Saturday, June 20 - Chicago SummerDance

OK, its time to get back into the swing of this! I've been lazy about posting the minutia of all our gigs. So I hereby declare us 'back in the saddle', with notes from our performance on opening weekend of the City of Chicago's SummerDance Series. 

This has to be the coolest gig on our yearly calendar. Astute readers of these notes might recall that last year's performance at Navy Pier was prematurely cancelled because of some wicked bad storms that passed thru. We were sorely disappointed. 

This year, the wicked bad storms blew thru on Friday night. Saturday was about as perfect as perfect can be. Clear, blue skies, no humidity, nothing but sunshine and the backdrop this great city of ours. The only drawback was the travel situation. Not only was there a Puerto Rican Day Parade going on downtown, but Soldier Field was hosting The Eagles and the Dixie Chicks less than a mile away.

While our favorite dance instructors, Riley and Margot, gave a one hour jitterbug lesson, we followed tradition and made our way across the street to Kitty O'Shea's for some preshow imbibing. By the time we got rolling at 7:30pm, the park was packed with dancers of all ages.

How will this gig be remembered ten years from now? Probably by describing the hectic moments during our introduction. As our host Carlos Tortelerro from the City of Chicago Dept of Cultural Affiars is introducing us, our lovely Megan starts waving that her piano is dead. Just like that. 10 seconds to downbeat and we have no piano. Now Megan, being the professional that she is, actually brought a spare piano to the gig because, in her words, "the FP-8 was acting funny the other night". In moves right out of a Nascar pitstop, we had those pianos swapped out with the absolute minimum of stalling from Carlos.

The Chicago Tribune posted some great pictures on their Metromix site. See them here.

SET 1

I Can't Stop Loving You, Let The Good Times Roll, L-O-V-E, Pennsylvania 6-5000, Beyond the Sea, Choo Choo Ch' Boogie, The Very Thought of You, Main Stem, Why Don’t You Do Right, Blues in Frankie's Flat, Lady Is A Tramp, More, Mack the Knife

SET 2

Everyday I Have The Blues, Boogie Blues, Undecided, And Her Tears Flowed Like Wine, Corner Pocket, American Patrol, Ain't That A Kick In The Head, Straighten Up and Fly Right, Sway, Is You Is Or Is You Ain't My Baby, It Should've Been Me, Caldonia 

 

Monday, Feb 2, 2010 Hackneys

Great couple of sets tonight, and another full house of listeners. Again, we spent the practice polishing up stuff we've already introduced. Oh, and there seems to be trumpet..... ah never mind.

Set 1
Artistry in Boogie, Satin Doll, That’s My Style, Caribbean Clipper, The Man I Love, Things Ain't What They Used To Be, Pick Yourself Up, Undecided, Only You, Please Don’t Talk About Me,

Mack the Knife

Set 2

Basie, Straight Ahead, Corner Pocket, A-Tisket A-Tasket, Tenor Madness, Drum Boogie, Boogie Blues, Stolen Moments, Cheek to Cheek, Don’t Get Around Much Anymore, Alright OK

Monday, January 11, 2010 Hackneys

Sometimes its just a smokin band, and a smokin set, and a happy, appreciative audience. Nothing out of the ordinary happened. Technically we played no new charts, but we went thru to start polishing up the ones we've introduced this year.

Set 1
C Jam Blues, Shiny Stockings, Opus One, That Old Black Magic, Makin Whoopie, Cottontail, Travelin Light, 720 In the Books, It Had To Be You, Nice n Easy, Every Day I Have The Blues

Set 2

Salt Peanuts, Let The Good Times Roll, Main Stem, Almost Like Being in Love, Stella By Starlight

Come Rain Or Come Shine, Flight of the Foo Bird, You're Nobody Till Somebody, On The Street, Eager Beaver, Do Nothin Till you Hear From Me.