Dear Friends, I’ve been a little out of the internet loop lately but I’m doing well and getting ready for some more gigs and a little bit of travel too.

Bob Magnusson, Jim Plank and I made the drive to L.A. last week to play at the benefit concert for Joe Diorio. The best news is that Joe was there and looking pretty well. He’s had a stroke but was up walking and his spicy demeanor was fully intact and he seemed like his regular old self. This is good ‘cuz this fellow has played some insane notes and has had a big influence on modern jazz guitar. Joe and I we’re teaching at M.I. back in the ‘80’s and we did a couple of gigs together too. He plays beautiful pristine wide intervallic guitar explorations and his playing is an inspiration. The concert was also a wonderful chance to catch up with players that we’d all known over the years but have lost recent touch with. Sid Jacobs was shredding on some solo Bill Evans’ pieces for solo guitar, Robin Ford ripping apart the blues, and John Pisano playing some beautiful samba. There were many others too and I’m so glad we we’re invited to be part of it. Believe it or not, the drive up and back in impossible gridlock traffic wasn’t too bad either. We’ve made that late night drive between L.A. and S.D. a zillion times and it goes by quick if you’ve got some colorful lads like Bob and Jim to share tales with…

I’ve been glued to the recording studio and this week we recorded a collection of new vocal tunes that I’ve been spinning around for the last couple months. Leonard Patton and Lisa Hightower we’re singing along with Gunnar on bass, Duncan on drums and myself on guitar. I’m thinking this new CD will be out in August and I’ll let you know…

For this week we’re taking the band out to the desert to play the 29 Palms Inn for a night. It’ll be warm out there and it’ll be a nice contrast to the coastal cloud cover that I’ve been living in for the last couple of weeks. I know it’s a big drive but it’d be fun to see you there if you can pull it. This place is soulful to the hilt! The last time we were there Joni Mitchell was having lunch while listening to our music. Of all places!

Next week the band and I head off to Kauai for some music, surf, sun and a full exploration of the slow down factor. Have you ever been there? It’s a magic spot and if I don’t see you out surfing at the bay, know that the next time I do see you I’ll be at least 40% more relaxed than the last time. This place does good things to you.

That’s it for now. Aloha, Peter