Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Home, relishing some great summer touring

Starting with a last-minute detour to Los Angeles for a second recording session with D'Angelo, Fred was on the road for 42 hard days in a row this summer -- celebrating his 69th birthday and four other birthdays along the way, and finishing with high spirits, strong chops and a brand new trombone.

At a glance, Fred's itinerary looked like this:
Here are some pictures and more, continuing the picture story begun earlier, then later expounded upon.

Monsegur, France

The last stop on the first leg of New JBs tour, before the band went home for 10 days, was a festival in rainy yet still swinging Monsegur.
The New JBs joined onstage by a local brass band.


Fred and Joya making use of Fred's Brazilian umbrella gift from Pee Wee Ellis.
The New JBs onstage.

Konstanz with the Amrod Band

Located on beautiful Lake Constance, which borders Germany, Switzerland and Austria, Konstanz is home to Paul Amrod, the Julliard-trained composer brother of Fred's old bus-driving friend Willi Amrod. Three performances there with their Amrod Band, along with a rehearsal in a bizarre TV studio somewhere in Switzerland, marked the release of Willi's new CD, "Everywhere is Outta Town."
Lake Constance
Swiss television station rehearsal.
(r-l) Willi, Sue, Gene, Nina.
The Amrod Band onstage.
The Amod Band onstage, too.
With the Jamal Thomas Band

Fred made appearances with the JTB at the  Swinging' Groningen Festival in Holland, the Hot Jazz Club in Munster, Germany, and Colos Saal in Aschaffenburg, Germany.

Onstage at Colos-Saal with the JTB.
With Mark and Joep (pronounced "Yoop"), the JTB horn section.

With JTB singers Maria and Maureen.

With JTB guitarist Elco.

With JTB special guest, keyboardist Ed Grant.

With JTB drummer Alex Bernath and bassist Daniel Lottersberger.
Rath Trombones, Holmfirth, England

With his visit this summer, Fred joined a list of artists including Dennis Rollins, Conrad Herwig, and the Count Basie Orchestra's trombone section as an endorser of Michael Rath Trombones. (Thanks to Derrick Parker for the best of these photos.)

Fred at Rath Trombones.
Trombone testing.
With Mick Rath (right) and Rath director Chris Beaumont (left).
Fred in Holmfirth, West Yorkshire, England

Fred and Mick with their ales.
Holmfirth
Onstage with his new horn.
Onstage with the CTI Project.
With 13-year Rath endorser Dennis Rollins and Mick Rath's trombone-playing eldest son.

Bonneville, France

The New JBs reunited July 19 at the Pleins Feux Festival in Bonneville, France, then continued together through France and the Czech Republic. After the show in Prague, the band spent three off days there while Fred and Joya dashed to Spain and back.

The New JBs onstage.
Peter celebrating his birthday.
With tall festival volunteer "Audrey."
La Roche-sur-Yon, France

The New JBs onstage.
Gary celebrating his birthday as driver Harald Pfeuller looks on.
 Biarritz, France

Biarritz
The "coucher de soleil"(sunset) in Biarritz.

The New JBs onstage.

Joya celebrating her birthday.

Prague, Czech Republic

Ernie celebrating his birthday.
Click here for photos from the summer's earlier Czech gig (courtesy of Jana Holoubková Bodrinová and photographer Přemysl Fejfar).

Spain

Park performance for an internet show.
National television interview at Sala Caracol.
Band and radio personnel watching for the Mothership.
Spanish radio interview.
Spanish radio performance.
Fred onstage in Madrid with the Horn Dogz, Juan Rozoff and the B-Fam.

Frydek Mistek, Czech Republic

The New JBs onstage.
Posters advertising the show at Frydek Castle.
The New JBs gathered at Hotel Afrika on the tour's last night.


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