Austin things; more composing

Was in Austin, TX this past weekend. There wasn't a lot of time, but I of course found a way to eat some pretty spectacular food, and see a small area of the city, particularly the area around South Congress Ave. I had a particularly satisfying pulled pork sandwich at a place called Jo's, a little coffee/sandwich stand; strong margaritas, and delicious tacos al pastor and enchiladas en mole at Güero's; even amazing chopped brisket at the airport barbecue place called Salt Lick.

Quite an impressive sight was some kind of organized dog walking day, a 3 mile walk for Austin's citizens and their dogs, on Saturday, which had its finish line on Congress Ave, just near our hotel. I've never seen so many dogs in one place, and even more remarkably, never heard dogs so silent, as I did that day. For the entire time I was out on South Congress, not a single dog barked. It was uncanny, and beautiful. Or just what happens after you subject thousands of dogs to a three-mile walk in 90-degree heat. Either way, it was something I'd never witnessed before.

Today through Thursday, I'll be back at the desk, continuing the composition and orchestration of the new piece I'm writing for big band. I'm excited, because this piece gives me a platform to try things I've always wanted to in an orchestral setting. At the same time, I'm trying to keep it simple, direct... not write the kitchen sink into it. My heroes seem always to have known that it wasn't how much you put INTO a piece or how complex you could make it, but how focused and how direct you could make it. I'm in the headspace of leaving things out, concentrating on melody and thematic development, and most of all, a strong groove and rhythm which roots it to the ground and to the tradition that it comes from. So... I'm on it. More later.