What a surprise, I'm up early! (he said sarcastically) The ability to stay asleep is not one of my better attributes these days, but I don't particularly mind, since I have avoided the type of lifestyle that requires a full day's effort working for 'the man'. Instead, I can go ahead and do these morning gigs today and then snooze out in the afternoon, when the energy wanes, which it will.
But I'm feeling kind of psyched up today, especially for the first gig, which is a 50 minute set at Saturday Market. Normally I play the 'kid's set' at 11am, where my focus is on providing entertainment and excitement for the little ones. I'm good at it, I've been doing it for years, and it's fun, if a little predictable. I bring instruments, get the kids playing and moving, have a little party at the market etc.
Today it's different, in that I'm playing the 10am slot, which is usually a single musician making some sounds while the regulars have coffee and shmooze and no one pays much attention. In other words, a low pressure gig. So why am I feeling pressure? Because I've decided to bring a keyboard to the market and play through some of my 'greatest hits', a lot of which very few people have heard. Question.... can something be a greatest hit, if no one has ever heard it? Answer.... no and yes.
Well I suppose I was self-mocking when I called them 'greatest hits'. Reminds me of when I was in college and playing intramural softball with my buddies from the dorm. We called ourselves the 'Kruson Hall Tokers'. The faculty member, Coach Castrovillo, who was in charge of the league asked 'What's a toker?'. I said, 'Coach, a good toke is like a good hit' and he said, 'OK'. This is a true story, and I must give myself some retro props for thinking on my feet way back when. And ironically, some of my greatest musical creations also have that 'hit' connection. But I digress.
Over the years I've written a lot of really good songs, and today I'm going to break some of them out and share them with whomever is there. I did a Facebook invitation thing where I invited about 120 people, or at least let them know that it was happening, and for me, that constitutes a major promotional effort. And I've enlisted my son Zach (Rashid) to come and videotape the show, in hopes of having a few good songs to put up on Youtube next week. More sharing and just putting it out there. It's a small thing, but it's also a big thing, in the sense that who knows how long I get to live on the planet, and if I'm gone, it will be nice to leave a record of some of my efforts... like this blog for example. It's saying, 'I was here, I thought such and such, I created such and such, I lived such and such. Ah yes, my birthday is coming up in a few weeks, and you never know how many more trips around the sun you get to make.
Perhaps I should make a song list (something I rarely do, by the way, as I tend to let it flow in performance). After all these years, I trust the moment and my ability to think on my feet, use the improvisational skills and be in the present tense. And some of the best shows are ones in which something brand new happens on the spot. It keeps it fresh and exciting. But today, since I'm gonna be recording the event, I'd like to have a little more of a plan. So here are some of the songs I'm going to play.
Barra de Navidad a jazzy latin song about that beach town on the west coast of Mexico
One Little Glance a high society swing tune about 'making that connection'.
All I Want This Holiday a love ballad
Fishin' Song Americana tune with a twist
Because I Want You Fats Waller style jazz
Sweet as Cherry Pie Dixieland feel, might do it on guitar...
When I Was Ready for You Randy Newman style piano song
Song and Dance Man Uptempo swing
Love is Everywhere a Contemporary Christian or Rosh Hashana song. It's a God thing.
Mardi Gras zydeco double entendre comedy tune
American Song ragtime
Bruchim Habaim a song of welcome in your typical Hebrew salsa vein.
Time for a shower, a little practicing and off we go...
