Ephraim Owens has been through it these past few years. Diagnosed with chronic heart failure, the renowned trumpeter and beloved Austin jazz fixture suffered a stroke, endured an eight-month hospitalization and a prolonged recovery that has restricted him from his touring duties with the Tedeschi Trucks Band, and faces a mountain of medical bills and ongoing rehabilitation. But that’s also led to an outpouring of love from the community that would bolster anyone’s spirit, hence his triumphant return to local stages. If there’s anyone qualified to lead us into the new year with optimism and a new lease on life at a time when we all sorely need both, it’s Ephraim Owens. – Michael Toland
