Well, today started with news on Guardala's extradition and scheduled arraignment to have charges read in the fraud case you have heard me talking about since Feb. 07. I talked to investigators and victims all morning and it is very cool to hear Dave Guardala is going to have to face these charges!

This came on a late night of great tracking on the new Smooth Jazz Classics CD last night and that was a real high! When I got in last night I had a message on the 62 Impala and this guy sounds like he might actually be interested and be able to come up with the cash! So very cool since the CD is way over budget and the car sale would cover some of the Guardala losses and the budget overage.

Then I got a call later in the day confirming Yamaha - Groove Nights Concert at NAMM 2008. I have never done this concert, having played the Friday Night Dealer Show the last few years. The Groove Nights should be really fun, lots of T.O.P, E.W. & F, Stevie - great RnB stuff. I did not get the call for the other show and was a bit bummed since the last few years had been really fun. Now I am on and a new show for me - very cool and very exciting. I heard the other Sax Player I get to work with is a bit of an idol for me again this year - Albert Wing. Albert is really amazing. When I first heard him as a college kid, he had a range that dumbfounded me. He could play so high and I was a little impressed to say the least. This is a great trade show -

The 2008 NAMM Show | The NAMM Show

The venue is a favorite -

Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts

The Company, equipment and host is my favorite in all 3 categories -

Welcome To The World Of Yamaha!

The music will be amazing - it always is when Yamaha is throwing the party!

The Line Up -- WOW  ---- EVEN MORE AMAZING.... Right off the Cerritos Center page -

Yamaha Drums presents Groove All Stars, an evening of unparalleled entertainment provided by the country's foremost musicians. This special concert will feature more than 20 legendary drummers backed by a powerful all-star band.

Drummers set to perform have worked with some of the biggest names in the music industry and include:
Tommy Aldridge (Whitesnake, Ozzy Osborne)
Tom Brechtlein (Chick Corea, Robben Ford)
Gerry Brown (Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross)
Teddy Campbell (American Idol, Queen Latifah)
Keith Carlock (Steely Dan, Sting)
Ndugu Chancler (Miles Davis, Michael Jackson)
Akira Jimbo (Casiopea)
Russ Kunkel (James Taylor, Lyle Lovett)
Shannon Larkin (Godsmack)
Jerry Marotta (Peter Gabriel, Indigo Girls)
Rick Marotta (Carly Simon, Jackson Browne)
Russ Miller (Bobby Caldwell, Psychedelic Furs)
Chris Parker (Brecker Brothers, Bob Dylan)
Dafnis Prieto (Michel Camilo, Dave Samuels)
John JR Robinson (Rufus & Chaka Khan, Barbra Striesand)
Antonio Sanchez (Pat Metheny, David Sanchez)
Oscar Seaton (George Benson, Boz Scaggs)
Tony Verderosa (Philippe Saisse)
Dave Weckl (Mike Stern, The Dave Weckl Band)

The stellar house band is comprised of Neil Stubenhaus (MD/bass), Ross Bolton (guitar), Tabitha Fair (vocals), Jon Greathouse (keyboards), Ralph MacDonad (percussion), David Spinozza (guitar), Mark Williamson (vocals), and Robbie Wyckoff (vocals).

Next on the CD -

Tomorrow we finish the horn edits on the new CD and hopefully get the B3 tracks back so we can deliver the last song to the mixer. I hope to be done with the last part of the music for this CD tomorrow or Thursday. From there it is more of the business stuff and then the fun - booking gigs, listening, sharing, getting the news out!

Pretty amazing day! I am a very blessed man...

Greg Vail SAXBOY