Greetings!
OK... round two. After sending my first newsletter last month, the positive feedback has been great. And, I hope you enjoy reading this latest issue.
The Word
This month's word is 'dedication.' Dedication applies to the sacrifices and to the lengths one goes through to be a part of their art - to be a part of their love. Sometimes things that seem really glamorous from the outside, there's been a long road to go on the inside. You may see a musician on stage and think, 'Wow, look at him. He's just having a great time.' But that doesn't speak to the many times he's had to sit in a room alone and practice, study, read, learn his craft -- his art. It takes dedication in the alone times to receive these gifts. And it could be anything in life -- a profession, sports, another art form... it takes dedication to reach that higher level. And I can't talk about dedication without mentioning the dedication of one's family. When your family recognizes the importance of your work, they make sacrifices too -- they do without you there in their world -- in good times and bad. This is something I've been thinking a lot about lately. And, I realize God has blessed me with a great, loving, supportive family throughout my career. It is their dedication that also inspires me.
From the Road
We had the most interesting weekend I've had in a long time playing Wanee Festival. It was a little late this year due to scheduling, but there were about 10,000 peple that came out. It was so crazy because we left that Friday morning and drove to Florida, set up and played, and after the gig, we left to the Atlanta airport to fly to Canada. The big thing... it was Derek's 30th birthday. I remember his 15th birthday and now I'm here on his 30th birthday. The actual celebration with the festival was great. The Allman Brothers sounded great - they were at the top of their game. Susan (Tedeschi) sounded great... and Gov't Mule sounded really great. Everybody felt good and it was a good vibration for all.
We went to Toronto, Canada quickly the next day and played the Luminato Festival and it was called the 'World of Slide' featuring Jerry Douglas, Sonny Landreth, Derek, and a host of other players. We were the closers of that show and ended up having almost all the slide players getting up and playing with us at the end of the show. It was in the streets of Toronto so it was really wonderful. We left Luminato Festival and went right to my hometown of Detroit, Michigan. I was so excited about playing because we hadn't played there since the Detroit Jazz Festival a year ago. I actually had 14 guests, my sister, nieces, nephew, and extended family. It was truly awesome. And, the next night we played Grand Rapids at Meijer Gardens.
And, as of this writing, I've already been home for a couple days, played some key dates in Atlanta, and am back out on the road with the dTb. More to come next time!
What I'm Listening to...
One of the dTb's dearest friends and mentor, Ali Akbar Khan, a sarod master, recently passed away at age 87. All of us (dTb) studied with him at his school (Ali Akbar Music College), and it saddens us to lose him. I have his 'Then and Now' album in my iPod. I'm also listening to the London Symphony Orchestra playing Beethoven's 5th, Sarah Vaugh's, World On a String, and Nina Simone's, I Ain't Got No I Got Life. Also, I've got two albums by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan in my iPod -- The Ultimate Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan: The Early Years and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, The Final Studio Recordings. If you get a chance, check these out.
Ok, if you made it this far, thank you! I'm happy to share information about myself and my music with you in this format. Please feel free to write me regarding this newsletter at: ysbmusic@gmail.com.
Again, thank you for your everlasting support,
Yonrico Scott
Yonrico Scott Band
OK... round two. After sending my first newsletter last month, the positive feedback has been great. And, I hope you enjoy reading this latest issue.
The Word
This month's word is 'dedication.' Dedication applies to the sacrifices and to the lengths one goes through to be a part of their art - to be a part of their love. Sometimes things that seem really glamorous from the outside, there's been a long road to go on the inside. You may see a musician on stage and think, 'Wow, look at him. He's just having a great time.' But that doesn't speak to the many times he's had to sit in a room alone and practice, study, read, learn his craft -- his art. It takes dedication in the alone times to receive these gifts. And it could be anything in life -- a profession, sports, another art form... it takes dedication to reach that higher level. And I can't talk about dedication without mentioning the dedication of one's family. When your family recognizes the importance of your work, they make sacrifices too -- they do without you there in their world -- in good times and bad. This is something I've been thinking a lot about lately. And, I realize God has blessed me with a great, loving, supportive family throughout my career. It is their dedication that also inspires me.
From the Road
We had the most interesting weekend I've had in a long time playing Wanee Festival. It was a little late this year due to scheduling, but there were about 10,000 peple that came out. It was so crazy because we left that Friday morning and drove to Florida, set up and played, and after the gig, we left to the Atlanta airport to fly to Canada. The big thing... it was Derek's 30th birthday. I remember his 15th birthday and now I'm here on his 30th birthday. The actual celebration with the festival was great. The Allman Brothers sounded great - they were at the top of their game. Susan (Tedeschi) sounded great... and Gov't Mule sounded really great. Everybody felt good and it was a good vibration for all.
We went to Toronto, Canada quickly the next day and played the Luminato Festival and it was called the 'World of Slide' featuring Jerry Douglas, Sonny Landreth, Derek, and a host of other players. We were the closers of that show and ended up having almost all the slide players getting up and playing with us at the end of the show. It was in the streets of Toronto so it was really wonderful. We left Luminato Festival and went right to my hometown of Detroit, Michigan. I was so excited about playing because we hadn't played there since the Detroit Jazz Festival a year ago. I actually had 14 guests, my sister, nieces, nephew, and extended family. It was truly awesome. And, the next night we played Grand Rapids at Meijer Gardens.
And, as of this writing, I've already been home for a couple days, played some key dates in Atlanta, and am back out on the road with the dTb. More to come next time!
What I'm Listening to...
One of the dTb's dearest friends and mentor, Ali Akbar Khan, a sarod master, recently passed away at age 87. All of us (dTb) studied with him at his school (Ali Akbar Music College), and it saddens us to lose him. I have his 'Then and Now' album in my iPod. I'm also listening to the London Symphony Orchestra playing Beethoven's 5th, Sarah Vaugh's, World On a String, and Nina Simone's, I Ain't Got No I Got Life. Also, I've got two albums by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan in my iPod -- The Ultimate Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan: The Early Years and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, The Final Studio Recordings. If you get a chance, check these out.
Ok, if you made it this far, thank you! I'm happy to share information about myself and my music with you in this format. Please feel free to write me regarding this newsletter at: ysbmusic@gmail.com.
Again, thank you for your everlasting support,
Yonrico Scott
Yonrico Scott Band
