Hello again, and thanks for visiting my newly revised collection of ramblings! Here are a few things to catch you up on:

In April 2024, I retired as Executive Director of the Austin Jazz Workshop and handed over the reins to Terrance McDaniel as ED and Shawn Ellison as Music Director. If you are here to find about current goings-on with AJW, be sure to visit them at austinjazzworkshop.org

Taking things a step further, I also retired from music performance altogether, and now live in Colorado with my beloved wife Maggie and our beloved dog Gus. Since leaving TX, every day is a new adventure in reduced humidity, gorgeous scenery, and healthy lifestyle! We still have plenty of friends and relations in Texas, so we return from time to time, but we’re having a blast exploring new environs and settling into a new community.

Friends and neighbors are encouraged to drop a line and let us know how things are going in your world!

Finally, just a note to say how much of a pleasure it has been to guide the Austin Jazz Workshop over the past thirty years, as we grew to introduce new generations of young listeners to the magic that is Jazz. I could not have done it without the talents of dozens of tremendous performers–you know who you are!–and the financial support of numerous arts funders who make it all possible. I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again: THANK YOU for the opportunity to perform for you all!

MMelinger
10.29.2024