11/19 - 10:20am: So much going on and decided it was time to pay a visit to Bassikly Speaking again. Now that I'm off the road, I feel less compelled to jot down my thoughts here. But I enjoy it and I know that someday it will be a gas to go back and read where my head (my life!) was at when I wrote this stuff.
Played a private function last night at The Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills. The evening's affair was The Crown Jewel Gala. Essentially, a room full of yentas wearing tiaras and dragging their poor husbands behind them to feast on excellent food and make a fuss over each other and everything around them. I've decided that this is something for Beth & I to aspire to. I've ordered a custom tiara for her. It's got a special holder and drinking tube for her Diet Coke so she can go hands-free and I figured I'd go for the real thing with diamonds & jewels and the whole bit. By the time I pay it off we'll be at the right age to attend. The music of the evening was fairly typical fair; standards/bossa novas during dinner, classic rock/R&B/disco for the revelers to dance to. I hadn't played my electric bass for a while so it was fun to strap on the "plank" and churn out rousing renditions of "YMCA", "I Will Survive", and "Honky Tonk Woman'. (Hmmm, suddenly the 2-hour sound checks with Engelbert don't seem so bad). The featured entertainment of the evening however was not us but rather an excellent performer who sang a medley of show tunes dressed as the phantom from Phantom of the Opera. Little did they know that underneath the white mask was yours truly trying to diversify and make some extra bucks for Natalia's college fund. All kidding aside, the guy was great and killed an hour while we ate our "bandwiches" and cookies.
On the home front, Beth had a lovely baby shower with all her close friends from L.A. in attendance as well as the Aunties (my aunts, Sandy & Adrianne), and my Dad's lady friend Minnie. I wasn't there, but it looked like quite a party. Gifts from L.A. to N.Y. have been arriving and Natalia's room is going to be a beautiful, comfortable room filled with lots of love. (Mom, I miss you and wish you were around to see all this.)
Work-wise, the calendar is filling up nicely with gigs ranging from guitar/bass duos to a 7-piece horn band. I'm enjoying the diversity and the challenges that many of the situations present. I have to confess tofeeling a little rusty. I've been getting back into a practice routine again but it's nothing like getting out there and just doing it. As the great guitarist John Abercrombie so astutely said "If I wanted to play by myself I'd just get a couple of cut-out dolls - a Chick Corea or Herbie Hancock doll - sit in my house and pretend I'm playing with them. But I like making music with people; that's what it's all about". Amen to that! I'd only add that I enjoy playing music for people as well. How satisfying to make that connection!
So, that's it for now. My website is officially up -
www.adamcohenmusic.net - and I'll be adding audio clips of my music as well as other albums I've played on very soon. Please stop by and say hi.Until next time,
--Adam
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