Barbara’s Birthday Wish

Are you celebrating a birthday this year?  August 9 is my sister Barbara’s birthday, and this is Barbara’s birthday wish from me.  She’s one of my two sisters.  Kay is the other, and her birthday is in November, so stay tuned.  Same with Kay’s twin brother, Arthur. Here’s a photo of the four of us […]

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My Music Career

I love this music career.  Leading my jazz band and helping people plan music for their celebrations, plus a full family life, keeps me hopping. Though this music career gives me a wonderful life, I’m often exhausted.  It’s been a busy summer, and tonight’s one of those times. To keep you up-to-date, here’s a picture […]

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Walk the Talk

What have I learned from Louis Armstrong? To be an expressive musician, certainly.  But to be a whole person, more importantly.  To “walk the talk”. “Walk the Talk”, is a familiar expression we all use for “mean what you say, say what you mean, and act accordingly”. In other words, “talk is cheap” and “actions […]

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Writing Contests and Magnolia Jazz Band

I lead the band at a wedding or a party nearly every day, and in between engagements I like to socialize with my colleagues, to help us get to know each other better, to work together even more smoothly. For example, here I’m with friends at a recent mixer called “Martini Madness“, chatting with photographers […]

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Wedding Ceremony Planning – Music in San Francisco

Wedding Ceremony Planning is one of the happy couple’s best opportunities to personalize their celebration. If you’re the bride or groom planning a wedding ceremony, you can treat your guests to an event that’s uniquely YOU, and make your wedding truly memorable. For example, here is the Magnolia Jazz Band (in the photo’s lower left […]

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What is Jazz?

What is Jazz?  I’ve heard this question hundreds of times.  You too? Like many questions, “What is Jazz” is easy to ask but impossible to answer. But I believe playing jazz is very similar to something familiar you do all day long, every day.  Everyone can relate to this: Having a conversation. And ultimately this […]

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Learning Traditional Jazz is like Planning Wedding Music

Learning Traditional Jazz is best done by combining two familiar methods.  The same ones you probably use in your own projects every day. The first method is informal — by working “on-the-job” with more experienced musicians.  The second is formal — by attending school and taking lessons to develop musical technique. In your own life, […]

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Blogging Tips for Planning Music

Blogging Tips for Planning Music are easy to find. Google can help you find thousands of them online, and I’ve contributed plenty! Especially for planning music at weddings and parties in the San Francisco Bay Area.  See Planning Wedding Music, Planning Party Music, and Planning Music for an Elegant Party. You can easily find Tips […]

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Party Planner Tips for Planning Music – San Francisco

Party Planner Tips?  I’ve got lots of tips for wedding planners and party planners.  Especially tips about planning the music for their celebrations. I’ve been entertaining at weddings and parties nearly every day since 1975, and as you might expect, I’ve seen my share of great parties and party planner tips! Here we are in […]

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Booking a Band at a San Francisco Wedding or Party

Booking a Band?  Nearly every day I help someone searching for music for her wedding or party, and as you might expect, many of the same questions come up in most of these conversations.  Especially with people who’ve seldom, or never, had to plan music for a wedding or party before. . . On my […]

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