One Man's Music

My first show as Vince Bell's sideman was a great personal and professional success! Thereby opening the latest chapter of my career in music. Vince and I have been rehearsing pretty rigorously for months, and enjoying each other's company and the sear pleasure of playing music together. And that's all fine and good until it's time for a show in front of an audience. I reminded myself before the show last night that if I'm not indeed adding to what Vince is doing, I will be prepared to step aside. It's not an ego thing, or a lack of self confidence thing...it's about my respect for Vince and his music.

I am not a session or jam player by any stretch of the word and I never intended to be. I'm a singer songwriter and I've been strictly faithful to that avenue ever since I wrote my first song. I never considered playing with another songwriter...mainly because my musicianship barely reaches beyond my need to write music...I can play well enough to communicate the musical ideas for the songs I write, but that's about it. So imagine my surprise when Vince asked me to play with him! Besides being incredibly honored, I was also incredibly intimidated. And I can say without any doubt if anyone else besides Vince had asked me the answer would have been no. However my first introduction to Vince was seeing his "One Man's Music" show...where he essentially tells his life story...and details the car accident that left him mangled and comatose...and the miraculous story of his recovery...which was fueled by his own determination and life force. I was like, "How can I tell this man no? How can I say to him 'I can't do this?'" Especially since I was so inspired by his music that first night that I came home and wrote a song the very next day.

The bottom line is this...our first show together proved that I can add to what Vince is doing. And certainly, working with him has added a lot to my life as well. In the short time we've known each other I have learned a lot about music and performance...but even more than that I've learned about integrity. Vince has that in spades...and frankly that's rare in this business. Vince is a good, honest, sincere and very, VERY funny man! No to mention one of the most talented people I've ever had the privilege of knowing. I think we're onto something...I think we have a lot to offer as a duo...and I am, for the first time in many, many years, excited about my life in music again!