smf36: two fiddlers, fiddlin' still

 

Truth to tell, only one of them stayed with the fiddle the whole time.

That would be Darol Anger, experienced during the pandemic when he performed with Hawktail, who I'll be seeing in a couple of days at this Savannah Music Festival.

He also once played with the Turtle Island Quartet, but not when I saw them.

No, the fiddller who played guitar was Bruce Molsky, and that's his instrument waiting patiently, against the wall, for him to strum it.

He didn't do so for the first two songs I heard.

I missed the title of the first, but the second was the folk song, "Abraham, Martin, and John", about true leaders dead too young.

 

However, when they started into the blues, the guitar came into action!

That's when my feet got to tapping, too, and I had to dance!

This song was written by Deford Bailey, not a name I knew but others there did, from his days at the Grand Ol' Opry.

Titled "Evening Prayer Blues", it had been recorded in 1981 by another bluegrass man, Bill Monroe, and made well known. 

Another guitar-enhanced tune the two men gave us was "The Bye Bye Baby Blues", written by Little Hat Jones.

Neither of those black bluesmen have been alive for three generations now.

 

Don't let me make it seem that all they performed for SMF36 were old tunes - oh, no!

Bruce Molsky brought us his "Lockdown Breakdown", written during the pandemic.

Then the two fiddlers tucked into a fun run, "Ain't That Trouble In Mind", after a song about the "Creaking Tree", complete with wind-tossed snaps!

Yes, I liked those!

They had just started a Billy Taylor tune, "I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free", when I was called outside to help with another project.

I wore several hats today!

First, I was the Explorer Pass Wench, though no kids with that program came today.

There were two children there, but they were from out of town.

(They still gained free entry, as do all children under 12 years of age.)

Next, Quinn asked me to help find some missing flyers.

Then, Quinn placed me in charge of the donation box outside at show's end.

I do believe he remembers me from my days of being a volunteer usher at the Lucas and Trustees Theatres, when he was just a teen working the concessions!

Nice to see that he's up to House Manager now!

(smile!)

Speaking of now, I need to go.

Time to watch "Will Trent" with Christina!

I do so love watching this show 'with' her!

Usually, we do so after the girls have gone to bed, but I have a musical - one totally new to me called "Rice The Cyclone"!!! - with the Armstrong Masquers tonight.

Yes, busy, vibrant woman I am... still!!!

(smile!)

smf36: it's a family affair, it's a family affair!

 

"There's one I haven't heard for a while! You're riffing on "Family Affair", right? The song that Sly & The Family Stone had as a hit when you were in middle school?"

 

You're right! That's a fitting descriptor, too, for the noon30 concert at the Metal Building today. I already knew that Edmar Castañeda would have his wife, Andrea Tierra, there, and that had been part of the draw for me: a married couple, performing together. I had no idea their children would also be onstage! But my absolute favorite part of this show today was how close Andrea would get to Edmar while he was playing, singing to him through the harp as he strummed the strings. That was love!!!

 

"That was very nice!!! Yes, she would start singing about 20 feet away, then gradually move closer and closer until she was right there. They've been together 21 years."

 

Did you hear how they met? He heard her singing and sought her out, telling her his name and that she was going to marry him and they would name their daughter "Zeudi". For real! Then, 20 days later, they were married!!! Isn't that incredible?

 

"And now it's been 21 years... wow!"

 

Guess what else came true from his prognostication? They had a daughter and named her Zeudi!!! She's 15 years old now. That's her, playing her dad's jazz harp and singing, while he holds the microphone.

 

"What was the song?"

I honestly don't know its name. They're from Colombia and all the songs had Spanish titles, some of which I caught, some I didn't. When I was relieved from Explorer Pass Wench duties by Benji and JD, he was playing "Cuarto de colores". He then did one of his own songs, "Entre Cuerdas", which means "between the chords". He was amazing to watch!!! It's as if he were shedding the notes from the strings just as one might brush off water droplets from a jacket - so energetic! And get this: he stood the entire time. The entire time!!! He only discovered the genre of jazz around 2001, so I can tell he's still quite enamored of it, but to stand and dance with that harp... wow! Good thing he's still young!

 

"Yeah, didn't she say his birthday had been March 31?"

 

That's correct. He's 47 years old now. Here he is with his 13-year-old son, Zamir, who has been playing percussion since he was 4. Wow. For this show, it was maracas and harp, a combination I'd wager no one has heard before!

 

"That's for sure!"

 

I think that song might have been "Hechos", a piece Edmar wrote during the pandemic. He was almost emotional when he talked about that dark time, and was truly grateful to God that his family had come through that period well and healthy. "Hechos" means "acts" or "deeds". I think for him it was about having your actions speak well of you.

 

"Very nice. I'm so glad you signed up for this very positive experience!"

 

Me, too, dear, me, too. Right place, right time.

i thank You, God.

smf36: there's a place for us

 

He added it as an encore, just for me. I saw him look at me as he was taking his bows. Then he walked to stage left, toward the stairs to exit, and paused. Then he returned to the piano to finish the story of Tony and Maria, adding a wistful tone to the song. It was so full of emotion that it made me cry. 

"Oh, dear. I'm sorry to hear that."

 

Oh, no, it was wonderful to be so moved by the music. Trinity UMC has acoustics that are perfect for classical music, and seeing the trees right outside the windows adds to the ambience. As I told Mary, one of the patrons, I can close my eyes and get into the groove of the music, then open them and feel almost like I'm on the plaza in Siena again.

 

"That's a lovely memory from that trip with the nurses. Hey, what did you mean about Simon Mulligan looking at you? What's that all about?"

 

That's for real. I was the Upstairs Bouncer at the Church, as I called my volunteer position, and during the show I sat in the back left corner of the house. However, once I realized that he was performing personal mash-ups of the Leonard Bernstein songs, I thoroughly enjoyed myself. I thought of it as "piano with momentary lapses of staid", with more serious moments suddenly careening into kicky little jazz bits! Honestly, if I could have found an area to stand and twirl, I certainly would have done so! As it was, I made do with dancing in my seat. Well, until he would finish that particular stream of music, then I'd stand up and clap mightily!!! I'm sure that's what drew his focus toward me.

 

"I don't doubt that. Was anyone else rising to their feet after his songs?"

 

No, just me. I've noticed at the Savannah Music Festival concerts, especially the classical ones, that there are certain protocols. No one stands until the very end, no matter if the piece was especially moving or particularly well-played or whatever. I felt secure bucking that protocol as I was in the balcony, where few had cared to trod. Only the house left was open for seating and the sun streaming in made that area a bit toasty. Of course, that was just perfect for me!

 

"Of course! (smile!) What songs did he play, besides that one from "West Side Story"?"

 

Hear me now: it wasn't 'just' the one song from that musical. He truly played all the songs that were specific to the tragic romance between Tony and Maria. Moreover, he did so without any sheet music, whether on actual paper or an electronic gadget, as Assaf had used. For this SMF36 concert, I felt I was given a musical as a bonus. From the staccato rhythm of the gangs in the "Jet Song" - with Mulligan actually snapping his fingers and smacking the wood on the piano frame - to the girlish glee of "I Feel Pretty", the awestruck love Tony has for "Maria", then the hopeful joy of love "Tonight", followed by the back to the reality of life in "America". Wow!!!

 

"Wow!!!"

 

That's when he stood and went to leave the stage. I'm so glad he came back and gave us "Somewhere", to complete their love story.

 

"Even though it made you leave tear stains in your shirt sleeves?"

 

I think especially because it did that. (smile!) Right place, right time, you know?

 

"I do. Then you had Mama's amaryllis waiting to greet you with big, happy, smiles when you returned home. Yes, Sybil Faustina would have loved that piano man."

 

I have no doubt that she did love the show today. Those windows let the music float right out and entertain all the Earth and sky! I'm so glad I chose this show!