[Dixielandjazz] concert in Malaga

[Ron L'Herault]

Ah, Jim.

You are living a wonderful life.  If I could, I'd do it in a heartbeat -
except for the cigar.

Saturday, I'll be playing a gig for some senior citizens and we get a steak
dinner.   It'll be great fun because they respond in such interesting ways,
dull faces turn to smiles, clenched hands relax and move, lifeless feet
start tapping to the rhythm.   Ain't music grand! 8-)  The prospect of a
steak dinner is pretty nice too.  <grin>

Ron L
----- Original Message -----
From: "James Kashishian" <kash@ran.es>
To: <dixielandjazz@ml.islandnet.com>
Sent: Friday, October 11, 2002 9:40 AM
Subject: [Dixielandjazz] concert in Malaga


>
>
> I mentioned a few days ago that we were to combine a concert with a
> symphony orchestra & choir.  The whole affair was very successful.
>
> The Canal Street Jazz Band was on first, before the orchestra.  We wore
> our colored vests (horrors, some will say!).  This was actually part of
> the organizer's plan, to separate our part from the tux fitted
> orchestra.  Besides, we were representing the times of a particular
> poet's life when he was a young man in the 20/30's, so the dress was
> appropriate.
>
> First pleasant surprise was when we were assigned our dressing rooms.
> That's right...plural!  Each of us had a private room with our name on
> the door.  The 200 some classical people were stuck all together in 2
> big rooms!!  (he, he!)
>
> We played a large, old style theater, with private boxes going up 6
> stories in a moon shaped area.  The place was JAMMED!  At least, I was
> told it was crowded.  Couldn't see a soul for the floodlights!
>
> After the first solo, there was a splattering of applause.  The sort of
> "should we, we want to, but don't know if we should" kind of applause.
> We never speak before the first number, so before the 2nd. Song, I
> introduced the band, and assured the audience they were welcome to
> applaud, and that we actually loved it!  Plus, it was the only way we
> would know they were still there, as we couldn't see them.  Audiences
> don't realize the effect of lights on the musicians.  Anyway, all this
> broke the ice, and it was a roaring concert, including an encore.
>
> Yep!  I did the Saints....got the house lights turned on, and got them
> all singing along.  I was thinking "try to follow that one up, you
> tight-ass symph guys".  (Not really, just kidding!)
>
> When we went to our dressing rooms, the orchestra applauded us grandly.
> They could see/hear the concert on tv's in the backstage area.  That
> applause also felt great!
>
> We had been told that the audience was basically ours, and the orchestra
> hadn't really drawn that many people.  :>
>
> We then went to have a bite to eat, and as there were 7 of us (2
> guests), the restaurant panicked & said they were closing!  (That would
> never happen in a greedier country, but in Andalucia (southern Spain) a
> relaxed life is what folks look for.  Anyway, we convinced them to feed
> us standing at the bar, and it was delicious.  All the food in pans
> along the bar, and you just say "I'll have another plate of that, etc."
>
> Back to the hotel, out for coffee & desert, then while strolling along
> (now about midnite), we fell into a pub that was really quaint, with old
> sofa's, battered, stuffed chairs, etc.  AND, Oscar Peterson coming out
> of the speakers.  Great accompanimient to a Drambuie & cigar.
>
> No gigs this weekend, so leaving in an hour for 2 days in the wine
> country (Rioja, Northern Spain).  The grapes are coming off the vines at
> this very moment.  It is supposed to be one of the better years in
> mucho, mucho tiempo.  We will see, as the reserve from this year won't
> hit the market for 5 yrs!  Meanwhile, I plan to drink a few bottles from
> 1994.
>
> Cheers, slontcha, salud.......
>
> Jim
>
>
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