Good morning! It's 10:39 on this variable Cyber Monday. I'd imagine Black Friday this year was more like a shade of gray. Today may well make up for it. Never gone in for Black Friday. Not that I'm above it in any way- more that it's just not my kind of foolishness. Though while I'm engaged in something else on that day, I do think from time to time, "what fools these mortals be". Can't help it.
Music news. Same old same old. Daily workouts on the red guitar, taping a few things along the way. And I've even formed a new group from all this: The Sam Crain Virtual Trio, or SCVT for short. There are a number of playalongs available with just bass and drums, so "we" have a pretty good repertoire so far. Being a virtual group, we're not gonna be doing any live playing--though I can imagine playing with those tapes and cardboard cutouts of a bassist and drummer.
Actually that would be pretty funny- and more lucrative. Being virtual players, I wouldn't have to pay them. Well, maybe in virtual money....
The big headline is still the new record, Near-Miracle on 33rd Street It's available in CD format as well as what's become my usual-and-customary download. All straight-ahead jazz and all originals. I play keyboard and bass on it as well as guitar.
And I've got another one, this more in the general direction of Smooth Jazz. All finished and even got a nice cover. Indian Summer. Coming soon, in this next month. And if that's not enough, another one- this more my 'weirdo' electronic music-for the very beginning of next year. It's called Twelve Twisted Tales of 2020. They reflect the craziness of this year. There's even one selection entitled Orange Mussolini. Gee, I wonder what that's all about....
All this virtual business brings to mind a story. Many moons ago, in my INB teller days, I used to hang out at Kane's just across the street, and was pretty good friends with the Cavanaugh family that ran it, particularly Bob. He told me one day about a couple guys who came in, who had formed a band. This prompted him to ask what instruments they play. "I play air guitar and my buddy here plays air bass".. So glad I wasn't there to experience that, or I'd have likely burst into laughter- which is admittedly a shitty thing to do to anyone, no matter how moronic their behavior may be. My only hope would've been that this pissed off air-guitarist and air-bassist would throw air punches. Probably not...
Okay. That's all I've got for you for now. Thanks as ever for stopping in and reading. Happy Monday to you, if that's possible! Until next time, I'm outa here. More later. 
PS Today's pic was taken at Robbie's, date unknown. Dan Rivero, Wayne Carter and me.
PPS Today's tune is called Mesquite. It's from my album Tele-ology which is a mix of straight-ahead jazz and a few eclectic things--all on a Fender Telecaster guitar. Jazz with twang.