Surprise

[Paul Warburton]

Not many of you know this, but I haven't played in public since my wife died of ovarian cancer in Sept. of 2002. I've been waiting for the right gig to come around to get back out there. Well, it came around...This is Sunday, the 9th of July and the gig is just a little jazz brunch from 11am to 1 pm at a jazz place here in Denver called Dazzles. It's with Wendy Fopeano a really good singer and her piano playing husband Marc Sabatella.
I'm a nervous wreck! You all know how tough it is to lay off our instrument and then start all over again. It's such an unforgiving, physical instrument. When I was young this wasn't that big a deal, but at 64 I don't know. I'm sure every thing will come out just fine. I have close to 50 years of experience under my belt, so I hope that will help pull me through.
So, I felt I needed to let you all in on this since you guys are part of my family. If it works the way I hope this'll just be the beginning of the second part of my playing life...
I'll do a quick review of how I think it came out tomorrow.
All my best, PW

[anonymous0726]

You're never too old or out of shape to fall offa the bike again. Wish I was able to be there for the hang!

[hdiddy]

Come on Paul, You know you're gonna knock 'em dead! Just 'gitter done. Marc Sabatella? Cool. I think I read some of his stuff online about playing music a long time ago, but never heard his stuff.

[Andy Allen]

You know, Paul, even if you lost 90% of your skill during your lay-off period you'd still knock them dead - you have so much in reserve.

I'm very excited for you - it's a shame I'm not close enough to come watch. Do let us know how it went.

Andy

[Aaron Saunders]

Originally Posted by airbass

You know, Paul, even if you lost 90% of your skill during your lay-off period you'd still knock them dead - you have so much in reserve.

I'm very excited for you - it's a shame I'm not close enough to come watch. Do let us know how it went.

Andy

Total +1 to this.

Paul, you're gonna swing the $%^ out of this gig! I wish I could be there to see it.

And hey, just think of how old Gary Peacock is! The man's been playing bass for almost as long as my parents have been alive .

[anonymous0726]

Originally Posted by Aaron Saunders

The man's been playing bass for almost as long as my parents have been alive .

Chances are that PW has been as well....

[Aaron Saunders]

Hmm...he's getting close, I suppose .

[Marcus Johnson]

Originally Posted by Paul Warburton

I'm a nervous wreck!

That surprises me, if only because I go out and work hundreds of nights a year, calling myself a jazz bassist, with a fraction of the talent that you possess.

Good goin', bro, that's great news. I remember when some of my Denver area friends were telling me to hold off contacting you, when you were going through the hard times with your wife. I'm glad that the time for you to return to the thing that god chose you to do has come. I'll be pulling for you.

[ToR-Tu-Ra]

You're gonna kick some a$$!!!

Break a leg!!!

[dvmweb]

I bet you did just fine today.

I am looking into doing a similar sort of gig with friends. Jazz quartet, URB (me), female singer, piano and drums.

Walt MI/USA

[tZer]

It is refreshing to know that even when you have that kind of experience under you belt you can still get butterflies! That means your passion is alive and kickin' like mad - you don't get nervous unless it means something to you.

Go get 'em! And welcome back.

--tz

[D McCartney]

Swing, man! You're an inspiration to us newbies.

[Paul Warburton]

Well, I made it just fine, although I find myself remembering all our threads on how we all deal with blood blisters and the best ways to get on your way to building nice hard callouses. The crowd ways good and seemed really to appreciate what was going on. I ended up with one blood blister on my right index finger. After the gig, I popped it as close to the edge as possible. I remember giving this advice on our last callous thread. My left hand is just plain sore on each finger-tip.
Something I forgot about til later.....I sit on a stool and kind of squeeze the ribs of the Bohmann between my thighs....my upper thighs are sorer than hell.
I'm doing this same gig next week and i'll practice as much as I can to get ready for some of those 4 to 5 hr. gigs with loud be-bop groups.
When I feel i'm ready, i'm planning on booking a more formal come-back gig for my own quartet with Eric Gunnison, Ron Miles and Nat Yarbrough.
Thanks for all your good wishes and it's sure nice to be back!

[Uncletoad]

Excellent. It's gotta feel great to get back up on the horse.

[Paul Warburton]

Originally Posted by Uncletoad

Excellent. It's gotta feel great to get back up on the horse.

You betcher ass Phil!!

[John Sprague]

Hey Congrats, Paul! This is great to see. Music in Denver just stepped up a couple notches.

[christ andronis]

Paul...you'll probably come back even better than before cause you've got "the fever". Chops are physical, they come back in time...but the mental part sure sounds in place. Bravo...wish I could be in Denver to hear it. We might be going to the mountains next month...keep us posted as to where you're going to be and we'll make a side trip.

Yeeeeeehaw!!!!!!!!

[Marcus Johnson]

Hey, Paul, if your hands are really killing you, I'd be happy to swap out my Mexican Fender bass for the Bohmann....

Oh boy, I have a feeling I'm going to pay dearly for that....

[Aaron Saunders]

Originally Posted by John Sprague

Hey Congrats, Paul! This is great to see. Music in Denver just stepped up a couple notches.

+1

That's awesome to hear, Paul. So when're you gonna cut your next rekkid?

[jtlownds]

Hey Paul;

I'm betting that it took you all of five minutes to get your intonation back, however, at your age, it's gonna take ya weeks to get your callouses back.

Knock 'em dead.