It’s true… I don’t get around much anymore. I’ve had my heyday as a working musician and now just take the odd job now and then. I’ve grown weary of dealing with surly club managers, hauling heavy equipment, and fending off inebriated customers who just want a throbbing beat to move them through the night. 35 years of that craziness and I’m tired!  And I’m not as young as I used to be.  But then, who is?  I’m not as young as I was yesterday… or this morning (sigh)  Now I spend time writing backup music for other folks.  I like it that way.
But there was always the music.  A solid, tight arrangement performed onstage is just magical. And this is one of those standards you just have to love. Duke Ellington had a #1 hit on the R&B charts with this one in 1943 (he wrote it as an instrumental). The Inkspots also had a #1 with this tune in the same year. The walking bass in this version is invigorating, as is the piano solo in the middle. Ya gotta have “Don’t Get Around Much Anymore” in your set list – even if you still get around… some.