Celebrating 80 Years of Fred

Fred turned 80 on the Fourth of July, in the middle of a European tour that had him, like the song says, "On the Road Again." 

He made a wish and blew out some candles on the birthday fruit platter that's part of the whole food plant-based lifestyle largely responsible for his continuing tour-ability. It was a joyful day filled with gratitude to the many family, friends and fans who sent greetings and signed into to the birthday zoom party that included a live broadcast of the concert that night in Brugnera, Italy. Special thanks to music journalist Jean-Paul Shiver, who wrote these reflections for the San Francisco-based publication 48 Hills.

Local photographer and musicologist Pio Dal Cin caught the below shot along with many others at the birthday show, which about 40 people attended from around the world. Pio Dal Cin also caught this fun snippet of video that night.

Fred's tour started June 23 and wound through Germany, France, Austria, Slovenia, Serbia and Italy before ending at the Mostly Jazz Festival in Birmingham, where the New JBs' performance got rained out on July 8. After a brief 10-day break at home, the band heads back to Europe on July 19 for more shows in Spain, France and again Italy. Check the calendar for a complete list. Especially note the next chance to catch the band in the U.S., at Seattle's Jazz Alley, Aug. 24-27.

Please enjoy these photos.

Fred doing a quick line check before the set that never happened in Birmingham.

An even quicker interview with the UK's Jazz FM before a rainstorm forced evacuation of the park.

Fred and his cats working the crowd and the Lent Festival in Maribor, Slovenia.

Rolf Kissling took the following three photos at this year's Jazz Baltica fesrival, to which Swedish trombonist Nils Landgren invited the band, and at which he sat in on "House Party," which he also plays with his own band. Rolf also shared the last pic, a blast from the past taken sometime in the 1990s during a show with Bootsy Collins.