Well, dear readers, we had our first Kritzerland rehearsal – a bit rough around the edges, but it’s going to be a very good show – in fact, it will probably be my favorite of our holiday shows (this is our seventh), and the rough bits will all be smooth bits by our second rehearsal on Thursday. First up was Sami Staitman. We ran her solo, A Place Called Home, then Brennley Brown arrived and we did their duet, Be A Santa (our traditional opening number). Then Sami left and Brennley did her song, which is dear reader elmore’s pretty My Love Brought Me Summer, which Brennley not only sings but accompanies herself on guitar. Then eleven-year-old bundle of dynamite Hayley Shukiar arrived and we ran her one and only number – but WHAT a number. The Shirley Temple song I Love to Walk in the Rain, complete with a trumpet solo and tap break – it’s a showstopper, at least for me it is. Then Guy Haines arrived and sang through Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas and promised he’ll definitely show up this time.
After Guy, Kerry O’Malley arrived (late, due to horrendous traffic – it’s a long drive for her) and ran her three numbers – What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve, Winter Was Warm, and Happy Holiday/White Christmas. After her it was newcomer Maggie Randolph. She ran her three numbers and we adjusted some keys for her – Jingle Bells/Jingle Bell Rock, Let It Snow, and The Christmas Waltz/I’ll Be Home for Christmas. Then Brittney Bertier arrived and ran her two solos – my song, This Christmas, and Sleigh Ride. We’ve done the latter several times and each time the chart seems to go missing and I have to explain all over again what the damn arrangement is. We got through that, then Robert Yacko arrived and he and Brittney ran Baby, It’s Cold Outside. Brittney went on her merry way and Robert did his two solos – Christmas in Los Angeles, the Sherman Brothers song we did in L.A. Now and Then, and Count Your Blessings. MIA was Bill Hayes, who comes on Thursday. I just found it ever so festively festive hearing all these wonderful holiday songs in a row.
Prior to that, I was awakened at eight o’clock by the ringing of the doorbell – I’d forgotten that they were replacing the fence in the yard. That was thoroughly annoying and kind of trashed my already trashed voice (trying not to get sick) – I would have gone back to bed, but the drilling and noise was too much. So, up I got, did work on the computer, listened to music (finished up the Villa-Lobos symphonies, which I just really loved), and then I went and got an omelet and an English muffin. I then picked up a few packages and came home. One of the packages contained a newer remastering of Previn’s masterful performance of my favorite symphony (playing as I type this), number two, this from the original session tapes for the first time. I compared it to the previous release and this one sounds cleaner and more beautiful, so I’m very happy with it. Then we had our rehearsal.
After the rehearsal, I caught up on e-mails whilst listening to some Debussy and Ravel conducted by Stokowski. Then we got approval on our next release so I spent the rest of the evening prepping the announcement for Wednesday at midnight. At some point I ate a few of those bite-size candy things, but felt I should have something more like food, so I got a couple of drumettes and about two ounces of seafood salad from the salad bar, came home and ate them all up.
Today, I have much to attend to so attend to it I will. Then I’ll eat, jog (if possible), hopefully pick up some packages and, at some point, relax.
The rest of the week is meetings and meals, our second Kritzerland rehearsal, a meeting with Kay Cole and Doug Haverty about her CD packaging, our stumble-through, sound check and show, and then right into the Richard Sherman event and my birthday. I’m hoping we get through all this and December in a stress-free way because I need a month without stress.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, attend to stuff, eat, jog, hopefully pick up packages, and relax. Today’s topic of discussion: What will you be doing for the Christmas holidays this year? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, happy to have had a lovely time listening to great singers sing great songs.