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September 1, 2010:

SEPTEMBER SONG

Bruce Kimmel Photograph bk's notes

Well, dear readers, I’ve got news for you – it’s September. Yes, you heard it here, dear readers, it’s September. And I, for one, wish everyone a September filled with health, wealth, happiness, creativity and all things bright and beautiful. This evening, of course, begins a new adventure for us – the Kritzerland at the Gardenia series, whose inaugural show is based on our series of Lost in Boston albums. Yesterday, we had a stumble-through rehearsal, our one and only shot at a run-through – it went surprisingly well, but with talent like we’ve got it wasn’t that surprising. I’m really pleased to be working with such a group as this – and as I listened to these wonderful songs being wonderfully performed I was especially happy that each of the five voices is completely distinctive and great. One of my big problems with the group of singers that’s come up recently is that they all sound the same – the same vocal quality, the same phrasing, the same sort of performance. I seek the unique – the performer whose got his/her own “voice” and his/her own personality. I’m sure they’re out there today but I don’t think they’re encouraged to be unique – it’s just like movies or TV – we tend to get a lot of cookie-cutter actors who all look and sound the same. Not all, of course – there are some fine actors working today, but the majority I see all have a sameness. So, a special call out to our cast – Jason Graae, Damon Kirsche, Lesli Margherita, and Alet Taylor. Prior to their arrival, Shelly Markham and I went through every song for tempo and to fix anything that didn’t feel right. That was very helpful and everything is sounding good now. In the stumble-through there were still a few musical problems, but they were minor and we talked them out before anyone left. I talked through the way the show will work and so we’re all hoping it will be smooth, fun, tuneful, and enjoyable. Before Shelly arrived, the helper was here and putting postage on packages, and then we took care of some other business. After the rehearsal, Pam, Shelly, and I went to the Daily Grill to have an early dinner. I must say, something drastic has happened at the Daily Grill – don’t know if it’s all Daily Grills or just the City of Studio Daily Grill, but it’s gone from a perfectly adequate restaurant to a great one. Their specials are wonderful, their grilled artichoke has me hooked and their desserts are great. Last night, we all had an artichoke to start, then Pam and I had the sole, which comes in a very light lemon/butter sauce with grilled vegetables. The fish was so light and fluffy – just yummilicious. And we all three split a new dessert – I could not pass it up – a peanut butter cream pie with bananas and whipped cream. It was a fairly small slice and we each got about four bites, which was just perfect.

After that, I came home and did a mile and a half jog, after which I sat on my couch oh so briefly and watched the first forty minutes of a new French Blu and Ray from France of Jean Renoir’s delightfully delightful French Can Can. I can only tell you that the film was recently restored and the transfer on view is so lusciously luscious with its vivid Technicolor-like hues – it’s spectacularly sharp and just brilliant. I won’t get to finish watching it until tomorrow. I also have several other Blu and Rays to watch, including The Innocents, Michael Powell’s The Edge of the World, and Chaplin’s Modern Times and The Gold Rush, and a Brit mini-series called Red Riding, that I hear is terrific. It’s actually three separate movies that all tie together. I also have the Thriller DVD set to start going through, all sixty-seven episodes. I haven’t seen most of these since they originally aired, despite having had the laserdisc set – I just never got around to watching them on the laserdisc.

After watching the forty minutes of French Can Can, I then wrote the contextual commentary for tonight’s show – just a little information about each song – nothing more than a minute of palaver.

Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because it is September and I am very much looking forward to this month, which will be quite busy and includes a trip to New York for a book signing.

Today, I shall jog, do some errands and whatnot, and have a light lunch, after which I go to the Gardenia at two to do a sound check. I should be back home by three-thirty and then I’ll just relax until the helper arrives at seven. We’ll then mosey on over to the Gardenia to make sure everything is as we like, and then we’ll be joined by several friends. I’ll just be having two little appetizers, as I don’t want a big dinner. We’re expecting a nice crowd from what I’ve been told – I’m hoping it will be quite full. And then the hope is that word of mouth will spread and people will book the next show and tell their friends, too. I’ve already cast three people for the Unsung Musicals show, and I have a really interesting idea for one of the two ladies still to be cast – I’ll be calling about that today – it would require someone flying in but I’m hoping she just might want to do it. It would be very special for any number of reasons.

Tomorrow, I have a lunch with the two Adriana Hofstetter fans and the father of one of them – we’re eating at one of the prime Hofstetter locations, Mel’s Diner in Hollywood. Friday we’re shipping out a lot of packages and I’m having a lunch meeting in deep Santa Monica at Bubba Gump Shrimp – I have no idea what the food is like there, but it should be an adventure.

Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, do a jog, do errands and whatnot, do a sound check, relax, and then do the first Kritzerland at the Gardenia show – please send most excellent vibes and xylophones. Today’s topic of discussion: It’s Ask BK Day, the day in which you get to ask me or any dear reader any old question you like and we get to give any old answer we like. So, let’s have loads of lovely questions and loads of lovely answers and loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst we welcome in September, a month we truly hope will be filled with health, wealth, happiness, creativity and all things bright and beautiful.

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