Indy

INDIANAPOLIS, IN:

Our trumpet player, Patrick, is from here.  

He allowed me and the trombonist to stay at his place for the week!

Patrick and I were born four days apart, his Birthday on 4/1 and mine on 4/5.

We had a few Birthday celebration outings here.

Got to see the National tour of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST in a nearby city

Birthday gift from our Associate Conductor, Shane.

The Percussive Arts Society Museum is located in Indy.  Naturally, I went.

Gene Krupa's drum set

Buddy Rich's drum set

Neil Peart's drum set

An early drum set

Rockin' out

Got to see the Symphony!

Indianapolis Symphony

Dinner at a Mediterranean restaurant in Broad Ripple

Birthday festivities

Akron, University Park, Clinton Township, Erie

AKRON, OH:

It snowed!

Akron in March

UNIVERSITY PARK, PA:

We walked to the venue here!  This is a college town, so there were some great places to hang out after the show.  I specifically going to a bar with an awesome beer selection, but our bartender had no clue how to pour a beer.

CLINTON TOWNSHIP, MI:

We had to commute from our hotel to the venue on our tour bus.

The hotel smelled like weed and prostitutes. 

If I ever play this city again DO NOT STAY AT THIS HOTEL!

One of the worst hotels I have ever stayed in.

ERIE, PA:

Nothing too special here.  This is the second time I have played Erie.  It was nice to be staying in downtown and walk to the venue again.

Jacksonville, FL.

I saw PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, my first Broadway tour, here years ago.  

Pretty cool to come back and perform in the same space.

Amanda wasn't going to be able to be there for my Birthday in Indianapolis, so she came here and threw me a surprise party in the hotel!

One of my gifts!

NOLA

NEW ORLEANS, LA:

I really love New Orleans!  So much food.  So much music.  So much culture.   

This is my second time performing in this city and probably my fifth time visiting.

While we didn't stay anywhere near downtown 

(our hotel was about nine miles northeast of the city center), we did have some good times!

At least I saved some money not being tempted to go out every night and eat everything in sight.

Saw some great jazz and had some great nights out with friends.  Definitely my favorite time visiting this wonderful city!

We sold out every performance! 

Near my hotel.  And it wasn't even hurricane season...

Night out with the trumpet player and a dancer from my show.
We watched the amazing Jeremy Davenport (trumpet player for Harry Connick Jr.) perform at The Ritz.

The inside of our venue.

A cool light fixture inside a Starbucks off Canal Street.

No trip would be complete without it.
Café au lait and beignets from Café Du Monde.