Swing, Inc.: News

It's been quite a while since I had time and/or the inclination to post some thoughts here in the "News" section.

Yes, I should have talked about our dear friend and colleague John Paulson's successful surgery for colon cancer.

Sure, I should have mentioned that Swing, Inc. now plays every Friday night at Signatures in Winona for Dinner & Dancing.

And I probably could have included a host of other good news, but time just seems to have a way to disappearing.

But having just posted pictures from our 11th annual appearance at the St. Anne's Spring Dance, I needed to stop for a moment and tell you about Max.

Some of you know that I have two sons -- Hans turns 21 this summer and is a fine young drummer. He has played with Swing, Inc. on several occasions and, in fact, played his first real (paying!) gig at the St. Anne's dance 7 years ago.

Max, at the tender age of 14, is turning into one very fine young bass player.

When Jerry phoned me to set up our annual St. Anne's date he asked if we might want to work as a trio that night. I thought for a moment and then said, "Jerry, I know this hot, young bass guy who'd love to do the gig!"

As you can see from the photos Max fit right in with the group -- he knows how to SWING!

Will there be a "Heukeshoven Jazz Trio" someday ... I sure hope so!

In the meantime, it's wonderful to see another generation ready to keep such great music alive and swingin'!
--
Eric H. 
Swing, Inc. 

When you have a few minutes, read Judi K's touching tribute to her good friend, Brian Dale.

Then go hug someone you love!

Peace and joy to you all in 2010!

Eric H.
Swing, Inc. 

Yesterday, I received the sad and unexpected news that our good friend and fellow musician, the Honorable Duane Peterson, passed away in his sleep sometime on Friday morning, October 2, 2009.

For those of you who never met Duane, he was, I think, a banjo player first and a judge second. Duane, along with our good friend Dan Barr, founded the Gate City Jazz Band almost 30 years ago. Their band, with whom I've had the good fortune to play both piano and trombone on many occasions, continues to be one our area's most popular groups.

Duane's memorial service will be on Friday, Oct. 9, 2009 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Winona, MN. You can be sure that his favorite Dixieland music will play a part in honoring this honorable man.

Our love, prayers and good wishes go out to Duane's wife, Patti and their family.

Heaven just got another great player in that miraculous band!
--
Eric H. 

Last night, Jerry and I ... aka the Standard Time Duo ... played at the Canadian Honker Restaurant in Rochester. If you haven't been to the Honker, you need to know that it sits right across the street from St. Mary's Hospital -- a huge facility and part of the Mayo Clinic.

In our tip jar (along with a generous tip) was the following note:

"I just have to tell you how appreciative I am of your music tonight.

I used to be that twenty-something singer who spent a good deal of time fronting a group like yours as a singer.

I have just completed my 32nd year as a music educator in Vermont.

You play wonderfully - it really brought me back during a rough week with a loved one at St. Mary's.

Thank you!

Allyson"
---
Thank you Allyson. That's what it's really all about!
--
Eric H.

May 14, 2009 will mark the 10th anniversary of Swing, Inc. Where does the time go!? Although our gig that night is a private event, it is at the same place where it all began.

In 1999, Jerry Paulson called a few of us and asked if we would play for a benefit "dance" at Saint Anne Hospice in Winona, MN. It sounded like fun so Steve Kulas (drums), Jim Wheat (trombone), Jerry (trumpet) and Eric H. (keys) played a collection of tunes from the Swing era for a group of smiling and toe-tapping residents.

After the gig, we all thought it sounded "pretty good" and decided to see if we might work together more often as a group -- and thus Swing, Inc. was born.

If you live in Rochester, MN or neighboring towns and subscribe to Charter cable TV, be sure to tune in to "Festival of Music" on cable channel 10 at 8 p.m. March 15, 2009.

Our friend and producer, Jerry Barnhart, recently spent an evening videotaping Swing, Inc. at the Canadian Honker Restaurant in Rochester.

The program will include interviews with members of the band as well as some great musical clips.

The following week, Jerry's program will feature our good friend Miles Johnston with 2 O'Clock Jump.

We hope those of you who have access to the program will tune in!

You can also check out Jerry Barnhart's other show, "Vet's Visits on TV" at:

http://www.vetsvisitsontv.org/
Our sincerest thanks to Jerry and his crew at Festival of Music for featuring Swing, Inc. on the program!

We are pleased to report that after more than a year without a venue for live jazz in Winona, MN, our friends at Jefferson Pub & Grill have decided to invite us back for a gig in their newly remodeled/expanded space in downtown Winona.

Our thanks to Chase & Wendy Hoffmann and all the great crew at Jefferson's for their support.

We hope we'll see many of you at the gig on Friday February 6, 2009 between 6:30 and 9:30 p.m.

Your show of support will go a LONG way to keeping the music alive!

Check the Calendar page for all the details!
... Eric H.

For those of you in or near Rochester who came out for the "Jazz Nights" at Avocados Bistro, a sign in the window is the only thing left at what was until recently a spot for great food and great jazz in Rochester.

As you can see from a story we posted about a year ago, it's tough out there in the world of restauranting!

We wish David and his colleagues well and hope that their wonderful ideas for food and music will return to the Rochester scene soon.

... Eric Heukeshoven
Swing, Inc.

Once in a while a new restaurant is created that gets everything right.

Avocados World Bistro, located behind Apache Mall and just down the road from the World Market in Rochester is just such a place.

Featuring a menu of Caribbean inspired foods, a great bar and live jazz at least twice a month, this is one of those spots that does everything just right.

Swing, Inc., the "trio edition" will make their debut at Avocados in November 2007. We hope it's the first of many gigs to come!

Check our calendar for complete details.

Our thanks to the Pulmonary Hypertension Association (PHA) of Minnesota for including the sounds of Swing, Inc. at their "Phenominal Phorties" event at the Kahler Hotel in Rochester on Oct.27, 2007.

Bonnie McGoon and company put on an amazing fund-raiser with the proceeds going to benefit the research and treatment of Pulmonary Hypertension.

In the auction alone, the group raised close to $10,000. The members of Swing, Inc. salute the great work being done by these good people and thanks again for requesting all those big band charts. We had a blast!

Jerry Paulson, Swing, Inc.'s trumpet / flugelhorn virtuoso, phoned me late today with the sad news that the owners of Jefferson Pub & Grill have decided to discontinue their once a month evening of live jazz.

We are, naturally, very disappointed and saddened by this news for two reasons:

1. Jefferson's is a great place and we know how many of you enjoyed the Thursday night sessions.

2. Winona now has no place where live jazz can be heard in a casual atmosphere on a regular basis.

For anyone who wishes, we encourage a phone call or even a visit to Jefferson Pub & Grill to express your thanks for their support of the music and also to let them know how much it meant to you and perhaps to their business as well.

Jefferson Pub & Grill
http://www.jeffersonpub.com 58 Center St.
Winona, MN 55987
507-452-2718
Paul Goodfellow, manager

As always, thanks to ALL of you for your support and enthusiasm!

The Waterfront in downtown La Crosse is a remarkable new restaurant and lounge that you simply have to see to believe!
The bar itself dates back to the early 20th century and was transported from rural Wisconsin to its new home in 12 different sections.
Libby Weber, manager extraordinaire, is committed to keeping live jazz in the lounge most weekends. ... We love you Libby!
Swing, Inc is pleased to be on The Waterfront's calendar at least once a month through the end of 2007.
For a link to The Waterfront's website, just click over on the Links section to your left.

Over the years, Eric has written many a jazz chart. (In fact rumor has it there may be a CD of his tunes in the works!)

Often the tunes are written as a thank you for the places Swing, Inc. plays."Front & Center" are the two streets in Winona where Jefferson Pub & Grill is located.

Until the new CD comes out, click here to see the music and hear a "rough cut" on your computer!

Our friends, the Noltings, are known to make a few requests on nights when they come to hear Swing, Inc.

But their requests are works of art!

Click to see some amazing requests!

Bub's Brewing Co. of Winona has decided to discontinue live music for the foreseeable future.

With the recent announcement that the Big River Room is no longer a jazz venue, this brings the the local choices for jazz fans down to one ... Jeffersons Pub & Grill.

We encourage our friends to contact Bub's owner Bill Leaf at (507) 457-3121 to thank him for having live music over the past few years and maybe share your thoughts on what the loss of yet another live music venue in Winona means to you.

Did you know that Swing, Inc.'s music
is heard around the world!?

Thanks to CDBaby.com and their online partners such as Apple's iTunes Store, music from our first CD, "Dancing on the Ceiling" is now on the iPods and CD players of folks, just like you, from all over the planet.

Our accountant sent us this nifty pie chart of Swing, Inc.'s world-wide sales.

Click to see the bean counter's graph!

Those of you who've been around town a while remember the great Friday night jazz at Jefferson Pub & Grill on Front & Center streets in Winona.

It's been almost two years since we had the pleasure of playing for all the folks at Jefferson's and we're happy to announce the Swing, Inc. will return to this great place on January 12, 2007!

Come down and see what's new on the menu and stay for a night of great jazz.

We'll be playing in the main dining room from 7:30 until 10:30 PM.

Hope to see you there!

Many of you have asked about the photograph on our CD cover.

For the record, we were playing a dance job at the Moose Club in La Crosse, WI while Eric was doing the cover artwork.

He stepped outside and photographed the marquee just before sunset.

Beneath the regular Friday night fish fry, Swing, Inc. was listed on the bill for Friday with Pat & Carol on Saturday.

To this day, we have no idea who Pat & Carol are (or what they do!), but the sign was funny and so it became our CD cover shot.

The upside down feet on the cover (Dancing on the Ceiling, get it?) were actual dancers at the Moose that night. We did ask their permission and eventually sent each of them a copy of the CD.