I've been working on finishing the sophmore album "Love & Faith: Vol. 2 A Wonderful Love". I really am almost done with it! The songs sound great. I think you all will be really pleased with results. The joshua Trio will be heading into the studio to start the group's long-awaited debut album soon.

I had a great oppotunity back in January to fly down to Spartanburg SC for a week to attend & be a part of the tech rehearsals for David E. Talbert's current stageplay production "What My Husband Doesn't Know" starring Clifton Davis, Michelle Williams, Brian White, Morris Chestnut & Ann Nesby along with a great supporting cast. It was an awesome experience. Plans are in the works for David and I to work together in the near future, so stay tuned!!!!

I also was given the awesome opportunity to open for The Ohio Players & Parliament / Funkadelic as apart of the Family Unity Day in the Park festival in July in my hometown of Cleveland OH. It was nothing short of amazing to share the stage with those acts. They have helped to shape my sound in many ways over the years through their music. It had been over a year since I did a Love & Faith Experience concert performance and the first on a stage of that size. We threw down!!! My goal: to get the message of God's goodness out & to set the pace for all the other acts to follow by getting the party started early, you hear me??!! :-) The crowd was with us from the intro until the finale, even requesting an encore!! We did all that in under 30 minutes! God is faithful. Everything that could go wrong prior to me & my band hitting the stage that 90 plus degree day did go wrong, but we pushed through it and when it came time to perform we were all in.

This year has also seen me make a return to the theater stage. I've been away from the theater for almost 8 years to focus on my career in music. I feel now is a good time re-introduce that side to the world. As I contemplated auditioning for a few things, my good friend & music partner Damon Taylor approached me about working on music production & songwriting for a few upcoming stageplays. I agreed and figured that may be the gist of what I'll be doing theater-wise until I got a call to do a reading for the leading man in a stageplay called "The Bridge of No Return" early this fall. I read for the part and got it! Very exciting to say the least. Not only was it a great script, but a great cast as well! The chemistry & energy was evident from the start and away we went!!I also ended up becoming the music supervisior for the play as well as writing & producing music for the production. Who knew?? The play is produced by Blacpanther Productions & written by Anwar Shahid who adapted the characters & story from the novel of the same name written by Stella Hall. The play stars Carla Marcelle as "Felicia Stanford", Myself as "Patrick Fitzgerald", Joe Little as "Winston Jefferson" and the supporting cast...unbelievable.

See, I told y'all I would do better. ;-) A couple of months ago my manager / business partner calls me to match calendars and to inform me about a booking in Detroit at a club called Baker's. I've been to the city quite a few times and I've never heard of the place. Where was I??? As always I do my due dilligence and research the venue only to find out that its a historical venue of sorts in the jazz music world having been in operation since 1934 making it the oldest operating jazz club in the world. Wow. World renowned the venue has hosted all the greats in jazz. Once I got word back to my band The joshua Trio we were estatic about playing this legendary club.

The day finally arrives and we're on the road heading to the Motorcity. Once we arrive in the city (considering the Kid {me} knows his way around the city alittle bit) I make a slight detour to take the guys by 2648 W. Grand Blvd. the original home of Hitsville USA aka Motown Records. The fellas had never been there before so that was my way of making the trip "official". After a brief photo session it was on to the club to set up for the show.

Pulling up to the venue and seeing the band's name on the marquee was such an experience. It made all the obstacles I faced that week leading up to the gig worth while. As usual I had my pre-show jitters. You know butterflies in the stomach, increased heart rate, etc. Lol! Anytime we play a "venue of note" as I call them there's always a sense of pressure to really do a great job. Surely, we're professionals at this but I never try to depend solely on my musical abilities to pull off a great performance. It's a must I tap into the source....GOD. I firmly believe that if I continue to turn to Him for guidance and direction, all will be well and it usually always is.

My man, jazz trumpeter Lin Rountree (who lives in Detroit) came in cool as ever and ready to blow. By the time we hit the stage at 8:58pm the place was packed. From the first tune the audience were in sync with us and I worked my charm with all I had to win them. :-) There was certainly magic in the air maybe it was because of all the legends who had graced the very stage we were standing on, the energy of the trio, the excitement of the crowd or just the Lord smiling on us yet again. Perhaps all the above.

The evening was filled with great performances and improvisations with me, the band and the audience. When we finished our final tune with those who stayed for the late set, still lively and singing along with us, the trio felt a sense of accomplishment and solidarity that comes with knowing that we gave a great show and gained new fans in a new city. To God be the glory! Real talk.

God Bless Y'all,

alvin

Ok, I'm alittle delinquent this Summer with writing you all. Be patient I'm working on it. LOL! In June me and couple of my bandmates made the trip to Nashville for Summer NAMM (18-22) and what an experience it was. We got a chance to check out all the latest gear and meet some really cool people. My main objective was for networking and connecting with companies who's products I used or would like to use. I was even able to catch up with a few friends who relocated there. In case you didn't know I have been contemplating a move to Nashville for the past couple of years and I plan to make the move in 2011. NAMM took place during the day at the Nashville Convention Center (which my hotel was connected to) so my evenings were free and that afforded me the opportunity to really check out the city. I had performed Nashville a year earlier, but I was only there for a day then it was back on the road.

The city was everything I had heard it was, full of music and great people. On any given night you could go someplace to hear good music and for a band of muscians from out of town we loved it! From MC's to live trio's you were liable to catch all of that on the street corners before you even decided what venue you wanted to go to. How cool is that??? As I sat and talked with different people who resided in the city, old friends and new friends I discovered how transcient the city actually was. Everybody was from someplace else... I heard nothing but good things. Of course, I realize that every city has its good and bad points, but good surely outweighed the bad. As much fun as the fellas and I had a Summer NAMM, my colleagues tell me that I must make my way Anaheim, CA for Winter NAMM 2011. On to California it is..... Lord-willing.. :-) In the meantime, I am definitely looking forward to visiting and performing in the Music City really soon....

Peace & Blessings,

alvin

Yes, I know it's been awhile. It's seems like I've been saying that alot lately over the past few months since I haven't been chatting with you all as often. I am working on that. Really. I want to make sure I keep my peoples aware of what's new in my world.

Life has been good along with it's share of challenges. I recently lost my dear friend, my grandmother at the end of last month. She was my best friend and biggest supporter. Constantly pushing me to pursue my dream and wouldn't except any excuses. I will sincerely miss her encouraging words and wisdom. She was a great woman and perhaps the strongest person I've ever known. Her words, stories and laughter will resonate in my heart for a lifetime...

So let's see here, The joshua Trio finally entered the studio last fall to record our EP. The session was alot of fun and I think it really got the juices flowing as far as the group sitting down to map out a full-length project. I love my joshua "brothers" Elijah Gilmore & Derrick George. We're more than a group, we're a family. Hopefully I will have more news about our album soon. The band will also be hitting the road this Summer with dates in Detroit and New York City.

My new album is still currently in the works, but nearing completion. I am very grateful to my family, friends and fans for the support and anticipation of this CD. We are planning for a possible Fall 2010 release. I believe it will exceed expectation.  My first album "Love & Faith: Volume 1" is still pushing along with 2 of the tunes being used in 2 different independent films. "Beautiful" in the film "UnEqual" and "Two of a Kind" in the film "The Hitmaker". Details are still being ironed out for the latter film in which I am slated to make a cameo appearance as well.

There are few more things I'm working on that I don't want to disclose as of yet, but they are major. This just means that you'll have to come back to find out what those are....

Peace & Love

alvin