This is the 3rd time this band - an offshoot of the class Dave RIcketts teaches over at Zambaleta - has played at Moishe house for a Shabat dinner, and I'm sure it won't be the last. It's sort of like an extended practice with good food and booze on hand, and it's been a great way to get comfortable with playing the style live. Most of my own experience comes from playing in rock bands where the aim is to get the live set down tight, so it's a big adjustment to get used to live sets of random songs, some of which I haven't played before. As long as I can remind myself to relax into it and not get hung up about making mistakes, it gets a little easier each time. That's probably true for any challenge in life! Anyway, It's great to have found people who are really encouraging to one another and excited about learning the music together. The first Django Reinhardt record I heard was a CD sent by my grandmother - who used to listen to him on Belgian radio - when she found out I started playing guitar. Ever since then, I've wanted to try and play in that style with a full group, and I'm very lucky that now I get to realize that wish.
