Fri…

This is not efficient.

Tuesday, Feb 25

Nicole and I worked on Cardigan, Enchanted, Fearless, Anti-Hero, I’m Not The Only One — new songs for me were Chasing Pavements (Adele), Back To Black (Amy Winehouse), Royals (Lorde), Kiss Me (Sixpence None The Richer), The Man Who Can’t Be Moved (The Script).

I liked Paper Plane (M.I.A.), but we didn’t do this.

Sunday, Feb 23

Valentino brought Rey, Donna, and my neighbor Albert came. We didn’t have a bass player, and to be honest I don’t feel I am needed, but it’s worth learning.

Songs: Play That Funky Music (Wild Cherry), When I Think Of You (Janet Jackson), Black Cat (Janet Jackson), Dreams (Fleetwood Mac), Game of Love (Santana), Hit Me With Your Best Shot (Pat Benatar).

Friday Feb 21, 2025

I played from 1-4:30pm at La Jolla Scripps, in the parking lot. I let a gentleman start, as I spent the first hour just reading music. I was most comfortable playing the blues progression and find that the bass line is the most comfortable part of my playing. I met a student at Scripps who was interested in playing music together. I worked on the famous Blues heads and had no issue improvising over them. I also had a chance to go through some of Set 1 for Jazz, but only did the first half.

Sun, June 2, 2024

Played for the first time at the Tourmaline PB parking lot. I recorded Beatles (Here Comes the Sun), Straighten Up and Fly (piano solo), and Enchanted.

What was particularly interesting was the fact people were playing music in the parking lot, and much of it involved a pentatonic blues scale.

Sat, May 12

I picked an unusual time to play: 9-11pm, Saturday at La Jolla Shores. A patrol officer said the lot was closed. I didn’t want to bother the crowds at the bonfire pits (all were taken). I set up at Lifeguard Tower 32 and played Enchanted, by Taylor Swift, OGDS, and did a short recording of Enchanted.

Fri, May 11

I played at La Jolla Shores, where a couple from Minnesota volunteered to play music trivia. The set-up took about 15 minutes, I explained it, and then I played the melody to Jaws. Within 1 second, the lady said, “Jaws.” I was a bit alarmed how quickly she recognized the melody and could say the word.

Later, I went to Windansea and practiced the Superman Title Theme. This went well and then I went to the baby grand and play for some time.

Thu, Apr 25

La Jolla Shores, 6-7pm (~63ºF).

Songs: Love theme from Superman (recorded), With or Without You (recorded), E.T., Candle in the Wind, Autumn Leaves.

Recap: I did everything by memory. It was a quiet day, and I only talked to one lady, who knew that Candle in the Wind was performed for Princess Diana’s death. I got a young woman to start dancing to Autumn Leaves.

Tue, Apr 23

Location: La Jolla Shores, 12:30-1pm (64ºF).

Songs prepared: Theme from Superman, E.T., With or Without You, and One Thousand Miles.

Recap: It was windy! The table which I purchase to hold music is actually very good at holding the Yamaha Reface. I didn’t need the bench because there was the concrete bench. And it was sandy! Immediately sand got on the books. Sand and electronic are not a good combo.

Somebody later came over as I was unpacking and told me it sounded like a performer in SF.