MEXICAN COMEDY??

Hello again!!! I hope that your summer has been as educational and exciting as mine has! I´ve had some great and enlightening experiences, and I would love to share a few of them with you! I`m writing this while sitting at the airport in New York, waiting for my red-eye to Mexico. I feel very fortunate to be doing a lot of traveling and playing this summer. In another hour, I will be in the air, on my way to meet up with Eddie Palmieri`s Salsa band to perform a concert which is sure to be phenomenal!! The band will be back in New York on Tuesday, August 16th, for the reopening of the famous 'Copa Cabana.' That performance will also celebrate Eddie Palmieri`s DVD release, which I am grateful to be a part of.

In non gig-related news, I started taking an improv comedy class two months ago, and I have been recommending it to EVERYBODY!!! What an amazing way to get out of your comfort zone, relate to yourself and others more honestly, and just rid yourself of your insecuritites. It truly has changed my life both on and off the bandstand. The way I feel standing in front of 1500 people holding my trumpet is now %100 better after being completely vulnerable making a fool of myself on stage with 15 other aspiring improv comedians. If you`ve ever thought about taking part in something like this, JUST GO FOR IT!!! It will most likely change your life too!

Ok, now back to music...

Since it`s been a while since my last update, I`ll rewind a few months. In June, I had the wonderful opportunity to perform with Wycliffe Gordon`s Big Band. Wycliffe and the rest of the cats were exceptional, and I`m excited to be performing with them again later this month (August 26th at Miller Theater in NYC). Also, Wycliffe asked me to be a part of an amazing concert in London, later this year. On November 13th, I will be performing music that Wynton Marsalis was commissioned to write for a new silent film entitled, "LOUIS: Louis Armstrong, Charlie Chaplin, and the Birth of Jazz." This concert, to be held at the Barbican Theater, will be the European premier of this piece, and will be played alongside of the film. Wynton will not be in the band for this event, and I am MORE than honored to be performing his role on this occassion. Truly a humbling opportunity.

 Another notable performance in June was opening for Dee Dee Bridgewater. It`s always fun to share a stage with Chrisette Michelle, and this time it was at Town Hall - an incredibly beautiful venue!! Also, in my last newsletter, I failed to mention a wonderful concert I played in March. I had a great time performing alongside one of my musical heroes, Ingrid Jensen, with the Christine Jensen Big Band at Dizzy`s Club. What great music and great energy!! Unfortunately, it was an emotional week for me with the passing of my Grandfather. Having someone like Ingrid to bounce personal and musical ideas off of during that time was very enlightening.

Well, I have a plane to catch, so this will have to do it for now. I have a lot of VERY exciting updates so you can count on hearing from me soon!!! Buenos noches mi amigos!!!