JaLaLa tralala
Here I am, arriving at the Kennedy Center for the JaLaLa soundcheck, with our drummer Matt Wilson. It looks like an ECM cover, yes? Except, of course, for the presence of people in the shot. I doubt the architect's original vision included the trash bin. In case you are curious, it's a cuppa tea I am holding. Not a very good one, alas, but that is one of the sorrows of being on the road. One endures, and carries on, hoping for a better cup tomorrow.
I don't know who the gent in the blue shirt is on the right. Perhaps he is a member of the Jazz Police, defending the nation against extra choruses of unnecessary scatting.
Those of you with sharp eyes (or good spectacles) may have already read the JaLaLa set list from the Kennedy Center performance on our Facebook page. Here are both the May 16 Birdland set list and the May 19 (DC) setlist , for those who - like me - save their squinting for identifying birds on the wing and dollar bills on the sidewalk.
Birdland, Monday May 16, 2011
1. Spring, Spring, Spring (That Old Mercer Magic)
2.It's You (Boswell Sisters)
3. You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby (Mercer)
4. Come to Baby, Do (Doris Day)
5. Moon River / Moon Country (Mercer)
6. solo - Lauren - Avalon (full band)
7. solo - Laurel - I'm Old-Fashioned (voice and bass)
8. solo - Janis - Begin the Beguine (voice and drums)
9. Crazy People (Boswells again)
10. Unsquare Dance (Brubeck/Kerchner)
11. Killer Queen (do I have to tell you?)
12. Honeymoon Suite - medley
13. It's Sand, Man (Lambert, Hendricks and Ross)
Encore (dedicated to Phoebe Snow) - Dream
In Washington, DC, at the Kennedy Center, we had less time, and decided to forego the solo turns. That set was:
And now the truth is out: we admire our brothers and sisters in the accordion community.
The following day, we were back at the Kennedy to teach a jazz vocal master class for ten very talented high school students from four area schools. The singers were delightful, as were their accompanists. I particularly love teaching in the master class format, because magic invariably happens.
And I love magic! Why else would I be a singer?