This is a big week for The Cat's Pajamas Old School Jazz Band because our new album is finished and our release party is this Thursday night in the An Sibin Speakeasy room at Tellus 360 in Lancaster, Pa.  The Cat's Pajamas is basically a traditional jazz band.  Some call it dixieland, some call it New Orleans, 1920's or Chicago style.  Whatever you call it, it's fun music to play and appeals to people of all ages.

Besides classic tunes from the genre, we also like to mix in more modern songs by Ray…

Last week I played the longest bridal procession of my career.  About 4 solid minutes with about 50 “brides” coming down the aisle.  It was a Thursday morning “gig” at 7:30am in an elementary school cafeteria.  If this sounds like fake news, let me clarify.  It wasn’t a real bridal procession and there was no wedding.  It was a special activity that took place at this month’s All Pro Dad breakfast at the the school where I teach.  And, despite being thoroughly pretend, this wedding was still moving to many…

Me time.  A phrase a we hear often.  True, everybody needs a little “me time”.  But the problem for many of us, and for our culture in general, is that our whole existence is about me time.  It’s always 5 o’clock somewhere, but it’s always me o’clock everywhere. 

Being a musician can make things worse, and that’s why I have what I call InstaGuilt.  The constant pressure to promote gigs and get people to notice my projects goes against my natural tendencies, against the virtues that build strong community…

My mom has this silver coin with the words “round tuit” engraved on the front.  As a kid, I grew up walking past that coin on our dining room shelf, always wondering what it meant.  At some point, somebody finally filled me in and told me what the coin was for.  It’s an inspirational play on words.  Not a “round tuit”, but “around to it”.   As in “I’ll do that project when I get around to it”.  If somebody gave you that coin, you had no excuse not to do whatever it is you were putting off.  It’s like a…

Last weekend I played a ballroom dance gig where a guy was celebrating his 100th birthday.  He zipped across the floor with several different partners all night long, rarely taking a break.  He outlasted most of the other dancers, sticking around for our final set while many of the others were in their cars, already half way home.  It was impressive!  And inspirational.  And it made me wonder how you arrive at being 100 years old, in great shape, and living a full life.  As a modern day human who demands…