Equinox @ The Dixie Theatre

Last weekend I played at the newly renovated Dixie Theatre in downtown Ruston.



It felt great and overall was well received. Friday was a private show for the "friends" of the theatre (the rich folk), and Saturday was a free show for the public (for the po' folk). Saturday, naturally, was better. The place was packed, and people danced. My students, about ten of them, came to see me play. Drove to Ruston, all dressed up. Some danced, even. Very cool.

Here's us backstage before the show:



We also had several guests... Lawrence Gibbs played the clarinet on a few tunes; actually, Friday was his gig -- all Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw, Big Band Era tunes -- for the first half of the show. He came back on Saturday to play some more, including the show's closer, "Sing, Sing, Sing," (which my students referred to as the "chocolate chip" song, from some TV ad).

The primary guest for the second night was a displaced New Orleans guy, Ted Ludwig, an unbelievably good guitarist. Seriously. The guy is good. He also owns one of the most beautiful guitars I've ever seen.


So, all in all, a good show. I'm glad it's over, but I had a ball. Evidently, there's going to be a DVD. And I taped it (on DAT). And there was a photographer there taking pictures, as well. You can see those at Josiah Kennedy's site (use the pulldown menu and select "Equinox Jazz").

I was one of those nights that remind me why I love playing music so much -- the energy from the other musicians, grinning ear-to-ear, the lighter-than-air floating that comes from riding on top of the rhythm. It comes all too rarely these days.