So I was just at it from 6am yesterday to 4:45am of today. And yes, that was a weeknight!
My day consisted of things like doing a photo shoot at Lake Michigan for my website, visiting a grad school friend who also now lives in Chicago, repairing a broken spring in my saxophone, and playing in (count 'em) three jam sessions.
From 8-10pm I went to the nearby Uncommon Grounds coffee place for their weekly open mic night. As you may know, I have my own "beatbox" saxophone style that I've been developing over the last few years. This was received really well, so I definitely plan to return in a week or so. Riding back on my bike to the apartment at 10:30pm, I was REALLY tempted to call it a night and hop into my warm bed (like most normal working people at that hour). However, a few days ago I had decided I was going to go back to the Underground Wonderbar and try out their two different jams on Monday night. And therefore, since I said I'd be extra adventurous for at least this first year in Chicago, I said goodnight to Rachel and hopped on the Red Line to the Chicago downtown.
Although their website stated 9:30-midnight, the first jam was actually 10-2am (I'm sensing a theme with jazz events running a little behind schedule...). I of course was originally thinking I'd hit the tail end of the first jam, stay just for the beginning of the second, and then make it home maybe by 1:30 or 2am. No way. But actually, I'm really glad things went much longer. I actually had some great conversations with the other musicians, had fun sitting in, and had a BLAST listening. Wow, there are some amazing musicians here, that no one has heard of!
First was a fusion (jazz/rock/funk) jam and it was non-stop energy from beginning to end. The second was a complete shift to very introspective acoustic jazz, made even more contrasting as the drummer forgot to show up! But the most amazing thing was that once I got to the club, I didn't once think about how late it was. Maybe I really CAN do this whole night owl-thing!
I also received a bit more encouragement/advice from some of the other musicians. A theme I keep hearing repeated is: if you want to get some gigs and survive as a full-time musician, keep showing up to the same jams and hanging out. It doesn't matter if you're the best musician in town. The other musicians have to know and like you.
What that means for me is, those of you with my cell number, don't hesitate to call me at 3am on any Monday night. If I miss your call, it's because I'm in the middle of a solo at the Undergound Wonderbar.
My day consisted of things like doing a photo shoot at Lake Michigan for my website, visiting a grad school friend who also now lives in Chicago, repairing a broken spring in my saxophone, and playing in (count 'em) three jam sessions.
From 8-10pm I went to the nearby Uncommon Grounds coffee place for their weekly open mic night. As you may know, I have my own "beatbox" saxophone style that I've been developing over the last few years. This was received really well, so I definitely plan to return in a week or so. Riding back on my bike to the apartment at 10:30pm, I was REALLY tempted to call it a night and hop into my warm bed (like most normal working people at that hour). However, a few days ago I had decided I was going to go back to the Underground Wonderbar and try out their two different jams on Monday night. And therefore, since I said I'd be extra adventurous for at least this first year in Chicago, I said goodnight to Rachel and hopped on the Red Line to the Chicago downtown.
Although their website stated 9:30-midnight, the first jam was actually 10-2am (I'm sensing a theme with jazz events running a little behind schedule...). I of course was originally thinking I'd hit the tail end of the first jam, stay just for the beginning of the second, and then make it home maybe by 1:30 or 2am. No way. But actually, I'm really glad things went much longer. I actually had some great conversations with the other musicians, had fun sitting in, and had a BLAST listening. Wow, there are some amazing musicians here, that no one has heard of!
First was a fusion (jazz/rock/funk) jam and it was non-stop energy from beginning to end. The second was a complete shift to very introspective acoustic jazz, made even more contrasting as the drummer forgot to show up! But the most amazing thing was that once I got to the club, I didn't once think about how late it was. Maybe I really CAN do this whole night owl-thing!
I also received a bit more encouragement/advice from some of the other musicians. A theme I keep hearing repeated is: if you want to get some gigs and survive as a full-time musician, keep showing up to the same jams and hanging out. It doesn't matter if you're the best musician in town. The other musicians have to know and like you.
What that means for me is, those of you with my cell number, don't hesitate to call me at 3am on any Monday night. If I miss your call, it's because I'm in the middle of a solo at the Undergound Wonderbar.