On my way to Santa Barbara ...
Karl Reed, saxophonist extroidinaire, solo gawd on the Calico Soul CDs, is getting hitched. He is an artist. He is brilliant. He is strange. He is my brother. How should I feel about this? Will I lose him? Will he keep playing? Love him already? Feel like you know him? Yes, Karl is the guy you've heard about in tales like:
- Karl and the Sailor ("Let me show you my kniiiiiife!")
- Calico tour with an extreme Vegan horn section.
- Singer of the song, "Hash Cookie In Berlin."
- He coined the phrase, "Beave Weave."
- Famous for saying, "Renounce your renunciations!"
- "Todd, there are NO BEANS in France!"
... and I could go on and on ... But it's gonna be great! Yes, this is his big day, and I'm gonna be there! Oh, man - I remember one great show in Switzerland, where Karl started barking like a dog on stage. Whoa! Of course, I was egging him on, screaming, "Down, Fang!" and "I'll bite you back, you crazy mutt!" It was nuts. Grrrr. He had this snarl that he'd whip out after a solo (or during!) or smack dab in tha middle of a song. He played up a storm, though. I've known Mr. Reed a long time, all the way back to his early days with the late, great, band Improfusion. They weren't really fusion, they were more, well - improvised! OK, they were pure jazz ... with hints of calypso. But Karl and Co. would git down! Yezz, I know he's got a screamin' demon in his soul, and when he really cuts loose, well ... ya better watch out! Hope his new bride knows what she's getting into! Heh.
So now, right here on this universal piece of white paper / computerscreen seen 'round the world, I wanna dedicate the moment to Mr. Reed, and his lovely bride!
CONGRATS!
Show them all that real love exists, that two people can wade through these troubled times, arm in arm ... Embrace each other, friends, trust and nurture each other, and LISTEN to one another. Karl has got some biggluv in his soul, and I know that he will shine. He has promised me a killer dinner of Indian cuisine, and California's finest wine. Let us feast! (In a sacred way.)
-Todd