Martin Wind Newsletter

A few days ago I received a couple of additional photos sent to me by Andreas König; check out my shirt on this photo with Andreas and Philip: there is a tiny spot right next to the second button where my shirt seems to not be completely soaked…

Here I'm trying to demonstrate a swing pattern on the ride cymbal to a young musician from Cotonou.

On Friday, March 1 I went out on quite the road trip to play a concert with the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra in Pittsburg, Kansas. We had a 7 am call at Newark Airport, flew to Kansas City (about 3 hours), but got there a bit delayed, since they still had to de-ice the plane. After we collected our belongings we got on a school bus to Pittsburg for yet another three hours. After 75 minutes in our hotel, we left for the venue, did our sound check, ate dinner and waited for the opening act, a student big band, to finish their portion of the concert.  At around 8:30 pm we played a wonderful set and got back to the hotel about two hours later…and at 3:00 a.m. we left Pittsburg again via school bus (3 hours) and plane (2:30 hours); we got lucky flying out so early since there was a big storm in the forecast for that region. We actually landed ahead of schedule back at EWR – but then had to wait a whole hour before our gate opened up…traveling is SO much fun!
 
Here are a few impressions:

It is still such a thrill to play with this band – in my opinion probably the most challenging gig in town both mentally and physically! For all the fans of this incredible band, there is a new, amazing book out now about the 50-year history of the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Big Band/Vanguard Jazz Orchestra.

It can be ordered at https://www.skydeckmusic.com/50-years-at-the-village-vanguard - worth every penny!
 
Anyway, I have one gig left with them in March, hope to see you there:
 
Monday, March 11, sets at 8:30 and 10:30 pm
The Village Vanguard, 178 7^th Ave S, New York, NY
For tickets: https://villagevanguard.squadup.com/
 

I've heard so much about this festival over the years: the "Big Ears Festival" in Knoxville, TN. I just looked up this year's line-up at https://bigearsfestival.org/lineup/#/ - do they really fit all of these bands in over the course of just a four-day weekend???

Unbelievable…well, we'll be performing at the Bijou Theater on Saturday, March 23 at 2 pm:

It's been almost 30 years since I met pianist Bill Mays at the North Sea Jazz Festival in The Hague, Holland. He became my friend and mentor, and is one of the main reasons for my 1996 move to NYC; he used to recommend me to anybody who'd listen to him, AND I even got to meet my wife Maria through him!
Yes, I do owe him a lot…

During the recording session for my "Family" (A-Records/Challenge 1997) album, I returned some of his many favors by introducing him to the immensely talented and charismatic drummer Matt Wilson; that turned out to be the birth of the "Mays/Wilson/Wind" trio. After the self-produced debut album "Out in P.A." we recorded four wonderful albums for "Palmetto Records" and played in the U.S. and Europe for several years.

About 12 years ago Bill started to focus more on writing for and performing with his new "Inventions Trio" featuring Marvin Stamm (trumpet) and Alisa Horn (cello), while both Matt and I got more and more busy leading our own ensembles.

Well, I think that it's official: we're back together! Last September Bill, Matt and I played a couple of sets at the legendary "Deer Head Inn" as part of the COTA (Celebration of the Arts) festival at the Delaware Water Gap. After hearing the "tapes", Bill decided to release the live recording on his "No Blooze Music Label".
 
The album is available on iTunes, CD Baby, and Bill's website www.billmays.net.
 

Live at Cota press release
 
So much for Bill's claims to be in "semi-retirement"…and our next studio recording is already booked for the end of June!

While working on this newsletter I received this photo of two of my favorite people in the world:  John Clayton and Philip Catherine – we are talking royalty here