Quiet week? Sort of...

Hi friends!

It' is a "slow time" for me, with not many gigs, but as I say that I realize time is full as ever and wonder what slow even means. It's about music, but so much more as well. My garden is off to a good start and I am looking forward to being around home a little more and growing food - for people, yes, but ALSO for the bees. Time with family as well... and looking at random old snapshots.

Dexter with Mike DiMicco and Atrie Traum, back in the day!

I have to reiterate how excited I am about the new Lionel Young CD - found a song order that sets every song on fire (to me!) We are exploring how it will be released - your ideas are welcome. Anybody out there with a big record company waiting for the next really cool thing? And making great progress with the Dexter Payne CD, that should be along this summer. Unless I get a real surprise, that will be out on the Dexofon label.

Just off the phone with Lionel, and he informed me that, in his constant rotation at the biweekly blues jam he is using, tonight, Jay Forrest and Kim Stone are his rhythm section. SO, you will find me at the Outlook Blues Jam tonight 7:30-8pm. A little reunion, as it were.

Monday (Memorial Day) will start early with a set by Boulder Samba School's Bateria Alegria not far from the finish line of the Boulder Bolder. Yes, folks, I will be playing percussion at 9:30 am in McGuckens parking lot! Whew!

Then Tuesday I am shooting a video with the usual suspects, the occasion being a cooking video with fantastic Indian chef Sunana Batra. So, soon we will have a nice video of Brazilian music, with Bill Kopper, Dave Willey, Raoul Rossiter and Victor Mestas Perez.

After a week filled with rehearsals and gardening, maybe a hike (I hope) I will go to the Cheyenne Depot Plaza Friday with Tito Malaga and his brand of Moroccan andalusian music.

Not bad for a week off! Please come out and support live music, on the ground!

Stay tuned for shows to come with all the great permutations I get to perform with: Greeley Blues Fest, Westminster Jazz Fest, Caffe Sole, Midday Music Meditation, Monday Night Music Meditation, Swallow Hill with Marrakech Express, Vail Jazz, Frasca Malaria Benefit, Thornton Concert Series, Winter Park Fest, Longmont Jazz Fest, Boulder Brazil Fest, Crestone Music Fest,   and much more!

All the best,

Dexter

Denver rush - today with Swing je T'aime!

Hi friends,

This is a real quick note to let you know last minute about Denver shows. Can't help a small tangent to say we have mastered the Lionel Young Band CD and it sounds great! I just found a new song order that , I think, lights up all the songs - can't wait to get it out to you.

And, as long as I'm digressing... Very soon the Dexter Payne Quartet will be featured on a n internet cooking show. Yes, that's what I said - Sunana Batra is a fabulos Indian chef who does cookin videos and we are putting together a show with the quartet. And the Quartet CD is coming along, too!

Lots of great shows in the coming weeks, but right now I want to let you know about two dates I am doing for Five Points Jazz Festival, subbing with Aaron Walker's "Swing je T'aime". 'Scuse my French - but it is a very cool project, gypsy jazz and much more, by some really top musicians, cant wait to play with them... hope you will come out, lots of great music!

See you there!
Dexter

THUR  May 16,  12:15-1pm  McNichols Building (Denver Civic Center, Colfax & Bannock)
Swing je T'aime

SAT  May 18,  12:30-2pm  Five Points Jazz (Welton St, Den)

Swing je T'aime

May Day

Dear friends,

That was yesterday, this is today. All the snow is melting (again) and the rush is on. Not much time for reflection here - funny how the kinetics of the name Spring always seems self-fulfilling. We are sure jumping forward into something! The key is keeping the motion upward. Where we land... we will know soon enough. Suddenly I am reminded of the perspective of a bronc riding rodeo champ I met with BarBQ Bob years ago in Babb MT. Warned about the water in the road as we stumbled in the dark between the only two bars in town, he said "I was here before the puddles!"

Sadly, Montana is on my mind a lot. Dear friend of forty some years and pianaist for the Big Sky Mudflaps, Steve Powell ended this earthly sojourn two weeks ago. His struggle with cancer can hardly be called that, hiking, skiing and playing music up til eight days before moving on, Steve lived life fully and though he will be missed deeply, his example and his openness and warmth of spirit live on.

So do we! Lets celebrate life, starting tonight! New band, and a chance to play in Denver combine tonight with Marrakech Express at the Gypsy House Cafe. Hey Denver! Come say Hi and hear the really great Moroccan music of Tito Malaga! Bateria Alegria will parade on the Mall at 7 Fri - stroll/samba with us al fresco! And Saturday, a special daytime chance to hear some permutation of Dexter Payne Quartet, possibly with Victor Mestas Perez on piano, maybe even Francisco Marques on percussion/guitar?

Next week is MidDay Music Meditation Wed at 12, AND Dexter Payne Quartet at Caffe Sole at 7:30 Thurs. That's right, the 2nd Wed and the 2nd Thursday of the month! Cannot tell you how much we all appreciate your ongoing support - it's you who keep these events on the calendar! The Quartet has some fun stuff coming up, including plans for a video shoot with Sunana Bata, the "Dinner at Your House" chef.

Lionel Young Band has a final master for our new CD and we are weighing options for release. If you have any leads or bright ideas... the line is open!

See you soon,
Dexter

THUR  May 2, 7pm  Gypsy House Cafe (1279 Marion, Den)

Marrakech Express :Tito Malaga, Bret Bowen, Anthony Salvo, Dexter Payne

FRI  May 3,  7pm  Pearl Street Mall @ Broadway
Bateria Alegria (Boulder Samba School)

SAT  May 4, 3-6pm  Robb's Boulder Music (30th bet Mapleton & Valmont, Bldr)
Dexter Payne Quartet

WED  May 8,   12pm Boulder Library (9th St & Canyon, Bldr)
MidDay Music Meditation

THUR  May 9, 7:30pm  Caffe Sole (Table Mesa Shopping Center, Bldr)
Dexter Payne Quartet wi Bill Kopper, Dave Willey, Raoul Rossiter