I have the jazz festival coming up this weekend and jazz band practice later this morning. My instrument for this outfit is baritone sax, and that's what I played in my first big band back in 1980 in another junior college. It is said sax players are the craziest, with drummers often so far out it's a like the open family secret. There's an audio file played with a background picture on the major net video outlet of Buddy Rich chewing out his band, quite off putting yet I hear it was one of his more "congenial" moments.

Back to 80-81, three trumpet players, bless them, used to car pool and after one rehearsal one of them let loose with an enthusiastic, "Fire up the imperial cruiser!" They were met with good natured guffaws but while trumpet players are as known as any in the band for goofy jokes, the sax players were considering reporting this breach of security to The Emperor.

Our director today has something of a name in the jazz world and plays trumpet. He has said several times he "likes" Sarah Palin. Then there is our lead trumpet, who will tell anyone at any time there are satellites that can and do watch us all and everything in the news is Horace Schmidt's diversion.

I have some catching up to do. But first to run it by The Empress.