Here’s the latest on Ping’s Jeff Elbel: ‘m making a whirlwind trip through Los Angeles for the job this week, arriving Wednesday night and wrapping up on Friday.  Thursday and Friday will be long work days, so time to visit old haunts and old pals will be exceedingly slim.  My friends at the Talking Stick have offered a fun opportunity, though.  Ellen has booked thirty minutes for me at the end of her regular open mic night.  My flight arrives at LAX at 7:30pm.  I’ll go straight to the Talking Stick from there, and will play a short set beginning at 9:30pm. 

Since it’s open mic night, feel free to jump in with your own music, or let me know if you’d want to play with me.  Otherwise, I plan to play a handful of new PING songs you haven’t heard, and visit as much as possible before and after.  There’s no cover charge, and all ages are welcome.  I’ve missed palm trees, Amoeba Records, Talking Stick’s awesome Caprese sandwiches, and especially my good friends in California.  Hope to see you there. - - - In general news, there has been a recent surge of progress on Ping’s “Meet Your Maker” album project.  The brilliant Phil Madeira (Buddy Miller’s band, etc.) has tracked Hammond B3 for seven songs, and I’m expecting guitar tracks from Ping veterans Peter Rhee and Matt McCabe soon.  Mike Roe of the Lost Dogs and 77’s played a heroic blues-rock guitar solo on “Here Comes the Sunburn” last month. 

This project has been back-burnered countless times while I concentrate on other people’s projects, but it’s been great fun to tinker with.  I know it’ll be done someday, and will be a blast to hear. “Meet Your Maker” is a concept album. If you want to read about the story or see the lyrics, visit http://www.marathonrecords.com/ping then click on “albums.” - - - In the past few weeks, Tom Sharpe’s SharpeWorldMusic ensemble has played to 1300 friends at the Sinnissippi Park bandshell in Rockford, and performed on the Great Lawn at Chicago’s Millennium Park.  On Sept 29, we’ve got a good ol’ pub gig.  It should be great fun, knocking about with a big band in close quarters.  

I play double bass for Tom’s music, which has been described as “Beethoven meets Kodo Drums,” and sometimes gets compared to Blue Man Group - though none of us paint our heads blue.  It’s thrilling stuff, and well worth checking out. ————————— SHOW SUMMARY: ————————— 

Jeff Elbel @ The Talking Stick Wednesday, August 22, 2007 @ 9:30 pm 1630 Ocean Park Boulevard Santa Monica, CA  90405 

(310) 450-6052 http://thetalkingstick.net Admission: FREE Open Mic begins @ 7pm: You should play, too! 

All ages welcome map: http://tinyurl.com/2y6fr3 SharpeWorldMusic ensemble @ Maple Avenue Pub Saturday, September 29, 2007 @ 10:00 pm 

1227 Maple Ave. (corner of Maple and Rte 53) Lisle, IL 60532 map: http://tinyurl.com/35m3ab