I’ve known saxophonist Eliot Gattegno for several years and have been consistently impressed by his playing. However, one of his most admirable traits as a musician is his determination to promote music for the saxophone not intended to stimulate the cognoscenti.

Sound strange? Find out why I feel that way by reading my guest post over on Baltimore Sun music critic Tim Smith’s blog, Clef Notes.

Last Wednesday, Mobtown Modern kicked off its third season at our new performance space. We had an amazing crowd, who definitely got their money’s worth with some stunning playing by special guest Todd Reynolds and the rest of the MM players.

Up next for Mobtown on October 7th is Low Art, which showcases myself on baritone and bass saxophones and our spectacular clarinetist Jennifer Everhart on bass clarinet. I’m obviously really excited about this show and a big reason is that all of the music I’m playing is stuff that I’ve wanted to play for quite some time but never got around to for whatever reason—David Lang’s Press Release, Scelsi’s Maknongan, Anubis et Nout by Gerard Grisey, and Lee Hyla’s awesome bari sax/bass clarinet duo We Speak Etruscan. Jenn’s also going to be playing some selections from Michael Lowenstern’s Ten Children.

It should be a fun night. Hope you can join us.

Luck was not on my side at last week’s Green Mountain Stage Race. In the last 150m of the 72-mile circuit race I was sitting pretty about 7th wheel when the genius to my right thought it would be a good idea to switch lines aggressively. He took three of us out at 35+mph. I started the next day—the queen stage—and felt great over the first two climbs. I was really looking forward to the summit finish at App Gap, but that was also not to be. On a dirt road section 60 miles into the race, my front wheel went into a deep pothole and slid out. I hit the deck again. Just bad luck this time. I would have continued but my rear wheel was punctured and the wheel van was 15-minutes behind us. I watched the race from the referee’s car. That sucked.

I’ve got a bruised knee and shoulder and plenty of road rash after those two crashes. Hopefully I paid some good luck forward for next season.

I have to admit that I had not heard of the Dirty Projectors until my friend Sarah, who owns the Metro Gallery bar/performance venue/art space in Baltimore, booked them to perform at Rufustival, the Gallery’s 2-year anniversary concert extravaganza. Since then, I’ve been listening to their latest CD non-stop.