Here's a shot of us from Rehoboth Beach Jazz Festival weekend, at Old Bay Steak House. Everyone agrees that Old Bay's first experimrnt with jazz was a success. So, why stop a good thing? Old Bay has partnered with the Festival to keep it going, with Thursday Jazz (and blues) nights. And, yes, Spontaneous Invention is in the stable of bands. We had a great time last night, and are looking forward to returning on December 27th. Why not put that date on your calender now? And while you're at it, put a mark on (Saturdays) December 8 and 22 at Hooked. The journey continues.    (Joe)

Well, it was a great time at the Rehoboth Jazz Festival. Thanks to everyone who came out.  The crowds were just wonderful.  We did an interview with an internet radio guy who said we were the only true straight ahead jazz he'd found.  Other people told me we were better than the acts theyhad paid to go see.  So we're making our mark.  Since then I've been out to Chicago as guest clinician working with high school and middle school students. What a concert we put on!  Joe's been recharging his batteries and celebrated his anniversary with his wife.  And Mike is always busy. He has a really physically demanding job when we play and he really pushed hard and went above and beyond during the festival.  So What's Next, you ask?  There's lots of great stuff on the horizon. We're back at Hooked Seafood and Martini Bar October 27 from 7:00 - 10:00 with more dates there in November and December. We have some private gigs coming up... Did you know we do private and corporate events? And We're hoping to take it on the road in the next few months too.  So thanks for being part of the journey... it's always nicer when you have company.  Dave

 

Here's a taste of what's to come at the Rehoboth Jazz Festival.  Join Spontaneous Invention as the musical journey continues at Old Bay on Friday Oct 12 and Saturday afternoon Oct 13, and at Arenas in Downtown Rehoboth from 9 PM To Midnight on Both Fri Oct 12 and Sat. Oct 13.

Come be part of the Journey!

We're gradually getting some of that wonderful night at the Stoltz Listening Room at the Avalon Theater in Easton up on YouTube. What a wonderful room that was.  This Saturday, Oct. 6th, we're in another great space at Hooked Seafood and Martini Bar in Rehoboth DE. 7-10.  Come stop by - there's nothing like 'live' music... and the excitement of the journey! 

Stoltz Concert Video

The first video post from over Avalon Theatre/Stoltz Listening room show is up. I posted this on my own (joeholtsnotes) You Tube channel. Look for more posting from this concert coming soon on the Spontaneous Invention You Tube channel, as well as performance announcements here. Fun stuff! (Joe). 

Wow - what a great night at Hooked.

As musicians I think we have to juggle all the different ways we have to interact with the world.  Mike, Joe, and I all keep really busy schedules and sometimes it can be heard to get your head where it needs to be when it comes time to play music. The way we make music together requires us to pay a lot of attention to each other.  Sometimes that's hard to do when you've had a day or week full of demands.  Getting your head focused on the creative job we're there to do can be challenging - especially when life is full.  But it's a challenge that's really rewarding - thanks to Mike and Joe.  So we're back at Hooked Seafood and Martini Bar at Midway Shopping Center Oct. 6, from 7 - 10.  The following week is Rehoboth Jazz Festival and we'll post our days and times for that soon. - Oh - and video from the Avalon Stoltz Listening Room concert really is coming.  The new HD video camera did a great job. Aaaannnddd... the CD recording is done - now it's just production stuff.  So thanks for stopping by the blog. Hope you'll come out and see us at Hooked.  Keep listening - Dave

This Friday evening, Spontaneous Invention will Hooked Seafood and Martini Bar in Rehoboth Beach DE, from 7-10pm. First time for an instrumental jazz group in there, so come out and show your support.
Hope to see you soon! (Joe)

Thank you to all who came to support us in our debut performance in the Stoltz Listening Room, at the Avalon Theatre. Our friends, Ken and Sara Kraft had a front row view (thank you for the pictures!), however in this room, there are no bad seats. The room felt comfortably full (we sold over 3/4 of the seating), and fully engaged, with interaction on and from stage as spontaneous invention, for sure. This was, perhaps the best incubator so far in which to study our own  group "chemistry" (and, as always, ourselves), and we come away with an expanded view of what this effort represents, and where it can go (artistically and otherwise). We all loved playing this room, and have been assured that we'll be invited back. Tomorrow we meet for the final editing session for our new CD. And the journey continues ...   (Joe)

Looking and sounding good ...

In the process of sorting through last week's recording session. This was validating for me, as it went as I imagined it would. Even though some edits will be made, we succeeded in laying down a complete CD of usable tracks, in one evening! Why was I confident of this outcome? Because of the connection we make (conversation we have) when performing together. Now, the journey is well underway, and the documentation of this particular point will soon be published. A good friend (from other musical adventures) is known to say: "That 2 (or more) people can make music together is proof of the existence of God.". Why? The connection outside of us. So many implications from this, which I've pondered incessantly for myself, in recent years. Now, another new place/thing/moment/whatever. Easy for me to zig amd zag in and through the zones where words are hesitant to follow. Can this still be conversation? You bet! Soon, you'll be able to purchase the evidence. Meanwhile, as our physical presentation is prettied up (evidenced in the post below), our metaphysical presentation is readying to join the (observable) dance. Kind of like a balanced diet, perhaps? It seems rather healthy, in any case.
(Joe) 

The New SI Banner!

Did you ever go somewhere and hear a group you really liked and walk away wonder who were those great musicians?  That won't be us.  Not only will our music linger in your mind - but our name and contact information will too!  Now tell your friends! Looks like the first time this will be on stage is Aug 25th at the Stoltz Listening Room at the Avalon Theater in Easton MD.  Did you get your tickets yet?

Looking forward to going into the recording studio next week with Dave and Mike. The new CD is on the horizon, as is our  performance on Saturday the 25th of this month in the Avalon Theatre's Stoltz Listening Room. Best to reserve now (you are coming, aren't you?). The conversation continues!

And, about that journey ...

My turn (Joe here):
In God's eternal view, a journey is not a straight line, or even a winding path. It is an essence. It means something. Marcie (Mrs. Dave) was insightful to create this blog with the emphasis on the journey, and not the destination. Now, when you actually stop and think about that, does that seem strange? Shouldn't a journey have a place (or perhaps a goal) that you reach, which defines success and completion? Sometimes ... I think. Actually (feet to the ground now), it depends on the lens through which you view. Huston Smith (who wrote the definitive textbooks on the study of every major religion - if you took any religion courses in college, you've almost certainly read his work) says it masterfully: " To an esoteric, God is in focal view. To an exoteric, the created world is in focus, and God must be inferred from it". In other words: as a starting point, what you "see" depends on who you are. Some of us are masters of the linear (the line/journey/travel, and the component detail). Any institution could not function without these (exoterics), who see "the created world in focus". They keep us organized; our ledgers correct, our angles proper, our hinges secure, and so on. I, myself, could never be an accountant. So, as you might expect, I'm often told that I need one. For me, and others like me, the mind struggles to stay on any point of detail: lunging it's gaze beyond to a place seemingly fanciful for some, but concrete and real for us. Now, just because we can see "it" may mean little, until we determine to sharpen our focus and skills, and apply ourselves to what we discern, and to who we are. In the same way, learning to add and subtract will not make one a successful (or useful) accountant. But it's a start. There's the journey, and there's the journey. We see what we see, we are who we are, and (if we have "eyes to see and ears to hear") we embrace and follow our "calling". I've known Dave for a long time, and we've always enjoyed playing together, but only in recent years have we begun to focus more intently on the communication between us. During this time, Mike McShane and I, through (the joy, and the struggle of) an extensive performing schedule together (over multiple "projects"), have developed a(n ever) deep(ening) intuitive connection, into which Dave has joined. The video above documents the beginning of that process. Mike and I were developing and growing our comfort zone together. Now, insert Dave (sitting in as a guest that evening). A starting point (actually, one of the many) for the journey; of which it's all about (Charlie Brown).      
   

Keepin' it goin'

Dave here - I know it's been a while since our last post, but we've been really busy. Though the gig at Washington Tavern we were all at last night was officially a Mike Buccino and friends gig - we were all there and the first set, in particular, just really smoked. So what's goin' on? We're trying to find time for 3 really busy musicians to get together to put down tracks for an album! Yes, it is on the horizon. And as if that weren't enough - we're gearing up for our concert at the Avalon Theatre in Easton MD August 25th. You will hear plenty more about this. Save the date NOW! So in the mean time it's the heavy work - working to book gigs, developing prop and PR stuff - looking for a new video recorder... just excited about the next gig.

Yes, a You Tube channel too!

Joe here. The conversation continues, and last night at Abbott's opened some new threads, both within the group, and from us to the audience. Happily, Marcie brought her etch-a sketch (my pet name for whatever her fancy pants pad-a-ma-jig is) and caught some of the magic on video. Look for new postings soon on the Spontaneous Invention You Tube channel. Here's a post from our gig at Nomad's last month. One neat thing about You Tube is that (thru continual postings) the "evolution" can be documented. That will certainly be the case in this endeavor. Likely you'll notice movement/momentum from the Nomad's show (as good as it was) in the Abbott's posts to come. More conversation ahead ...

The Rehearsal

Joe and I had a great rehearsal yesterday as we're getting ready for the Abbott's Jazz Dinner.  Mildford Live did a real nice piece on it.

Joe and I don't get together to rehearse as often as we would like because our schedules are so busy, though we do correspond by email and talk through stuff on the phone. But when we do get together the time just flys.  So many ideas and so many possibilities. While we are working on some new tunes, we're also working on new approaches.  As with any good relationship, it starts with really listening to each other.  And I'm wondering if the quality of the response directly relates to the quality of the listening...

So maybe you'll be able to come listen in on the converation and join us at Abbott's Jazz Dinner on Friday. (Reservation are required.  (302)491-6736)    Dave

 Well, here we are. Tonight, just a duo, Dave and I (technically not Spontaneous Invention, as I'm just filling the chair for Vic England on Dave's regular Thursday night gig, but who's keeping score), getting warmed up for our Abbott's Grill show next week. Every new circumstance breeds creative new opportunity. Tonight no exception. On break now, so this is truly a post from the front lines. All friendly fire, though. Be back soon (Joe)

Our musical inventions are far more spontaneous than our blog inventions.  Stay tuned and check back often!