Earlier this year I got a call from Grace Love asking if I’d want to play sax and lead a horn
section for a show at the Paramount with Melissa Etheridge doing a Stax review. That was an
easy Yes! What a cool body of music that comprises the classic Memphis sound, thank you
Melissa!, and thank you Grace! I spent 2 weeks scouring over charts, listening to the music and
worked out a very solid horn section with Katie Green on trumpet and Jeff Terada on tenor sax.
I was also asked to lay down a big baritone solo with Melissa on her tune: Any other way . That
was a rewarding moment!

We shared delicious catered meals with the band, Melissa and her partner. I can’t say
enough about how completely cool and down to earth she is. It was especially fun to see my
long time collaborator and close friend Katie chat it up and have so much in common with
Melissa. What a long and winding road, a long strange trip or any other song with a similar title. I
never expected I’d wind up in this situation yet I was completely prepared for it and it felt really
good.

The big takeaway for me were these words encouragement from Melissa when I handed her a
Mts. & Tunnels CD: “Don’t stop making music, the world needs it.” Ok, Melissa, I won’t. Anyone
who has a life in the arts knows how it goes, The big highs come with big lows. It’s certainly an
up and down lifestyle that can make people crazy but we have to hang in there. We do it for the
love and the joy of sharing music with others. The very essence of music lies in fleeting
moments that underscore the human experience by design. It comes and goes like waves on a
beach, it can be felt but not heald. Melissa is a rockstar, a great songwriter, guitarist and band
leader. She has a humble demeanor and is a blast to hang out with. Would I do it again? Sure!
But for now I’m getting back to work on my next album.