equinox during a thunderstorm!

Not any ordinary equinox, but a fabulous one!

Just look at their travel van - it's gorgeous!

And who might they be?

The Fabulous Equinox Orchestra!

I've seen them before with the Savannah Jazz Festival, but their shows are usually out of my budget these days.

Truth to tell, I was conflicted about going tonight, but I finally decided that Dane would want me to go and enjoy myself.

Thanks, you crazy dog!

The man standing up is Jeremy Davis, the band-leader, songwriter, and tenor sax player in this orchestra.

He even sang one of his own songs during the concert!

"Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled" is based on a Bible verse, which makes it quite apropos here at Asbury Memorial Church.

Beautiful!

This fellow is Clay Johnson, his best friend since the 7th grade.

For the most part, Clay is the entertainer and lead singer, though he also plays a trombone.

That's how the two met in Louisiana - both were taking band, both were in the same classes, and their moms decided they should be friends.

Pretty sweet story!

The concert tonight was titled "Broadway To Bourbon Street" and it was absolutely full of show tunes that I knew and loved!

I know the sanctuary would have been full if not for the wrong ticket purchase link being posted on facebook.

That means most of the faces were familiar and were Asbury members, too.

I guess the good part of that was I sat right behind the Townsend family - Karen, B-man, Mickie, and Bob - and they cheered the loudest when the guys said they were from their home state... and one was even from Mickie's hometown!

Clay and Jeremy said that was the first time they got a cheer for that town!

The above photo was taken after Clay had brought out his trombone for the last two numbers, all jazzy and straight from New Orleans!

They even led a parade of the brass section into the audience!!!

Woohoo!!!

What a thrilling two hours, made even more exciting as lightning flashed in the church windows!!!

All the rain was done by the time the concert ended, making it a cooler evening for those of us all jazzed up by the tunes!

There was no program, but I kept track of the songs.

Yes, I did!

Here's the setlist.

*****

Oh, What A Beautiful Evening
(paraphrase of song from "Oklahoma!")

Lullaby of Broadway

The Road To Hell - from Hadestown!!!!

Such A Lot Of Living To Do - from Bye Bye Birdie

The Street Where You Live

Step Out Of The Sun - from Dear Evan Hansen

God Bless America 

- talk of Sept 11, 2001 on this 25th anniversary  - 

b'way had folks singing this when they reopened, so, we all sang it tonight

Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled
written by Jeremy - based on Bible verse that starts "Peace be with You"

9 To 5

tribute to Dolly Parton

Edelweiss - from The Sound Of Music

My Funny Valentine
instrumental ONLY! w Jeremy on his sax! gorgeous!

When You're A Jet
Clay in his first role, as Riff in West Side Story -
had to get dance lessons!

Here Comes The Hit Parade - Bourbon Street song start

If I Were A Rich Man - from Fiddler On The Roof
w trombone!!!

Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You

Being Alive - from Company

Down On Bourbon Street
w parade into audience!!!

When The Saints Go Marching In

another cabaret at the UUC!

There were two differences, however, from the one yesterday.

First, I was the only volunteer usher for "Night And Day: Cabaret with Samantha Talora", as the other three had opted for the salon event later tonight.

Yesterday, I'd worn my green, flowing dress, with my hair in a high ponytail.

Today, I took my hair down after I arrived.

I wore Mother Pat's summery Hawaiian dress with the golden dolphins.

Nice to give the audience something different!

Second, this event was actually double-billed, as it also featured Assaf Gleizner on the piano, as well as his talented arrangements of some of the music.

Remember, this event was titled "Night And Day".

Well, it turns out that the singer knew of two songs with that title, but different lyrics.

When she'd asked Assaf which one he'd prefer, he replied, "why not both?"

So that's what they'd done, blending the Cole Porter oldie with a much more recent one by Roxanne Seeman and Billie Hughes that Bette Midler sang about 30 years ago.

Magnificent fun!!!

When I talked about the mashup afterward with Assaf, I just had to share the one I'd done some years back!

He thought "I Feel Pretty" and the James Brown funk was an exciting idea!

Maybe I'll hear that being played at a future SVF concert?

That would be grand!!!

Samantha wove a story for us from the songs tonight.

She mentioned that she'd been on an episode of "Stories From The Stage", one of the short PBS programs I enjoy.

I'll have to see if I can find the one she was on!

That was early on in her time of saying "Yes" to scary things.

My guess is that change in quest began after her younger brother's death from cancer in 2013.

I know very well how that can change one's perspective.

Her story in song carried us from childhood ("Little Voice") to a change in attitude ("I'm Not Afraid Of Anything") to a realization that there will always be differences between people ("The Other Man's Grass Is Always Greener" and "The Secret Of Happiness").

Those last two made me think of Erma Bombeck and her humor!

After that biographical intro, she then sang a song for her dog, a song for her husband (that involved a gender swap from the Ray Charles version), and a song in memory of her brother.

Those were all straight from the program... but then came a change!

Instead of the listed tune, she sang one of my favorites: "You'll Never Walk Alone" - oh, yes, so beautiful it was, too!

Then she performed the next listed one... and encored with "Oh Shenandoah" instead of the posted Simon & Garfunkel song.

Nice change, y'all!

Yes, this has been a pretty amazing day, with plenty of lovely surprises!

(smile!)

i would pay good money to hear her as the phantom...

Those are the exact words I spoke to Liz Lang after the cabaret tonight.

I was there at the Unitarian Universalist Church downtown, having my second stint as a volunteer usher for the Savannah VOICE Festival.

This had been a surfeit of sopranos!

Titled "Queens Of The Night: Sopranos On Stage", it featured three women who had all won the American Traditions Vocal Collection - Milnes American Opera Award.

Those would be Kyaunnee Richardson, Liz Lang, and Nia Drummond.

 

They had made a grand entrance, all brandishing swords and storming the stage, as "The Ride Of The Valkyries" swirled in the air - huzzah!!!

I had to smile, remembering the quest on TBBT to retrieve Sheldon's stolen battle ostrich from some guy named Todd Zarnecki.

(smile!) 

Once they attained the stage, though, their demeanor changed!

"Three Little Maids From School Are We" they sang, coyly peeking from behind swords that had become colorful parasols!!!

Hahahahaha!

There followed a string of songs, some solo, some as a trio.

My favorite from the youngest, Nia, was "Ride On, King Jesus" - I'd never heard it before and it was fully of energy and happiness!

My favorite from Kyaunnee was "Summertime", from the musical, "Porgy And Bess" - I do so love that song!!!

But my favorite from the entire hour-long concert was that done by Liz.

You could have heard a pin drop, as everyone in the sanctuary paused their rustling and shifting to listen.

It was "The Music Of The Night", with her as the Phantom of the Opera!!!

Wow!!!

The three women had talked onstage about the roles they had yet to play, the roles that were their dreams.

Nia had said Maria, from "West Side Story".

Kyaunnee wants to be Sweeney Todd, from that musical.

And Liz wants to be the Phantom.

Yes, please!!!

As I told several, there's no reason the ingenue couldn't be a man, which would certainly set her up in the eponymous lead. 

Yes, I would pay good money to be in the theatre for that...

campamento de verano con concierto y circo

"Que pasa, chica? Algo con la musica?"

Si, mi amiga! Hoy y el viernes fui al Starcastle para dos de las actuaciones de los niños. Muy bueno!

"Okay, this is getting too complex for my rusty high-school Spanish. Let's switch to our native tongue, shall we? I'm guessing this has to do with the Savannah Children's Theatre?"

Yes, that's right! I thought I'd see what the 3A and 3B summer campers learned this past week. I'm very impressed!! I hadn't realized they had shows until I checked the website. Both of these were productions I'd not seen before, so that's why I wanted to go.

"3A? 3B?"

The 3B group was about thirty 2nd to 8th-graders. They performed a Broadway Junior Revue called "Raise Your Voice" and went to the Friday night showing of that. They did songs from shows I've never heard of before, as well as some favorites. There were two boys - Langston Patterson and Oliver Bossak - who did "Agony" from "Into The Woods" and they were having such fun with it!!!

"Most excellent! I know how much that one makes you smile!" 

Another one that had me singing along and smiling was "Matchmaker" from "Fiddler On The Roof"! Two of the little girls danced with their brooms while the third tried to explain how matchmaking worked. It was very funny when they realized they might get an old fat man instead of a young handsome dude!

"Hahahaha! I'm sure that was quite humorous!"

Oh, yes! The three girls were Jameson Mock, Briley Rose-Robinson, and Gracelyn Estridge, not that I know which had each role. They certainly interacted well with each other!

"And these kids only had a week of practice? Incredible!"

I totally agree! And this afternoon I went to the final performance for "Circus Camp". Those kids were in 5th to 12th grade. They did everything from working on the silk ropes to hanging on the lyra to twirling hula hoops and telling jokes!

"Lyra? You mean the hanging rings?"

Yes, that's right, and some of them were very good. I especially liked the older kids as they climbed and flipped on the silks to "Put On A Happy Face". Then, later, they used the lyra and performed to that Lana Del Ray song, "Summertime Sadness". That was just incredible and almost brought tears to my eyes. I think that was partly because it made me think of the physicist. He really likes that song.

"Yes, I remember. Who were the performers for those?" 

Hayden Linstroth, Charlie Smith, Anna Woods, and B. Cela. I'm pretty sure I've seen them in some recent plays, too. I'm glad they took this camp to broaden their areas of expertise.

"That's true. You never know what skills may be called for on stage."

Plus, some of the shows make use of those tools.

"So, what was it about jokes?" 

Ah, yes! That was during the song "Surfin' U.S.A." by the Beach Boys! All 21 of the campers were onstage, using hula hoops in unusual ways and just generally hamming it up! It was clear they really enjoyed themselves for this last performance of this show.

"What?! Did it only have one performance?"

No, it was also at 5 PM on Friday, but I didn't know in time. So, after this 2 PM matinee, they would be striking the set and turning in costumes. "Raise Your Voice" had the evening show yesterday, and will have another today, plus a Sunday matinee. I know both shows I attended were nearly full, too, so I'm glad to see that! I'm so glad to see SavChTh thriving in its 22nd year! And for the next two weekends, they'll have a musical I've never heard of!! I am quite excited about that!

"I know you are! I'm glad you were able to have some theatre fun this weekend. I'm sure that was a nice distraction from your medical procedure on Monday. Try to stay calm and here's hoping for the best with that!"

Thanks, dear. Now, I'm off to see "Toy Story 5" again. More fun for me!

swaying with the grey dogs!

The event at Asbury Memorial Church was billed as the "Battle Of The Bands", but that was not quite right!

By the end, both bands were playing together, as shown in the photo.

Just what might that song be that they played?

"Get Together", with enthusiastic accompaniment from the audience!

What a great send off!

The concert began with the Grey Dog Collective's set of 16 covers.

It consisted of Jim McGaw, Tim Steinhauser, Doug Povie, Mimi Witherington, Frank Stuber (on drums), and Eric Nelson, as shown.

They describe their sound as "mostly happy songs about breakups".

"Breakdown", "Sloop John B", "Route 66", "Wichita Lineman", "Daydream Believer", "The Weight", "Already Gone" are a few of their songs.

Those are certainly the ones I sang along with and danced to!

I describe them as a tried and true rock band for Friday night at a club, giving the crowd what they want!!!

After a brief intermission, during which I visited with Rob Norman and Sarah Povie, both there in support of Doug, the battle continued.

 

Sway Tuned was a four-piece that consisted of Bill Oakley, Ginger Honey, Alfred Heath (on drums), and Chuck Eyler, as shown.

Performing only 12 songs, here's where they differed: three of those were originals written by either Chuck Eyler or Ginger Honey!!!

They started with familiar songs - "Superstition". "Son Of A Preacher Man", "Ready For Love" - to get the audience grooving before launching into their own creations.

After their songs, they finished with more familiar works: "White Rabbit", "Can't Find My Way Home", "Use Me", and "Tell Me Something Good".

"Folk rock and blues to thrill and amuse" was their aim.

I'd describe this quartet as jazzy rock and pop served up with a different spin for a cool Sunday afternoon at a cabaret.

Glad I was able to be there for this concert!

I'm sure the fundraiser was a success for the choir!

inspiring next gen with a bit of jcc

I had not realized that today started the Summer Camp session for SING.

That's why the multigenerational chorus had come from Jacksonville.

Yes, the Jacksonville Children's Chorus has been around for twenty years now - meaning an entire generation - and has alumni that still sing in its membership.

Some of its alumni have been continually singing as part of the JCC for more than 15 years.

That's awesome!!!

Here's something even more incredible: in this photo, they are singing the very same song they performed in Saint Peter's Piazza in Vatican City, in Italy, just five months ago.

I have trod on the same ground they have in Rome!!!

Sure, that was in October of 2002, but here's my point: they've been on holy ground, singing Verdi's "Ave Maria" for Pope Leo XIV... wow!!!

At this afternoon concert, we heard the song just as he had... wow!!!

Talk about WOW moments!!!

Here's another for me: he is just three years older than I am.

So much responsibility he has! 

Back to the concert, shall we?

Our fairly new, and very young, group of singers opened the show.

Twenty-one were present to give us "How Can I Keep From Singing", as they have in the past, and they were wonderful!!

Then The Jacksonville Children's Chorus upped the ante with a Mozart tune from "The Magic Flute", accompanied by flute - nice!

That was to show our young ones what they will be capable of as they age and grow with experience and knowledge.

Magnificent!!!

After performing several more songs, the Savannah group joined them on stage for the grand finale.

And just what might that auspicious tune be?

"I Sing Because I'm Happy"... and we were invited to sing along!

Gladly I did so... with much gratitude!!!

Thanks for this unexpected - and free - concert at Asbury Memorial, y'all!

 

musical monday!

Get this: it all started with the WSAV weather song.

I kid you not.

Just look at those notes trailing up and down the scale!

Taking a cue from the song in "The Sound Of Music", I figured it out.

Starting with today's high and following through the week, here goes!

LA -- DO -- MI  -- SO  -- MI -- SO -- LA

Very raggedy tune fragment, but there you have it.

I followed that with a music documentary on PBS, "Looking For Cole".

Wilfried Van den Brande was inspired to make this documentary about Cole Porter after singing "So In Love" with Kim Criswell.

That duet was in 2007.

Seven years later, the film was completed, full of the music of the man that Van den Brande regards as "the greatest American songwriter".

I loved that Porter's journals were included in this!

All those notations about "Love For Sale", "Anything Goes", "Night And Day"...

his life in Paris with his wife, Linda, the only woman he loved...

spending his inheritance from his grandpa on fun in the sun with men...

what a vibrant life he led until a horse-riding accident in 1937.

I'm so glad that PBS gave this slice of his life to me!

(smile!)

Then I was off for something different: a concert film at AMC!

"Billie Eilish - Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour" was even part of the A*List!

That meant it was free for me, perhaps as a bday68 gift from the Universe.

See, Barbara Nixon was a fan of the young American, perhaps because of her math students, so I went to the movie in memory of my friend.

The Universe was looking out for me.

I'd chosen the 2 PM, 3-D, movie time, but that had been a mistake in the schedule and wasn't actually a thing.

However, Brooke set me up with my very own private viewing...

and I could feel Boo's presence with me as I watched the 24-year-old singer/songwriter bounce all over the stage in Manchester, England.

I only knew four of her songs - "Bad Guy", "Ocean Eyes", "Birds Of A Feather", and "No Time To Die" - and that was rather glancingly.

Not so for her fans!

They knew every single word of every single song.

I should note that no one in that concert audience was my age.

The vast majority were females, in their teens and twenties, with a few male sprinkled in, as well as a few moms.

I came away knowing Billie to be a good role model for her peers, emphasizing knowledge and not sex appeal.

No wonder Barbara liked her music!

Then I finished up this day with Music Bingo in the company of our mutual friend, Sandy, as well as Marcia.

I opted for the Chef Salad at Midtown Sports Grill, topping it with the peanut vinaigrette usually reserved for their Thai Salad.

Wow, what a flavor sensation!!!

That used up the last of my winnings, too, from two months ago.

Sandy was the only one of to win this time, taking the free-appetizer prize for the second game, which was, appropriately for her, "80's Mix #2 - New"!

She does so love that era!

My card was pretty useless for that game, as well as for the first game, which was all about country music.

However, for the last game, that music was more the speed for me and Marcia, and I was only one song away from that 50-dollar prize card!

All I needed was "Feels So Good", by Chuck Mangione.

Better luck to all of us next time!

What a day full of music, and friends, for me!

i thank You, God!

today, i was with king george

"I seriously doubt that, my dear girl. He's been dead for centuries. Or did you get to see "Hamilton" again?"

It was the next best thing! The song, "You'll Be Back", from that show was performed by one of the members of SING at today's concert. Mason Byrd, the teen who sang it as a solo, even dressed the part! He was magnificent!!! He even had us all sing along with him at the end! La di dah di dah, la la la la da di dah! (smile!)

"Most excellent! That must have been great fun for you!"

Oh, it most def was!!! And he didn't enter the stage from the back. Oh, no! He strode down the center aisle to reach the stage, head high! What a grand entrance befitting a monarch!

And that's his dad, Richard Byrd, standing there in the chef's hat at the head of the banquet table. He made all the food for our Italian feast after the concert!!! Pork loin, Penne Vodka with chicken, Caesar salad, green beans with pimiento, mashed potatoes, and plates of pizza with red onion as well as antipasto that included Salad Nicoise!

"Wow, what a feast! Was this the "That's Amore" dinner for the fundraiser?"

You got it! We  had been promised singing with our meal and we got that, too! Each singer gave us an aria from "The Marriage of Figaro", then they whipped out kazoos for everyone there so we could accompany them for "That's Amore"!!! Hahahaha! They even gave us kazoo-playing lessons, as some in the audience had never used those instruments. 

"Hahahaha! That must have sounded both awful and hilarious!"

Oh, it was! I'm glad we'd had the sweet singing from the children to start this bit of fun. The matinee concert featured the Spark Choir, the Kindle Choir, and the Illuminate Choir, each individually. Those would be the seventeen kindergarten to 2nd graders, the twenty-three 3rd through 5th graders, and the fourteen 6th through 12th graders. Plus, they started off with all three groups together, then finished the same.

"What a huge number of singers!!! Wow, that program has grown so much!" 

You betcha. Their inaugural concert, back in January of last year, was done with about thirty-five singers. The one from last April had about that same number. Today, there would have been 54 children singing, if all had been present!!! I'm so glad the City of Savannah has given the program a grant to allow even more involvement of the next generation!

"That's a great accomplishment for SING!"

I even granted them more of my money tonight, in addition to those for the dinner fundraiser. The Asbury choir rehearsal area was filled with Silent Auction items, which I perused before, and during, the dinner. Kathy and Preston Hodges, also at my table, had items they were keeping watch over, too!

"And did you win anything?"

Surprisingly, I did!!! I was the only bidder for a $30 gift card, Kids Meal coupon, Appetizer coupon, and game ("Family Dinner") from Texas Roadhouse... and I 'won' the whole package for just $10. Wow!!! Then, I was the third bidder for a $50 gift card to B&D Burgers in Pooler, and I 'won' that, too!!! My bid had only been twenty bucks!

"Goodness, girl! What great deals you got!!!"

Right? I am so blessed to be part of Asbury Memorial. So many good events and opportunities at this church!

today, i went to the library and a concert!

"That makes you a busy, vibrant woman again! Good for you!"

Almost. (smile!) Those two adventures had me crossing from midtown to southside to lower midtown before coming back home. Not that I'm done this weekend. I have a musical out in Rincon tomorrow! None of these places today had a spot for me to use my handicapped parking permit, so I got a little walking in, too.

"Good for you again, I say! Any amount of walking is what you need to get those leg muscles built back up. Anyway, what was up at Southwest Chatham Library on a Saturday afternoon?"

A documentary and discussion. Remember that banned books talk earlier this year? The movie I saw today, "The Librarians", was also shown around that time, but I missed it. I'm glad to have finally caught it! Apparently, the post-pandemic paranoia started a big push against books having topics of homosexuality, race, and discrimination. The ban even applied to books written by LGBTQ, black, or brown authors, and started in Texas, Florida, New Jersey, and Louisiana. I'm glad they had New Jersey in the mix, so it didn't look like a Southern thing!

"I wonder why they chose today?"

I have to believe it's because Right To Read Day is coming up on Monday. That isn't a national holiday, but something Danielle told me about on fb. It's being promoted by the American Library Association, in honor of their 150th anniversary. 

"Okay, that makes sense."

Heidi and Jennifer and a couple of other Asbury folks were there, too. Nice! We all stayed for the discussion afterward between Lola Dewitt - the Executive Director of Live Oak Public Library in this area - as well as Nate Coulter, the Executive Director of Central Arkansas Library System. He had a very amusing anecdote for us!

"Oh, do tell!"

One of the patrons came in and checked out 53 - yes, fifty-three!!! - children's books, leaving a note in the book return that she would not be returning them as they dealt with banned topics. Coulter was notified and suspended her library card. A few days later, the woman was back to pick up two James Patterson books she'd wanted, only to find out she could not because her account was suspended! When she spoke with Coulter, she claimed that she had taken the children's books as an act of civil disobedience. He informed her that as long as she kept the children's books, her account would be suspended, as the library had the right to protect its assets. The woman thought for a moment, then agreed to return the books she'd taken! Guess she really wanted those Patterson books!

"Hahahaha! More likely that she was fine with being 'disobedient' as long as it didn't negatively impact what she wanted. Good for Coulter for standing up to her bully tactics!"

Amen to that! I drove from there to the First Presbyterian Church, over on Washington Avenue. I missed most of the introduction about the fundraising group, but not any of the music. See, this concert was part of their 'Music With A Mission" series, with proceeds to benefit Hope Arbor. There were Asburians there, too! Tom Lewis was present with Karen Townsend, as well as her parents, Mickey and Bob. I ran into them after the concert, as I was looking to see if anyone left their program behind. They had run out when I arrived late. Luckily, Tom found one for me!

"Most excellent! I'm glad Tom is getting out and about. What a year he had, losing his partner, his brother, and then his father, all within months of each other. I'm glad you'll be seeing him next weekend for the Asbury Theatre group outing."

Yes, I'm looking forward to that! I'm glad I found out about this concert! Kathy Mayin told me about it and I had expected to see her here. Titled "Center Stage: A Night Of Broadway featuring Savannah Voices", it was almost two hours of songs!!! My favorite of the eighteen performed was a huge surprise, which made it even more special. Suade Anderson and Tegan Miller sang "Suddenly Seymour"!!! I felt like it must have been just for me!!! I even gave them a standing ovation after they finished!!!

"G'friend, you are just too much sometimes!!! LOL!"

Hey, we both know I adore that song, and have for years. I'll even sing the duet all by myself if I can't find someone who knows it!

"Yes, I well recall you startling the folks at Post 36 one karaoke night. They never knew what to expect from you."

Songs I want to hear, that's what! These were songs I wanted to hear, too. Songs like "Some Enchanted Evening", "I Could Have Danced All Night", "Man Of La Mancha", "You'll Never Walk Alone", and "Moon River". That last one wasn't even on the program! The director, Danny Cohen - that's him on the far left on stage - just threw it on there so we'd have a little Johnny Mercer. Very nice!

"How very appropriate, too, as Savannah was Mercer's home. Are those the other singers from this concert?"

Indeed they are! From the left, that's Danny Cohen, Suade Anderson, Rebecca Flaherty, Tegan Miller, and Jillian Durant. All so very talented! I have to wonder if any of them are part of the Savannah VOICE program. There were two songs - "Lily's Eyes" and "Sing For Your Supper" - that I've only ever heard from them. Nice to have heard them again!

"I'm so glad you had such a nice day and evening! Hope you have fun at the play in Rincon tomorrow, too!"

Thanks, I'm sure I will. Now, time to catch up with the Buckets! Lol!

let them eat cake!

So spoke Danny Beam as he was leaving the stage!

He was talking about the enormous carrot cake waiting in Holliday Hall for all gathered to celebrate his 70th birthday.

That actually occurred on February 12, so I know what that means...

he has the same birth date as Abraham Lincoln!!!

Right place, right time for me!

I missed the first song at Asbury Memorial Church, but I was there for the other six that he'd chosen from his writings, as well as two penned by others. 

"I Wouldn't Know" was done solo, followed by the George Strait song that he sang for his wedding with Barbara, the one who set up this concert.

"God's Family Table" was the last solo from this once-Baptist minister, a song about communion open for all walks of life.

Doug Povie came up with his guitar after that, to join him for the next two.

"Go Forth And Set The World On Fire" was in memory of his dear friend, Dale Thornton, a fellow pastor who would end his sermons with that line.

My favorite song, "Forgiveness And Healing", came about after a request from Reverend Billy Hester, who needed something to go with his sermon some few years ago.

Here's the line that sparked my memory: "faith, hope, and love cut a hole in the ceiling, to make room for the man with forgiveness and healing". 

That actually made me tear up as I thought of the man's kin having enough trust in Jesus' ability to cure the man that they would deliberately damage their home for that chance.

Wow.

Bill Oakley was the next guest musician, on guitar, for two songs.

"In A Thin Place" was the result of a New Year's resolution that Danny made in response to one of Rev. Billy's sermons.

The last song, "Lord, Wake Me Up", was written in 2018 but based on something he heard at a 1988 Baptist convention.

The speaker was from China, if I have that right, and said we Americans tell our children the wrong prayer.

Instead of "if I die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take", we should teach them to say "Lord, wake me up before I die".

He said that one took its time coming to him!

Then we all went to eat cake!

Danny's older brother took the stage and said a few words, mostly hearkening back to their childhood, that reminded me of my brothers - nice!!!

Then, as I came over to wish Danny a happy birthday, he introduced me to his one-and-only sister, Mary, and her husband, Harvey, down from New York.

My guess is I'm the only other scientist Danny knows!

Why would that matter?

His brother-in-law is a marine scientist!!!

How very nice to be regarded so highly!

I had quite a nice chat with them, too.

(smile!)

Now, I'm going to watch "The Wizard Of Oz", mostly because I can.

Comcast gave the musical to me, as a reward, on Thursday.

Yes, being a Diamond member definitely has its perquisites!

(smile!)

rhapsody in blue is one hundred and two

 

Hint: I meant the title to be read as if it were a poem. 

That 26-minute composition by George Gershwin was the highlight for me!!!

I'm fairly certain I've not heard it before in its entirety, and I know very well that I've never heard it from just a piano and a clarinet.

This was not just any ordinary clarinet, either.

Seth Kibel bought the silver-bedecked instrument from a man in Pennsylvania that custom made it.

Isn't it absolutely gorgeous?!!

Here's Seth playing that opening glissando, while Daniel Weiser's hands waited, poised to strike the piano keys at the precise moment that the clarinet ceased its wail - so awesome!!!

I'm glad this was the finale at today's concert!

I cannot imagine anything trying to follow that piece!

When it first premiered in 1924, on what would have been Abraham Lincoln's 115th birthday, it had been the penultimate of 26 musical pieces.

What a long concert that had to have been!

How did I know all that?

Daniel Weiser was absolutely full of such tales and regaled us with them several times during this matinee concert at the Savannah JEA.

The two men together are AmiciMusic, who came here last year, too, with their musical history lesson.

Today's was titled, "Jewish Jazz, The Sequel: Return of the 'Jew'di" - gotta love that "Star Wars" pun!!!

I'm sure that's what had drawn Rabbi Haas and his family there, though his little girl was quite disappointed to not see Princess Leia or Luke Skywalker there, so they left fairly early.

Not I!

I was there from Scott Joplin's ragtime ("The Favorite") through all three Hassidic Tunes collected by Lev Kogan.

I stayed for two that built the house of Sammy Cahn (the Anglicized Yiddish tunes, "Bei Mir Bist Du Schein" and "Yosl, Yosl"), the man known for "Three Coins In The Fountain".

There were also two pieces from famous clarinetists Ziggy Elman and Bela Kovacs before a little dessert reception.

Very sweet!

Then we had "Viktor's Tale", by John Williams, as well as a funny anecdote.

Apparently, when he was approached to do music for "Schindler's List", Williams told Steven Spielberg that he didn't think he was good enough.

Spielberg apparently replied, "I know, but all the good ones are dead."

Hahahaha!!!

Williams won the Oscar for Best Original Score for that movie!

What else today?

Oh, yes, three pieces from the prolific Harold Arlen: "Stormy Weather", "It's Only A Paper Moon", and "Come Rain Or Come Shine" - all magnificent!!!

Ella Fitzgerald once described him as "the Negro-ist white man she'd ever known."

High praise indeed!!! 

Then the concert ended on that fabulous "Rhapsody In Blue", with its mimicry of a train clack-clack-clacking along at one point.

Of course I thought of Sheldon Cooper!

You don't spend twelve years with a man in your house and not think of him when his favorite topic comes up!

(smile!)

Now, I'm going to catch the 5 PM screening of "Sinners"!

That should set me up right nicely to cheer it on at the Oscars tonight!

women's history: take 2

The program by Spectra Choir had been specially curated for their International Women's Day Concert to highlight the creativity of females.

We were told all fifteen songs and six poems had been written by women.

However, as it turned out, some of the songs were co-written by women with men, not solely as a female effort.

That's okay, though, as all were performed today by women.

I would have preferred that the charity which benefited had been focused on women, but that was not the case.

That's okay, too, as I was there for the free annual concert!

Held at Asbury Memorial Church, I was sure to enjoy it... and I did!

 

I managed to find the perfect seat by the left wall, with a clear line of sight for the "Flute Sonata Opus 64", performed by Erika Andres, a classical piece written in 1904 by Mel Bonis, one of the first female symphonists.

She was 46 years old.

Although she was educated at the Paris Conservatoire and did well, she married an older man who put her to work caring for his children from another, as well as for the three children he had with her.

I'm sure that was a common story back then in women's history.  

Here in the United States, we had Margaret Bonds, the first black female composer, who would go on to become the first woman - of an race - to win three awards from ASCAP - wow!

Today, Julia Tucker played "Troubled Water", written by Bonds in 1967 when she was 57 years old, based on the gospel tune "Wade In The Water".

 

Don't get the impression that only older works were performed, though.

Here's the popular local singer, Laiken Love, pouring her energy into "Flowers", a song cowritten by Miley Cyrus and released in 2023.

"I can buy myself flowers, I can write my name in the sand... I can take myself dancing, I can hold my own hand..." - all about self-sustainability!  

That could practically be my theme song!

Of course I sang along with her.

(smile!)

I sang along with Beverly Jaques, too, as she sang "Up On The Roof", a song cowritten by Carole King in 1962.

Beverly said she was a teenager then and the songs from the twenty-something New York woman meant a lot to her.

They meant a lot to me, too, a decade later when I was a teen... and the songs still resonate with me, as I've mentioned in the past.

The highlight of the concert was this: there were two original pieces that made their world premiere today!!!

Here in Savannah!!!

The woman standing is Chelsea Olsen, the writer of "Love Is The Only Way".

The women had all squatted down so she could stand out as she introduced the piece she had composed using her harmonium...

then they all stood up as they performed alongside her!

Very catchy folk-type song!

The other world premiere was performed solo, by the writer, Cadence Mefford.

Titled "Glass Vase", it spoke to society's penchant for holding women to high beauty standards that are emotionally destructive.

I liked that one, too.

I liked all the songs, truly, at this two-hour concert, though I admit that I preferred the ones I knew, so I could sing along.

Those included Dolly Parton's "Wildflowers", KT Tunstall's "Suddenly I See", and Nancy Grundahl's "Oh, Be Swift".

However, I enjoyed the new songs, including Florence and the Machine's "King", the Highwomen's "Crowded Table", and Sia's "Alive".

That last one was performed fiercely by Amanda Ortiz!

I do hope she will become active in local musicals! 

(smile!) 

stray kids... meow!

Seriously, one of the boys in the band actually meows!!!

That would be the bass-voiced blond, Felix.

I know, I talk like I know who the Stray Kids are, but I don't.

 

Before I came to this concert film in the Big-D auditorium at AMC, I'd never heard of them.

However, thanks to my A*List membership, I took a chance.

I'm so glad I did!

As I told Carolyn, it was like watching Bollywood dance sequences back to back, with just the guys strutting their stuff - RAWR!!!

It may look like they're all wearing the same outfit, but each of the eight members has unique touches: in the jacket lengths and cuts, in the designs of the sparkly stones, in the shirts under those jackets.

Seriously... RAWR!!!

And look here: they even have their own Greased Lightin'!!!
No wonder that the Los Angeles arena was jam-packed with women of a variety of ages and ethnic backgrounds!!!

And get this: those fans knew all the songs, too, singing along with Seuteurei Kijeu, also known as SKZ.

Just who are the Korean pop stars?

Well, thanks to the interviews spliced into the concert segments, I actually know a little something about that.

As I already mentioned, Felix is the blond with the surprisingly bass voice, and a saucy sense of humor!

Bang Chan is the ipso facto leader and caretaker, in as much as he makes sure that each one gets the support they need; he's also the one who chose each member to be a Stray Kid.

Hyunjin is the sexy dancer in the band, usually wearing the least clothes.

As I already mentioned, Felix is the blond with the surprisingly bass voice, and a saucy sense of humor!

Changbin is the hunky rapper and songwriter for the group.

Han is also a prolific songwriter, whose goal is to keep his SKZ persona separate from his own identity.

I. N. is the youngest member of the group - but only by about 6 months!

Then there are Lee Know - another principal dancer - and Seungmin, the guitarist to round out the octet.

Like I said, something for everyone's taste in this smorgasbord!

I'm so glad I took advantage of the upcoming bad weather to see this!!!

Oh, wait, I never mentioned the concert movie's name, did I?

"Stray Kids: The Dominate Experience".

Be sure to check it out for great dancing!!!

Sweet dreams!

(smile!)