Gary Allen Gardner

Attorney in Traverse City, Michigan
Specialist in Collaborative Divorce, traditional divorce, real estate and contracts.

[Jeri Ryan @JeriLRyan]

PAY. ATTENTION.

[Happy Captain @EODHappyCaptain]

Guy, my toddler left his toy at an @IHGhotels while traveling. We called them, and they said they would get it in the mail for us. This morning I opened my email and had this from them:

Please repost and help them get some recognition for awesome customer service!

[Gary Allen Gardner @garygardner735]

@Sophia_Nyx The Rock (with Sean Connery).

[Wynton Marsalis @wyntonmarsalis]

The spirit of jazz is a powerful thing.

Night before last, we had the pleasure of playing in Szczecin, Poland. (Shh-CHECH-in) Our man, saxophonist, composer organizer and cultural force, Sylwester Ostrowski and his wife Anna are presenting us. They are here doing it all: welcoming cats to the hotel, tidying the venue, bringing students to help with the check in, sound check and stage setup (and get some impromptu lessons)… Anna even got absolutely fancied up to elegantly host the concert from the stage.

In the morning, as we left, here they are at the hotel to see us off in the proper style with a familial feeling of warmth, concern and solidarity. The Spirit is everywhere.

That evening we played Mary Lou Williams’ “In the land of Oo-bla-dee” for the first time on this tour. The audience really enjoyed Vincent Gardner’s singing, and Mary Lou’s iconic arrangement gave us another opportunity to assert the contemporary vitality and continuing expressive possibilities in all periods of quality jazz. As we walked off the stage to enthusiastic, appreciative and generous applause, I looked to the cats playing the encores on our set list. Out of the blue Sherman said, “Man, people liked Vincent singing, why don’t y’all play Just a Closer Walk with Thee?” This is not typical, when Sherman suggests something it is normally, “Play a slow one man, let people hear your sound.” Vince said, “See if Chris (Crenshaw) will sing it.” Chris agreed…..and we went out there. Though we had never played it with Chris Lewis on clarinet, he said he would be cool with it. Mr. Crenshaw sang and soloed with such feeling and sincerity that Marcus Printup got a little full and followed him with an evocative and very personal Printupian solo. Carlos was also in the moment, playing fervently with depth and commitment. This Sunday evening performance of that old hymn had a special quality about it.

As I went to the dressing room, Carlos brought a lady and her mother down. They were thanking us for playing the song she had requested in a letter delivered before the gig. “But I haven’t seen a letter,” I replied just as they picked it, unopened, out of a light fixture outside the door. It read:

Hello, my name is Zuzana and I’m 23 years old. My late father Gregory who passed away 6 months ago because of cancer is the reason I’m writing this to you. He was an amazing musician. He played jazz and classical music and he was the principal of music school till his last days in my city Stargard which is 40 km from Szczecin where you play today.

His whole life was about music and he admired you since I was a kid. He played with your recordings and learned a lot of it. Nine years ago on YouTube we found your concert with great Eric Clapton. We especially loved “Just A Closer Walk With Thee” with Taj Mahal. He said to me, “I want this at my funeral.” And I did it. You gave us beautiful sounds of your hearts on his last path. I couldn’t be more grateful.

Unfortunately, he didn’t make it to be here with us. But I’m here with my mother Monica, who I know gonna think of him the whole concert and I wanted to give her a little present and make her smile. So I decided to try my best to contact with you and ask a big favour. Could you dedicate whatever song you like for my mother Monica and my dad who I’m sure gonna listen you with us ‘upstairs’ and just tell her to smile? This means a lot for me to give her this happiness for years.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for connecting me and my father’s mutual passion. He played clarinet and sax, and I play the violin and viola.
With best regards,
Zuza

Meeting Zuza and her mother afterwards we were all moved by the appropriateness of what had happened and several of us commented: the Spirit is everywhere. I wish I could have made that public dedication but meeting in person was even more meaningful. Thank you Zuzana and momma Monica.

I wrote this as we were on the road to Hamburg to play in the magnificent Elbphilharmonie and now finish it on the road to Neuhardenberg for another swinging gig. Hallelujah!

[Gary Allen Gardner @garygardner735]

@hoeforjemily Hotchner, definitely.

[Gary Allen Gardner @garygardner735]

@TerryMatalas @TerryMatalas for today's win!

[Jeri Ryan @JeriLRyan]

Right…??

[Gary Allen Gardner @garygardner735]

@RobertPicardo @KariLake @SirPatStew !!

[Gary Allen Gardner @garygardner735]

@JeriLRyan the equal protection of the laws.

[Gary Allen Gardner @garygardner735]

@JeriLRyan they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction

[Gary Allen Gardner @garygardner735]

@JeriLRyan are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." Section 1 of the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution provides:

All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein .

[Gary Allen Gardner @garygardner735]

@JeriLRyan As a civil society, we should seek to improve, to progress, and to make better the lives of those within our society. That includes all individuals who make up our society. Or, in words drawn directly from the Declaration of Independence, ". . . among these [unalienable rights]

[Gary Allen Gardner @garygardner735]

@MikeOkuda Yep; and note: "charging the Secret Service" = charging the U.S. taxpayers. Think this is the only way he took money from the U.S. Treasury?

[Gary Allen Gardner @garygardner735]

Congress should pass the American Innovation and Choice Online Act (AICOA) now #AntitrustVoteNow

[Gary Allen Gardner @garygardner735]

It’s time! Sir Patrick Stewart and Whoopi Goldberg! #onscreen

[Gary Allen Gardner @garygardner735]

#startrekunitedgives

[Gary Allen Gardner @garygardner735]

@GovWhitmer I am bringing our exchange student, Hannah, to the Bridge Walk tomorrow. She is a CBYX Scholar who will be attending Elk Rapids High School. I would be pleased for her to meet you, if the opportunity presents itself. Thank you!

[Barack Obama @BarackObama]

It’s World Health Day, and we owe a profound debt of gratitude to all our medical professionals. They’re still giving their all for us every day, at great risk to themselves, and we can’t thank them enough for their bravery and their service.