Arturo Sandoval and our Bearcats @ the Orange Bowl

Hello everyone!

I know its been awhile. I hope everyone's had a safe and enjoyable holiday season! So here we are with a new year - an opportunity for fresh starts and the continued growth of oneself.

Like myself, if you're a Bearcat fan, the new year kicked off with watching UC compete in their biggest game of the school's history - the Orange Bowl. Sure, the Bearcats came up short, but they have nothing to be ashamed about. The team has come a long way; we're still very proud of them, and this takes nothing away from the fact that they've had one heck of a season.

I'm also sure you saw the excellent start where the Bearcats drove the ball downfield in 6 plays for the first score. Well, hit the rewind button back a little to see legendary Jazz Trumpeter Arturo Sandoval perform the National Anthem. Talk about a full, powerful sound - what a performance! He even boldly takes the "high road" on the optional upper octaves (i.e. "...the laaaaand of the freeee-EEEEEEEEE!!!!!"). And the exclamation point he put on the last note said it all.

I can't say anything about his abilities that hasn't been said. I was just very delighted the NCAA (or Entertainment Dept. Staff) chose a Jazz Musician to perform the National Anthem - after all, Jazz IS an American Original, right?

Anyhow, I hope everyone has a happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year. Stay in tune with The Jazz Half for info on all the Cincinnati-area Jazz events for 2009! Cheers!

-jh