2011 - a great year for music - January

Hard to believe that 2012 has already rolled in.   They sure go by fast.   But New Years Day is a great day to take stock in what happened in 2011, and 2011 was a pretty good year for me musically.


January is always a good time for me musically because my friends Alex and Anne Bernhardt host our MLK jam weekend down in West Palm Beach. They have been doing this for 8 years now, and 2011 was one of the best. Our musical friends come from all over the country (and now Sweden) to spend 3 days together laughing, eating, and drinking - but mostly jamming. The talent level is quite high - some great musicians who have performed on the National and International scene in the world of Old Time and Bluegrass, as well as a lot of us local hackers. You never quite know what direction a jam will take, or how long it will last, but we play at least 10-12 hours a day, and well into each night. It's a great way to learn new chops, tunes, and songs hanging out with such a talented group. Plus, you get to play a lot of different styles - Old Time, Bluegrass, Cajun, Country, and even a touch of Swing. You never know when a dance will break out, or what song or tune will come next. And its a chance to play guitar, bass, fiddle, mandolin all in one weekend. 

Alex and Anne Bernhardt

And Alex and Anne are the best hosts on the planet that I've encountered.  Claire and I always feel right at home the moment we arrive at their place.   They make it easy for you to relax and have a good time.   Any jam with A&A involved is sure to be a fun, and unpredictable.   Alex has some great chops on the guitar and also plays fiddle and mandolin.   And I hear he's been working the banjo.  Anne is a pretty solid Cajun accordion player, and can also saw her way around some OT tunes on the fiddle.  

I always come away with a head full of ideas, a little bit better as a musician, and a ton of great memories.  And playing music for 3 days straight is about as much fun as a person can have without going to jail.   Plus I learn a bit about my playing each time I go down.   I realize that each year that passes shows I've grown as a player, learned a lot of new things, and have the ability to use them in a lot of different musical situations.   It  helps to have such a great group of friends to share it all with!

Can't wait to get down there again in a few weeks. 

Thanks Alex and Anne!!!!!!