I just finished up a terrific weekend get away in Three Lakes, Wisconsin with Primitive Culture. Many thanks to David Hecht, Bruce and Jerry Nevaiser and Phil Lyons for inviting me to sub for Big Daddy Wando, a.k.a. Bob Corbit. We made some good music, fought a swarm of mosquitoes and generally rocked the house!

Next up, the Madison Roots Festival this Saturday, August 2nd with the Clyde Stubblefield Show at the Willow Island concert location.

So much to write, so little time…

Highlights of what needs to be covered:

• Gigs this week:

  Yesterday (Wednesday, July 9) at Ludlow’s in Monroe, WI with Jimmy Voegeli, keyboardist with Mel Ford & Westside Andy

  Tonight (Thursday, July 10) at the Monona Terrace from 6:00 p.m to 8:00 p.m. with the Clyde Stubblefield Band

  Tomorrow (Thursday, July 11) at the Belleville American Music Festival (BAM Fest) from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. with Jimmy Voegeli

• Roscoe Mitchell is back in town for a summer visit from his appointment at Mills College. We got to get in a practice session together…like old times! Madison missed you, brother!
• Eric Koppa, saxophonist from Chicago, shines on the big screen in a 1930’s big band scene with Diana Krall in the filming of Johnny Depp’s upcoming movie, Public Enemies. He’s also now a proud member of the Chicago musicians union.

  Here are more photos: Photo 1 | Photo 2 Notice the 1930’s style tuxedos AND the 1930’s era Martin saxophone Eric is playing. Eric tells me he had a stand up solo during the recording of “Bye Bye Blackbird.” We won’t know, though, until the movie is released whether his scenes make the final edit.

• Alex Leong, trombone with the Clyde Stubblefield Band, officially departs for a new life in Chicago
• Pete Ross, alto saxophonist and former Laith Al-Saadi roommate at Univ. of Michigan, joins the Clyde Stubblefield Band
• Gigs this summer:

  New Glarus Brewing Company “new digs” party

  The Middleton Big Event…or, in our case, Big Rain and Hail Storm…bummer!

  Some fun gigs in Northern Wisconsin

• I should mention the fun we have been having playing with The Crashers and Mauro Magellan, former drummer with The Georgia Satellites, who are all playing as the Jimmy Voegeli Band with the Clyde Stubblefield Horns. What’s up with famous drummers and Wisconsin?!?
• And more fun summer gigs yet to come, such as the Madison Roots Festival, more New Glarus Brewing Company gigs, and recently scheduled Primitive Culture shows to boot! I love summer gigging!

I’ll try to find more time to add pictures, share tales and maybe some music clips. In the meantime, come on down to the Monona Terrace tonight (Thursday, July 10) at 6:00 p.m. and enjoy some free live music with the Clyde Stubblefield Band.