Hey everyone! First off, I apologize for being away so long. As usual, things have been super hectic and I am behind on everything! I'm gonna try to catch up as brief as I can today...
Thanks for all of your emails regarding the "Licks & Tricks" MP3 lesson I debuted a few months back. I know I promised them monthly but as I said this month got busy but I promise to get the next installment up real soon. I'm glad alot of you are digging it and please email me if you have any ideas and suggestions. Who knows, maybe I'll do some video lessons soon!
Things on the gig front have been great. 2azz1 has been working alot and we've done some cool stuff including the celebrity openning of Tatsu, the new rollercoaster at Magic Mountain here in California and we also just debuted theyre new CD "Driven" at the Cadillac Jazz Lounge at Spaghetinni sponsored by Smooth Jazz TV on NBC. I'll be playing w/ them some more this summer and will be with them all weekend. Please check MySpace.com/MikeBennnettMusic for most of my current dates as I get my homepage back in order. You can also check out the new 2azz1 CD at www.2azz1.com
The new Joe Jewell record is almost out and we're doing a few dates this month. This is one of my favorite groups and the CD is slammin! Come by a gig and make sure to check out www.JoeJewellGuitar.com to get your copy of the new disc.
In addition to all of the coool gigs I had an amazing day yesterday. After spening the day at the beach w/ Hannah we went to the CD release party for the killing B-3 player Rob Whitlock. The band consisted of my favorite guitarist Mike Miller, Amber Whitlock, Rob, bass legend Anthony Jackson, and one of my biggewst heroes and influences Cliff Almond on drums. When I got into college I got hip to Cliff and decided I wanted to be him! I've always hunted down any recordings, pics, anything I could get my hands on but I have never gotten to see him live until last night. What an amazing drummer! I wanted to go home and play! I felt like a little kid getting to hang with him and hear him play. In addition to have a huge tasty groove and inspiring creativity, he also turned out to be one of the kindest, most honest and down right coolest guys I've ever met. I now want to get back into the practice room and pretend to be Cliff again. So in between gigs thats where I'll be all weekend! Check Cliff out at www.CliffAlmondMusic.com .
Rob and band sounded great and it was awesome to see them and hang w/ one of the greatest living bass players Max Bennett. I am lucky to have been able to work w/ Max and his stories are awesome! He's played w/ everybody and his groove and sound and the pure example of how to groove. I want to play as mature, selfless and solid on the drums as Max plays the bass. It was great to see him and I thank him for the stories, lessons, kindness, and amazing grooves.
Please take the time to check out Rob and Amber Whitlock's CD's, gigs, etc. at www.RobWhitlock.com .
I promise to check in sooner this time! Thanks or all of your support and talk to you all soon. Peace.
- MB
