[Dixielandjazz] concert in Malaga

[Charlie Hooks]

Dear Jim: 

    We are all getting sick and tired (well, sick with jealousy, actually)
of hearing about all the fun you guys are having.  Would deeply appreciate
some whining, some hard-times tales, even a small disaster or two.

cordially,
Charlie




on 10/11/02 8:40 AM, James Kashishian at kash@ran.es wrote:

> 
> 
> 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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