Few quiet days

We have had a couple of days with some relaxing on the schedule. We have both been practicing our horns a lot and walked around in the neighborhood. We have explored the local foods available in the area; we had an expensive experience at a sushi place close-by, but some better ones including hamburgers… They really can make burgers in this country. Mattias and me have been out walking a lot in the ‘hood - to get exercise but also to give each other some free time at home to practice alone. Our house is really small as you might have already heard. I have been out in the wonderful weather focusing a bit on creative photographing.

We spent the evening at Mama Juana’s, a latin/salsa place that had a live band playing. The place was packed, we got ourselves great latin food and some fantastic music from the band, Son Mayor. Good times. Maybe the avarage female age was a bit higher than we hoped for…

Oh yeah… I jumped into the pool today as well, the weather is warm!

February 10, 2008 | Filed Under Personal, Photo updates | Leave a Comment 

Carl Saunders’ Sextet

daily report again! :-)

Listened to Carl Saunders and his sextet today at Charlie O’s. Some great playing there and especially interesting hearing a trombone player we haven’t heard of before, Scott Whitfield is really an amazing trombone player and we look forward to listen more to him the coming weeks.

February 5, 2008 | Filed Under Personal | Leave a Comment 

Big band evening

Today we rehearsed with an amateur big band Paulie hooked us up with. Reading through charts and stuff, meeting people. Afterwards we went to Charlie O’s Jazz Club to listen to Bill Holman’s big band. Great players playing. Having a few beers and listen to Carl Saunders playing lead trumpet is just wonderful!

When that finished we went downtown to Santa Monica where a jazz session was happening. And once again it seems we only run into the greatest musicians wherever we turn. On stage is the drummer Stevie wonder has in his band and the bass player usually featured with Diana Ross! this town is just crazy! Mattias went up and played a few tunes and I made some photos of the event. Paulie played as well and played some amazing solos on a few R’n'B tunes. He is really a world class player! What a day! Here are the photos!

February 4, 2008 | Filed Under Personal | Leave a Comment 

Music, music, music!

The last two days have been fantastic. We were lucky to be hooked up with a musician in town. We got a number from a friend in Sweden and we gave it a shot. It turned out to be a saxophone player living on the same street as us!!! That is just not possible we thought and he couldn’t believe it either. This great guy, Paulie Cerra, told us that he would be playing that same evening and that we were welcome to listen. It should be some sort of unrehearsed jam session with him and some super musicians from town. We rode with him in the car and arrived at Cafe Boogaloo, in a community in southern California called Hermosa beach. Great little place in a sort of Creole, New Orleansish style. during his setup me and Mattias went out for a walk on the beach and got some food. Here are some shots you can look at.

When the concert started, we realized that we had been brought to a concert like jam session featuring some of the finest players LA has to offer. Oscar Seaton - drums, Travis Carlton - bass, Kirk Fletcher - guitar and Luke ’something’ - keys. The repertoire was sort of blues/funk, brutally good! Me and Mattias have both seen a lot of good and bad concerts but this one really was something outrageous! Since Paulie told us to bring the horns, we even were invited up to play two tunes with the band! Great stuff! Look at the pictures from the concert!

February 3, 2008 | Filed Under Personal | Leave a Comment 

First days in Los Angeles

So, we obviously made it to Los Angeles! We started with moving in at the place in Valley Village area in North Hollywood. A cozy little house located in an area that seems very relaxed. We had a rental car the first two days in which we drove around to see as much as we could. We had troubles with the cold temperature in the house at first but have gotten sleeping gear now which totally works out. During the days it is quite warm, comparable to a Swedish summer which is fantastic. Such a difference from what we have back home in Sweden.

The first says we used to get ourselves located at the place and find our way around. We drove around in the car around the Hollywood area. We went on Mulholland Drive to see the view and further on to visit the Hollywood sign. Very beautiful views; it is incredible how big of a city Los Angeles is. Tough to imagine. Remembering the flight, we came in over the city at night time. There where lights below us which just didn’t end despite looking through every windows of the plane. Crazy big! Take a look at the pictures from our drive!

February 2, 2008 | Filed Under Personal | Leave a Comment 

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