Hey!! AWESOME evening @ Makor for Chico, and we were all VERY pleased by the guest spot from the Chairman of the NEA...Chico and I spent all day on Friday @ the IAJE particpating in the NEA Jazz Master events, including a luncheon for all the attending Jazz Masters, where I sat and ate lunch surrounded by Chico, and Jim Hall, Nat Hentoff, Roy Haynes, Ron Carter, Barry Harris, McCoy Tyner, Billy Taylor, Clark Terry, James Moody, Frank Foster, Jimmy Heath, Nancy Wilson, Slide Hampton, Paquito D'Rivera, Ray Barretto, Tony Bennett, Chick Corea, Freddie Hubbard, John Levy, etc. etc. etc. So you can imagine what a once in a lifetime thrill, which I have been fortunate enough to experience twice now!! That evening was the NEA Jazz Masters Concert & Awards Ceremony where we were entertained by the Jon Faddis Big Band, and the Count Basie Orchestra, and the finale of the evening was a jam session where this 10 year old kid got on stage with his trumpet and killed everyone with his solo where he ran the changes down!! AWESOME couple of days!! We've been getting some GREAT response to our new flash e-card (www.joyousshout.com and online store (www.joyousshoutonlinestore.com and are looking forward to a CRAZED 2006 celebrating Chico's 85th birthday!! Thanks...Peace...Keep the Faith... Jeffrey

It was a great show. With it being my first time at Makor and the first time seeing Chico Hamilton, I left quite impressed. I admit part of that was due to my soured experiences at the last couple shows I have seen (I won’t say which ones), where even an average show would have been enjoyable. But in the end it didn’t matter, the show stood on its own where two things were clear to me upon the conclusion, I loved what I had seen and these were truly great musicians. Aside from the music, what made the night even more special was Chico Hamilton’s banter with both his band and the audience, lending to an intimate and quaint atmosphere, and a guest appearance from NEA’s chairman Dana Gioia, who beautifully recited three short poems over some instrumentation. Ahhh….new years resolution…see more good jazz shows.

- Michael

i went to the show last night, and the man is simply amazing. i can't believe he's as old as he is, he looks barely 50! As he said himself, "I'm glad to be here tonight... in fact, I'm glad to be ANYWHERE tonight." It was an honor to be in the presence of a Jazz master, and a killer drummer at that. His style is so subtle and smooth. Funny guy too! He gives utmost respect to his band, many of whom are young jazz cats that he has been supporting as a teacher and bandleader. He played all original tunes, I think, and people were diggin it. I was soaking it all in, along with my kosher quesadilla and an excellent glass of red. Anyone else go?