Live Your Dream: Live at North Street Cabaret

Trumpeter, educator and one-time Chicagoan, Brad Goode, has released a couple of albums with saxophonist Ernie Watts, the latest of which is the live document, Live Your Dream: Live at the North Street Cabaret. Recorded live in Madison, Wisconsin in late 2025, the album captures a potent group of heavy hitters playing with passion, finesse and fire. Of course, you already know about the two gentlemen playing the horns. That leaves a top-flight rhythm section featuring Adrean Farrugia on piano, Jay Anderson on bass and Adam Nussbaum on drums. Goode, Watts, Nussbaum and Farrugia all contributed songs to this live date, and they're all fascinating compositions. Goode's "COVID Nightmare" goes in quite a few different directions throughout its 8+ minute run time. Ernie Watts' two songs, "For Michael" and "Live Your Dream" build up heads of steam and keep things interesting. Adrean Farrugia's "Half Moon" may or may not sound like Chuck Mangione's "Land of Make Believe," but, man oh man, does it capture that vibe. "Lover Man" is a chance for Goode to show off and play pretty on a ballad, and he makes the absolute most of it. Ernie Watts gets his chance to do the same thing on "Someday My Prince Will Come." That leaves the closer, another Farrugia composition, "Goose Dance." If the previous song felt like it could have been written by Chuck Mangione, then "Goose Dance" sounds like it could have been written by Mangione's one-time bandmate, Keith Jarrett. If Brad Goode and Ernie Watts come back through Chicago, make sure to catch them. But just in case they don't, buy a copy of Live Your Dream so that you can enjoy what they sound like live no matter what.