Lincoln Center Out of Doors 2011

Lincoln Center Out of Doors 2011

So many of my friends, including the talented Barbara Harris of the Toys, will be participating in Lincoln Center Out of Doors 2011 celebration!! It is a great place to hear music. A few weeks ago, I heard Pee Wee Ellis and Fred Wesley playing there and having a "funky Good Time!" Check it out,

Next Wednesday I will be leading a wonderful aggregation in the Louis, Louis & Louis Prima "Big Night" Band at Old Westbury Gardens with swing dance instruction starting at 6:00PM. We will follow that at 7:00PM with 2 sets of Prima, Jordan and Armstrong!

Gal Costa, March 24th at Carnegie Hall!

Last Thursday, March 24, Carnegie Hall became a small intimate room with the lovely vocalist and icon of the Tropicalismo movement, Gal Costa! Her accompaniment was provided by a single, masterful guitarist who created the inner rhythms, harmony and melodies that give Brazilian music a singular identity! She did not have to coax the audience more than a second to get them to join in on songs like Felicidade, and also on two of my favorite Jobim compositions, Chega de Saudade and SAMBA DO AVIÃO!!!! Aside from the lovely Asian woman sitting next to me, it seemed like the singing came largely from the fans in the balcony.

Gal Costa sings and emotes like the movement of the ocean on a perfect summer day!! And you can relax in the safe, calm winds of harmony. There is more to come about this concert.

Jerry's Groove made me think of Mavis Staples singing "I'm On My Way and I Won't Turn Back"

I have been thinking about my friend, Jerry Friedman. I went to a celebration of Jerry's life on Sunday that was put together by his lovergirl, Susan U. Thank you, Susan for organizing it. I have shared with individuals about visiting him at Calvary and how strong his handshake continued to be. I have shared about how I have missed his humor and funk-i-fied playing. But it really hit me when I walked in the door and all his "people" started to show up. Brother Robbie, Phillip, Orlando, John, Allan, Hugh, Ira, Roger R. and Bob, all great creative folk who "groked" with Jerry. Jerry and I worked on all types of music and he could always hear something special to play and that was his gift. He could get inside of my creative process and know what would work. More than just work, what would make the music excel, rock and move! Allan did some tracks with Jerry playing and singing and the performance made me understand that Jerry's musical tone in his guitar and voice and his phrasing of melodies was his prayer going out into the ether! Thank you Allan for capturing it for all time.

http://www.tsrocks.com/m/mavis_staples_texts/on_my_way.html

Read

On My Way Lyrics

here.

JaLaLa, is JAnis, LAurel, and LAuren and they don't need "autotune."

On Tuesday, January 18th, I went to the Cornelia Street Cafe to see JaLaLa, a vocal group that stars Janis Siegel, Laurel Masse and Lauren Kinhan. Each one shines on a solo or two, but they sing great harmonies, some that are the three part triads that we all know and love but I also heard some nice sophisticated voicing in Ellingtonian style! Arrangements were awesome. Great choice of songs, including those of Johnny Mercer, Harold Arlen and a great song by Lorraine Feather called "I Know How To Get To Brooklyn."
BFF, Hub and I sat literally 5 inches from the stage so it was easy to hear all the care that went into the arrangements, as well as the stellar tuning!! Anyone who loves vocals needs to hear these "Chicks", because they are swinging! The two man orchestra was extraordinary & solid consisting of pianist, Yaron Gershovsky and upright bassist, Steve LaSpina!