the Pop category.  What a surprise!

John and I will get a couple of nice certificates to put on the wall.  How about that!  

Hi All,

As usual, I've been out to see a few shows.  In date order . . .

I saw Vince Gill's acoustic show at the Birchmere. What fun! Vince had a cold but his voice still sounded terrific. The show was loose with no set list.  The audience called out songs, and he played them.  He was accompanied by a keyboardist, bassist and drummer on a cajon.  All the hits, beautifully done. I'm such a fan.

Saw Chanticleer, the world renowned male chorus. http://www.chanticleer.org  It was a holiday show. These guys are masterful. I've seen them before and I'm never disappointed. They covered classical and popular songs and their arrangements were just delightful. 

Went to the Washington Women's Chorus holiday show.  http://www.washingtonwomenschorus.org/  It was beautiful. There are 35 singers in the chorus, which proudly tackles more complicated choral arrangements.  They performed with the Stone Ridge School's handbell choir and chorus.  The whole thing was just great, I thoroughly enjoyed the show.

Saw the Bela Fleck and the Flecktones last week, again at the Birchmere.  They were supporting their holiday album.  Imagine the Flecktone twist on Christmas songs. The show was excellent and I bought the album.  It's wacky and wonderful, and nominated for two grammy awards.  (Imagine tuvan throat singing on Jingle Bells.) You really should check this album out for some delightful and tasty treats  before the holidays are done.  I had the pleasure of talking with Victor Wooten after the show.  I went to two of Victor's Bass/Nature camps, which were really important to the bass player that I am.  Victor always remembers me, which is so nice. 

My advice - Get Out And Hear Some Live Music, and try some new flavors.  Great stuff is out there waiting for you. 

http://www.myspace.com/davidkitchen is the link.
I had the pleasure of playing briefly with Dave probably 10 years ago, and was knocked out by his great voice and songwriting talent.  He has a new EP out, and again, his songs are terrific, his performance and the production are tops.  This EP was doubly fun for me because he and I are members of a songwriting circle, and I heard some of the songs when they were just written.

He's one of the local guys that everyone should hear, but unless we in the know tell you, how would you know?  If you can spare a few minutes, give a listen.  You won't be disappointed. BTW, he's a roots/pop guy, not jazz; but if you listen closely, he has lots of jazz influences.

I laughed and laughed and had to post this! (Let's hope I did this right - the myspace forces aren't really cooperating.)                        Share on MySpace!  
If it doesn't work, go to www.minimovie.com and search for: McCain-Obama Dance-Off.

I love playing music, and I love hearing music, especially live performances.  I recently saw several great shows and I thought I'd write about them:

The Airmen of Note:  This is the jazz big band of the US Air Force.  I went to see them in September because their guest artist was Kurt Elling, who is one of my favorite vocalists and the show was free. (His shows are at least $100 at the Kennedy Center.)  I went to Lisner Auditorium all by myself the night after Hurricane Hanna blew through, sat up close and was stunned by how good the show was.  Kurt Elling was beyond fabulous - what a voice he has.  It was such a thrill to see him live for the first time.  The big surprise, however, was the band.  They opened the show with Duke Ellington's Cottontail and I nearly fell out of my chair!  It was masterful.  I've never heard a big band so tight and so powerful.  I went back October 3rd to see them with Allen Vizzutti, a trumpeteer.  Again, I was knocked out by the whole performance.  There are some upcoming shows for all kinds of music, and I plan to check them out as much as possible.  http://www.usafband.af.mil for more information.

John and I went to see Cesaria Evora and her band on October 5th.  She is another one of my favorite artists.  Hailing from the Cape Verde Islands off Africa, her music is a blend of African, European, Brazilian and other influences and it is simply beautiful.  She has a voice like shiny velvet, and her band is plays beautifully in a seamless yet understated way. Terrific show!

I went to see Kate Campell at Jammin Java on October 10. Another beautiful performance.  Kate is a folk/country singer/songwriter who was raised in Alabama and she has a Southern writer's approach to music.  I met her at the Swannanoa Gathering when I took her class.  Her performances always amaze me.  She has a rich and beautiful voice with a wide vibrato and her performances are so moving.  It was a fun, relaxed show where she played songs from her new album.  I bought it and am really enjoying hearing the arrangements of songs I heard her play at Swan.  She has John Prine and Nancy Griffith singing with her.  Go Kate!

Maybe I'll keep up the music blog.  I don't usually have a lot to write about, but music is a common theme for us all.  Let me know what you think. 

Best!!
Pete

Pete writing here . . .
Again I went to the Swannanoa Gathering for a week of music and fun. http://swangathering.com/ It's so much fun! The staff are top tier musicians/performers and the classes are terrific. I learned some guitar chords (a big deal for me) and heard wonderful music. Played a little too.

I'm a jazz girl, but I also write songs. I took the contemporary folk track in order to study up on the craft of songwriting. You might think that the folk crowd would be dismissive of someone who doesn't play folk music, but it's not what happens. They are appreciative of what I do, and I get a lot out of seeing what others are doing and learning from them. And I'm talking other students as well as teachers. The cross-pollination is half the fun.

I have some new song ideas; maybe they'll translate to something that works. I'll let you know.

On the gig front, we're going to be playing at the Ice House Cafe on August 30th, and also at the Herndon Jazz and Wine Festival on Labor Day (September 1). I'm so pleased to play at both these venues. I live round the corner from the Ice House and have played there before in other bands. It will be so nice to bring NovaZanz there. I've also attended the Jazz and Wine festival since moving to this lovely little town, and really look forward to playing there too.

Hope you can come out to one or the other.

Have a great summer!!!!
Pete

We’re on I-tunes now.  New technology is so nice!

Pete and John

It is with great pleasure that John and I report that we have the CDs in hand and they are now for sale.

HURRAY!!!

If you want to hear sound clips, visit www.cdbaby.com/novazanz. You can even buy a CD from this site.

I'm getting the Myspace store together and will let you know when it is ready for your own personal download.

Thanks for your support!