This Friday, something comes full circle for me.
I’m stepping onto the Council Oak stage at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol with the David Cate Trio—and while I’ve played this casino before, this moment feels different. More intentional. More personal.
A trio is exposed.
There’s nowhere to hide, and that’s exactly the point.
Charlie Aesque and I go back decades, crossing paths through radio stations, newspapers, and media work before music fully took over. He’s played coast to coast with touring bands since the 1970s, and he brings that history into every note—taste, restraint, and a deep sense of groove that can’t be taught.
John Grayson and I met in the early ’90s, just after he returned from serving our country during Desert Storm and in Afghanistan. He played drums in the Army Big Band and toured throughout Germany, balancing military precision with musical freedom. That combination still defines his playing today.
When the three of us come together, the music becomes a conversation—not a script.
Our format is simple by design:
- Set One: A foot firmly planted in classic jazz
- Set Two: A modern turn—reharmonization, exploration, improvisation
- Set Three: A featured guest and a willingness to take risks
This Friday, that featured performer is Samantha Grayson—someone I’ve had the pleasure of working with for years and finally coaxed into something a little different. Together, we’ll explore a Vegas-inspired set and torch-song territory shaped by the spirit of Aretha Franklin, Ella Fitzgerald, Peggy Lee, and Nina Simone.
This isn’t about recreating anything.
It’s about honoring the lineage and then seeing where the music wants to go.
The Council Oak stage sits right inside the main entrance—small, warm, and surrounded by the hum of the room. World-class food inside. A listening crowd just steps away. It’s one of the best environments in the Tri-Cities for musicians who care about sound, space, and connection.
It’s been cold.
Cabin fever is real.
So if you’re ready to hear something honest, unscripted, and alive—join us this Friday from 7–10 PM. And if you miss this one, keep an eye out. This trio is just getting started, and the year ahead leaves plenty of room for surprise.
Jazz was never meant to sit still.
Neither are we.