Midwest 2004 (day 2&3)

Wow. Where do I start?

I could talk about the conversation with Bob Parker -- a man I hadn't seen in 4 years, who I originally talked to because he wanted to play Chaos Theory with his band. Since I'd seen him, he'd been diagnosed with Leukemia. He lived in a bubble for 2 years. He received bone marrow and stem cell transplants. And now here he was, standing in front of me, free of oxygen, and probably free of leukemia, asking about making plans for performing Chaos Theory again...

or I could talk about Eric's luncheon with the Woman's Band Directors International...


Milt Allen (conductor on the new BCM CD for "Courage & Compassion" and "TranZendental Danse of Joi") and me hanging out in front of the BCM booth.

I could talk about going out to dinner with Mark Camphouse (highly acclaimed composer), Gary Green (director of bands for University of Miami), and Michael Colgrass (Pulitzer prize-winning composer)...

or I could talk about Vandercook's performance of Newman's "Moon by Night"...


Gil Wukitch, Jim Kull, and Newman discuss the "Avenue X" commission.

I could talk about BCM's 2 hour meeting with Jeffrey Renshaw and his proteges, discussing the NewMusicBox interview and the future of the wind ensemble...

or I could talk about the serious possiblility of going to Brazil this year... not once, but TWICE.


Dennis Fisher and Steve talk about Steve's new piece, "Stampede".

I could talk about my conversations with Steve Reineke, David Holsinger, Phillip Rothman, John Mackey...

or I could talk about looking over Jeff Gershman's arrangement of Frank Zappa's "G-Spot Tornado" BEFORE it has it's world premiere at the CBDNA convention in New York City...

But I just don't know where to start.