0 for 3 at Cistern Yard...
Arturo O'Farrill and The Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra.
Originally planned as performing under the stars at the
Cistern Yard on the campus of the College of Charleston.
My first Spoleto event of this, the 40th annual Festival of the arts, unfortunately, saw the use of the festival's rain backup plan.
Twice.
Both nights, storms would have ruined the music event.
Oh, the
TD Arena is a nice venue.
And the sound was very good for a gym.
With an 18-piece orchestra - and a heavy grand piano - you can't just wait until the last minute to see if it really WAS going to rain.
I was going the second night and already knew it had been moved indoors the night before.
I salute the Festival staff for keeping a close watch on the weather.
It could have been a stirring outdoor evening but not at all feasible.
There is no covered bandstand over the Cistern and a thousand or so umbrellas and ponchos for the audience would have been challenging at best.
This was the right decision and the music was incredible!
On the left were 5 saxes (also clarinets and flutes), centered were 4 trumpets and on the right, four throaty trombones.
Leader O'Farrill played piano and stood to conduct several times, moving close to the bassist, two percussionists, and the drummer.
(Click on the photos and links for more details. The video clip is from another show, elsewhere.)
So far, at least one other Cistern act was moved to the TD Arena and the weather forecasters are warning us to expect more thunderstorms. Yikes.
Tonight I am indoors at Theater 99 for two improv comedy acts. More on that later.
Stay dry and enjoy Spoleto!
Labels: Arturo O'Farrill and the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra, Cistern Yard, Congas and percussion., saxes and flutes, TD Arena, trombones and trumpets
Three years in the making....
The last show I saw at the "OLD" Gaillard Theater was k.d.lang.
She was in top voice and I was in the front row.
Yes, I took a few pictures. That's what I do.
At the end, I stood and stepped forward, holding my upturned hand. She handed me her guitar pick. Cool.
Then the place was shut down for 3 years of renovations.
During Spoleto a few months later, I walked into the TD Arena for a rock & Roll show.
Hanging on the wall there was a huge mural depicting what the NEW Gaillard Center (Centre?) would look like.
I had a buddy snap a few shots of me in front of the artist's rendering, with the idea of inserting myself into the image.
I was pleased that it turned out just the way I had envisioned.
I had cloned a seat back so it now appeared that I was seated in one of the boxes in, I guess, the Dress Circle?
Fast forward to a few weeks ago when I went to see the CJO (Charleston Jazz Orchestra) starring jazz diva
Diane Shuur.
Diane and the local Jazz group were the openers for the
Arturo Sandoval show. The percussion-filled performance by his 5-piece backing group featured the master "horn player" displaying his amazing talents.
OK, during the intermission, as I walked around admiring the new look, I took out a copy of my 3-year old fantasy creation.
A helpful usher suggested I needed to go up the stairs to find the area where I had visually created a seat for myself.
These were "private" boxes with closed doors so I peeked into several before I found the target area that I sought.
I had a ticket for a floor seat so really didn't "belong" up here.
Several occupants saw the image I had printed and was trying to match and even suggested I sit down in a vacant seat.
Not wanting to intrude too much, I just stood and had a picture quickly snapped.
Mission accomplished.
(Click on the images and links to see more details.)
Thanks to the nice people in the box - and the usher - who helped me zero in on where I had "seated" myself three years ago.
The renovation was marvelous to see.
I plan to attend many events there.
Thanks City of Charleston!
And former Mayor Joe Riley.
Labels: 3 years of renovations, a cloned seat, Arturo Sandoval, CJO, Diane Shuur, Dress Circle, huge mural, k.d.lang, New Gaillard Center, TD Arena
2013 Spoleto potpourri....
Back to the golden days of radio.
Voices and Foley sound effects.
A piano and small organ provides ALL the music. A pin-pricked balloon gives a "pop" when needed.
The earth is doomed. In fact, the whole galaxy will disappear.
Good Grief!
Sitting in the sold out Sottile Theater along with 600 captivated friends, we watched the live-action graphic novel develop with cartoons on the screen, clever sound effects and talented voices.
David Higgins is the voice of Timmy, Danu Uribe is the Pulitzer Prize winning authoress and Christopher Lee Gibson speaks as everybody else. Cami Alys is the Foley artists responsible for the correct sounds at the appropriate time.
Jason Neulander of Austin, Texas, is the writer/Director who created
The Intergalactic Nemesis.
He welcomed the audience and expressed his happiness at being in Charleston and part of the famed Spoleto Festival USA.
General Director Nigel Redden had called him with an invitation which he gladly accepted.
During the intermission of Part 1 last night, Nigel could be seen mingling, chatting with fans and friends as the crowd returned to their seats.
The fate of earth still hung in the balance at this point.
A few days ago, a Spoleto-Piccolo music event brought me to
Hall's Chophouse on King Street for an afternoon of Jazz.
Lead singer
Lyndsey Goodman Moynihan was joined by Jamie Harris on bass and "Uncle Joe" Wilson on guitar.
The banter between songs was humorous and showed the depth of their friendship.
And their love of music.
Leaving Hall's, I walked through Marion Square and saw a small crowd gathered to enjoy an impromptu bluegrass performance.
Spoleto does indeed bring together friends of the arts.
Did not interrupt the players to get their names but paused for a moment or two to listen and take a few pictures.
Hope they'll get in touch so I can credit them.
I'm scheduled tomorrow evening for a concert on the Cistern Yard area at the College of Charleston.
Andrea, first tropical storm of the 6-month storm season that just started, is also due to skim our coastline tomorrow.
My guess is the venue - to avoid a rain out - will switch to the
TD Arena This would be good as I have not been inside there yet.
Oh, TD stands for Toronto Dominion Bank, the new name after a local financial group was bought that had its name on the 5.100 seat venue. It opened in 2008 as home of the Cougars.
(Click on the photos for more details.)
The fire truck was heading elsewhere.
The TD Arena is fine!
Labels: Cistern Yard, Cougars, Foley sound effects, Hall's Chop House, Intergalactic Nemesis, Jamie Harris, Joe Wilson, Lyndsey Goodman Moynihan, Marion Square, Nigel Redden, TD Arena, Toronto Dominion Bank
Twice.
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