[TPIN] 2006/2007 Already - a report

[Doc D'Errico]

Wishing you a very speedy recovery, Mike.

Remember, as long as you can play, you haven't lost your voice.

-- Doc 

-----Original Message-----
From: tpin-bounces at tpin.okcu.edu [mailto:tpin-bounces at tpin.okcu.edu] On
Behalf Of Vaxtrpts at aol.com
Sent: Sunday, January 07, 2007 12:53 AM
To: tpin at tpin.okcu.edu
Subject: [TPIN] 2006/2007 Already - a report

 
While I have time to do some messaging here on TPIN, I thought I would give
you all a report on my latest "doings."  I had the pleasure of performing
the National Anthem twice for Fiesta Bowl events.  First for the Fiesta
Bowl National Band Competition in the new Cardinal's Stadium.  Wow what a
place that 
is. I'm sure many of you saw that amazing game in the stadium.   There were 
about 10,000 in the audience for the band competition.  Some  marvelous high

school bands, plus the Boise and Oklahoma university bands.   I have to say,
that 
while I am not a marching fan, the bands that made the  evening finals
played VERY musically and had some wonderful arrangements and  original
compositions to perform.
On Saturday morning, I played again for the Fiesta Bowl Parade.  Just  an
intimate audience of 400,000.
A great parade with 20 bands.  Some from the finals the night before  and
some other ones too.  I got to sit in the judges stand, so I had a  great
view of all the floats, bands, etc................
Played a wonderful New Year's Eve gig with my Septet at a beautiful
historic hotel in Prescott, AZ.  
Now on to 2007.
I had a very weird thing happen.  They found a polyp on my right vocal
cord. 
 For any of you that have seen me over the past few months, you might
remember that my voice was really "scratchy" and hoarse.  In fact, a friend
said I sounded like a cross between Miles Davis and Bill Clinton.  Well,
luckily there was no cancer involved at all, but they said that my voice
would  just keep getting worse, so I had to have an operation last Thursday.
I  joked that I am not even a singer, but the realization that I have been
talking  to hundreds of kids in clinics over the last 35 + years, was what
the surgeon  said was probably the cause.  Guess I'll just have to start
using a  mic in my clinics now.  My wife, Peggy, is loving it.  I can't talk
at  all for a while. I also have to lay off my horn for at least a week
---- DRAT!  All this free time, and I can't touch the horn.  I am  hoping to
be able to play for a very close friend's funeral (discussion of a  short
time ago) on January 13th.  He was on the board of directors of my
nonprofit Friends of Big Band Jazz and a great jazz and big band fan.
If any of you are coming to NAMM -- please come by the Getzen booth.   I'll 
be able to talk by then, just not too loud, I guess. 
I hope everyone has a great 2007 with lots of music and lots of  friends.
Mike Vax 

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