So the story goes: A young Charlie Parker aka “Bird” had a really embarrassing sit-in with Count Basie's band. As a young horn player, he was playing along with these older professional musicians and they embarrassed Parker by laughing at him and calling him out for his poor playing. They allegedly threw a cymbal at his feet and kicked him out. Parker simply said “I’ll be back”.

He spent the next 2-3 years practicing 10 or more hours a day. Not just refining his technique or building new ones. Rebuilding his playing from the ground up.

This time spent alone and focused in the “woodshed” led Parker to create and define the Bebop genre of music.

The term “woodshedding” or going to “the shed” were already a part of the musicians vernacular, but this is the story (legend?) that brought the term attention.

Important note: “taking someone to the woodshed” also has a negative meaning. As in - disciplining someone out of earshot and eyesight of others. You’ll find none of that here.

Finding and telling stories

I believe that stories are how we have always expressed ourselves and communicated. I’m learning to find stories in ordinary life and tell them onstage, on the page, and sometimes in drawings.

I’m in the woodshed, practicing. I am choosing to work quietly, learn seriously, and open the door occasionally to share what’s become real.

I’ll share occasional stories, drawings, things I’m learning, and news of upcoming shows. It’s free, published on an irregular cadence, and not trying to sell or track you.