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Certifyin' 2:450:00/2:45
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0:00/4:52
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Jewish Insurance 8:510:00/8:51
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Just a Thought 3:020:00/3:02
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Noisitude 3:440:00/3:44
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Oz 5:500:00/5:50
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Peace Pipe 3:210:00/3:21
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Princess Eyeball 5:300:00/5:30
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Quietude 2:200:00/2:20
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Sherron 4:540:00/4:54
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Soundtrack 4:250:00/4:25
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Star Tush 6:110:00/6:11
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Sunflower 4:020:00/4:02
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The News in Five 5:130:00/5:13
Sam's pix and band pix
![with the great Pat Martino, Jazz at the Bistro, St Louis. Friend and fellow guitarist Tony Fafoglia is the photo-bomber in the back](http://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/443313/0852c19214cf3d53324ae162a57f6b6bdc5c6bc9/original/10945775-10206401800946397-3065166663758048724-n.jpg/!!/b%3AW1sic2l6ZSIsIjM1MHciXV0%3D/meta%3AeyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ%3D%3D.jpg)
with the great Pat Martino, Jazz at the Bistro, St Louis. Friend and fellow guitarist Tony Fafoglia is the photo-bomber in the back
![Frankly Speaking, year unknown. Steve Alexander, me, Frank Parker, Alicia Williams, Johnny Thompson, Kevin Ellis](http://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/443313/962eb680d6e9610745f21bd14ae8aa62338ca1e6/original/12106796-967449513316693-2419145712930096036-n.jpg/!!/b%3AW1sic2l6ZSIsIjM1MHciXV0%3D/meta%3AeyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ%3D%3D.jpg)
Frankly Speaking, year unknown. Steve Alexander, me, Frank Parker, Alicia Williams, Johnny Thompson, Kevin Ellis
![Lime St Cafe, year unknown. Kevin Hart, piano; me, guitar; Kevin Ellis, bass; unknown, drums; Virgil Rhodes sitting in on saxophone. Childhood friend James Isley took this picture, for what it;s worth.](http://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/443313/dbdd459f6dfdfbe2c1283ec57e5666e1de3b91a9/original/300x300-2-67.jpg/!!/b%3AW1sic2l6ZSIsIjM1MHciXV0%3D/meta%3AeyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ%3D%3D.jpg)
Lime St Cafe, year unknown. Kevin Hart, piano; me, guitar; Kevin Ellis, bass; unknown, drums; Virgil Rhodes sitting in on saxophone. Childhood friend James Isley took this picture, for what it;s worth.
![The Jazz Workshop ensemble, ca 1973. Johnny Gibson, flute; John Piper, drums; Bruce Hart, bass; me, guitar; Frank Murrill, percussion. At the old Curve Inn.](http://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/443313/637b2ac5482ab74d1db695aba4566e4cd5e690a1/original/117530110-315414816269236-5279830627698433049-o.jpg/!!/b%3AW1sic2l6ZSIsIjM1MHciXV0%3D/meta%3AeyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ%3D%3D.jpg)
The Jazz Workshop ensemble, ca 1973. Johnny Gibson, flute; John Piper, drums; Bruce Hart, bass; me, guitar; Frank Murrill, percussion. At the old Curve Inn.
Live Shots
![Lincolnland Community College, 1981. Mark Cannedy, trumpet; Paul Lerch, tenor sax; Brian Moore, alto sax; David Hoffman, valve trombone; Tim Harte, drums; Larry Crowley, bass; me, guitar](http://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/443313/933b6c5f72586a84ebce165011d3bfd952505ff6/original/2020-02-08-181050.jpg/!!/b%3AW1sic2l6ZSIsIjM1MHciXV0%3D/meta%3AeyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ%3D%3D.jpg)
Lincolnland Community College, 1981. Mark Cannedy, trumpet; Paul Lerch, tenor sax; Brian Moore, alto sax; David Hoffman, valve trombone; Tim Harte, drums; Larry Crowley, bass; me, guitar
![Union Station, year unknown. Frank Vanes on piano and my synth; Rich Olson, drums(not pictured); Jeff Davis, bass. Need some more boots like that. I miss being 5'6"](http://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/443313/04a1a083f362eba8db3b1e8532d03178d26c71d2/original/1970847-10201803294346606-1419759229-n.jpg/!!/b%3AW1sic2l6ZSIsIjM1MHciXV0%3D/meta%3AeyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ%3D%3D.jpg)
Union Station, year unknown. Frank Vanes on piano and my synth; Rich Olson, drums(not pictured); Jeff Davis, bass. Need some more boots like that. I miss being 5'6"
![I'm in the middle of the Kevin Zone here. Kevin Hart, piano; me, guitar; Kevin Ellis, bass; unknown drummer.](http://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/443313/432918e68251b424df696418acbbd4c60b53449b/original/2020-02-08-181705.jpg/!!/b%3AW1sic2l6ZSIsIjM1MHciXV0%3D/meta%3AeyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ%3D%3D.jpg)
I'm in the middle of the Kevin Zone here. Kevin Hart, piano; me, guitar; Kevin Ellis, bass; unknown drummer.
![Ben Drake, unidentified sax player, me. Ben was my guitar/bass teacher early on, and a great mentor. RIP Ben.](http://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/443313/77d20b77413e363308954618f6180318dcf3a11e/original/2020-02-08-182328.jpg/!!/b%3AW1sic2l6ZSIsIjM1MHciXV0%3D/meta%3AeyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ%3D%3D.jpg)
Ben Drake, unidentified sax player, me. Ben was my guitar/bass teacher early on, and a great mentor. RIP Ben.
This n' That
![Robert "Hoppy' Johnson. The very first jazz drummer I ever worked with. Wonderful guy, a gentleman through and through, who never had an unkind word about anybody. As you get older you realize how cool this is.](http://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/443313/2e496ec36b5a9de923298f36d52205aee1e16e56/original/300x300-2-39.jpg/!!/b%3AW1sic2l6ZSIsIjM1MHciXV0%3D/meta%3AeyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ%3D%3D.jpg)
Robert "Hoppy' Johnson. The very first jazz drummer I ever worked with. Wonderful guy, a gentleman through and through, who never had an unkind word about anybody. As you get older you realize how cool this is.
![My favorite building in Manhattan, The Lipstick Building. 53rd street and 3rd Avenue. Bernie Madoff was supposed to have had an office there.](http://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/443313/64b39c2d2cf85049f814865da4f53101f73069ef/original/12158-l.jpg/!!/b%3AW1sic2l6ZSIsIjM1MHciXV0%3D/meta%3AeyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ%3D%3D.jpg)
My favorite building in Manhattan, The Lipstick Building. 53rd street and 3rd Avenue. Bernie Madoff was supposed to have had an office there.
![Sam Central-my 'base of operations' The anatomy pinup courtesy of my ex-stepdaughter, when I parted with them. A sense of humor similar to mine.](http://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/443313/70e9eae0eb1e9d35ac0386866eee692f3bb90c71/original/2020-02-08-182654.jpg/!!/b%3AW1sic2l6ZSIsIjM1MHciXV0%3D/meta%3AeyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ%3D%3D.jpg)
Sam Central-my 'base of operations' The anatomy pinup courtesy of my ex-stepdaughter, when I parted with them. A sense of humor similar to mine.
![1999, New York City. Manhattan, Murray Hill neighborhood(37th between 1st and 2nd)The great guitarist Joshua Breakstone and me.](http://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/443313/9c20bab32d25ee9db61e689c297c45bd3b5177b8/original/2020-03-18-132706.jpg/!!/b%3AW1sic2l6ZSIsIjM1MHciXV0%3D/meta%3AeyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ%3D%3D.jpg)
1999, New York City. Manhattan, Murray Hill neighborhood(37th between 1st and 2nd)The great guitarist Joshua Breakstone and me.
![Kenneth Barton Sr at the piano. Wonderful player, playing reminiscent of Art Tatum. Glad to have gotten to play music with him. RIP Kenny!](http://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/443313/47ddb0887d49f03416fcd9d8f27e2df8fca4edec/original/2020-03-20-194140.jpg/!!/b%3AW1sic2l6ZSIsIjM1MHciXV0%3D/meta%3AeyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ%3D%3D.jpg)
Kenneth Barton Sr at the piano. Wonderful player, playing reminiscent of Art Tatum. Glad to have gotten to play music with him. RIP Kenny!
Gear
![Boss Kitana(that's Japanese for sword, for what that's worth)A very nice compact amp with 50W of power and some nice 'modeling' sounds.](http://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/443313/7ca771a4d0eaba35781fd433a40c88a983a7a926/original/img-8263.jpg/!!/b%3AW1sic2l6ZSIsIjM1MHciXV0%3D/meta%3AeyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ%3D%3D.jpg)
Boss Kitana(that's Japanese for sword, for what that's worth)A very nice compact amp with 50W of power and some nice 'modeling' sounds.
![I also love me my Gretsch. Don't remember the model name, but it's another 335 variant. Also great to play.](http://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/443313/e26340d29754ac5061b2ba81893a95bfb912a76c/original/img-8270.jpg/!!/b%3AW1sic2l6ZSIsIjM1MHciXV0%3D/meta%3AeyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ%3D%3D.jpg)
I also love me my Gretsch. Don't remember the model name, but it's another 335 variant. Also great to play.
![This guitar was built by Billy Cook of Peoria IL. It's designed after a Gibson Super 400. Beautiful instrument.](http://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/443313/f956a21b801591ff3a9ac2c33449f723b4a9a4ae/original/img-8268.jpg/!!/b%3AW1sic2l6ZSIsIjM1MHciXV0%3D/meta%3AeyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ%3D%3D.jpg)
This guitar was built by Billy Cook of Peoria IL. It's designed after a Gibson Super 400. Beautiful instrument.
![My most-played guitar these days: Epiphone Casino. Always liked 335's, just couldn't afford a Gibson.](http://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/443313/855ca9703a2b46dc195a5a15283eced09d8ffc82/original/img-8264.jpg/!!/b%3AW1sic2l6ZSIsIjM1MHciXV0%3D/meta%3AeyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ%3D%3D.jpg)
My most-played guitar these days: Epiphone Casino. Always liked 335's, just couldn't afford a Gibson.
![This no-name guitar was built by Jim Hughes, a longtime friend of mine and sometime guitar technician. I love the shape, which is why I bought it.](http://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/443313/a740dd9ac41ec85176b8009eea874e99db863e11/original/img-6168.jpg/!!/b%3AW1sic2l6ZSIsIjM1MHciXV0%3D/meta%3AeyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ%3D%3D.jpg)
This no-name guitar was built by Jim Hughes, a longtime friend of mine and sometime guitar technician. I love the shape, which is why I bought it.
On the Road
![Calgary, Alberta CANADA July 1985. In the words of our keyboardist, I was using that Illinois charm, whatever that was..](http://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/443313/76b1754f9f873c83c015b9cd40baeba66fb7b60e/original/2020-03-18-132900.jpg/!!/b%3AW1sic2l6ZSIsIjM1MHciXV0%3D/meta%3AeyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ%3D%3D.jpg)
Calgary, Alberta CANADA July 1985. In the words of our keyboardist, I was using that Illinois charm, whatever that was..
![On the bus, headed somewhere from somewhere. I'm wearing the antithesis of the 'thinking cap'. I'm thinking Texas..](http://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/443313/8e9bd340309d1bd5b5d064773ccca9a647d45ff6/original/2020-03-18-133019.jpg/!!/b%3AW1sic2l6ZSIsIjM1MHciXV0%3D/meta%3AeyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ%3D%3D.jpg)
On the bus, headed somewhere from somewhere. I'm wearing the antithesis of the 'thinking cap'. I'm thinking Texas..
![Elko Nevada. They had 5 legal cathouses at the time. We were fired after a week or so for not playing enough C & W.](http://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/443313/db5545a025126ffdb0274e9cf71531661b581b97/original/2020-03-20-194359.jpg/!!/b%3AW1sic2l6ZSIsIjM1MHciXV0%3D/meta%3AeyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ%3D%3D.jpg)
Elko Nevada. They had 5 legal cathouses at the time. We were fired after a week or so for not playing enough C & W.
![Elko Nevada, 1985. Somehow I found this funny. Actually it still is. Some of us just never quite grow up..](http://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/443313/00808f1042720c133636b42b8bc918df8d828da1/original/2020-03-20-194537.jpg/!!/b%3AW1sic2l6ZSIsIjM1MHciXV0%3D/meta%3AeyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ%3D%3D.jpg)
Elko Nevada, 1985. Somehow I found this funny. Actually it still is. Some of us just never quite grow up..
![Matamoros, Mexico, 1985. We were supposed to play in Brownsville TX but they double-booked, so we had a day off.](http://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/443313/4a8cdeddf5a6e9b8efca48ea0f7292fb704195c6/original/2020-03-23-135038.jpg/!!/b%3AW1sic2l6ZSIsIjM1MHciXV0%3D/meta%3AeyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ%3D%3D.jpg)
Matamoros, Mexico, 1985. We were supposed to play in Brownsville TX but they double-booked, so we had a day off.
Family
![I'm figuring 1959. Me age 5, my brother Josh a year old, Mom and Dad. Sorry bro, it's the only pic I've got of all of us.](http://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/443313/336af8f5844a414243cb9b6f8b150bf3adac3d37/original/2020-04-02-133738.jpg/!!/b%3AW1sic2l6ZSIsIjM1MHciXV0%3D/meta%3AeyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ%3D%3D.jpg)
I'm figuring 1959. Me age 5, my brother Josh a year old, Mom and Dad. Sorry bro, it's the only pic I've got of all of us.
New York City
![My favorite building in New York, at 53rd and 3rd. The Lipstick Building. Apparently Bernie Madoff had an office there.](http://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/443313/d46f1f1a930db43d42fbbcd67b98169793a832ec/original/12158-l.jpg/!!/b%3AW1sic2l6ZSIsIjM1MHciXV0%3D/meta%3AeyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ%3D%3D.jpg)
My favorite building in New York, at 53rd and 3rd. The Lipstick Building. Apparently Bernie Madoff had an office there.
Japan
![clowning around with the kids. Three generations of Hamada: Mr Hamada, 60 and wife, 55; their son and his wife, 30s; and their kids, 4 and 6.](http://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/443313/e3bb2d8701bcbfc1ff1052e6b9e901f96615f744/original/japan-me-and-kids.jpg/!!/b%3AW1sic2l6ZSIsIjM1MHciXV0%3D/meta%3AeyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ%3D%3D.jpg)
clowning around with the kids. Three generations of Hamada: Mr Hamada, 60 and wife, 55; their son and his wife, 30s; and their kids, 4 and 6.