Once again.

Since my last entry I've graduated high school, finished my first year at Tufts University and the New England Conservatory dual degree program, got home, unpacked, and drove to New Jersey, which is where I am now. It's been nothing and everything like I expected it to be. First off, it's hot. Like, really hot and humid, which would suck more if my day job wasn't working on the beach as a guy who rents out umbrellas, chairs, and boogie boards. I also had a brief stint as one of those people who holds a giant sign on the side of the road. This one was for a liquor store, and after four hours I had found a new respect for anyone who does something similar. The thing about it is that while you're standing with the sign, you're protected by the first amendment's right to free speech, but if you sit, people can tell you to vacate the premises. You've got to have super strong legs to keep it up, since you're the only one there. It also takes a pretty strong bladder, since there are no bathrooms in sight over a normally six hour shift. It pays well, but I prefer the beach. As for music, I was introduced to a local band called Shorty Long and the Jersey Horns. The band gets its name from its frontman, keyboardist, and singer nicknamed "Shorty", along with its three-part horn section. Playing covers ranging from rock and pop to soul and R&B, the band is billed as the "World's #1 Party Band". And rightly so, may I add, they're a great time. After meeting their bass player through the people I'm living with, I found myself sitting in with the band the very next night, both hauling equipment and playing. The venue was a bar called the Beachcomber, which was situated right on the Seaside Heights boardwalk. The gig ran from 10pm - 2am, and by the end I was exhausted, but full of energy at the same time. I ended up getting home at 5am, much to the surprise of my hosts. My adventures with Shorty Long were continued two days later (This past Saturday), when I played with them at the pre game festivities for the second game of the Stanley Cup Finals (The New Jersey Devils are one of the teams competing). It turned out that we were billed to perform with Darryl from Run DMC, playing "Walk This Way". It was awesome to say the least. I should mention that I am being hosted by Jean, my mom's best friend from college, who lives in South Tom's River, New Jersey. I've had a wonderful time staying so far, and have had a great opportunity to hang out with her four children, all of whom are like cousins to me. I've even made dinner a few times, and I feel like my culinary skills have improved drastically. It's a nice atmosphere, and should be a great hang for the rest of the month, up until I go home on July 6th. Tomorrow I head for New York, where I'll spend a few days hanging out before a Saturday gig with the Ron McClure quartet. It's in Riverside Park if any of you readers are in the area...7pm. The band will be myself on violin, Chad Brown on tenor sax, Shareef Taher on drums and, of course, Ron McClure on bass. It should be a good time, and a great outdoor jazz concert for your summer. So thats it up to this point...may try to catch a show while in NY since I got directed to this awesome service to get discount tickets for shows. I hear Godspell is amazing, and at $41 a ticket, I might have to check it out. This should work out just fine.