Hi Good Folks of the West, it’s all cooking along and this week I’m thinking about John Coltrane living in the city. That is, what would it sound like if ‘Trane had played with Stevie Wonder?

Two of my favorite artists and inspirations; Coltrane terrorizing on a zillion chords one moment and then the supreme Zen statement of simplicity, the next; Stevie bringing the wide pallet of harmonic color to funk and pop, singing in the stratosphere with the grit of the street and introducing the world to all that is possible with a chromatic harmonica.

It’s with this framework that we’re shaping the music for a concert scheduled this Saturday night at the First Unitarian Church in Hillcrest. We’re playing our angle on Stevie’s incredible tunes and letting our jazz influence take hold. “I Wish” transforms into Coltrane’s “Resolution” and “Living For the City” has a tip of the hat to ‘Trane’s 1960’s modal explorations.

In the band will be Leonard Patton, Tripp Sprague, Gunnar Biggs, Duncan Moore and me. Check out the deets below and we hope to see you there. Master Blaster Jammin’!

Also up for this week are two hits at the famous Roxy Restaurant in Encinitas. I’ll be there exploring the nooks and crannies of solo guitar on Thursday night. On a rare Friday night hang it’ll be the Sprague Family Music Night with multi-generations of Spraguekins. Kate Sprague, who is very young and sings beautifully, will be in the loop with dad Tripp, our sister Terry on percussion and me on the guitar. Kate’s worked out some new music so come on out for a night of good music and magic food.

That’s it for now and thanks for reading along.

adios, Peter