I’m happy to say that Teddy is playing in Naples, FL for a few nights. Last night was his first, but he is performing his solo-acoustic set at Handsome Harry’s at 1205 3rd Street South on Thursday, January 24th, and also the following Monday, January 30th. 

In early 2005, I began listening to Teddy’s CDs and haven’t stopped. Reviewers from here in the U.S. and from Europe have said it better, but there’s something about his songwriting and his voice that keeps him at the top of my playlists. And certainly at the top of the “Times Played” column on my iPhone. He has an amazing artistry and inherent peace. Teddy’s voice demonstrates a smooth sensitivity over layered hints and outright kicks of funk and rock. He has a wide-ranging taste in music, and it’s always expressive.

In addition to his solo work, Teddy also plays guitar in the Aretha Franklin band. And with his own band, Teddy has served as opening act for Seal, The Verve Pipe, Fishbone and Chic both nationally and internationally. In 2006, he signed with Germany’s Skip Records and released his CD “Gravity” throughout Europe. (I’ve just about worn the grooves on that ‘album’). He’s been a featured performer at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland, and he orchestrated and produced music currently heard on CBS SPORTS.

I’m anxious to see him over there. On Thursday from 7-11pm, or Monday from 6-9pm, get over to Handsome Harry’s and enjoy an artist’s passion and one of the very nicest people I’ve known. Have fun! Click HERE to see his website.

This was recorded in my apartment with just the electric piano, sax and our fives voices. Dean McIndoo (the guy on the right – keyboards) did the brilliant vocal arrangements – especially check out the key change near the end. We tracked all 5 voices at once, and then went back and recorded the same parts one more time. So, the final product is double-tracked, giving it that lush sound. I hope you enjoy this song and these holidays.

He knew that I’d helped others with very magical ways of proposing marriage to their future fiancees. I was happy to help, in large part because it’s one of life’s most magical moments, the declaration of undying love.

Chris was coming to Florida in a couple weeks with his girlfriend, Brooke, and wanted to surprise her in a very unique, magical and romantic way. With Chris’ help, we chose a beautiful spot in Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park, at the edge of the Gulf on a glorious beach – and a rather quiet one, at that.

On the day of the event, we put the plan into action. My daughter and I arrived at the beach a while after Chris and Brooke, and we selected a spot just about 50 feet away, as we ‘pretended’ to enjoy the surf and sun. After innocent conversation started up, we spoke with them about our vocations, and I offered to show them some magic I had with me. My ruse was that I was on my way to a friend’s house on the beach and planned to show him a new trick. With magic underway, my daughter (a bit of a shutterbug on her first professional assignment!) slyly took pictures of the event as it unfolded.  Within moments, Chris was surreptitiously writing out his proposal under the cover of creating a piece of art, while Brooke kept a close eye on a small box she’d already verified as empty.

You can probably see where this is heading. Within a few moments, we see this remarkable scene on the beach:

Of course, Brooke said YES.

Just like magic, my daughter and I made a quiet retreat out of there, leaving Chris and Brooke to enjoy their moments together.

That evening’s plan went perfect. Chris took Brooke out to dinner at the well-known Naples landmark, the Watermark Grille. As they walked into the restaurant, Brooke noticed the signs advertising the magician and recognized my face as the guy from the beach. After some great laughs, conversation, and even a bit more magical mindreading and sleight of hand, I delivered a CD to them both with all the final shots taken by my daughter.

It was a night for goosebumps and love. You know that feeling you get when you know two people have found their soul-mate? That’s Chris and Brooke. Their wedding is coming up soon and I am so honored to have played a tiny part in their adventure.

I’ll look forward to seeing you both again, Chris and Brooke.

On behalf of the UAC, Elaine Hamilton, an amazing champion for all artists asked me to answer a few questions. Here’s the article:

I used it a few days ago in St. Maarten and love the photos it takes. It has settings for playing around with aperture and shutter priority as well as a high-sensitvity chip. Put in a wide-angle lens and both 24 and 30 frames per seconds video with 1080p resolution, all under $300 that fits in your pocket, and you’ve got a winner.

A bit of HDR-type processing in Photoshop gave several of the photos an almost artificial quality, with the church, and the girls jumping into the water looking as if elements are pasted in. I still think it is an interesting look. I hope you enjoy these photos from our last couple trips to Kauai, St. Maarten and Costa Rica.

I had the good fortune of catching Joshua’s new show UNREAL during a three-night/six-show stop in Naples. The show follows Joshua’s life and career, providing exclamation marks marked by thoughtful and really astonishing magic. Really astonishing. Because of my life in magic, it’s rare to be fooled anymore. But on this particular evening in early May, I’d been thoroughly and completely fooled by the best a magician can be – by an artist.

Joshua’s dedication to magic as an art form has always been on display, from his early teens when he gained worldwide notoriety as a creator and inventor of wonderful magic, to his success as a writer. When he was 17 years old, he was crowned the World Champion of Close-up Magic, and published his first of 7 books to critical acclaim. It’s a joy now, to watch this 29 year old take his ideas and those of his mentors, and mold them into this tale through 59 countries and countless adventures.

I’m not one to give a play by play of shows or movies, because there’s fun, surprises or drama in all the moments of a well-thought-out show. And I hate giving anything away, so as to preserve the same thrill as all the theater-goers enjoyed; but suffice it to say, I experienced the rush of having two effects in particular throw me for a loop. The kind of thing that almost left me (and quite a few others) breathless. Through Joshua’s storytelling, and mastery of technique and presentation, this artist gave us some moments we’ll never forget.

The following night, Joshua came into the Watermark Grille for dinner with his family. I had the pleasure of performing for them, and found them to all be superb spectators of magic, as well as great fun.

Joshua Jay’s show UNREAL is worth seeking out. You get to see the best an entertainer can be. And you get to take home some amazing memories that will stay with you – really the highest acclaim an artist or entertainer can receive. I appreciate great theater, and this was it.

Here’s a link to his website – it’s as distinctive as his magical art:  http://joshuajay.com/

Then, Mike asked if I would lend my magic to his unforgettable moment.
The next thing you know, I’m landing in Indianapolis and on my way to a very personal show. Their family began to gather, including all five of the kids – and the order of the day was Magic, Snow Cones and Pizza. And of course, Johnny’s birthday!

Until . . .

. . . the very last trick. It involved Mike writing a magical message on a playing card that appeared a few moments later, and quite impossibly, in Shannon’s hands.

Yes! He asked the question that lovers have asked for thousands of years.

Yes! She said yes!

I wish you could have seen all the family members and the children hug and cry, with so much hope and possibility and love ahead of them. It really was an unforgettable moment. I received a heartwarming reminder of how powerful the love of family can be.

And for anyone that may be cynical about the existence of real magic, it’s in Mike and Shannon’s smiles. Thank you, my friends.

Enjoy the keyboards, drums and bass as they lay down the most perfect groove heard in music. Catch the horn section on David Letterman as they sit in quite often, and enjoy this clip from not too far back. Make sure you set it to 480p on the buttons, so you’ll enjoy the best sound and picture quality. Its worth it.

See if you can keep from tapping some fingers or toes to this one: