“My dad had a catchphrase, and I said I’d never have a catchphrase…

But it turns out, my catchphrase might be, ‘Support Your Neighbor’s Art!’” -JT Bates

I had the night off in Minneapolis, so I decided to swing out to Dakota Jazz Club with a couple of rolls of film to catch my friend JT Bates soundcheck for a set with his quartet of old friends and magical musicians Jeffrey Bailey (bass), Michael Lewis (saxophone), Bryan Nichols (piano) and featuring the brilliant Aby Wolf on vocals.

It’s easy (especially music) to view only the show as THE THING. But after years of it all, I’ve started to realize that the rehearsal is THE THING, the dinner before is THE THING, the green-room hang is THE THING, and the load out is THE THING.

It’s all of it…

THE THING.

And I’d like to stay present for as much of it as possible.