Hi everyone,
Sue and I arrived home Thursday morning, Feb 2nd. Our good friend, Uber driver and Chef extraordinaire Mike Jaskolski drove us to and from Detroit Metro. He kept his car toasty so we didn’t have to wear bulky coats and dig the car out of ice and snow after leaving the warm weather . . . Yay!
It was 75 degrees in FL on Thursday. 18, here in MI. You do the math . . .
We had one of the most memorable, fun, stimulating, you-name-it trips ever! We left Detroit on Saturday, Jan. 21st for Fort Lauderdale. Left on the Holland America Lines Koningsdam for The Dominican Republic, St. John and St. Marten in the Eastern Caribbean on Sunday 1/22. On the way and all throughout the trip I listened to, jammed with and spoke with some of the most influential and many up and coming artists of the Rhythm and Blues music scene. A typical day on the ship: My wife and I wake up around 10. Go down to the buffet for breakfast, stand in a short line where we meet young Marquese Knox, an awesome new quiet and unassuming guitarist/vocalist from Chicago. When he jammed with Curtis Salgado at the ProJam, Curtis loudly asked in the mic “Who are you!” “I’m your new biggest fan!” So, you talk with Marquese while waiting for your omelette and promise to buy his CD. Then, after breakfast we decide from two or three choices to go see the Singer/Songwriters Showcase w/Howard Scott (Low Rider Band/War), Tommy Castro, Curtis Salgado and Doug Macleod who describe their songwriting techniques and tell some awesome stories about their experiences. Curtis Salgado also brought up the “War” controversy and what lawyers (no offense, Paul) did to screw up that band’s reputation and image and how Howard can’t even say the name, legally . . . Howard Scott wrote 99% of their songs! . . . Insane!
After the Songwriter thing Sue and I wander out to the mid-ship pool to see a little of Mud Morganfield (Muddy Waters son and a perfect look-alike and sound-alike of his dad). A very nice man (we met in the buffet line) and his voice is even cooler than his dad’s. Then we go see Doug Macleod at the World Stage (wonderful storyteller/entertainer and slide guitar player). After a snack and a nap, we go up to the ProAm Jam in the Crows Nest where I put my name on a list and wait until I’m called to play my bass or lap-steel guitar. There were so many bass players there that I ended up playing my lap-steel a lot because they thought that was cool. When I played bass, people were amazed that a lap-steel player could play bass so well . . . Really! I’m a bass player who brought the lap-steel cause’ it fit so well in the plane’s overhead!!! . . . I played with Tab Benoit, Eric Johanson from Terrance Simien’s band, trombone extraordinaire, Randy Oxford, “Biscuit” Miller, Chuck Barber and Peter Cole from the Low Rider Band and others that I don’t remember their names.
On a shore excursion we took a tender to shore and had a wonderful conversation with Tab Benoit’s awesome bass player, Corey Duplechin. He talked about how he spends at least 20 hours a week volunteering with special needs kids in California where he lives. In fact he was on the shore excursion to help a woman with her daughter’s wheelchair. We connected like old friends and spoke about our experiences with special needs persons.
After dinner in the dining hall, buffet or fancier restaurant, sitting with or near entertainers who have to eat, too, Sue and I might see Taj Mahal and the Phantom Blues Band on the mid-pool deck. Then The Low Rider Band (The original members minus the turncoat keyboard player who now owns the name, War, and their percussionist and saxophonist who both have passed away. Also, The bass player, B.B. Dickerson is very ill and couldn’t make the trip, they said). The keyboardist, percussionist and bassist who have replaced them fit in seamlessly and the band is just as tight and fun as ever. Awesome vocals!!!
Then, More acts to see all over the ship: Ronnie Baker Brooks, Biscuit Miller, Erma Thomas, Tommy Castro, Ruthie Foster, Curtis Salgado, Terrance Simien and the Zydeco Experience, The California Honeydrops, Tab Benoit, Danielle Nicole and Mitch Woods with Marcella Simien, many of the acts at the same time in different venues, and another ProAm Jam in the Crows Nest that often goes all night with pros and amateurs showing up at odd times to sit in (we were up until 4 or 5 o’clock sometimes) . . . This is just in one day on board the ship! Every day was jam-packed with music and great conversation!
We stayed in Florida with my cousin, bassist and Focus Hope Director John Tschirhart and his wife in Clearwater and visited an uncle and aunt in Sarasota after returning, to catch our breath before going home.
So, we kinda’ had a good time on our little vacation. And, as always, my wife is the most wonderful, adventurous, exciting, generous and all around cool person there ever was! Sue is keeping me young, happy and engaged, and I hope I can give back half the love she shows me.
Thanks for reading,
David T
