[Dixielandjazz] Christmas Gigs

[Stephen G Barbone]

I'm doing a non-paying gig on Christmas Day. With a quartet at the  
various wards of the local VA Hospital in Coatesville PA to play  
Christmas Music. Been a tradition for about 15 years now.

The most requested tune is usually "I'll Be Home For Christmas". I  
will never forget a request for this tune 15 years ago by a grizzled  
vet. He cried as we played it. Afterwards he apologized for breaking  
down and told us he was at Bastogne in December 1944, cold, tired, low  
on ammunition and surrounded by the Germans, who on Christmas Eve,  
broadcast that song over loudspeakers, along with a plea for the  
Americans to surrender.

He said he never felt so low in his life and when he hears the song  
every Christmas since then, he remembers his buddies who didn't make  
it back ton the USA. Brought tears to our eyes.

Cheers,
Steve Barbone
www.myspace.com/barbonestreetjazzband