Just got this in my email today from Concord Music Group:


Hi David, Congratulations, you are the winner of the John Pizzarelli/Carlyle Hotel Giveaway! You have won:• Two (2) VIP seating tickets to a performance by John Pizzarelli at the Carlyle Hotel (35 East 76th Street, New York City, New York 10021) on Saturday, October 9, 2010 at 8:45PM EST • A two (2) night stay in a Deluxe Room at the Carlyle Hotel (check-in on October 8, 2010; check out on October 10, 2010) • One (1) seven-hundred fifty dollar ($750.00) AMEX gift card.



Today is my 20th wedding anniversary. Looks like, even though it might be a little late, we'll be celebrating in style!

Holy cow!

Wow! Congratulations!!

Very cool!! Congrats!!

Enjoy your trip, and give us a report about how much fun you have at the performance and what you do in NYC. Should be a blast!

Congrats! Hook up with Jimbo, he can lead you to some good CD stores with that Amex card you won.

Rick A.

That is so cool!!! Enjoy!

Congrats! And happy anniversary!

Sounds like a win/win. You'll be able to do a bit of sightseeing and be back at the hotel in plenty of time for the show. Have a great time and happy anniversary.

Very NICE! Enjoy!

Amazing stuff! Happy anniversary, David.

It's that ICE magic at work! Way to go!

You lucky (Mur)dog! Congratulations! Have a great anniversary celebration in New York.

Wow, too cool!

Awesome.

Hey all,

This trip came and went like a dream this last weekend. Here's a copy of my "trip report" to the folks at Concord Music Group:

The trip to New York was a total success. The weather was perfect -- clear blue skies, 70 degrees, light breeze. Friday evening and Saturday --- everyone on the Upper East Side out with their kids and dogs; John Lennon's 70th birthday celeberated at Strawberry Fields. The Carlyle is everything I thought it would be and more and the service was fantastic. The General Manager personally walked us to our room and (thank you!) there was cake and an anniversary greeting along with a hand-written card awaiting our arrival. A hopeless romantic's dream come true.

But the show itself topped everything. John and Jessica were warm and funny, gracioulsy introduced us, played incredible music and sang as perfectly as anyone. We had a table at the stage --- 4 feet from Jessica's mike and right in front of Tony Tedesco's bass drum.

The music, the creative arrangements for the duets, the playing, the sound was like out of a dream where everything is perfect. I could have stayed and listened all night. I have known Bucky Pizzarelli's guitar playing for about the last 30 years and have known of John for some time as well but never imagined being so up close to such an incredible and enjoyable talent. Rockin' In Rhythm is a great CD -- and, for me, that's true now more than ever. The show included several numbers from the album (Satin Doll, C-Jam Blues, East St. Louis Toodle-oo/Don't Get Around Much Anymore come to mind immediately). It was great to hear them played live in such an intimate setting. Note for note perfection obviously enjoyed by the cream of the crop of true New York music lovers. The stories about the songs were engaging and inviting. As were the band members themselves --- with a special nod to Martin Pizzarelli who visited with us a couple of times. A real gentleman and genuine nice guy. These people have such a deep musical history and vocabulary that I could hang on every word they say and never lose interest.


A totally enjoyable trip. And the mojo must have been with us all the way around because even La Guardia and everyone working there were curiously charming on Sunday morning. Maybe that's just New York on a beautiful day. I'll never forget the show, the trip, the hotel, or Telarc and Concord Music Group for making this happen.

I'm glad NY cooperated.

Great story. Thanks for sharing!

And have you spend it so quickly you'll never even remember having it!

Wicked - nice good!