Originally written 11/14/2003.I managed to get a ticket last weekend to see Keith Jarrett, Jack DeJohnette, and Gary Peacock (the "Trio at 20") as the closing headliners of the SF JazzFest; I've never seen the group live before, so I don't know what the standard etiquette is, but I was surprised when His Keithness began speaking after the band had been introduced (since he has a reputation as something of a "difficult" performer). "Twenty years," he said, "is not really enough." He spoke haltingly, in choppy phrases that suggested this wasn't something he'd prepared; he closed his remarks by saying (and this is only my best recollection), "I feel like we should thank... I don’t know, whoever we need to thank, certainly not us. We sometimes sit backstage and think, 'What is it exactly, that we do?' People come to hear us, I guess, and we show up on the stage, and... something happens."Something then proceeded to happen for the next few hours—based on the large swaths of time I've devoted to listening to the Trio’s recordings over the years, I would say they had a hell of a night. The second set was especially good, opening with the rarely-played "Golden Earring" (not the rock band), a fast and rollicking version of "All the Things..." (with a long sheets-of-sound-y solo intro from Keith), and a re-creation of the funky rendition of "God Bless the Child" as heard on their very first studio recording twenty years ago. The crowd was relentlessly appreciative, and wouldn't leave until they were placated with two encores (a muted "When I Fall in Love" and a wild, quick version of "When Will the Blues Leave?", complete with frightening fills from Jack played on those little bowls attached to his cymbals). It made me think, "Oh yeah... this was why I got into this business."

This is a website where I'll be announcing any performances I have coming up, as well as posting occasional music-related thoughts, reviews and reminiscences, and hopefully MP3s as they become available. Thanks for visiting.

Seven Lies I Will Tell You to Get You to Come to My Gig Tuesday

• The first 50 guests will receive complimentary hammerhead shark chowder in a sourdough bread bowl.
• A dazzling pyrotechnic and laser-light display is being assembled for the last tune, a musical tribute to the non-Star Trek acting career of the late James "Scotty" Doohan.
• This week we will be playing only music written by gay or transgendered dwarfs of Slavic descent in solidarity with their cause.
• Arun Luthra, who is visiting from New York and will be sitting in with the band, is actually fourth in line for the throne of the Kingdom of Southwest Norway (in exile).
• All proceeds from drink sales will be donated to relief efforts for next week's catastrophic volcano eruption in New Jersey.
• Miles Davis once said, "Ian is a bad !#$@f*&% who never #$%* no $@#^ off nobody and %$#@ his *$&@! #$&@* all the $%&* time."
• It's not my birthday.

WHO: Ian, trumpet, withAdam Shulman, pianoJoe Cohen, saxophoneKurt Kotheimer, bassJon Arkin, drums...and special guest Arun Luthra on saxophone, direct from Noo Yawk!WHERE: The House of Shields, 39 New Montgomery St. (betw. Market & Mission)WHEN: Tuesday, July 26, 5:30-8:30 p.m.HOW MUCH: Just pennies a day.

Ian's Gig Announcement: The Mad Libs EditionHowdy [plural noun]! I'd like to [verb] you about my big [adjective] hour show coming up TONIGHT at the House of [plural noun], a quaint little [noun] nestled in San Francisco's [adjective] District where everybody knows your [noun], and you're always [adjective] you [past-tense verb]! [Exclamation] yeah!You'll hear the [noun] play some of my [plural noun] as well as plenty of old [plural noun]. We also have [very large number] special guests including the [adjective] Dayna Stephens, who's back from [geographical location] and sounding really [adjective]—and I mean REALLY [adjective]—along with newcomers [name of person in room] on drums and Kurt [German-sounding last name] on [musical instrument]. It's going to so be [adjective] you'll shout "[exclamation]", or my name isn't [celebrity]!I don't give a [animal]'s [part of the body] whether you have tickets to the [name of sport] game, or a date with [female celebrity] (and her [adjective] [part of the body]—hubba hubba!) or even an appointment to get your [part of the body] waxed... you better get your [part of the body] down to the [noun] of Shields tonight. You'll be really [adjective] you did, you [relative] of a [noun]!And remember, on Tuesdays, ladies [verb] free!WHO: Ian [nonsense word], [musical instrument], withAdam Shulman, pianoDayna Stephens, saxophoneBrian Bowman, drumsKurt Kotheimer, bassWHERE: The House of Shields, 39 [adjective] Montgomery St. (betw. Market & Mission), San [Spanish name].WHEN: TONIGHT, Tuesday, July 12, 5:30-8:30 p.m.HOW MUCH: Not [number] [color] [monetary unit].

My Gig Announcement, as Translated from English to German, then Back to English, then to Dutch, then English AgainThe hello music of supporter lives, is regulates it again for me you with my two weekly concert notification to spoil. That the Ian want to revise acts will export kwintet incredible everybody jazz under in this next Tuesday at the known and notorious house of the signs, becomes that within the quite financial district of San Francisco angeschmiegt.We will is mark act first this week that two guests Tim Bulkley, percussie and entertainer extra order irises, that want to can will be connected is appeared around city on different class nightclubs; moreover heard, by the known and exceptional Lorenzo Farrell we at the first time, that known with many and at striking artist and ensembles.In it its no lid expenses consequently that on under comes, take self a bar bungle and your sorrow to the astonishing sounds drowns the Jazz of Ian kwintet! To missed to not to become!---WHO: Me, trumpet, withAdam Shulman, pianoEvan Francis, saxophoneTim Bulkley, drumsLorenzo Farrell, bassWHEN: Tuesday, June 28, 5:30-8:30 pmWHERE: The House of Shields, 39 New Montgomery, SF.

Ian Carey Quintet: Frequently Asked QuestionsWe get a lot of mail here at the Ian Carey Quintet headquarters, so we thought we'd take a moment to answer some of the more frequently encountered queries from our friendly fans.1. Why do you only play at the House of Shields? Are you afraid of success or something?A: Deathly afraid. Tip me off about a possible new place to play and I might try to overcome this fear. And don't say "Yoshi's." You want to say it, don't you? I freaking dare you to say "Yoshi's."2. Is it true that you once shot Wynton Marsalis in Reno just to watch him die?A: Absolutely, although it wasn't actually Wynton, and it wasn't to watch him die. It was actually Miles Davis, and I did it to purge myself of his pervasive influence on my trumpet playing and relationship skills. Watching him die was a bonus.3. How come you never have a vibraphone player in your band? Are you an Anti-Vibite or something?A: Good question. I'll be correcting this injustice tomorrow night (Tuesday), when the group is joined by special guest Ben Adams on that very instrument.4. Why does your band have such a boring name?A: I guess I've gotten a little jaded with all the jazz groups these days with ridiculous names like "The Bad Plus" and "Sex Mob" and "The Duke Ellington Orchestra" and "Ian Presents Mitch Marcus's The Fred Randolph/John Arkin Group featuring Ben Adams," but I guess I can brainstorm for a while and see if anything more exciting comes to mind.5. Would it kill you to tell us about your gigs more than a day in advance?A: No, I s'pose not. The next few (barring "the House" suddenly deciding they're sick of looking at my ugly mug): June 7 and 24, July 12 and 26.6. Why are your gig announcements so damn long? Would you get to the point already?A: Fair enough. The point is:Me, trumpet, with:Mitch Marcus, saxophoneBen Adams, vibraphoneFred Randolph, bass, andJohn Arkin, drumsTuesday, June 7, 5:30-8:30 p.m., at the House of Shields, 39 New Montgomery, SFNO COVER