Hey gang,

The other day I was walking to the subway and had an experience that showed me how easy it is to be overly-defensive. As I walked (probably late, so pretty focused on where I was going) I heard a man's voice behind me say, "Well, I've never seen a black..." Immediately, my brain filled in ALL kinds of offensive and horrible things he was PROBABLY going to say to me and I started to get angry (amazing how quickly this can happen!) when he finished "...kilt before." Turns out he's a Scot who doesn't wear kilts because his parents forced him to take highland dancing as a kid. We had a great chat and when I mentioned how comfortable I am in my kilt, he sort of sighed and said, "Yeah, I remember that"

Had a gig with an "avant big-band" at the Nuyorican Poetry Club recently. After it was over, I saw the bandleader's wife (also sings with the band) talking to another woman and wanted to say goodnight so I walked over. She introduced me to her friend who, as she shook my hand, looked me up and down (I haven't been that blatently "checked-out" in YEARS!) and, upon seeing my black UK, shouted "Is that a KILT?" When I replied that it was, her response was, "Well, hot DAMN!" We laughed and had a started talking about kilts. Rather, she talked about how much she liked MY kilt. And me in my kilt. And how MANLY and sexy I looked in my kilt. Mind you she still hadn't given me my hand back from our introduction! When I mentioned that some of our illustrious Kiltsmith's also work in leather, I thought she would swoon! Eventually, the pianist sensed I was in distress and he came over and offered me a ride home, allowing me a gracious exit.

Just wanted to let you Western Canadian guys know that I'll be in Vancouver the last week of December performing at a new music space called Rime. The 26th/27th with Texas trumpeter Dennis Gonzalez, the 29th with the music collective Eye of Newt improvising live film music (with special guest Vancouver trumpeter Brad Turner) and, possibly, a duo set with Californian guitarist Anthony Wilson. Since my newly ordered PK (buckskin faux-suede) should be here before I leave, I fully expect to be kilted the entire trip! If you're gonna be out that way (or already are) and are into creative/improvised music (jazz-based, but wider ranging than that), come down and say hi!

Hopefully, I'll get over to check out Bear's shop on one of my off days.