Happy New Year, a couple of weeks into 2012!
 
I sent out the following message as part of an emailed family greeting card ... here it is,  minus the photos:
 
"Things are looking up ... Hey, we're an optimistic bunch by nature, but this has been a lousy year by any measure: the news, the economy, politics, the passing of so many friends and heroes ... and so it hasn't been easy to keep smiling all of the time.
 
But, if we take a moment and count our blessings ... well, then, it's easy to smile and laugh and be grateful for all of the good things we've enjoyed over the years: love, family, good health, lots of laughs and friendships, plenty of good food and music, wonderful memories from the past and our ever-hopeful wishes for the future. And this last year had plenty of good adventures, musically and otherwise. So, things are looking up!
 
Maya, Taichi, Mutsy and I send you our wishes for your good health and happiness ... and let's all of us pull together to make 2012 a year filled with promise, compassion, joy and all good things in abundance. Santa's already brought me the best gift in the world - my family and their good health. And, so: from our family to yours,
 
MERRY CHRISTMAS
HAPPY NEW YEAR
HAPPY HOLIDAYS
PEACE
LOVE
GOOD HEALTH
SMILES ... and general holiday hilarity!
 
I'm in Florida as I type this website greeting, here to play a concert with Bob Mintzer and Larry Goldings, Bob's Canyon Cove organ trio. Hip! Also here to do some work on a Jaco Pastorius tribute CD (post-production work on some of the live tracks recorded at the November Tokyo Blue Note concerts with the Jaco Pastorius Big Band, directed by Peter Graves, in honor of what would have been Jaco's imminent 60th birthday ... that featured a great band plus Richard Bona and Damian Erskine on bass ... plus a session with Will Lee here, covering "Come On, Come Over" from Jaco's debut album).
 
School has started up for the 2nd semester at USC, and we have a full house of terrific students in our 9 sections of Drumming Proficiency, plus all of my private lesson students (of whom I am very proud). The NAMM show starts up in a few days ... man, it's like the FUN NEVER STOPS.
 
But seriously: everyone take good care of your health, and take care of your loved ones, and let's all take care of one another by being NICE. When I travel, I see a lot of anger coming out of people, and a lot of no consideration for other peoples' space, quiet and dignity. Hard to blame anyone, I think the world is making everyone just a little bit crazy. But let's all try to make the world a little less crazy, and a better place.
 
Y'all know where it starts!
 
Wishing everyone a good year, with love.
 
Peter

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