On the Bayou at Lake Grapevine

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Category: Past Event Articles

The Event
It was a night to remember at Grapevine Lake when the Three Quarters Fast Jazz Band performed live for Agility Communications Group. Marnee Lott hosted the event for the clients of AgilityCG with a Louisiana Cajun theme of “Born on a Bayou” at Silver Lake Marina, Grapevine, Texas. A great time was had by all that evening with Creole Cooking, games, and live music.

Meet the Band
The Three Quarters Fast Jazz Band with members David Washburn/Clarinet (Owner of Award Music in Terrell, Texas), Yancy Arthur/Trombone, Billy Bucher/Drums (Drum Instructor for Troubador Music in Terrell, Texas), Phil Minshew/Bass (Bass Instructor for Troubador Music Terrell, Texas), and Kevin Curtis/Guitar (Owner and Instructor of Troubador Music in Terrell, Texas) kept the night and the crowd entertained with songs like, When The Saints Go Marching In, Bourbon Street Parade, and Puttin' On The Ritz.

The Show Must Go On!
Performers will tell you that not every show goes without a hitch, but great performers don't let the hitches stop the show. This gig was a prime example of "The show must go on!" The good news: after months of dry-as-a-bone weather in Texas, we finally got some rain! The bad news: It was right in the middle of The Chicken Dance! But Kevin, Billy, Dave, Phil, and Yancy kept their cool. The rain actually got so bad at two or three points in the night that the rainwater on the deck got so deep it shorted out the surge protectors, bringing the band to a halt. One has to wonder what runs through one man’s mind during these situations. Billy and Kevin were ready to pack it in for a while and let the rain let up. But Phil, David, and Yancy, determined to keep playing, kept unplugging and plugging in the extension cords trying to get power back. At one point, the rain was so hard that a stream of water came pouring down on Kevin’s guitar and soaking it to the bone. Phil then tried to unplug the speakers on the PA and was greeted with a nice jolt of electricity. The boys said that there were times when they could even feel their feet tingle!

Be advised, don’t try any of this at home. In fact, remember instruments and water DON’T MIX! (lol) But this little bump in the road didn’t last long and an hour or so into the event the rain subsided enough to take the riverboat out on the lake with Just For Fun Watercraft Rental at the helm.

There was supposed to also be a DJ for the evening with Three Quarters Fast playing just for an hour and a half, but the DJ, to our knowledge, never showed. This left the evening in the capable hands of Three Quarter Fast to fill out the night’s entertainment. The more the crowd got into the music and the dancing the more the band delivered; pumping out great New Orleans hits, one right after another. You would have thought you were on the French Quarter with the happenings of the crowd and the excitement of the evening!

This just goes to show you that preparation and planning go a long way when you're a live performer! There are many things you want to have on hand when you’re performing live such as extra extension chords and power strips. Here in Texas, we rarely get rain, but if there’s even a hint in the forecast, invest in a folding canopy if you’re going to play outside, or better yet, ask to be placed on a porch where there is an overhang. It’s better to save your equipment from damage than having to quibble with the client due to ruined equipment, which in most cases, you’ll have to pay for yourself.

More to Come!
We tip our hats and umbrellas to a great group of guys that could deliver such an outstanding performance even when the weather threatened to dampen the evening. Evenings like this show just how much these guys love to perform! This band has lots of new and exciting things in the works; they've been in the Recording Booth laying out some new tracks and their schedule is filling up fast with even more performances. Keep an eye on our Events Calendar for the next opportunity to see the Three Quarters Fast Jazz Band perform live! Rain or Shine!

Vi Classic Residence - Halloween

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Category: Past Event Articles

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Halloween Party October 22, 2011

Dave Washburn and The Three Quarters Fast Jazz Band, played for tenants of Classic Residence, La Sierra St, Dallas Texas, Halloween party. The party was a complete costume party and all the families were invited for fun and treats. There were ghosts, witches, hippies, and superheroes, to Raggady Ann and Andy.

The band played Dixieland favorites such as Billy Bailey Won’t You Please Come Home, Bourbon Street Parade, When Your Smiling, and everyone’s favorite, When The Saints Go Marching In. There was a best costume contest hosted by resident director Kristi Shankle, and the residents gave tricks and treats to all the kids that were there for the event.

The music and fun traveled through the Atrium of the facility and people were smiling and laughing long after the last note had been played. Many thanks to the residents and staff of Classic Residence as it was and honor to play your event.

The Three Quarters Fast Jazz Band is available for your next party or event please contact us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for videos of our past shows and contact information.

Troubador Music Blues Clinic

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Category: Past Event Articles

Saturday, October 22, Troubador Music held it’s first blues clinic. This clinic was a prerequisite to the blues master clinic with Blues Master Tommy Katona the following week. The clinic was set up as both a lecture and hands on with the Troubador Music Staff (Kevin Curtis, guitar, Phil Minshew bass, Billy Bucher drums, and guest artist David Washburn clarinet, from Award Music in Terrell, Texas).

The staff showed the audience the basic blues form, and then added it to different styles such as jazz, blues, rock, and country. Mr. Washburn gave a brief history lesson on the blues; it’s origin being here in the US. Phil Minshew gave a theory lecture on the blues form and how it all works, and how to apply the blues to every key. Later the Troubador staff and students, along with members from the community had the opportunity to play and then be critiqued by the staff. There were a number of guitar players, bassists, drummers, a trumpet player, and pianists that received hands on experience in the blues. People from the towns of Terrell, Wells Point, Crandall, Forney, Sunnyvale, Dallas, Mesquite, Canton, and Quinlan attended the clinic, and it was a big success.

Kevin Curtis is the owner of Troubador Music in Terrell, Texas. He has a full service music and recording studio that services the towns of Terrell, Quinlan, Wills Point, Kaufman, Mesquite, Canton, Crandall, Forney, Sunnyvale, Mesquite and East Dallas areas. His studio teaches guitar, bass, drums, piano, brass and woodwinds.