Just introducing myself

[jlt]

8-)Getting ready to move back to Sacramento and start playing music again. I played mostly country in the 80's, until I got burned out working full time and playing 3 to 5 nights a week. After turning down several invites to go on the road I decided it was time for a little redirection. So, I spent 2.5 years at CSUS as a music major (which also wore me out working full time). Reluctantly, I had to drop out and get my health back, as well as spend more time with the family. Then we seemed to have one problem after another and the final straw (so to speak) was my daughter being killed on her way back from LA. I couldn't even look at my gear for years, but a good friend has been encouraging me to play and it finally clicked on last year. So, as time allows I'm working to find those old chops and maybe get some new ones. I play acoustic and electric violin, mandolin and bass. Once I get settled, later this summer, I'll start hitting the jam sessions I've read about here and see where things go. My musical taste run the gamit from Blues to Experimental music and almost everything in between. I'm not fluent enough and there's not enought space to fully describe what I want to do musically, but if you need a category I like the "darker" indie music.
I'm "officially" retiring fromm my day job at the end of June, but I sure as hell don't feel "done" with life. I've noticed a lot of ads and see I probably won't be invited to join the bands that only want people under 35=========but I aint dead yet!!
Thanks for letting me join in the group.

[thump]

Welcome! You might want to check out meet-up dot com / Sacramento Jam Session. Forty plus musicians of a variety of ages and interests with acceptable to better than average players that play in small to medium sized groups, pure jam or periodically publically; no pressure, no agenda, just a love of playing music. Some, like me, should retire but refuse to... Occasionally, a band will coalesce.

[jlev]

Thank you for sharing your story. Music has the power to help healing.

When you are ready to jam I can point you towards some good ones.

[Cris]

Welcome to the group and welcome back to Sacramento. Your story is one blues writers could mine for a hundred tunes. Don't worry about the under 35 crowd, there are plenty enough people and places for those of us of a more mature vintage to enjoy making a little good noise.

[jlt]

Hey Joe, I just realized you play with my old friends Olen D and Tony D. Took fiddle lessons and played my first fiddle gig with Olen and the Cowboys years ago. They were very gracious and let me do a twin fiddle tune with Olen. Tony filled in with a few different bands I played in through the 80's. I look forward to coming out, supporting live music and hearing everyone play, now that I'll have time!

Thanks Thump and Cris for your comments. Since I left in the mid 90's I've lived and worked all over the US and other places. As hard as I tried to make those other places home, they just couldn't beat Sacramento.

[jlev]

Tony is an old friend and Olen is one of my favorite musicians anywhere.
We play in the Stardust Cowboys and also in the Bayou Boys together.
I really like the music scene here, I get to play with a different bunch of great players most every night. Not getting rich but who is?