Nate does some late-night stand-up at the Laugh Factory near Times Sqare.



After an evening of comedy, Nate takes the stage for a photo. The family needed to exercise their laugh muscles during the Christmas week in NYC so we took in some comedy including some very funny local professionals.

While in Manhattan over Christmas we dropped in to see the incomparable Les Paul. His name is embossed on many of the guitars used in rock and jazz over the last half century. He is also partly responsible for innovating multi-track recording.

<-now & then (with Mary)->

Although he is 91 years old he plays two shows every Monday at the club and has been playing there for over twenty years. Mr. Paul is currently backed up by three very talented musicians including a wonderful Austrailian female bass player who can really sing. His rhythm player really worked his own Gibson Les Paul.

Tim and I went to LA to see the Who at the Hollywood Bowl. Need I say more? Great seats, great weather and real rock music.



The latest album (the first since 1982) is worth a listen. Some incredible stuff.

We saw Sonny Rollins in November at the Scottsdale Center for the Arts. What a show! It was a nice way to end a great weekend.



His new album is hot, it was recorded on his own label, Doxy Records, coming off a tour in Japan. He is a true cat. Check out Sonny, Please... please.

Don't take my word for it... go to http://www.sonnyrollins.com/lgb/
note the posting from the Dixie Chicks' pedal steel guitar player, Pete Finney: "I'm sitting in a hotel in Scottsdale a few blocks from where you'll be playing tomorrow and I'm heartbroken to have to miss it; I'll be across town playing in a basketball arena with "The Dixie Chicks", my current employers..."

What a treat to get this image on my cell phone while I was a few thousand miles away. It is a metal sculpture on the grounds of Scottsdale Center for the Arts.



Thanks, Valerie.