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	3/12/09: Today I added a new song to the playlist. This is a solo version of a song I wrote a couple of years ago. I've performed it with the quartet in the past, but I still like the solo piano version since that's how I originally came up with the idea. If you like it too, just click here to download a copy for yourself. (For Mac, ctrl+click, then Save Link As. For PC, Right-click, then Save Target As) Cheers! 2/16/09: Stephen Hawking: The downside of my celebrity is that I cannot go anywhere in the world without being recognized. It is not enough for me to wear dark sunglasses and a wig. The wheelchair gives me away. 2/8/09: Marcus Printup: They can be better than me, but I can be me better than anyone. 1/27/09: Back Home It’s great to be back home again. Whenever I leave town (even for a couple of days) I always appreciate home so much more. I just got back from our yearly gig on the moon’s near side and things went even better this year. Our travel time is always getting shorter and more comfortable (thanks Virgin), accommodations are pretty nice and the audience always loves what we do. Of course there are downsides too. There’s ‘shuttle-lag’ (imagine a dinosaur with jet-lag), avoiding the asteriods during the trip (just a little stressful), finding a good reed is next to impossible (c’mon Rico, get up to date!) and calling home isn’t exactly easy. But weighted against each other, it’s a no-brainer and I wouldn’t cancel it for anything. You can’t beat it creatively either. I usually spend about three or four months writing new music and then another three practicing and rehearsing. Everybody’s always excited about the trip and I’ve been lucky enough to have the same core of musicians every year. There’s just something unique about performing with all of those new images and landscapes around you. And let’s face it, when a third of the entire population comes to see you, there’s no way you’re not going to feel good about it. If a third of everybody here in LA came to listen to us, they’d have to build three Staples Centers and start calling me Mike Obama. I like my last name better though. Until next year then. 1/23/09: Updates! Hi everybody and welcome back. It's been a while, but now seems like a good time to catch up. Last month, I started rehearsing with a really fun group called Break Beat Lounge and our first gig will be on 2/17...somewhere ...and at some time. More on that later, but it's going to be groovin', trust me! Here's a few raw samples from our MySpace page. Let's see, what else...oh yeah, you know about the EWI right? If you don't, it the Electronic Wind Instrument made by Akai, and it's almost too fun. There are so many possibilities and it's been great to practice. Here's a clip of Brecker on YouTube. Talk about inspiring! There are also two other top-secret original jazz projects that are really close to starting so as soon our schedules align, watch out. They'll definitely be some recordings involved too. That's it for now, talk to you later.