I played piano with Jimmy Witherspoon, at one of his last concerts before his death. This was at the Maribor Slovenia Jazz festival, where I was also playing a concert the night before, using musicians from all over the world, including Croatia, Russia, Poland, Germany, South Africa, England, France and Italy.
In the International language of Jazz, we communicated like old friends, demonstrating that music does bring the world together,

Playing with spoon was one of the highlights of my musical career, we had a mutual appreciation of music, and He asked me to tour with him when I returned to the states. We talked on the phone about a tour of Greece in September, and a week later my local Jazz station announced that he had passed away. I've since gone back and studied many of his great recordings and realize what a legacy he left us.
For me, Jimmy Witherspoon is the bridge between Blues and Jazz.

Here is a video of this concert

I Met Jon Cleary at the Dublin Ireland blues Fest while playing with Roy Rogers, He's an Englishman who migrated to New Orleans in the 80s, and has mastered the New Orleans piano style like no one I've ever heard, He's got the funkiest band on the planet, and also tours with Bonnie Raitt.

Left to Right
Kenneth Hari, genius Artist-sculter, Paul Williams, Kenny Asher, Oscar Winning Songwriters, and me
Paul and Kenny are 2 of my favorite songwriters, They wrote the soundtrack to 'Star is Born" and also
"Rainbow Connection" one of the all time greatest movie standards of the last 50 years. I've worked with Paul since 1989
"thanks for sharing your gifts with me...You're a huge part of my life ..your musical
voice and creative spirit are an amazing presence on stage and off .." Paul Williams


Onstage at Feinstein's with Paul Williams and Carol Welsman, the great Canadian Jazz singer, Pianist

This was an all day Video shoot for a Paul Williams DVD. Willie came in to sing a duet with Paul
on the classic song "Rainbow Connection" which was released on a great CD called "New Music from an Old Friend. I do a pretty good Willie Impersonation, that I was able to share with him, on a new song that Paul wrote. Willie asked me to sing the demo in "his voice" so he would know how to phrase it. I'm playing acoustic piano, sax and Hammond Organ on the tracks

This Version of "Rainbow Connection" was later released by producer "Phil Ramone" on a compilation called "New Music from an Old Friend" featuring Brian Wilson, Kris Kristofferson, Willie Nelson, Eric Clapton and Carole King

Zigaboo, Judy Sanders, JLS, Dr. John
In the Studio with Dr. John and Zigaboo Modeliste, for Zig's cd, I'm on the Right Track. I'm doing many of the keys and sax parts, and Dr. John came in for a day to do some vocal and piano overdubs. It was a blast to watch him work out the parts in the studio from scratch, they are both masters, and such an influence on my style over the years.

In the Lobby of the Handy Awards, where the performers and nominees signed this blue Les Paul to Be Auctioned for Charity

With the Great Lady of Soul, Miss Bette LaVette, performing at the Handy Awards

In my studio, With Dave Goelz, creator of Gonzo of the Muppets, Mike Duke, writer of some of Huey Lewis' biggest hits, and JLS