Last night’s concert with The Papa John DeFrancesco Quartet at the MIM was epic for me.
From the first downbeat to the last, I was smiling ear to ear for so many reasons; I was performing with an institution in the jazz world, Papa John DeFrancesco, I was performing with some of the most amazing musicians, we were playing in one of the best venues in all of Arizona, people actually bought tickets to see us perform and we were the entertainment…we were not background music, we were not competing with TVs, there were no sounds of glasses clanking or the smell of food. It was all about us!
Yes, I can play the drums and I’m not half bad. Yes, I have worked all my life to sharpen my skills. Yes, the world of a professional musician is really tough unless you have gotten “your break” which became very evident to me when after the show, I had to break down my own gear [Ha!! Ha!!]
Ultimately for me though, it all came down to the people I love and the people who love me back. I looked out into the audience and saw so many faces the were familiar to me and it simply melted my heart. What really mattered to me in the end last night was, that without all of you, Jo Ellen, my family, my friends, my fans, my students, last night would have simply been a rehearsal. With out all of you, everything that I work so hard at each and everyday, means nothing if I can’t share it with the world.
Right now, all of you who came to the show last night, are my world. I love you all very, very much and I want you to know how grateful I am to have you in my life. Without your continued support, everything I do falls on deaf ears.
From the bottom of my heart, I thank you all for making me feel so very special which fuels me to continue this journey as a professional musician.
OXOXOXOX…Joe
