Departing May 12, 2008 from Chicago, the beginning of Route 66, Cow Bop will take to the road yet again in support of JazzMasters Workshop. Not willing to rest on the laurels of their past trips, they are once again proving their commitment to music and the future of our culture.

Unlike previous trips (where the band departed with a mere $100 and no scheduled gigs, playing, begging and bartering their way to the west coast) this time they'll be playing concerts along with spontaneous troubadour-style ‘hits’ and celebrating the release of their new CD Route 66 along the 2,500 mile journey. All proceeds from per-mile pledges, concerts and street performances will ensure that music performance remains a vital part in lives' of young people.


Joining Cow Bop is Devin Hoffman, a freshman at USC and student of bandleader Bruce Forman. "I am thrilled Devin is joining the band, he can really play! Although, after a grueling tour like this, I won't be all that surprised if he changes his major to business or law." What better way to show firsthand how the music-mentoring process works?


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Itinerary:

(all funds from these concerts will go to JazzMasters Workshop)

May 2008    
  12 Martyr's, Chicago, 3855 N Lincoln Ave, 8pm, 773-404-9494
  13 Capital Bar & Grill, Springfield, Il, 3149 Dirksen Pkwy, 217-529-8580
  14 Stagger Inn, Edwardsville, Il, 104 E Vandalia St, 618-656-4221
  15 Fazio's Frets & Friends, Manchester Rd, Ellisville, 7pm, 636-227-3573
  16 Springfield, MO
  17 Oklahoma Jazz Hall Of Fame, Tulsa
  18 Oklahoma City, OK
  19 Erick/Amarillo, TX
  20 Albuquerque, Bumblebee's Baja Grill , 3423 Central, Albuquerque
  21 Santa Fe, Bumblebee's Baja Grill, 301 Jefferson, Santa fe
  22 Gallup, NM/Winslow, AZ
  23 Flagstaff, AZ
  24 Wrightwood, CA, La Cabana Restaurant, website
  25 Los Angeles, CA
  26 The Jazz Bakery, La


“This is not for the faint of heart, believe me. It does promise to be a lot of fun and I hope we can raise awareness of what we do and find some new spots to expand the program. Musicians are an untapped resource and JazzMasters Workshop has shown how mentoring transforms lives. I expect many musicians to find us out on the open road and play along. I’m throwing down the gauntlet here… it’s time to stop complaining and do something!” The band will be blogging journals and pictures (some of which will be printed in newspapers), doing radio call-ins, and even some video.



Once again: We are asking per-mile for pledges to ensure that the program can continue to empower the professional musician community keep music an important and vital part of the lives’ of young people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds. Please do what you can... come on folks, put your money where your ears are and click here!


From the horse's mouth:
“ 'You guys are crazy'… that was the most common response to our original Route 66 odysseys. It was always intoned with a forlorn nostalgia and had a vicarious quality, the very sentiment evoking a sense of freedom. If it’s crazy to believe in the power of music, to be committed to an important cause and have faith in people--that they will rally and support us--then that’s a quality I gladly accept. I invite everyone to come along… and bring your axe!”