Wow! This was a fun gig tonight -- while I won't comment on my hang at The Owl and Thistle (just hanging and drinking), this gig deserves more than just a few sentences.

First off, the band was loaded with killer soloists: Travis Ranney, Steve Tressler, Vanessa and Vern Seilert, Thomas Marriott, and Reuel Lubag, to name a few. With Greg "Bam Bam" Williamson and Chuck Kistler rounding out the rhythm section, I can only say that this band is certainly ripening with age. Add a whole bunch of power charts from our own Matso Limtiaco and elsewhere across the country and you've got one helluva great night of music. I'll go ahead and give you the sets, too, so you can see what you missed:

First Set:

• Come Rain or Come Shine - arr Matso Limtiaco
• Speak No Evil - arr Matso Limtiaco
• Stella by Starlight - arr Matso Limtiaco
• You Stepped Out Of A Dream - arr Matso Limtiaco
• Blues #4 - comp/arr Matso Limtiaco
• On The Up and Up - comp Jim McNeely, arr Matso Limtiaco
• Jumpin� At The Woodside - arr Matso Limtiaco

Second Set:

• Manteca - arr Matso Limtiaco
• All Blues - arr Matso Limtiaco
• Giant Steps - arr Matso Limtiaco
• Pieces of Dreams - comp Michel LeGrand, arr Dick Lieb
• Tell Me A Story - comp/arr Matso Limtiaco
• Claudettes Way - comp Pepper Adams, arr Matso Limtiaco
• Cherokee - arr Matso Limtiaco

Third Set:

• Honeysuckle Rose - arr Matso Limtiaco
• Blues #2 - comp/arr Matso Limtiaco
• Hi Fly - arr Matso Limtiaco
• Inner Urge - arr Matso Limtiaco
• In A Mellow Tone - arr Matso Limtiaco

The momentum of this band is back and, as the title of our first CD describes, alive and swingin! Be sure to stay tuned for the new ECJO website -- launching soon -- and the new CD, Come Rain or Come Shine. The Emerald City Jazz Orchestra performs at Tula's the second Tuesday of every month -- see you there!