The Two Steves

Stevie Wonder is in Oakland on December 5. Won't miss that. Got us listening to old Stevie tunes this morning. When we got to "Superstition"  -- how many better records than this have ever been made? -- we were struck by that amazing trumpet line, with the tremolo and the crazily perfect intonation. This was done, of course, in the days when you played it, you didn't correct it with electronics in the studio.

The trumpeter's name is Steve Madalo. Credit where credit is due.

So where is Steve Madalo? According to the internet, no one knows. Once one of the busiest session players around, when last heard from he was another great musician hanging out in Palm Springs, sitting in on the occasional gig, doing who knows what.

In the heydays of live recording, busy session players made a lot of money. I hope he's tanned, satisfied, happy and living well on residuals. It doesn't usually work out that way.

Meanwhile, Stevie Wonder goes on and on. Thankfully.