Well, dear readers, it is late and I must write these here notes in a hurry. The reason for the lateness of the notes is because I was putting the new book up in its eBook form on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. It will be available there between now and seventy-two hours from now, so anyone who’d like to read it in advance of the hard copies, or, if like dear reader Jane you just do the eBook, then to it, I say and I say to it.
Yesterday was, of course, our first Kritzerland rehearsal and it was ever so much fun. Oh the melodies in all these classic songs we’re doing – it’s just amazing to hear, especially if you’re numb from having heard the supposed songs that were up for an Oscar. First to arrive was Adrienne Stiefel. We began with a put-together of Saturday Night Is the Loneliest Night of the Week and Don’t Get Around Much Anymore. We adjusted the keys for her, I made a couple of adjustments to the arrangement we’d done and that was that. Then came her second put-together of not two but three songs: Take the “A” Train, Chattanooga Choo Choo, and Tuxedo Junction. It’s a really fun arrangement. And finally it was her third put-together, Jukebox Saturday Night and In The Mood. I just love her voice.
Then Damon Kirsche arrived and we ran his three numbers. He hasn’t been with us for a year, so it’s great to have him back. First up was a put-together of I’ll Be Seeing You and We’ll Meet Again – I adjusted the way we were getting from song to song and back again and I just love those two songs. Then came a put-together of Candy and My Sugar Is So Refined – really fun. And finally, a put-together of two gorgeous songs: A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square and The White Cliffs of Dover.
Then came Robert Yacko. First up for him was a put-together of Right As the Rain and My Shining Hour – I created that arrangement for a show a year ago where Robert did it, so he knew that one. Then came a put-together of Some Enchanted Evening and This Nearly Was Mine, a really nice arrangement. Finally it was the great song Straighten Up and Fly Right.
Next up was Jenna Lea Rosen. First we ran Taking a Chance on Love – that number is done so many different ways with so many different feels, but my favorite feel is the original with Ethel Waters and that’s what we’re doing. Then her other number is a put-together of Beat Me Daddy, Eight to the Bar and It Don’t Mean a Thing (If it Ain’t Got that Swing) a really nice arrangement.
Then it was young twelve-year-old Peyton Kirkner, who’s doing my arrangement of Hit Me With a Hot Note and Watch Me Bounce. I gave her a version of the staging I did for another young performer and she’s just cute as a button. I showed her her name in the new book and she was delighted, but the big smile came when I showed her her name in the thank yous in the back of the book. She’s already read six of my books – she loves the Kritzer books best, but she’s making her way through the Adriana series now. But she’ll take a break to read GEE.
Finally, it was Kerry O’Malley. We began with a put-together of Sentimental Journey and Moonlight Serenade. Next was a put-together of People Like You and Me and Don’t Sit Under the Apple Tree, and finally it was the wonderful Sherman Brothers song from Over Here, Where Did the Good Times Go.
Prior to that, I’d gotten seven hours of sleep, did some work at the piano and on the computer, then came the merde and had there been a truck nearby I would have just gone and walked in front of it just for a change of pace – I’m kidding, of course. Then came the rehearsal. After that I rustled up some Wacky Noodles for dinner and that was most yummilicious. After rehearsal I watched about forty minutes of a motion picture on Blu and Ray entitled Altered States, a film of Ken Russell. I’ve never seen it, never had any interest, but recently I found I had a CD of the score and I really liked the music so decided to run the Blu-ray. It’s an odd movie but I’m afraid I kept dozing off, so I’ll start fresh, perhaps tonight should I survive the day. Then I put the GEE eBook up on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
Today, I will try to keep a low profile, but my profile is too big these days and I’m trying to do something about it. I have work to do here, I’ll eat, I’ll hopefully pick up some packages, and I’ll hope for a miraculous miracle on several fronts.
The rest of the week is our second Kritzerland rehearsal, our stumble-through, sound check and then show.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, keep a low profile, do some work, eat, hopefully pick up packages, and hope for a miraculous miracle on several fronts and even several backs. Today’s topic of discussion: What are your favorite films of Mr. Ken Russell and your favorite films of Mr. William Hurt? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, sorry for the lateness of the notes, but happy the eBooks are on their way to being live.