Route 66 Backseat Driver: Chicago

Hail, Hail the gangs all here in Chicago for what has been described to me as a trip that will require manners, endurance, fortitude, a gigantic sense of humor, gobs of patience and having a few loose screws probably won't hurt to make it through this years 2008 Route 66 Challenge.

Here was the plan. I took off driving the southern Route 66 from Wrightwood to Chicago on what was to be a very pleasant ride through Arizona and New Mexico until I discovered that The Wicked Witch of the East was on my tail as I crossed the Oklahoma border, and stayed there through Missouri and for the rest of the way to Chicago. Someone was certainly watching over me due to the fact that I was able to stay 5-6 hours ahead of the worst parts of the storm. Reading the Sunday papers ended up being a very surreal experience. I'm sure the trip back will be very humbling to each and every one of us.

Now Bruce Almighty and Pinto Pammy, driving on the northern route #80 from Carmel to Chicago got so much rain that they were at times convinced that the building of an Ark would have been a far better choice than the mini van rental decision. I tend to agree with them considering present gas prices and the obvious savings at the pump. Quandary, how do you get the Ark to Iowa from Carmel and what to do with this hybrid once arriving in Chicago.... Well thats another story for another time and another day.

Now Back to the news.....

Mike, Phil and Devin thinking they would enjoy a normal Los Angeles to Chicago, Dinner and a Movie, type flight were surprised with more than one delay due to the rain, wind and the otherwise terrible flying conditions encountered. With that said, everyone is safe and sound in Chicago.

The renting of a top shelf sound studio, see above, was secured today for the first practice of the tour. Bruce, Devin and Phil worked on some critical changes and some new songs for Devin. Pammy warmed up her voice on a few numbers and Mike, the consummate professional, relaxed and checked out his timing and the view the studio offered of the Chicago skyline.

Presently everyone is heading in different directions for a few hours to ultimately meet up at Martyrs Restaurant for sound checks and then a 8:00 show. I, on a mission, went to find "The Lost City of Wrightwood Il". Bruce, Pam and Mike went to see and tour Frank Lloyd Wright buildings. Devin went to Millennium Park for a visit with an old friend and Phil went to the Army Pier area to meet old friends and students. After arriving at Martyrs Restaurant sound checks went well and the first trickle of customers started to filter in.

The night began with introductions made to a good sized audience, by Blue Jazz Records owner Greg Pasenko and the night was off and running with a crowd pleasing rendition of "I'm an Old Cowhand". Devin was featured on the next Ray Brown in-fussed number "Slow Boat to China" which proceeded to kick things up a notch.

Some additional highlights of the evening were Pinto Pammy singing Patsy Clines' "Crazy", Bruce and Phil's high speed "Texifornia Breakdown", Mike "Sebastian Box" McKinley on "Route 66" and Fiddling Phil Salazar on "Boomer Stampede".

Tomorrow morning we will be heading south towards Springfield Ill. with a final stop at The Capitol City Bar and Grille for a 8:00pm show.

Come on out and "Get your Kicks With Us" while supporting JazzMasters Workshops.

Route 66 Backseat Driver: The First Day Out

After early wake up calls for all we headed towards the headwaters of the mighty "Mother Road", the intersection of Adams and Michigan in downtown Chicago. Arriving at our destination and quickly parking in no parking areas we all jumped out to take a few pictures then jumped right back in our chariots before the local parking monitors had a chance to spot us.

After stopping shortly at Dunkin Doughnuts, for those that needed their sugar fix's, we proceeded to drive the next 200 plus miles on as much of the original road as possible. Had a chance to see all the neat Route 66 stops and landmarks that can't be seen from the interstate at 70 mph. A good sampling of the photos taken include "The Launching Pad" restaurant and "Funks Grove Maple Syrup Farm" in Shirley.

The capitol city of Springfield, IL was our destination and we achieved our goal about 4:oo pm. Checking in at the Route 66 Hotel took less time than normal and allowed time to kick back before leaving for sound checks and a 8:00 show at the Capitol City Bar and Grille.

As opposed to the previous evenings show, the audience consisted mostly of friends and locals that had seen and participated in one or more of the previous Route 66 Challenges. Most stated that they had waited and anticipated for weeks the arrival of CowBop in Springfield. The show actually had many crowd pleasing highlights that paralleled the Martyrs show, but with one exception.

Out of the shadows strode a dark stranger wielding his deadly ware, a "Harp". His name was "Blind Melon Chitlin" and he was the local harmonica gunslinger. Stepping on stage and announcing a key and changes he proceeded to kick off the band on a 12 bar blues jam. Defiantly it was one of the highlights of the night.

Don't forget your Jazz Masters Workshop donations. That's what this thing is all about.....

Route 66 Backseat Driver: Illinois

Starting the day with an early checkout and breakfast the gang loaded up and drove the short distance to one of Springfield's famous Route 66 landmarks, Cozy Dog Drive In. Under overcast skies instruments were unloaded and prepared for a barnstorming impromptu performance at Cozy Dogs.

Only one problem though, as we approached the building their were only two or three total customers seated inside. Now here comes the dilemma, as we walked in they walked out even after numerous attempts to convience these folks that the band, in its entirety, had indeed taken showers that morning.

Overcast skies coupled with now low sprits and the restaurant that was to have received top notch "Free" entertainment was as empty as most gas tanks will be if and when gas climbs to $10.00 a gallon. Hmmm, what to do ? When in Rome you do as the Romans do. So CowBop played a few tunes right there in the parking lot. But after the first few practice bars a funny thing happened. A travel van pulled up with the nicest couple from Virginia inside. They were en route to St Louis and suggested that if the band would be around for a while twenty plus additional friends in vans were soon to arrive.

And arrive they did. The twenty friends ended up being over twenty vans each with more than a few future CowBop lovers inside. A one half hour stop ended up being a two hour party with very appreciative glances coming from a very happy Cozy Dog owner, Sue Waldmire.

Saying so long until next year, we headed back down the road to our next stop at the Stagger Inn Again located in Edwardsville, Il. Meandering allowed enough time for additional stops at other landmarks along the way such as Henry's Wabbit Wanch, Soulsby's Shell Station, a Dairy Queen for group cones and a quick stop to visit legendary jazz dj, Ross Gentile, from St Louis's 88.7 FM radio station. With the assistance of a local friend, Jim Widner, a last minute interview was put into motion to discuss and gain awareness about Jazz Masters Workshops. Thankx Jim.....

After arriving at our final destination we discovered that what was supposed to be a simple "Open Mic Night" one hour show, again ended up being a two hour plus show with plenty of crowd encouragement and continued coaxing from Stagger Inn open mic night host Steve Jones. On this special and fun evening the band responded warmly to what was perceived to be the most vocal and appreciative audience to date.

The evening also needs more than a few Thank You mentions. At one point in the evening the pic guard on Bruces' guitar gave way and guitar maven Rick Hayden appeared to save the day for the second set. Thankx Rick..... To "The Katsup Bottle" people, Mike Gassmann and Judy Demoisy who graciously opened the doors of their beautiful home to us for the two days we will be in the area. Best nights sleep yet..... Thankx Mike and Judy.

See ya at Fazios Frets and Friends Tomorrow.....

Route 66 Backseat Driver: The "Kid"

Tonight there is a guitar workshop in St Louis MO. at Fazios Frets and Friends thanks to Brian Vaccaro. Thanks Brian and see you next year.....

Had a chance to ride and talk awhile en route to Fazios with Devin Hoffman, CowBop bassist today. The eighteen year old USC freshman is enjoying his first tour. "I feel privileged to have the opportunity to play and learn from his band mates" and his band mates feel the same citing his open approach to learning and his natural youthful aggression as being qualities that will take him far. "The kid clearly has talent says drummer Mike McKinley".

Born and raised in Miami Florida as the youngest of three boys Devin first joined his high school band to avoid an art class. "Graduate USC in Jazz Studies, pursue graduate degrees in similar areas of study, get married and have kids and to ultimately teach exactly what he is presently learning in a big city like Chicago or San Francisco" says Devin. "And lets not forget playing live jazz as many nights as possible.

Devin believes his best assets are his intuition, ability to play by hear and improvise and also having a teacher like Bruce Forman and the rest of the USC Music Department to prod him on his way.

Lets not forget who this whole thing is for. Click here to find out more about
"The Kids of Jazz Masters"......

Heading out to the great state of Oklahoma we were able to spend a lot of time taking pictures in Missouri. Hope you like.....

See ya in Tulsa at the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame !

Route 66 Backseat Driver: Hall Of Fame

The show at the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame was a hugh success, a night that consisted of many highlights and large donations for Jazz Masters Workshops. Special guests for the evening included Whit Smith on guitar, the vocal stylings of Curator Chuck Cissell and Rick Bentley on banjo. Rick and his lovely wife graciously allowed us to stay at his comfortably styled ranch home for the evening.

And that's when the magic silently crept into the room. After getting a chance to settle in from the ride from the Hall of Fame to Rick's home, Shelby Eicher showed up with his fiddle and mandolin in hand.

Getting a chance to step back in time is rare, but dejay vu is common. Reminiscent of the "heydays in jazz" when the real jamming began after the scheduled nightly gigs were over and and what would start would continue on into the early hours.

The comforting intimacy of Rick's home provided Bruce Forman on guitar, Shelby Eicher on both mandolin and fiddle, Phil Salazar on fiddle, Rick Bentley on banjo, Devin Hoffman on bass and Mike McKinley on drums to just play, explore and flat out have fun jamming with friends. New songs, old songs and lots of variations on themes were played by some of the best musicians around. The preferred highlight of the evening was easily Django Reinhardt's "Minor Swing". Shelby played more than one passages that were just plain "sweet." Feel privileged to be one of the few that expierenced the impromptu jam session that went on tonight.

There is now officially a two-way tie for the crown of "Best Accommodations."

Waking the next morning to the smell of freshly brewed coffee and spalacially good views from the patio of Rick's home the gang packed up to go to yet another musicians home, Whit Smith. This time the setting was a backyard barbecue in the historic old town district of downtown Tulsa. Host Whit Smith also had a jam session set up with most of the same players from last night. This made for a perfect afternoon in the sun. Good food, good company, good digs and the excellent music that lasted all afternoon.

But alas it was time to move on down the road making our way through southern Oklahoma.

Don't forget that this is all for national youth music mentoring programs.

There is still time to pledge and make donations......

Route 66 Backseat Driver: Harley and Annabelle

The Sand Hills Curiosity Shop, once known as the City Meat Market, is the oldest surviving brick building in Erick, Oklahoma and has been the home of "The Mediocre Music Makers" ,Harley and Annabelle Russell, for over 20 years. Outrageously good times, fun and healthy portions of hometown hospitality are served here annually to thousands of international and domestic Route 66 tourists.

Harley Russell, a guitarist of exceptional ability coupled with his wife Annabelle, a musician, an artist and poet, have created an internationally known tourist attraction in a town who's only other claim to fame is that it was the home and birth place of musician Roger Miller.


This Route 66 location would best be described as a living history roadside attraction. A museum of sorts that houses one of the best collections of period signs around and also has plenty of vintage furniture, artwork, guitars, harmonicas and assorted other types of memorabilia with everything prolifically covering every square inch of the walls, ceiling, table-tops, bookcases, shelves, sills  and pretty much most of the floor space. Be prepared for complete sensory overload when entering. Viewing everything takes multiple visits thus making it easy to understand why more and more Route 66 travelers the world over are now flocking to this Erick, OK roadside attraction. The Sand Hills Curiosity Shop was made an "Official Route 66 Roadside Attraction" by the Route 66 Caravan in 2003.

After parking and piling out of our vehicles we were individually greeted and invited inside by two long-haired, enthusiastic to say the least, hippy sorts for what was soon to be a spontaneously captivating live two person vaudevillian show that included refreshments, music, plenty of hugs, kisses and photo-ops. These two self proclaimed "Rednecks" put on such a good show that Bruce and the band had to join in on the fun. A large group of European tourist stopped in while we were there and they were also invited in for a dose of Harley and Annabelle's infectious type of fun and merriment.

A few years back a couple of film makers looking for inspiration and ideas for a future film, you might have seen or heard of, stopped by and ultimately liked Harley so much that they based a principal character in their upcoming movie after him. The well viewed movie was "Cars" and the tow-truck driver "Mater" was based primarily on Harley. Currently a documentary is being planned based on the lives of Harley and Annabelle and Disney Studios is also looking into the idea of basing a theme park ride on their characters.

Later that day, Harley and Annabelle closed up shop and invited us into their home for a down-home home-cooked meal. During the conversations that followed the true sharpness of these folks was slowly revealed. Don't let their antics and clothes fool you, these folks are perceptive, sharp as tacks and proudly embrace the freedoms and attitudes of the 60's. Attitudes that still play an important part in their everyday lives.

Their attitudes, non-conformist ways and a gentle kindness shown to any joe-stranger to enter their place is exactly what makes entering their environment so inviting. Albeit these same attitudes make Harley and Annabelle targets at the hands of some locals. Locals sometimes described as having "the typical small town mindset, jealous people always resentful of another's success". The only thing our heroes have ever actually been found to be guilty of is the ability and savvy to single-handily boost the local economy and the tourist trade when countless previous attempts by local officials had failed.

Staying true to themselves, the Russells have been blessed with the year 2007 being their busiest year ever with sometimes as many as four separate tour groups a day stopping by their Erick location.

As conversations wained and the sun began its steady recline in the west, it was time to load up and ease on down the road. I can see why Bruce had this stop pegged as a "must see visit." Amarillo was our destination by dusk. So after many hugs and kisses, we said our final "Via Condios's," loaded up, took our final photos and headed out chasing the sun.

We were able to get some great shots of Oklahoma before leaving.....