After a few friends asked me repeatedly to put them on my (non-existent) email list so they could follow my performance schedule, I decided to start this meetup group. It's also a great way to make new friends around the world with those who are seeking a community of "Cool Cats."

What we all have in common is a love for the straight-ahead, be-bop style that was born in the mid-20th century. Join us & help move this beautiful, distinctively "American" art form into the 21st Century by performing &/or showing love for those who do.

With this meetup group, I aim to promote my own performances & those of other straight-ahead jazz musical artists I adore.

Some of them are here in NYC;
some are on the other side of the world.
Some I've worked with & become friends with;
some I never will (mainly because they're no longer with us);
some I look forward to meeting one day.

No matter what, I will inform this group's members of great jazz performances coming to venues near them, & thus encourage that old-fashioned thing called "hanging out" in a face-to-face, flesh-&-blood way. That is what meetup.com is all about!

I love this company & am so grateful for the founders' wise, proactive & life-giving response to 9/11 through the creation of this amazing system.

This group is all about "keepin' it real." I look forward to meeting you & giving you one of those big bear hugs for which I am known....

PS
Please note that while smooth jazz, fusion, open, "new age" & other modern styles have made & continue to make their invaluable marks in musical history, there are other meetup groups that are a better fit for those fans. This group focuses on straight ahead & be bop. Period. Don't you just love those songs that are so under-represented worldwide & deserve our support if not efforts aiming for a full-on revival! Sounds fun, yes?