IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE I HAD THE FEELING TO BLOG BUT AFTER A GREAT SUMMER VACATION IT'S TIME TO SHARE SOME ADVENTURE STORIES. AS YOU MAY KNOW, I HAD A VERY BLESSED BUT VERY STRESSFUL YEAR. TONS OF WORK BUT THAT COMES AT A PRICE AND I WAS STARTING TO GET PRETTY BURNED OUT. THANKFULLY, WE WE'RE ABLE TO TAKE SOME TIME OFF THIS SUMMER AND WE BEGAN OUR JOURNEY AT THE CENTER OF THE UNIVERSE......NEW YORK. WHENEVER I ARRIVE AT JFK I GET A MIXED EMOTIONS. HAPPY, BECAUSE I KNOW I'M GOING TO SEE ALL OF MY LOVED ONES AND GET SOME GOOD ITALIAN FOOD. SAD, BECAUSE JFK IS SUCH A DUMP. ANYWAY, AFTER A 45 MINUTE WAIT FOR OUR BAGS WE HOPPED IN THE CAR AND HEADED NORTH UNTIL WE REACHED MY MOM'S PLACE ON LAKE GEORGE. FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW, THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PLACES IN THE WORLD. A CRYSTAL CLEAR FRESHWATER LAKE SITUATED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ADIRONDACK MOUNTAINS. GLORIOUS NATURE AND RICH AMERICAN HISTORY ABOUND. WE HAD A GREAT TIME VISITING WITH FAMILY, SWIMMING AND BOATING, PLAYING WITH THE ST. BERNARD AND SHOOTING OFF SOME VERY POWERFUL FIREARMS COURTESY OF THE ASHBY ARSENAL. FUNNY LITTLE STORY......MY WIFE WHO NEVER HELD A GUN, NEVER EVEN PLAYED A VIDEO GAME GRABS THE .38 CALBER HANDGUN AND WITH BOTH EYES OPENED ON THE VERY FIRST SHOT, FROM 20 YARDS OUT HIT THE BULLSEYE DEAD CENTER. AFTER A FEW DAYS WE HEADED SOUTH TO LONG ISLAND TO SPEND A WEEK WITH THE FIORINI'S AND CELEBRATED MY BROTHER JOHN'S COLLEGE GRADUATION. GOOD TIMES WERE HAD BY ALL AND THE WEATHER COOPERATED ALL WEEK LONG. THE UNDISPUTED HIGHLIGHT WAS A PILGRIMAGE TO THE NEW YANKEE STADIUM. WE HAD GREAT SEATS COURTESY OF MY COUSIN ROB, NOW EMPLOYED BY THE YANKEES. WE HAD OUR NAMES PUT UP ON THE GIGANTIC SCOREBOARD, WE VISITED THE BROADCASTERS BOX, SAT AT THE YANKEE ORGAN AND TO TOP IT ALL OFF.....THEY WON THAT DAY. NOW ON TO PHASE TWO. EVERY YEAR CRISTINA AND I TRY TO GET AWAY BY OURSELVES. IT ISN'T ALWAYS POSSIBLE BUT THIS YEAR WAS TRULY UNFORGETTABLE. WE BOOKED A RESORT IN TABA, EGYPT AND WE WERE NOT DISAPPOINTED. TRULY, IT WAS A GORGEOUS PLACE. A REAL OASIS ON THE RED SEA WITH VIEWS OF THE SEEMINGLY MARTIAN LANDSCAPE OF THE SINAI MOUNTAINS TO THE WEST. WHAT WE DIDN'T REALIZE ABOUT OUR LOCATION WAS THAT WE WE'RE AT THE BORDERS OF FOUR DIFFERENT COUNTRIES. ISRAEL IS 20 MINUTES TO THE NORTH AND JUST ACROSS THE GULF, JORDAN TO THE NORTH EAST AND SAUDI ARABIA TO THE SOUTH EAST. THE COOL THING WAS THAT YOU COULD SEE ALL OF THESE PLACES AS YOU STOOD ON THE BEACH. OUR FIRST EXCURSION WAS TO JORDAN AND THE ANCIENT LOST CITY OF PETRA. WORDS CAN'T REALLY DESCRIBE WALKING THROUGH A NARROW DESERT CANYON WITH THE LIGHT SHINNING OFF OF THE ROCKS PRODUCING INDESCRIBABLE COLORS. THEN, ALL OF A SUDDEN, THROUGH A NARROW CRACK YOU SEE THE ENORMOUS TEMPLE CARVED INTO THE VALLY ROCK RISING IN FRONT OF YOU. BREATHTAKING. OUR SECOND JOURNEY WAS INTO THE HOLY LAND ITSELF .....ISRAEL. FIRST STOP, THE DEAD SEA. ACTUALLY MORE OF A HUGE LAKE, THIS BODY OF WATER IS LAND LOCKED. DUE TO THIS FACT IT'S SO SATURATED WITH MINERALS THAT THERE IS NO LIFE IN THE WATER BUT OF COURSE,  YOU CAN FLOAT EFFORTLESSLY ON THE SURFACE. A STRANGE BUT HILARIOUS EXPERIENCE. AS WE DROVE THROUGH THE DESERT PASSING MASADA AND JERICHO AND THE DESERT LANDS WHERE JOHN BAPTIZED JESUS MY MIND WAS CONTINUALLY BLOWN. BUT NOTHING COULD PREPARE ME FOR JERUSALEM. I COULDN'T BELIEVE I WAS STANDING THERE AMONG THE THRONGS OF THE FAITHFUL. GROWING UP CATHOLIC I WOULD GO TO CHURCH AND WALK THE STATIONS OF THE CROSS AND NOW HERE I WAS REALLY WALKING THE VIA DELLA ROSA. I'M NOT A PARTICULARLY RELIGIOUS MAN. HOWEVER, ONE CAN'T HELP BUT BE MOVED BY THE HISTORY, BOTH ACTUAL AND MYTHICAL, OF THIS ANCIENT CITY FOUNDED BY ABRAHAM. OUR ADVENTURE CONTINUED IN BETHLEHEM. DUE TO MY IGNORANCE I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT THE TOWN WHERE JESUS WAS BORN WAS NOW LOCATED IN THE WEST BANK........PALESTINE! AS WE TRAVELLED THROUGH THE GIANT SECURITY WALL SEPARATING JERUSALEM FROM PALESTINE I BEGAN TO GET VERY NERVOUS, DOWN RIGHT SCARED. WHAT BUSINESS DID I, A RED BLOODED AMERICAN HAVE BEING THERE? I WAS SURE THAT IF I HAD TO SHOW MY PASSPORT I WAS IN TROUBLE. MY THOUGHTS TURNED TO THE NEWS COVERAGE ON SEPTEMBER 11, 2001 AND I REMEMBER DISTINCTLY THE PALESTINIANS CELEBRATING IN THE STREETS. AFTER A VERY TENSE LUNCH I BEGAN TO RELAX A LITTLE DUE TO THE ARAB HOSPITALITY. THAT ALL CHANGED AS SOON AS WE HIT THE STREET AND STARTED TO BE ACCOSTED BY THE VENDORS TRYING TO SELL THIER JEWELRY. THE PROBLEM WAS THAT ONE OF THE MORE INSISTENT MERCHANTS COMES OVER TO ME AND STARTS ASKING ME IF I'M A JEW. GREAT, HERE WE GO. I'M TRYING TO EXPLAIN TO THIS ASSHOLE THAT I'M FROM BELGIUM BUT I LOOK ABOUT AS BELGIAN AS BARACK OBAMA. SO WHAT DO I SAY? "NO MAN, YOUR WRONG. I'M A HALF ITALIAN/ HALF IRISH AMERICAN WHO INADVERTENTLY STUMBLED INTO YOUR GODFORSAKEN COUNTRY LOOKING FOR THE BIRTHPLACE OF CHRIST.......OH DID I MENTION I'M A CHRISTIAN. HERE YOU WANT PROOF? TAKE A LOOK AT MY PASSPORT." THANKFULLY, BEING A NEW YORKER I PUT ON MY BEST MAD DOG, DON'T FUCK WITH ME LOOK AND STARED HIM RIGHT IN THE EYE UNTIL HE REALIZED I WAS TRULY CRANKY. HE BOUGHT IT AND HASSLED SOME REAL BELGIANS INSTEAD. ISRAEL WAS INTENSE. WHERE ELSE CAN YOU SEE A NICE 19 YEAR OLD JEWISH GIRL CARRYING AN M16 AND WHO COULD TEAR YOUR THROAT OUT USING KRAV MAGA. WE SPENT THE REST OF THE WEEK TAKING FULL ADVANTAGE OF OUR DOWNTIME. SWIMMING, READING, EXERCISING, EATING AND HANGING OUT IN THE ON SITE BEDOUIN TENT. AWESOME! I'LL NEVER FORGET OUR 2010 ADVENTURE. THE BEST PART ABOUT IT IS THAT I CAN'T IMAGINE HAVING BETTER COMPANY THAN MY BEAUTIFUL WIFE. 

GOD BLESS,
TOMMY

 WE'VE BEEN EXPERIENCING GREAT WEATHER THIS SUMMER. LIKE MUCH OF THE WORLD, WE HAD A PRETTY ROUGH SUMMER MADE WORSE BY THE FACT THAT THE NORTH OF BELGIUM TRADITIONALLY HAS MILD WINTERS. I ALWAYS SAY THAT WHEN THE WEATHER IS RIGHT, THE LOWLANDS ARE ONE OF THE BEST PLACES TO BE ON THIS EARTH. WHAT PUZZLES ME IS HOW SHORT PEOPLES MEMORIES ARE. ON A BEAUTIFUL 85 DEGREE DAY I HEAR MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT IT BEING TOO HOT. TOO HOT!!!! WHERE THE HELL WERE YOU THIS WINTER? I GUESS IT'S HUMAN NATURE TO COMPLAIN. ME, I'LL TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF THIS SUMMER BECAUSE I'M WELL AWARE THAT THE WEATHER IN THIS COUNTRY CAN CHANGE IN A HEARTBEAT, GOING FROM DRY, CLEAR AND HOT TO CLOUDY, DARK AND FREEZING RAIN........I'VE BEEN ON A BIT OF A MORE REASONABLE SCHEDULE FOR THE PAST WEEK. MY DAYS HAVE BEEN SPENT PREPARING VISA'S FOR OUR EGYPT VACATION AND SIFTING THROUGH ESTIMATES DECIDING ON WHO WILL PLACE OUR NEW SOLAR PANELS ON OUR ROOF. I'VE DREAMED ABOUT HAVING THE HOUSE RUN ON SOLAR POWER SINCE MY FIRST VISIT TO EPCOT CENTER AS A CHILD SO, FOR ME, THIS IS REALLY COOL........JUST ONE QUICK THOUGHT. I HAVE LARRY KING ON IN THE BACKGROUND. IT'S BEEN VERY APPARENT TO ME THAT THERE IS A GROWING NUMBER OF YOUNG, ATTRACTIVE WOMEN WHO ARE HARDCORE, RIGHT-WING CONSERVATIVES. WHAT IS UP WITH THAT? I JUST DON'T GET WHERE THEY ARE COMING FROM AND WHAT'S IN IT FOR THEM. I AM THE FIRST ONE WHO WILL STAND UP AND SAY THAT WE DEFINITELY NEED MORE WOMEN IN POLITICAL POSITIONS OF POWER. BUT WHAT GOOD IS IT IF THEY ACT LIKE THE MEN WHO NEED REPLACING? IT'S THE SAME FOR THE BLACK AND/OR GAY REPUBLICANS. I JUST WANT TO SHAKE THEM AND YELL, 'THEY DON'T LIKE YOU! YOU'RE ON THE WRONG TEAM!' NOW, I AM A STUDENT OF HISTORY AND I'M WELL AWARE THAT ABRAHAM LINCOLN WAS A REPUBLICAN AND THE HE WAS ALMOST SINGLE-HANDEDLY RESPONSIBLE FOR FREEING THE SLAVES IN AMERICA. UNFORTUNATELY, THE REPUBLICAN PARTY DOESN'T RESEMBLE THOSE IDYLLIC DAYS OF LINCOLN. AS SOON AS IT DOES I'LL CHANGE MY TUNE. UNTIL THEN, LADIES YOU'RE SLEEPING WITH THE ENEMY. 

GOD BLESS,
TOMMY

 I HAD TO PLAY WAY UP NORTH IN HOLLAND LAST SATURDAY. WE DROVE THREE HOURS UP AND THREE HOURS BACK TO PLAY A 40 MINUTE SET. SOME TIMES IT HAPPENS LIKE THAT. THE GOOD NEWS WAS THAT I WAS STUCK IN THE CAR WITH MY GOOD FRIEND STEVE AND THE GOOD CONVERSATION MADE THE DRIVE GO BY QUICK. I'M ALWAYS IMPRESSED BY THE DUTCH. GROWING UP YOU ALWAYS HEAR ABOUT HOW THE NETHERLANDS ARE UNDER WATER BUT IF YOU ARE EVER LUCKY ENOUGH TO VISIT YOU REALIZE.....HOLY SHIT! THIS PLACE IS REALLY BELOW SEA LEVEL. THIS MAKES FOR SOME VERY CREATIVE SOLUTIONS TO A VERY REAL NATURAL PROBLEM. HOW THE HELL DO YOU MAKE A COUNTRY ON TOP OF THE SEA. ONE OF THE MORE IMPRESSIVE ENGINEERING FEATS COMES IN THE FORM OF A MAN MADE LAND BRIDGE THAT STRETCHES FOR MILES CONNECTING A SMALL STRING OF ISLANDS TO MAINLAND HOLLAND. YOU ARE BASICALLY DRIVING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SEA WITH WATER EXTENDING OUT ON ALL SIDES. THERE ARE PLACES ALONG THE ROAD WHERE YOU CAN STOP AND GET A SPECTACULAR VIEW LOOKING OUT OVER THE ROAD. ONE THING YOU LEARN VERY QUICKLY FROM LIVING IN NORTHERN EUROPE IS THAT JUST BECAUSE THA CALENDAR MIGHT SAY JUNE THAT MEANS FUCK ALL TO THE NORSE GODS WHO COMMAND THE SKIES AROUND HERE. WHEN WE PULLED OVER TO CHECK OUT THE VIEW I WAS HIT WITH A WIND THAT NEARLY SWEPT ME OFF MY FEET AND OUT INTO THE FREEZING NORTH SEA. HOWEVER, THIS MADE FOR A LOT OF LAUGHS AND SOME GOOD PICTURES. NOW COMES THE GOOD PART. I HAD TO REALLY, REALLY, REALLY PEE. I CONSIDER MYSELF AN EXPERT IN HANDLING MY EQUIPMENT BUT EVEN I HAD TO ADMIT TO THAT THIS WAS GOING TO TAKE AND EXCEPTIONAL AMOUNT OF SKILL TO AVOID AN UNPLEASANT AMOUNT OF SPLASH-BACK. I'M PROUD TO SAY THAT I DEFTLY MANAGED TO POSITION MYSELF PERPENDICULAR TO THE WIND AND ACHIEVED AN IMPRESSIVE STREAM OF 90 DEGREES. I'LL NEVER FORGET THAT EXPERIENCE. MY SYMPATHIES GO OUT TO ONE OF MY BAND MATES WHO SHALL REMAIN NAMELESS. HE ATTEMPTED THE SAME FEAT AND INADVERTENTLY ENDED UP GIVING HIMSELF A GOLDENSHOWER. YOU HAVE MUCH TO LEARN MY PADAWAN. 

GOD BLESS,
T

 I HAD QUITE A MEMORABLE WEEK. WE WENT TO SALZBURG WITH THE ORCHESTRA FOR A MINI TOUR OF THREE CONCERTS. AS A MUSICIAN, WE DREAM OF VISITING MOZART'S HOME TOWN. I'VE GOT TO TELL YOU, THE CITY WAS AN ABSOLUTE JEWEL. IT'S RIGHT FROM A STORY BOOK. IT'S SITUATED IN THE VALLEY OF THE TIROL ALPS SO THE VIEWS ARE AMAZING FROM EVERY ANGLE. OF COURSE, WE WENT TO MOZART'S HOUSE THE VERY FIRST DAY. WHAT AN EMOTIONAL EXPERIENCE. YOU ARE STANDING IN THE ROOM WHERE HE WAS ACTUALLY BORN AND WANDERING THE APARTMENT WHERE HE LIVED THE FIRST EIGHTEEN YEARS OF HIS LIFE. THEY EVEN HAD HIS CHILDHOOD VIOLIN! JUST INCREDIBLE. NOW, THE FOOD. IT'S LIKE A TEN YEAR OLD'S FANTASY LAND. FRIED MEAT, GRILLED SASUGE  AND POTATOES ALL SERVED WITH CRANBERRY SAUCE AND HALF A LITER OF BEER. I COULD HAVE DIED THERE. THE SURROUNDINGS GAVE EVERYONE THAT EXTRA INSPIRATION NEED TO PULL OF THREE CONCERTS IN THREE DAYS WITH THREE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS OF SUPER TECHNICAL CLASSICAL MUSIC. THE PLAYING WAS SUBLIME, THE HALLS WERE SOLD OUT AND THE AUDIENCES WERE EXTREMELY WARM. WHAT A BEAUTIFUL EXPERIENCE. THANKS TO MY WONDERFUL COLLEAGUES IN THE BASS SECTION FOR THE MARVELOUS PLAYING AND THE GREAT COMPANY. IT MADE ALL OF THE HOURS OF PRACTICE WORTH IT. 

GOD BLESS,
TOMMY

 AHH, THE WEATHER HERE HAS BEEN FABULOUS. I'VE BEEN ENJOYING SITTING ON OUR TERRACE IN WHAT LITTLE DOWN TIME I'VE HAD, JUST WATCHING THE CLOUDS CHANGE SHAPE. IT'S NICE TO HAVE MY OWN LITTLE UNIVERSE IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS BUSTLING MEDIEVAL TOWN. I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED BUT THE BARKING DOGS THAT HAVE PLAGUED OUR STREET SEEMED TO HAVE BEEN RELOCATED. A WELCOME CHANGE. NOW WE JUST HAVE THE SCHIZO POMERANIAN WITH TOURETTES SYNDROME..... I CAN HANDLE THAT. I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO SPENDING THE NEXT DAY IN AMSTERDAM. IT'S ONE OF MY FAVORITE CITIES (NO, NOT FOR THOSE REASONS) AND I NEVER GET SICK OF PLAYING AT THE CONCERTGEBOUW, ONE OF THE MOST AMAZING MUSIC TEMPLES IN THE WORLD. WE LEAVE IN A FEW HOURS SO, THAT'S JUST ENOUGH TIME FOR A LITTLE PRACTICE, SOME WEIGHTS AND ONE MORE TERRACE SESSION. I'M GETTING EXCITED FOR A FAMILY VISIT IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS. MY MOTHER AND GRANDPARENTS ARE FINALLY GOING TO MAKE IT OVER HERE. IT WILL BE A PLEASURE TO SHOW THEM AROUND MY ADOPTED HOME COUNTRY. FOR AMERICANS, WE EQUATE THE PERFECT ANCIENT TOWNS OF BELGIUM WITH DISNEY WORLD. I KNOW THAT IT SEEMS A BIT CULTURALLY NARROW TO EUROPEANS BUT BELIEVE ME THIS IS A COMPLIMENT. PLUS, DISNEY WORLD KICKS ASS! THE LAST TIME MY GRANDFATHER WAS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD WAS IN THE '40'S AT THE END OF WWII SO, IT SHOULD BE NICE FOR HIM TO SEE WHAT THEY'VE DONE WITH THE PLACE. THIS SUMMER IS SHAPING UP TO BE A GREAT ONE. JUST ENOUGH WORK TO KEEP ME SHARP, BACK TO EGYPT TO ROAST BY THE RED SEA, A PILGRIMAGE TO PETRA,  NEW YORK FOR TEN DAYS AND, MOST IMPORTANTLY, GOING TO THE BRONX TO VISIT THE NEW YANKEE STADIUM. LIFE IS GOOD.

GOD BLESS,
TOMMY

 I'VE GOT ANOTHER MONTH LEFT IN THE ORCHESTRA FOR THE SEASON THEN I'M OFF UNTIL AUGUST. I'VE BEEN STARTING TO REFLECT ON THIS PAST PERFORMING YEAR AND IT'S BEEN A MEMORABLE ONE. WE'VE TRAVELLED TO CHINA, PARIS, AUSTRIA AND HOLLAND FOR SOME GREAT CONCERTS. I'VE STARTED THIS WEBSITE AND BEGAN TO PERFORM COMPLETELY SOLO. THAT HAS BEEN ONE OF THE MOST REWARDING EXPERIENCES OF MY MUSICAL CAREER. I MANAGED TO GET SOME MORE SONGS RECORDED AND RELEASE MY EP TO THE WORLD. I DID ANOTHER FUN TOUR WITH THE NIGHT OF THE PROMS..... IT NEVER GETS OLD PLAYING ARENAS. THE CHERRY ON TOP OF ALL OF THIS IS THAT, IN MOST CASES, I WAS ABLE TO PERFORM WITH MY WIFE. THIS IS AN INCREDIBLE GIFT. NOT ONLY DO WE GET TO WORK TOGETHER BUT WE ALSO UNDERSTAND THE PRESSURES AND DEMANDS OF OUR PROFESSION. I'VE MENTIONED IT BEFORE BUT AS MUCH OF A BLESSING AS IT IS TO MAKE OUR LIVING WITH MUSIC IT'S A HARD LIFE. IT'S NICE TO HAVE SOMEONE TO LEAN ON IN GOOD TIMES AND IN BAD. I'VE ALSO BEEN REMINDED OF THE FACT THAT TEN YEARS AGO THIS AUGUST I CAME TO EUROPE FOR THE FIRST TIME TO COMPLETE MY MASTER'S DEGREE. IT'S CRAZY THAT IT'S BEEN SO LONG. IF YOU HAD SAID TO ME THEN THAT I WOULD BE A HAPPY RESIDENT OF BELGIUM I WOULD HAVE ASKED YOU TO POINT IT OUT ON A MAP. WHEN I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE MY STUDIES, COMING TO EUROPE WAS THE LEAST PRACTICAL OPTION BUT SOMETHING ABOUT IT FELT RIGHT. I HAVE TO SAY THAT FROM THE FIRST DAY I ARRIVED THINGS STARTED FALLING INTO PLACE AND I AM FOREVER GRATEFUL FOR ALL OF THE WONDERFUL PEOPLE WHO HELPED ME GET MY FOOTING, MANY OF WHOM I'M STILL IN CONTACT WITH TODAY. OF COURSE, IT HASN'T BEEN ALL SHITS AND GIGGLES BUT THAT'S LIFE ISN'T IT? DON'T GET ME WRONG, I STILL MISS AMERICA. I CAN'T FIND GENOA SALAMI AND DECENT PROVOLONE TO SAVE MY LIFE AND THEY DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT A 'LARGE' DRINK MEANS BUT WE MUST PRIORITIZE...... AT LEAST I CAN WATCH MY YANKEES PLAY.  SO, AS I GET READY FOR A VERY NEEDED SUMMER VACATION I COUNT MY BLESSINGS........BUT I'M RUNNING OUT OF FINGERS AND TOES. 

GOD BLESS,
TOMMY

 IT'S MY FIRST DAY OFF SINCE ALMOST A MONTH SO SORRY ABOUT THE LONG TIME BETWEEN BLOGS. LAST WEEK AN OLD SCHOOL FRIEND OF MINE POSTED SOME VIDEOS OF HIS RECITAL FROM THE EARLY '90'S OF US PLAYING HYPER-TECHINCAL ROCK AT THE BERKLEE COLLEGE OF MUSIC. IT WAS AN EMOTIONAL EXPERIENCE WATCHING IT, JUST THE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THE PASSAGE OF SO MUCH TIME WAS ENOUGH. IT ALSO REMINDED ME OF THE CLOSE FRIENDS I HAD DURING MY BRIEF TIME THERE AND THE PAINFUL LOSS OF A FEW OF THOSE COLLEAGUES IN RECENT YEARS. IT MADE ME REFLECT ON HOW IMPORTANT MY ACCEPTANCE INTO THE COLLEGE WAS. THE EXPERIENCE WAS CRUCIAL FOR GETTING MY CAREER STARTED AND TURNING ME FROM A BASS PLAYER INTO A MUSICIAN. IT HAD BEEN A DREAM OF MINE TO ATTEND BERKLEE SINCE I WAS ABOUT 10 YEARS OLD AND I STARTED SEEING THE ADVERTISEMENTS IN KEYBOARD MAGAZINE TOUTING ALL OF THE FAMOUS ALUMNI WHO HAVE PASSED THROUGH THE SCHOOL. I KNEW THAT THIS WAS THE PLACE I HAD TO BE. I HAD SET A GOAL FOR MYSELF TO BE ACCEPTED INTO THE SCHOOL AND I SPENT THE NEXT SIX YEARS WORKING TOWARDS IT. WHEN IT CAME TIME FOR MY JUNIOR YEAR IN HIGH SCHOOL I JUMPED AT THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE MY LAST TWO YEARS OF SCHOOL SIMULTANEOUSLY. THIS ALLOWED ME TO APPY TO COLLEGE AT THE AGE OF 16. IT WAS A TOUGH YEAR BUT THANKFULLY BY THE GRACE OF GOD I WAS ACCEPTED AFTER A SUCCESSFUL AUDITION FOR FELLOW BASS ITALIAN JOHN RESPUCCI..... I THINK HE APPRECIATED MY BACH. I REMEMBER THE INCREDIBLE COMBINATION OF JOY AND FEAR I HAD DURING THAT SUMMER PREPARING TO GO INTO THE LION'S DEN OF YOUNG MUSICIANS, ALL OF WHOM WERE OLDER AND MOST HAD MORE EXPERIENCE. THE BEAUTIFUL THING ABOUT THAT SCHOOL WAS THE FACT THAT I PLAYED NON-STOP FROM MY SECOND DAY AT THERE UNTIL THE NIGHT BEFORE MY MOTHER CAME TO PICK ME UP AFTER SECOND SEMESTER. THE CLASSES, THE TEACHERS, THE FACILITIES WERE ALL TOP NOTCH. BUT, IT WAS THE STUDENTS WHO GAVE ME MY REAL EDUCATION. MY FELLOW CLASSMATES PUSHED MY TECHNICAL LEVEL IN THE LABS. THEY INSPIRED ME TO PRACTICE HARDER AFTER HEARING THEIR RECITALS. THEY GAVE ME ENCOURAGEMENT WHEN THEY HEARD SOMETHING THEY LIKED AND CRITICISM WHEN I WASN'T HAPPENING. I'M FOREVER GRATEFUL FOR HAVING THE GOOD FORTUNE TO PLAY WITH THE MOST TALENTED YOUNG MUSICIANS IN THE WORLD AT THAT TIME. MY ONLY REGRET IS THAT I DIDN'T COMPLETE MY EDUCATION THERE. LIKE SO MANY OTHER STUDENTS, MY BERKLEE EDUCATION GAVE ME OPPORTUNITIES TO GET OUT INTO THE REAL WORLD AND START MAKING A LIVING AS A WORKING MUSICIAN. SO, THANK YOU KENNY FOR PUTTING UP THOSE VIDEOS AND REMINDING ME OF THE GOOD OLD DAYS. AND THANK YOU BERKLEE FOR GIVING ME FRIENDS AND LESSONS THAT WILL LAST A LIFETIME. 

GOD BLESS,
TOMMY

 SO, I'M A BASEBALL FAN. I COULD SIT AND WATCH IT ALL DAY. I GET VERY INVOLVED AND I HAVE TROUBLE FOCUSING ON MUCH ELSE WHEN THE GAME IS ON..... PARTICULARLY YANKEES GAMES. IN MY NEXT LIFE I'D LOVE TO COME BACK AS A PRO BASEBALL PLAYER, THE SPORT JUST SPEAKS TO ME. I GUESS I'M NOT ALONE IN WANTING TO BE A FAMOUS ATHLETE, WHAT IT MUST FEEL LIKE TO HIT A GAME WINNING HOME RUN OR STRIKE OUT THE LAST BATTER. WAY BACK IN HIGH SCHOOL MANY OF MY GOOD FRIENDS WERE THE ATHLETES, NOT REALLY THE MUSICIANS. WE SEEMED TO HAVE A MUTUAL ADMIRATION FOR EACH OTHER, THEY WANTING TO KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO PERFORM ON STAGE AND ME WONDERING HOW IT WAS TO EXECUTE A WINNING PLAY. FUNNY HOW WE ALWAYS DESIRE THAT WHAT WE DON'T POSSES. HOWEVER, I LEARNED A LOT FROM MY FIT FRIENDS. THEY HELPED GET ME INTO WEIGHTLIFTING WHICH TRANSFORMED MY LIFE. I LEARNED ABOUT LOYALTY AND HOW TO PUT YOUR FRIENDS BEFORE YOURSELF. THERE SEEMS TO BE A STEREOTYPE THAT THE ATHLETES WERE DUMB AND CLOSED MINDED BUT I FOUND JUST THE OPPOSITE TO BE TRUE. MOST OF MY MUSICIAN FRIENDS WERE JUDGMENTAL AND UNINFORMED WHILE MY JOCK FRIENDS HAD GOOD MANNERS, CAME FROM GOOD FAMILIES AND ACCEPTED ANYONE INTO THEIR GROUP AS LONG AS THEY WERE COOL. IN THIS LIFE I AM MORE THAN  CONTENT TO BE A WORKING BASS PLAYER BUT I WILL ALWAYS CONTINUE TO DRAW INSPIRATION FROM THE ATHLETIC ART OF THOSE WHO ACHIVE GREATNESS ON THE FIELD. 

I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON MY NEW MAC FOR THE PAST FEW DAYS AND I HAVE TO ADMIT THAT WHILE NOT PERFECT IT REPRESENTS A MAJOR IMPROVEMENT OVER MY PC EXPERIENCE. IF YOU KNOW ME THEN YOU KNOW THAT I HATE COMPUTERS. I HAVE THIS WEBSITE BECAUSE I CHOOSE TO BE CONNECTED AND AT LEAST HAVE A PLACE TO PRESENT MY MUSIC. OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS AS I'VE COMPLAINED ABOUT MY HORRIBLE COMPUTER PROBLEMS I KEPT HEARING FROM YOU MAC USERS 'JUST BUY A MAC'. TO BE HONEST, I GOT SICK OF HEARING IT. FINALLY OUR LAPTOP DIED AND IT WAS TIME FOR A NEW COMPUTER SO WE FIGURED LET'S GIVE APPLE A CHANCE AND SEE IF ALL OF THOSE HIPPIES WERE CORRECT. WELL WE ARE IMPRESSED. THE ONLY PROBLEM I KEEP EXPERIENCING IS WITH THE WIRELESS MOUSE. IT'S VERY COOL BUT UNRELIABLE. ONE THING I HOPE TO UTILIZE ARE THE VIDEO AND RECORDING FEATURES OF THE MAC IN ORDER TO PUT MORE CONTENT ON THE WEBSITE. FOR NOW I JUST HAVE TO SIT AND PLAY WITH IT. ONE THING THAT IS A MAJOR REVELATION IS THE ITUNES EXPERIENCE AS A MAC OWNER. WOW, NOW I GET IT! THE COOL THING IS THAT I HAVE AN AMERICAN ACCOUNT SO ICAN GET ALL OF THE LATEST NEWS AND TV SHOWS AS THEY BECOME AVAILABLE, NO MORE WAITING A YEAR FOR NEW LOST EPISODES! I'M SURE THAT I WILL ENCOUNTER A WHOLE NEW SET OF PROBLEMS BUT FOR NOW IT'S ONWARS AND UPWARDS.

GOD BLESS,
TOMMY

I'VE BEEN A LITTLE BIT OUT OF BLOG MODE DUE TO COMPUTER PROBLEMS AND BEING OUT OF TOWN SO HERE'S WHAT'S BEEN ON MY MIND LATELY. THIS MAY SOUND KIND OF STRANGE BUT I'VE BEEN IMAGINING A LIFE WITHOUT PERFORMING FOR THE FIRST TIME. HOW CAN THAT BE? KEEP IN MIND THAT I STARTED MY PROFESSIONAL CAREER AT 15 AND WITHOUT GIVING AWAY MY REAL AGE, I'VE BEEN AT IT FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS. I JUST FEEL BURNED OUT. OF COURSE, WHEN I GET ONSTAGE I CAN'T IMAGINE BEING ANYWHERE ELSE. PLUS, I CAN'T REALLY DO ANYTHING WELL EXCEPT PLAY. I GUESS IT'S JUST THE AMOUNT OF HOW MUCH THERE IS TO ALWAYS PREPARE THAT'S BECOME SO DAUNTING. EVEN ON MY DAYS OFF, I STILL HAVE HOURS OF WORK TO DO IN ORDER TO GET READY FOR THE NEXT CONCERT/ REHEARSAL/ SESSION. BELIEVE ME, I AM SO THANKFUL THAT MY PHONE RINGS AND I'M VERY GRATEFUL FOR THE STEADY WORK THAT A CLASSICAL ORCHESTRA CAN PROVIDE. I REALLY LOVE IT. IT CAN JUST GET OVERWHELMING AT TIMES AND AS MUSICIANS, WE LIVE ON OUR REPUTATION SO HAVING A BAD DAY IS NOT AN OPTION. IT'S BEEN A BLESSED CAREER FILLED WITH MANY DREAMS THAT CAME TRUE BUT IT'S THE KIND OF LIFE WHERE YOU CAN NEVER REALLY TAKE YOUR FOOT OFF OF THE GAS PEDAL. I AM LUCKY THAT I HAVE A WIFE WHO IS IN THE SAME BUSINESS AND WHO ALSO TURNED PROFESSIONAL AT A YOUNG AGE. SHE UNDERSTANDS THE DEMANDS OF THIS JOB AND WE CAN LEAN ON EACH OTHER FOR SUPPORT. THIS MAKES A HUGE DIFFERANCE. WE ALWAYS FIND IT AMUSING WHEN PEOPLE ASK US WHAT WE DO AND WE SAY 'WE'RE MUSICIANS' AND THE AUTOMATIC RESPONSE IS 'YOU DO WHAT YOU LOVE'. NOW, WHILE THAT'S TRUE SOME OF THE TIME OUR RESPONSE IS 'WE DO WHAT WE'RE GOOD AT'. AS WORKING MUSICIANS, IF WE ONLY DID WHAT WE LOVED WE WOULD BE LIVING OUT OF OUR CAR. SO, SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO MAKE ARTISIC SACRIFICES IN ORDER TO PAY OUR BILLS. ON TOP OF THAT, IN ORDER TO PAY THE BILLS AND HAVE SOMETHING LEFT OVER THEN YOU HAVE TO SAY YES TO PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING YOU CAN DO. EVERY WORKING PLAYER WILL UNDERSTAND THAT BY PURE VOLUME YOU CAN START TO MAKE A LIVING BUT YOU SHOULD BE PREPARED TO PUT IN SOME 10-16 HOUR DAYS. SO, SORRY TO SEEM LIKE I'M A BIG COMPLAINER BUT LIKE ANYONE ELSE IN A HIGH PRESSURE JOB AFTER MANY YEARS I'M BEGINNING TO FEEL IT. IT'S NOTHING THAT A FEW DAYS OFF AND SOME COCKTAILS CAN'T FIX.

GOD BLESS,
TOMMY