Well I haven't been online a lot lately do to the fact that I was away in St Louis, MO and that my phone line was dead for a couple of days. So I'm mainly going to be talking about my crazy trip to St. Louis. At first I didn't even want to go. But I went anyways because my mom kept on bugging me to go. Well it was the 21st and I wanted to come early because I hadn't practiced my trumpet, I had only done some minor lip buzzing but one of my sisters friend invited us for breakfast and I went a long anyways. While we were conversing my sister told her friend that I was a trumpet player, and my sister's friend happened to mention that she was going to go see a Cuban trumpeter later that day but she couldn't think of his name. So me being the trumpet geek that I am the first named that popped into my head was Arturo Sandoval. So then the lady checks to see who it was and it turned out to be Arturo Sandoval. So I said "we have to stay and watch" so we went on and bought tickets to the St. Louis jazz festival. Chris Botti had performed Friday so I was a little mad that I missed that but it wasn't anything big. So I walk in the park and the first band I see is the "Webster university jazz ensemble" and the lead trumpeter was just monstrous. So I stay and watch them play a number and then I go on to the Arturo stage. I made sure to go in early to get a good spot. So of course I got right up front and my parents went another way. So there I was waiting to see my idol and after 15 minutes of waiting he finally comes out and I'm the first one to start cheering. As he starts to warm up I sit their and study him to see what he does on his warm up. He did some very loud low notes and then he did some chromatics. As I sat their learning from the master this old guy asked me if I was a big fan and I said of course and then he asked me if I liked high notes but I said no, I just like to hear them. So then he told me to look at Arturo's belly and watch how it blows up as he plays, he fills it up with air. And then he told me about how great the concert was going to be. But I really didn't have any idea of how great it truly great it was going to be until I actually experienced it. Arturo started out with "Rhythm Of Our World" and with just the first 3 notes I was totally blown away at the power and control. I started shouting into like 3 seconds of the song and everyone cheered a long. I was so high off the music and atmosphere that I don't really remember all the songs. But he did play my funny valentine exactly like Chet baker it was crazy how much like Chet he sounded. He did 1 piano piece, he played some percussion and did a lot of singing. He did some real cool multiphonics and scat singing. He ended the concert with Sandunga. And by the end of the concert the whole park was on their feet dancing. Their must of been 1000 people dancing, beautiful women. I was dancing with about 4 women. And I had a 30+ year old piano player lady flirting with me, but she was a little too old for me. I had a great time. Arturo did everything I could of asked for and more. It was just a unbelievable concert. After the show I stayed after and he gave me his autograph and shook my right hand (my playing hand) twice!!! and then the master himself wished me good luck. It was great. I'll never forget the moment. Whenever you guys get the chance to see this cat live, go!! It's a beautiful thing.