elliot levin b-day bash

i was invited earlier this week to participate in an improv group of gravy, tony catastrophe, t spiker,
and myself...playing to film clips..as part of opening for elliot levin's group with sun ra arkestra members
marshall allen and tyrone hill, ed watkins and others.
an amazing nite. two incredible sets from each band.
the final set comprised of both ensembles and additional wind players, something like 5 horns,
guitar, electric bass, upright bass, drum kit, and percussion. it was an amazing moment that i'll never forget. sitting playing a funk from my guitar chair and watching marshall allen and crew weave their magical music. to me, this was a moment in life suspended. in london, a show like this would have been sold out with lines waiting outside. in philly, 40 or less lucky souls smiled, bobbed, and danced in ecstacy.

back in philly

it's been an amazing 3 weeks in australia and new zealand touring with ursula rucker + drummer gintas janusonis...and finally recovering after a week. lots going on still, the sister gertrude album is doing well and was the most added album to college radio last week evidently. the npr piece that was done also got out around the world. while i was in perth some one told me they heard the piece on the bbc. this is good. tomorrow king and i will be on radiotimes for
a live hour broadcast discussing the making of the record and sister gertrude.
yesterday, upon returning from a bike ride, i saw a 3inch praying mantis walking across our blacktop parking lot. i couldn't believe it. i rolled my bike up to
him and asked him what he was doing. he climbed up my front tire, as i rolled it back toward me, i out stretched my arm. he climbed up, and i rode
back to my backyard. he walked behind my head and down my left arm. i then placed him in a bamboo tree, in the high branches. he seemed to like that.