It’s October, and I felt much the same as I would on a Friday Evening Parade during hot, muggy July. I was having difficulty keeping my piccolo in place, and my fingers kept slipping on the keys. I was hoping I’d maintain enough control to get out the high notes. On the bright side, reed players had less difficulty with their reeds than expected at the slightly higher altitude.
Intermission brought welcome relief with doors thrown open to the cool evening air. Chilled bottles of water, and grapes were waiting for us, disappearing much faster than the coffee and cocoa offered.
The second half began with El Salon Mexico; the heat and lights almost transporting one to a hot, dusty Mexico and the popular dance club with the sign hanging on the wall reading "Please don't throw lighted cigarette butts on the floor so the ladies don't burn their feet."
One could almost forget the heat, though, as the music of Harold Arlen filled the auditorium. When Sara sings “Hallelujah…Hallelujah…come you sinners, gather round…” with her rich, sultry voice, you could close your eyes and imagine yourself in a 1930’s movie, set in a dark, smoky jazz club. There is a jazz combo in the corner, and the lone singer under a bright light, the sequins of her dress catching the light.
During the intro to Sara’s encore, Over the Rainbow, I notice the back doors of the auditorium had been opened in an effort to give some relief to the heat in the hall. As she begins to sing, people who had stepped out for some cool air began to gather around the doors, her voice and the familiar tune drawing them back into the heat. She could easily offer a second encore and despite the heat, the audience would be thrilled to hear more.
One more night ending with God Bless America, and the band moved off stage in search of cooler temperatures. Febreze was flying in the changing area, and t-shirts taken back to the hotel for a premature laundry run. The air conditioning was running full blast on our bus when we boarded for the thirty minute drive to the hotel, bringing forth an almost collective sigh of relief. This drive brought an unexpected surprise as well; today is Chuck’s birthday, so our “Social Director” on Bus 2 brought cupcakes for the bus and passed them out as we sang a fairly atonal rendition of Happy Birthday to Chuck. Nothing like a little sugar to cure all ills.
Intermission brought welcome relief with doors thrown open to the cool evening air. Chilled bottles of water, and grapes were waiting for us, disappearing much faster than the coffee and cocoa offered.
The second half began with El Salon Mexico; the heat and lights almost transporting one to a hot, dusty Mexico and the popular dance club with the sign hanging on the wall reading "Please don't throw lighted cigarette butts on the floor so the ladies don't burn their feet."
One could almost forget the heat, though, as the music of Harold Arlen filled the auditorium. When Sara sings “Hallelujah…Hallelujah…come you sinners, gather round…” with her rich, sultry voice, you could close your eyes and imagine yourself in a 1930’s movie, set in a dark, smoky jazz club. There is a jazz combo in the corner, and the lone singer under a bright light, the sequins of her dress catching the light.During the intro to Sara’s encore, Over the Rainbow, I notice the back doors of the auditorium had been opened in an effort to give some relief to the heat in the hall. As she begins to sing, people who had stepped out for some cool air began to gather around the doors, her voice and the familiar tune drawing them back into the heat. She could easily offer a second encore and despite the heat, the audience would be thrilled to hear more.
One more night ending with God Bless America, and the band moved off stage in search of cooler temperatures. Febreze was flying in the changing area, and t-shirts taken back to the hotel for a premature laundry run. The air conditioning was running full blast on our bus when we boarded for the thirty minute drive to the hotel, bringing forth an almost collective sigh of relief. This drive brought an unexpected surprise as well; today is Chuck’s birthday, so our “Social Director” on Bus 2 brought cupcakes for the bus and passed them out as we sang a fairly atonal rendition of Happy Birthday to Chuck. Nothing like a little sugar to cure all ills.
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