Very proud to announce that the EBT will be coming to Bolivia in September 2010 for a week of shows for the beautiful Bolivian people.  God Bless the Embassy and Fabiola down there for hooking us up.  Fabiola is Fab!

Plenty of shows to check us out, swingin’ all summer…

What do you say about a ballads record with janine gilbert-carter, a new brother ray cd, a bolivian tour AND a may 2011 trip to Lima, Peru?

…..not bad indeed.

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Hello everyone,

It’s wonderful to talk to you all again. Gonna keep this one short and sweet and try to catch you up on all things EBT! Here goes:
-thanks for all the love and support for Umoja Gaelica, the Scotland project. The gigs were smashing and Lea was in fine voice. Everything was recorded and the project should be released later in 2010
-my college gospel choir just performed for the Haitian Ambassador. Wow! He mentioned that half – HALF – of all America gave some money to Haitian relief. Great job, people
-The EBT/Bro Ray Band is heading into the studio this summer to record a follow up to the smash ‘Brother Ray’ CD. Dates have been booked and songs have been selected.

Finally, we are coming into yet another Memorial Day weekend and my thoughts and prayers go out to all those serving in harm’s way to make/keep us safe. I especially thank Steven, my wife’s cousin, for making the ultimate sacrifice for our country. When you’re at a ball game or graduation, or any place where the National Anthem is performed make sure you set an example of respect for others. Make sure you stop children and kids from fooling around during the song. People fought, bled and died for that anthem – people like Steven. Show some respect. After the cookouts, the trips to the shore, the family parties, make sure you take a moment to pray for those men and women. They are fantastic.

Keep Swingin’
EBB

…leaving this week to go to Scotland to do some shows with vocalist Lea Gilmore and some CATS in Scotland

We’re going to be combining african american gospel music and Spirituals with Celtic instruments and musicians. Wowwie. So blessed to be a part of such a special thing.

Keep checking the page to hear updates on how good things are going!

Wow, what a good Friday it was…

Guitarist Mike Stern and I hung out virtually all day: he came to McDaniel College where I teach to do a jazz clinic and I had the pleasure of picking him up and driving him back to his hotel in DC. In our 2 hour car ride conversation he spoke to me as if we were old friends. He told stories about his days with Miles, Jaco and the Brecker Brothers, he spoke of his childhood, Obama, gospel music…he even said hello to my wife on the mobile phone when she called me.

Then he did his thing at the college. No diva, no hollywood vibe, no strange requests…just plug in and ‘wow’…playing a blues with him was a dream and he was very complimentary to me and the students.

And as if that’s not enough, his gigs at Blues Alley in DC were crazy, stupid good. Stern and the whole band just went off, every place from 100mph to the softest ballad.

All in all it was a great day with a great man/musician. He even introduced me to his mommy who’s heart was beating out of her body. I would strongly encourage you to purchase the man’s CD’s, go see him live, support his music. Cats like Mike Stern are once in a lifetime.

God Bless You Mike

You missed it if you weren’t there…seriously…this news just in:  THE MID ATLANTIC JAZZ FESTIVAL WAS OFF THE HOOK!

Held at the same hotel where the legendary East Coast Jazz Festival once set up shop – God Bless you, Ronnie Wells – Paul Carr, his lovely wife and the Jazz Academy brought back the swing, good times and smiling faces to Rockville.  It was great.  Here are my highlights:

-hangin’ with my man Wes Biles and Jeff Neal on jam session that went from midnight to 2 am.  Quiet Storm!!!

-alto great Bobby Watson sort of/kind of/slightly knowing who I am!  Wow!

-The EBT/BRB set on Sat at noon.  Swingin with 2 teenagers that are products of Paul’s Academy.  We all done lost our jobs to these cats

-Sunday’s brunch with Lavenia

-seeing my favorite jazz fan Ms. Barbara

-bumping into Terrell Stafford, hearing the Anderson Twins and the Jolley Bros, the tribute to Bird…wowwie

It was all fantastic.  As Paul said Sunday, “See you in 51 weeks”.