There's not much more beautiful than the light of a half-moon casting shadows of moving clouds onto the Atlantic Ocean. I discovered this about 2:00 in the morning a few days ago. The ocean is quite a thing isn't it?
I've been on The Freedom of the Seas for the past 7 seven days on Tom Joyner's Fantastic Voyage. I hear tell that Freedom is the largest cruise ship in the world. It has a Ben and Jerry's on it. I was on the ship playing with The O'Jays. We played only two nights. The rest of the week was kind of like a mandatory vacation for me, something I'd never just do for myself. It was one of those weeks where I had to just step back and take it in. Sometimes it can still be hard to believe the places I find myself. Take for instance passing Bel Biv Devoe and Keith Sweat in the hall on the way to my stateroom or looking up from my music during "For the Love of Money" to see Webster... er... excuse me... Emmanuel Lewis... dancing and dancing along with the O'Jays. It is during these moments that you just have grin. "What is going on here??" These moments aren't necessarily my own wildest dreams coming true but I do try to be conscious of the fact that they are not.... common. They are not of my conception and I'm thankful to be there for them. Gives me something to blog about.
Also had a great week before the cruise, recording in Muscle Shoals. The project was intended to showcase a bunch of guys I have the pleasure of working with regularly in various horn sections. The pleasure for me came in hearing the rhythm section.... Jason Isbell (Drive-By Truckers and now his own solo project) was on guitar, Scott Boyer III (Leon Russell and others) also on guitar, Jimbo Hart on excellent bass, Greg Lowery on keys, and the incredible Buster Marbury (Temptations) on drums. It was a lot of fun and I look forward to getting back up and completing the project.
After that came Downright. It was great show and we were especially happy to see so MANY folks come out that night specifically to see us. Debuted a lot of new stuff courtesy of Steve Lewis and Matt Devine. Gone forever are the trademark covers but no one minds.... at all. We followed that up the following night with CFG at The Open Door. It was a good one.
As always, I could write and write of my trombone adventures. I could tell you of the furious Auburn fan of Demopolis or of the giant mascots jumping out of helicopters. But I'm afraid those tales must wait for another day. Be good!

CF