[Knowatall]

Carmen, I, too, took about 30 years off from playing, but not to damage my joints with hockey! (although skiing is mostly what I do here in the mountains). Doing similar stuff (big band, community band, funk band, wedding band, etc. – forcing me to double, triple, and even quadruple). I used to see Richie Cole back in the day; man is he missed. I am playing with another Pittsburgh cat who studied with Richie (he’s got loads of cranky RC stories). If I’m not mistaken, Tim Eyermann was also originally from Pittsburgh.

[Knowatall]

I fully understand your query on diminished chords. My experience has been that once I understood that the diminished chord is the upper structure of a dominant 7th b9 (from the 3rd), the sound and technical aspect fell into place much faster. Thank you Barry Harris!

[Knowatall]

Not too dissimilar to my own journey; now 65 and playing in a wind ensemble, big band, and wedding/funk band. Haven’t climbed the Michael Brecker mountain completely, but can play some of the stuff. It’s a long haul (been back at it actively for 10 years now), but there is loads of good web-based instruction now that didn’t exist back in the day.