01/10/09 NYC Winter Jazzfest @ various venues, New York, NY

For the Manhattan portion of my ambition birthday celebration, I started a tradition at the NYC Winter Jazzfest and I haven't missed one since.

The highlights were Marco Benevento Trio, Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey (sans Reed Mathis), Burnt Sugar and a late night DJ set by A Tribe Called Quest beat master Ali Shaheed Muhammad.

The next day I completed the 5 boro birthday bash with a trip to Staten Island's beer lover paradise Adobe Blues for an intoxicating breakfast.

09/22/07 Travis Sullivan's Bjorkestra/Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey @ Gramercy Theatre, New York, NY

While the headliner here had been garnering press for the novel concept of transcribing Icelandic pixie Bjork's music for a big band, the draw for me was the severely underrated JFJO.