Well, it’s time for the University of North Texas’s GRAMMY NOMINEES (Steve and the One O’clock Lab Band, BOTH!) to show up…with the hopes of walking away with the coveted prize, but as Lab Band director Steve Wiest put it…he felt like he won already!

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Neil Slater & Philippe Willems

Even if neither he nor the band “takes one home tonight” (each is nominated for best jazz composition, and best large jazz ensemble, respectively) – the awesomeness of the nominations are as UNT’s President Bataille stated – (paraphrased) “it puts them in the enviable position held by UNT alone, of being the only Music College in America (and the world!) to have ANY Grammy nominations” – they have 6 – COUNT ‘EM…that’s 1975, 1976…then again in 1989 and 1991…and now 2 in one year!!! CONGRATULATIONS ARE IN ORDER TO EVERYONE INVOLVED!

It was pleasure this morning to re-connect with several people I’ve known and played with over the years, and make some new friends…and share the excitement with everyone – of hearing the band live in the intimate Gold Room at the Biltmore Millennium Hotel. It was quite a spectacle to behold. WOW! The band was on fire, and they’re off to the races (I hope you win one this time…now that would be a singularly spectacular highlight of it all – and if not, well…back to what Steve said!).

You guys are all going to have incredible careers…and already do! KUDOS, again, and thanks for having me be a part of it! Cheers to everyone at UNT!

I hope some of you reading this had the opportunity to see the show…or at least attend some of the concert events and parties in the area! The energy was infectious, and it was a good sign that some exciting things are coming to our industry this year. If you are optimistic about your music/work…then being at NAMM was quite an encouragement even above that!

Anyone who believes in their project(s) should be reassured that 2010 is going to present some great opportunities. Also, if you wonder what you can do to make it a great year…something I saw over and over again, and had the occasion to hear from others…is that we have more going for us now than ever before. The reality that technology has brought us to a new independent “know-how” and “capability” is already a done-deal. JUST DO IT. If you don’t have a “rig” yet, put one together, and GET IT TOGETHER. Produce to your heart’s content, and get the content out there! There is no excuse (not to), just apathy (laziness)! Let’s GO (or as was said on 9-11…let’s roll) – and to borrow and further that idea, in our case: LET’S ROCK ‘N ROLL – and all other styles, of course :-)

Hope to cross paths with you soon, …and keep modulating!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!