Well, yesterday’s show was a great success. The Bassic Sax Jazz Ensemble performed for hundreds of people as they came for Coastal Rivers Pet Hospital’s grand opening. There were so many people in the foyer waiting for their guided tour, that at some points we were getting crowded.
A number of people came up to me during the show and told me how much they enjoyed our music. Some were sitting in the chairs by us and listening for quite a while either before, or after their tour of the backend of the clinic.
There were two unusual things that I encountered yesterday. The first was that there were three raptors—a golden eagle, a falcon, and a great horned owl—as well as an opossum who, along with their handlers, were entertained by the four hours of live jazz standards. I’ve never had that kind of audience before. They didn’t seem to mind though. As a matter of fact, the opossum slept through the entire event. I joked with Elizabeth Melnick from Elizabeth’s Wildlife Centre, that I should come to play her babies to sleep.
The second unusual thing that I encountered yesterday was my green room. Never before have I had an examination room for changing and gear storage.
I took this time to say good-bye to my least favourite horn: my Mark VI soprano. It has been with me for 30 years, but it really has the sound that only a mother could love. Not being maternal in the slightest, bye-bye baby, bye-bye… (BTW, they cleaned the room as soon as I was out of there.)
Notice how happy I look after it was euthanized?
Nah, I’m just fooling around. My Mark VI came home with me. (After 30 years, I am somewhat attached to it after all.) Although I am a large-horn player, I will be using my soprano in a musical next month.
