Dear Friend,

It's hard to believe we've reached the midpoint of 2008 already! If the saying is true... time is flying because I've been having so much fun. A lot of work has been accomplished, too. Here are the highlights:

Professor John Harbaugh and I performed as guest soloists with the Central Washington University Jazz Band I (directed by Chris Bruya) at the 2008 John Moawad Invitational Jazz Festival in January.

My friend, Matt Armbrust, and I attended the Recording Academy Pacific Northwest Chapter 50th Grammy Awards Telecast Viewing Party held at Spitfire in Seattle in February.

The Dave Rawlinson Band and I celebrated the release of their "Movin' On" CD in March. Really enjoyed playing the horn arrangements I did for the project live along with CWU students Adam Robb, Kevin Lane, and Ben Watters.

I enjoyed meeting Juno Award-winner Sophie Milman and her band at Earl Klugh's Weekend of Jazz at the Broadmoor in April. Had a blast sitting in with them at Dimitriou's Jazz Alley in Seattle a few days later!

Memo Acevedo, Allan Molnar, Jim Seeley, and I performed as guest soloists with the YVCC Salsa Band at the 2nd Annual Yakima Valley Community College Latin Music Celebration in May.

The YVCC Saxophone Quartet that I direct was showcased along with the YVCC Concert Choir & Chamber Singers (directed by Dr. Scott Peterson), YVCC Salsa Band (directed by David Blink), and YVCC Guitar Ensemble (directed by Jim Durkee) at our annual department concert in June. Members Nick Sokol, Nicolette Reames, Allen Briceno, and Eric Jones performed works by Beethoven, Boccherini, Rimsky-Korsakov, and my arrangement of the Take 6 classic, "A Quiet Place."

The Earl Klugh Band performed at a White House dinner honoring American jazz in June. About 200 distinguished guests attended the event including President Bush, first lady Laura Bush, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, Senator Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, and National Endowment for the Arts Chairman Dana Gioia. View the images at http://www.lennyprice.com/multimedia/2008/080619_1.htm

So far, I've flown 19,523 miles in travels to Toledo OH, Colorado Springs CO, San Francisco CA, Washington DC, North Bethesda MD, Atlanta GA, Tokyo (Japan), and Osaka (Japan).

My website -- www.lennyprice.com -- has undergone a dramatic redesign. A lot work went into improving the layout, color palette, and navigation. Would love to get your feedback...

August 5-10, Earl Klugh Band @ Blue Note, New York NY

August 16-17, Earl Klugh Band @ Scullers Jazz Club, Boston MA

August 24, Earl Klugh Band @ Hartwood Amphitheater, Pittsburgh PA

September 5, Earl Klugh Band @ The Wave's Hyatt Regency Newport Beach

Summer Jazz Series, Newport Beach CA

September 6, Earl Klugh Band @ Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery, Woodinville

WA; this is a private event for Vintage Reserve Club members only

September 7, Earl Klugh Band @ 32nd Annual Jazz on the River Festival,

Guerneville CA

September 18-21, Earl Klugh Band @ Dimitriou's Jazz Alley, Seattle WA

September 27-October 2, Earl Klugh Band @ Capital Jazz SuperCruise II to

Bermuda

There are also dates in Detroit, Buffalo, Playa del Carmen (Mexico), and Atlanta on the books

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Well, that pretty much brings you up to speed. Please drop a line when time permits... I'd love to hear from you.

Take care and be well,