Let’s do this again!
April 20, 2026
And here we are, 15 years later, about to do it again, bigger, better, and honestly, still a little bit crazy. Saturday, April 25, 2026. 18 venues. 27+ bands. 100+ musicians. One ticket. We start at 5 PM and go…
Tag
jazz
“As a Musician do I need to pay taxes in Washington State?”
October 2, 2025
Do I Really Need a Business License as a Musician in Washington State? So all this talk about the new sales tax has resulted in my receiving many, many, many messages from musicians about taxes. Unfortunately, most of whom don’t…
The Band Director Handbook for Bebop by the Numbers is Now Available!
August 19, 2025
Well, here we go again. It’s time to push the go button on another project. I’m excited to share that my new book, Bebop by the Numbers – Band Director Handbook, “A Super Fun, Super Simple Step-by-Step Guide on How…
Lesson #4 – We are all individuals…
February 14, 2025
I woke up this morning thinking about this lesson again and I thought it was worth sharing, again. It’s from my book, Lessons from My Father Available on Amazon and wherever you buy books these days. #4 We are all…
Christmas by the Numbers
December 6, 2024
For my Bebop by the Numbers friends, here are 19 Christmas tunes by numbers. Tis the season, so have some fun.
Lesson #9- You can learn to enjoy Jazz. You can learn how to do anything.
September 7, 2023
My dad didn’t start out a Jazz fan at all. He found it confusing. He was not a musician, and he didn’t think of himself as having musical talent. Growing up, I rarely heard him sing, I sometimes heard him…
Why did you start a Jazz Festival in North Bend Washington of all places?
April 17, 2023
“Why did you start a jazz festival? In North Bend Washington, of all places?” Ha. The better question is probably, why do I still run a jazz festival in North Bend? For those of you that don’t know, I started…
Hey I published a book this month
March 31, 2023
I haven’t been blogging as much lately, but for a really good reason… I finished, and published my first book. [ Sidebar, I actually wrote another book before this one but didn’t publish it. ] Bebop by the Numbers is…
Lesson #4 – We are all individuals…
December 18, 2022
Wondering how I am doing in comparison with others has never helped me. It’s only led me to discouragement and despair. I don’t know if I will ever match my hero’s abilities, and there always seems to be someone better…
“Well that didn’t work out.” When plans change…
November 24, 2022
I have learned that it’s worth the disappointment. It’s worth the discouragement. It’s even with the battles with depression. It’s perspective. It’s how I choose to look at it, and accept things. I decided at some point to no longer…
As Long As I Am Going to Die ..
September 22, 2022
“As long as I am going to die someday, I may as well play jazz…” That about sums it up for me. I walked away from my career in corporate America for my kids, and all the students I work…
As long as I am going to die someday, I may as well play jazz…
September 22, 2022
Think Well, Be Well
September 16, 2022
“Thinking makes it so.” ~ Hamlet via Shakespeare Thinking makes it so. I can’t agree more. Whether it be positive or negative in its impact, what you think about, and how you think about it will have an effect on…
The Secret is What You Don’t Do
September 11, 2022
Often in life it’s what you don’t do that helps you succeed at the things you want to succeed at. To take a look at this we can start pretty simple. It’s not eating that extra piece of dessert, and…
Centrum – Jazz in Port Townsend 2016
August 1, 2016
Had a wonderful time at Centrum this summer and just wanted to share my pictures. I’ll have to come back later and tag these. Centrum is great! You should go if you get the opportunity.
Saxophonist Walter Blanding — With The Future Jazz Head All-Stars
April 28, 2016
By KPLU • APR 28, 2016 http://knkx.org/post/saxophonist-walter-blanding-future-jazz-head-all-stars (Jazz heads featuring original arrangements by Danny) PARKER MILES BLOHM / KPLU Listen Listening…28:33 Future Jazz Head All-Stars | School Of Jazz Tenor saxophonist Walter Blanding has been a member of the Jazz…
Why is it important to play music?
March 27, 2016
Walter Blanding and I spent a week together on tour visiting 100’s of students across the Pacific Northwest. I managed to grab this gem of a talk answering the question, “why is it important to play music?” Click here to…
Walter Play Something
March 21, 2016
We had the honor of hosting Walter Blanding for a series of clinics and performances with JazzClubsNW. At our first clinic, the teacher asked Walter to just play something, and here is what happened…
Marcus Printup JazzClubsNW
October 14, 2015
Jazz Clubs NW sponsors a week of Marcus Printup concerts, clinics and workshops. Marcus Printup, a trumpeter with the renowned Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, will perform live on KPLU with local high school jazz students on October 15 at…
This is what it’s all about…
March 12, 2015
Some people just don’t get why it’s a big deal… On the eve of the fourth annual Jazz Walk I am reflecting on two conversations that I just had with two patrons of Boxleys while at Pioneer Coffee – the…
North Bend Jazz Walk jumps ahead on calendar, adds venues and high schools
March 11, 2015
March 11th 2015 – Valley Record http://www.valleyrecord.com/news/295931821.html# Katy Moon sits in the Mountain Valley Montessori School classroom, one of 22 venues for Saturday’s Jazz Walk. — Image Credit: Allyce Andrew/Staff Photo Regulars at the North Bend Jazz Walk and…
Jazz band rocks: Mount Si selected for return to Essentially Ellington
February 25, 2015
Mention: ValleyRecord.com 2/25/2015 Original article available here: http://www.valleyrecord.com/news/293934971.html Comment: Super proud of these kids. And yes… that’s my daughter playing lead trumpet. Jazz band rocks: Mount Si selected for return to Essentially Ellington Mount Si High School Jazz Band I…
Mardi Gras celebration marching in North Bend
February 26, 2014
Originally posted: http://snovalleystar.com/2014/02/26/mardi-gras-celebration-marching-in-north-bend By Sherry Grindeland Musicians pause from the marching during a past Mardi Gras celebration. Beads, yes. Hurricane drinks on the sidewalk, no. But in North Bend it will be the traditional “laissez les bons temps rouler” when…
Live, from North Bend: Boxley’s owners Danny, Robyn Kolke honored as Business Owners of the Year
January 30, 2014
Originally Posted: http://www.valleyrecord.com/news/189066301.html Jan 30, 2013 at 12:03PM — Image Credit: Carol Ladwig/Staff Photo by CAROL LADWIG, Snoqualmie Valley Record Editor It’s a Wednesday night at Boxley’s, and owners Danny and Robyn Kolke have got a small but growing crowd, about…
North Bend celebrates ’embarrassment of riches’ in volunteer spirit with the Kolkes, Nela Cumming
January 16, 2013
Originally posted http://www.valleyrecord.com/news/187171211.html by CAROL LADWIG, Snoqualmie Valley Record Editor Jan 16, 2013 at 12:14PM Citizen of the Year Nela Cumming, Director of Pediatric Therapy at Encompass, was recognized at the Jan. 15 North Bend City Council meeting, where Mayor…