Johnny Vidacovich and Steve Masakowski at Houston Community College

[JiminHouston]

Last night, Friday, September 9, Johnny and Steve joined with some of the top jazz musicians and educators in Houston (Joe LoCascio, piano; Woody Witt, tenor; Dennis Dotson, trumpet; Aubrey Tucker, trombone; Bill Miller, bass) for a Hurricane Katrina benefit concert. Donations of all kinds were taken at the door, and the Houston musicians donated CD's for sale with the proceeds goind to the Red Cross (this included Woody Witt's new release, SQUARE PEG, ROUND HOLE featuring Randy Brecker on Apria Records). The Houston Community College theater was SRO, and Johnny was introduced as a new member of the jazz program faculty. The program was all standards, and was wonderful. The crowning moment was the finale, when the Houston guys left the stage except for Bill Miller for Steve's trio version of "Do You Know What it Means to Miss New Orleans," which could have been corny in other contexts but here was simply poignant and beautiful. I doubt there were many dry eyes in the theater as he closed the song simply and with a smile.