Music on Old Baldy

Jim's high school buddy, Joel Anderson, invited us up to his house for a jam session. He had friends coming...there were burgers, Texas hots, smoked trout, salads and deserts gallour. This is a photo before they started plotting their course. Jim knew all the songs they were planning, but he usually plays them in different keys so he had to do some readjusting. He is very adaptable.

Above: Naturally, Howard was there with his saxophone. He also did some of the singing for them. We always love to hear Howard's melodic musings floating on the breeze as we sit and chat and munch on some good food.

Above: This was a perfect day for this. The cool PA weather is so delightful to us. As southerners (well psuedo southerners anyway) we are used to hiding out in the air conditioning all summer.

Above: Joel had a two story portion added to his home many years ago by Jim's Dad and his Uncle Jim. They did a beautiful job as usual. Inside is a huge two sided fire place. It is smaller in the living room, but on the other side one step down it covers one whole wall in the family room. It is the same gray stone that is on the outside of the house. The second story is a big master bedroom with a balcony that looks out on the woods. Just a beautiful spot with a fish pond fed off the mountain by a spring. Spring water is COLD. We used to drink it right out of the side of the mountain when we were kids. Best water ever!! ....especially when you are hiking up the hill and so thirsty you thought you would die. Now I am too afraid of all the bears to even go up there.

Above: Jim's son, Jerry, is a great drummer who loves to play jazz and drove over for the occasion. We appreciated Jerry coming. It is hard to find a good jazz drummer. Jer is good with the brushes.

Hopefully we can do this again and Jer will bring the rest of his crew with him. We missed Jeanie and the kids.

Above: Jim graduated from high school with Joel and Rudy, Jim's Dad (in the hat) graduated from high school in 1934 with Joel's Dad, Alvie. Here they are talking about having another class reunion. There are three people still living from their high school class. This reunion shouldn't be too hard to coordinate!

Above: Wives, neighbors and parents were the audience for this session. My parents were not able to be there because they went to a family reunion on my Dad's sister's in Canton.

Jim was having a good time. It is so much more fun to play when you are playing with a group.

Below: That is Joel on guitar and Jack on the trombone and Jim on his keyboard...we brought it with us for this very purpose.