Tuesday, February 23, 2016

February 2016

People ask me what I do with my time now that I am retired.   Well apart from the usual day to day, and the settling in from moving to Sonoma County, I work on shows.  I play twice a month or so and it is amazing how much time goes into putting shows together, practicing and playing them.  It is a lot of work, but the money I pull in makes it all worthwhile -- hah !!   It is the amazing musicians I get to hear and hang with. 

Discovered a really fine place to hear singer songwriters in San Francisco, the Bazaar Cafe.  (I know I am slow sometimes.)  On the first Saturday of this month, Michael Hanna and I opened a show for Valerie Jay, and I then had the fun of sitting in with Valerie during her set. The following Tuesday, I crashed the Keller Sisters songwriter residency at the Bazaar, and had the pleasure of hearing and playing with them (sister harmonies!!), and with Aireene Espiritu and with Michael McNevin.   It was hat night and Michael Torrey's picture here gives you an idea of the fun we had.  If you don't know these folks' music, check out the links.   They are good !!

Michael Hanna and I were joined by Dennis Calloway this last Sunday at the Kensington Market.  What a lot of fun that is !!  Families hang out and picnic, and we get to sing "Wheels On The Bus" in addition to our usual folk, country and original repertoire.   Best run farmers market I know of, and if you live anywhere close by you should check it out.   

Coming up this Friday the 27th, Trevor McSpadden will be in Pt. Reyes Station at the Old Western Saloon.   Trevor is genuine old school country and just great.  It may be a bit of drive for you, but it will be worth it.   Trevor comes from Texas and spent a lot of time in Chicago, a good combination based on what I hear.  I'll be opening with a half hour set and then joining Trevor and his band for the rest of the evening.  Honky Tonkin' Baby !!

Got a number of shows in the works: with Keith Alan Mitchell and Amber Ikeman in March, with Floyd Latimer in April and with Susan Marie Reeves in May.   Always more info on my website, www.royzat.com

Saving the best big news for last.   I am going to be starting a singer songwriter series at Studio 55 Marin.   This is a wonderful place to hear live music, and I am very excited to be working with Ken Frankel and Olga Kapustina on this project.   You'll be hearing a lot more about it.

That is a bit of my news and I always like hearing yours.

John
Roy Zat
Croizat
Whatever