Picto Diary - 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 February 2023 - The Winter of 2022/2023

Above: Jay Lawrence Payin’ My Dues, new big band Jazz Album. 21 February 2023.

Bishop, Executive Producer

This big band jazz album is a pinnacle of achievement for famed drummer, Jay Lawrence. Jay does all the writing on this album (compositions and arrangements on all except Cai Dentro which is his arrangement but not composition), plays drums and vibes and percussion, and leads an aggregation of first-class musicians to a victory of colossal proportions. This is stellar big band at it’s best!! The album features: Wayne Bergerson, Andy Martin, Bob Sheppard, Ed Calle, Bob McChesney, Dee Daniels, Clarice Assad, Nestor Torres, Kevin Ricard, Corey Christiansen, David Halliday, Kenji Aihara, Curtis Woodbury, Matt Larson, Austie Robinson, Kurt Reeder, Nate Campbell, Dan Jonas, Brian Woodbury, and more… This is a treat not to miss!

Payin’ My Dues Reviews

Lawrence’s “Payin’ My Dues” may feature a line-up of giants, but the real star on this recording is the band leader. If the definition of “dues” includes truly masterful writing and arranging in a wide range of styles, laying down a deep pocket, crafting genius solos, and leading several of the greatest jazz musicians on the planet, you can mark Jay’s dues as “paid in full”! –Caleb Chapman

Jay just finished your CD. Wow! Amazing! Loved it! I expected great drumming but didn’t expect such mastery of the “Big Band” composition and arranging technique. El Habanero with its compound rhythms blew me away. And, yup, you got the hyper-fast samba feel of Cai Dentro right. Overall, I really loved the super-tight, seamless integration of the drums and the orchestra. It was like this band had been on the road for months. Buddy Rich– eat your heart out! Great job, Jay. I take my hat off to you.
— Lex DeAzevedo

I just finished listening to “Payin’ My Dues”, a jazz big band album produced and arranged (and almost entirely composed) by Jay Lawrence. What a pleasure to hear high caliber playing and creative writing, such that it kept my attention and interest for its entire play time. Not only does the work boast an all-star cast of musicians, but it also reflects a tremendous amount of solid writing and arranging work. This is something I would expect from Jay Lawrence, who is not only a world-class drummer and percussionist, but an amazing and seasoned musician. As for the album flow generally, every tune has something unique and different to offer the listening experience. Jazz enthusiast listeners may notice fun hidden “easter eggs” throughout the arrangements in the form of familiar jazz themes and song quotes from the past. They will also love the cast of great players that contribute very fine playing and soloing throughout. “Payin’ My Dues” will have a permanent and well-deserved home in my collection.
–Michael Tobian

Seldom are musicians recognized adequately for their multiple skills that include creativity, fabulous performance, composing and arranging, and superior organization and business acumen that have made this marvelous recording, “Payin’ my Dues,” possible. Jay has managed to coalesce the best Utah musicians with jazz luminaries from all over North America to make this album among the best big band jazz albums I have ever heard. Take it home, give it your best attention, and put it in frequent rotation and in your jazz archives as a definite keepsake of Jay Lawrence’s capstone effort during a lifetime of artistic endeavor.

Not possible if you weren't such a beneficent supporter of artistic ventures. I have gratitude for you,, and a debt that I can't repay. Thank you Steve!!  -Jay Lawrence

Above: Iron Canyon. Park City, UT. 22 February 2023
The Winter of 2022/2023

Above: Iron Canyon. Park City, UT. 22 February 2023
Freddie Frolics in the snow.

Above: Iron Canyon. Park City, UT. 22 February 2023.
Disabled snowplow caused us thirty-minute delay getting home after dinner out. Supervisor showed up and wiggled the truck out of trouble. Maybe they should use chains?

Above: Mynduveroan and Glinda. Ocala, FL. 23 February 2023.
Image by Gerry (grandfather).

Above: Red Cloud Lift. Deer Valley, UT. 25 February 2023. 46 10 375. Two turns on Three Ply off Red Cloud Lift. Lift talk, Red Cloud Lift: Tall 45 something with his 14-year-old kid. Says he's from Bay Area and works in tech. I mention my affiliation with Hoover Institution at Stanford. He says:1. I'm having lunch with Peter Robinson next week.2. There aren't many of us conservatives left in San Francisco.3. I talked with Jay Bhattacharya at a cocktail in Woodside last week.4. I hear Hoover is trending woke. It's hard to resist Stanford's pull, I guess. Never found out his name or function, but he knows some top Hoover people! Empire Lodge: Coffee with Daggett. We trade book recommendations.

Above: Roy. Snowbasin, UT. 25 February 2023. Image by father, Koestler.

25 February 2023. My 5:00 PM MST Delta flight yesterday from SLC to Washington Dulles was rescheduled multiple times due absence of a first officer. The flight was finally rescheduled to depart at 10:00 AM MST today, fifteen hours later, to late for me to make my appointed rendezvous. I waited at the SLC airport from 3:00 PM yesterday to 10:00 PM last night when Delta finally posted the new 10:00 AM next day departure. I had to cancel. TIMDT obtained a refund on the ticket.

Yesterday's experience was a good template for an SNL skit. The first officer finally arrived on a flight from Phoenix at 9:30 PM to the cheers of many delayed passengers. At 10:00 PM it was announced that because the captain had been directed to pilot a Delta flight to Boise an hour earlier, the Dulles flight was still one pilot short and would have to be scheduled for the next morning. From a passenger point of view, no one seemed to be in charge. Supervisors were noticeably absent at critical times. A gate clerk, obviously uniformed until something flashed on her screen, stoically did her best to represent the airline.

Addendum:

So sorry to learn of your brother's passing. Pat and I send our condolences.
Tork, Sandy, UT.

We send our sympathy at this sad time of the loss of your dear brother. Thank you so much for sending this to us. We just arrived in Sarasota, Florida, where we will be with Ken’s siblings and we feel so lucky that they are all still alive. Love and sympathy to you and Margaret. Kate and Ken, Salt Lake City, UT.

Losing a brother is never easy. Please accept our condolences. Om Shanti. Neela/Jerry Bangalore, Karnataka.

So sorry to hear of his passing, Steve, An accomplished father, citizen, and child of God. Best wishes to his family and sibling(s). Panama, Los Angeles, CA

Steve, we’re so sorry for your loss. Dee sounds like a wonderful man who will be greatly missed. Sincerely, Gerry and Mary, Sarasota, FL
Steve, Condolences. AhnRhee, Larkspur, CA

He had a great life. Sad to hear the news. . .. Mano/Debbie San Jose, CA

Steve, please accept my condolences. I am sorry for your loss. Fenway, Park City, UT

Hello Steve,Our sincere condolences to the family. May his soul rest in peace. Regards, Mohan, Gurgaon, Haryana

We’re sorry for your loss. Find comfort in that he is in a far better place and no longer suffering. Warm Regards Rick & Katherine, Park City, UT
Steve- Our sincere condolences on the passing of your brother! Never easy but it’s good that he lived a full life despite having some health issues at a young age. I'm sure the family will carry some great memories forward. May his soul rest in peace. P.s. we just got to Chicago today to meet our 5th grandbaby who was born 3 days ago, 2 weeks before the due date. Hope this is it - 3 from the older son Neal and 2 now from the younger son Nikhil….Five is enough:) we got ourselves a condo in Palatine to be around the kids, although we still have our primary home in Plantation, FL. Regards, RJ and Laurie, Plantation, FL.
My condolences for the death of your brother. You’ll have great memories of your travels and time together with him. Much in common – Citibank, music, I’m sure the list goes on. F16, Park City, UT.

That is a beautiful and inspiring tribute to your wonderful brother, Steve! May Heaven's assurances comfort you and all who loved him. Your future reunion with him will be sweet. DrummerJ, Lehi, UT.

So sorry for your loss Steve and Margaret 'Cake and Maui, Park City, UT

Please accept my condolences on the passing of your brother. Sounds like he had a wonderful 40 plus years after a devastating diagnosis as a very young man. I didn't realize Citibank was a family workplace! I'm sure you have wonderful memories of your time growing up and after, as big and little brother--not sure which of you was littler. I am sure you were both big by all of our standards. Energy, Los Angeles, CA

Hello to Margaret and again, I am so very sorry for your loss. xxoo Carol, Hilton Head, SC

Thanks for sending your brother’s obit. A fine man he was. He fought thru more than his share of health challenges to forge a good life. Inspiring! I hope to be as lucky re grandchildren, but I doubt I will make it. I’m sorry for your loss. Jen and I send our condolences and best wishes. Jen and Buzz, Jackson, WY

Thank you so much for forwarding this sad news. I saw Michael today at work. I was so surprised by his passing.

I hope to get to the funeral but am pretty exhausted from today’s trip and just now getting home--- may have to see it on zoom.

Take care. The Monk, Salina, UT

Hi Banker/Bishop Steve:

Just came out of Vietnam, my sixth venture there. This time I used a Honda CRF250, a used one for $25/day. Didn't go far as it was cold and wet in Hanoi and the north - really just wanted to test my adventure motorcycling management skills in the infamous traffic of Hanoi...and survived again, didn't even make contact with another vehicle.

One of my acquaintances operates a motorcycle tour company based in Hanoi. They used to start their tours in the Old Quarter, but due to the stress level of their foreign clients and number of get-offs getting out of Hanoi, they now mini-bus the clients to the motorcycles kept out of town about 10-15 kilometers.

There is still a motorhead candy store of odd "motorcycles" in Vietnam, but it has declined significantly. Photo 1 and 2 was a draw for me: hand shifter on the left side, and an interesting fan adaptation for engine cooling - likely a 125-cc engine.

Saw three Starbucks, one Mickey D's and a Burger King, and then what is in photo # 3. Seeing the changes reminded me of what someone once said, "And there goes (downward) the neighborhood."

Actually, when I think of you and your motorcycle tour of Vietnam and the photos you sent years ago, it's the one you sent very similar to the last one attached herein that I remember: You riding in a rickshaw, same red color, and maybe even the same man-spread. LOL

The town tours of foreigners riding in red rickshaws has not changed since you were there, saw one group of 30 winding their way through traffic. Some tourists even took photographs of me taking photographs of them... (go figure that one out).

Regards,

Dr. G, still laughing at myself being photographed by tourists (and never taking myself too seriously).

Circa 2007: I remember well riding a Honda 650 standard, rented from the Hanoi Motorcycle Club, in the "school of fish" rush through the Hanoi intersections. That memory is only exceeded by my bike turning sideways near Quang Ngai at fifty MPH on a rain soaked, oil slicked two-lane highway while riding in the dark. Circa 1999: Riding in the dark at 50 mph near Essaouira, Morocco, narrowly missing a dog racing across the road. Circa 2006: Palermo, Sicily intersections... brutal. See everyone but look at no one, and go, hell bent for leather for the nearest open space. Circa 2009: Brahmaputra River Bridge, Guwahati, Assam. Cacophony of truck horns, auto rickshaw beeps and donkey bleats as one weaves his way, in and out, riding a thumper Royal Enfield through the chaos. Circa 2005: Riding at night, northbound on the E1 Expressway, Tokyo bound, on a Suzuki naked GSX 1300, the freeway more or less devoid of vehicles, in a typhoon. Circa 2004: Riding on Kawasaki KX 450 from Ayacucho to Abancay (Peru) seventy-five kilometers on a dirt construction road at night in the rain, through at least 20 water crossings. Circa 2002: Trying to keep a BMW 650 Funduro upright in the deep sand of the Gobi Desert in Mongolia. I got through it, but it wasn't pretty. I could go on.

Your observations and perspective on society's decline are spot on. I completely concur.
DrummerJ
P.S. Our album is being spun in most of the 50 states.

It was good living at the apex, at least.  It's a great album.  Remarkable accomplishment.