The power of three: JaLaLa

It was a dark and stormy night, but only outdoors. Indoors was a glorious summer, and not just because the Cornelia Street Café has a good heating system (which I will say more about in a bit), but because the room was full of friends (some of whom I have not seen, and who have not heard me sing, in many years) and strangers-who-are-now-friends, and beloved family. And because it was JaLaLa's best performance so far. The ensemble numbers sparkled. The solos - well, somebody else will have to write about mine, but Janis and Lauren moved me to laughter - Janis singing Lorraine Feather's I Know the Way to Brooklyn - and tears - her interpretation of I Got Lost in His Arms, by Irving Berlin - and toe-tapping - Lauren's Do It the Hard Way. Lauren's performance of Gershwin's I Love You, Porgy was breathtaking: heartfelt, simple, exquisitely musical. I mean "breathtaking"  quite literally - when she finished the first chorus, and Yaron began his piano solo, I gasped. That's when I realized I had been holding my breath.

I sang My Blue Heaven (which is on my upcoming solo CD) and Bach's Minuet, from his 1st Suite for Unaccompanied Cello (which is on Feather and Bone). As you might infer from the title, I sing the Minuet without accompaniment... most of the time. At Cornelia Street on Tuesday evening, percussive elements were added - little touches at first, and then some great clangings - as the building's heating system got involved ever more enthusiastically. It made the piece merry, and made me giggle.

I've left my set list at a friend's home - once I have retrieved it, I'll amend this post to include it.

Although film writer/director/producer Joe Mankiewicz once said, "Happiness doesn't buy you money", I still feel wealthy right now. My heart is where my treasure is.

Much later - the set list, as promised

Crazy People

Spring, Spring, Spring

You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby

I Know the Way to Brooklyn (Janis)

My Blue Heaven (Laurel)

Do It the Hard Way (Lauren)

Honeymoon Suite

Moon River/Moon Country

Killer Queen

Minuet from Bach Cello Suite (Laurel)

I Got Lost in His Arms (Janis)

I Loves You, Porgy (Lauren)

Acc-en-tu-ate the Positive

It's Sand, Man

Dream (as encore)