Better Than Ever
Did the Fair Saint Louis weekend go without a hitch? Of course not. But it came close, and some of the hitches ended up being the most fun. Rich and I got an early start by visiting a couple studios in preparation for our first "real" CD. It went very well...I think we can easily select the best one. Now it will be a matter of finding a time when we can get as many players as possible to show up.
The first event was the barbecue and reception at Lori and Mike's lovely home in Frontenac. I didn't think there was any way to top last year's party, but they did. No rain this time. After a blistering two weeks of temps in the upper 90's, we got a little rain and a cool front the night before, and Friday evening could not have been more beautiful. The bartender kept us amply supplied with cool beverages, and the chef kept us well-fed. One of my favorite parts of our opening event is the anticipation that builds as each band member arrives from near and far. We had a large audience of Lori and Mike's neighbors and friends from the Veiled Prophet organization for our "rehearsal." The evening ended all too early, as we all had a busy weekend ahead of us.
I met up with Chris and Jim early Saturday morning to get ready for the parade...Mike had already left at the crack of dawn to make sure that everything was ready on the float. Much better logistics this year getting the heavy gear onto the float and the vehicles back to the end of the parade route, in spite of 70,000 people going to a national Seventh Day Adventist convention inside the Edward Jones Dome (our staging area for the parade was just outside the dome). There is no greater thrill than playing on a float, looking out at 50,000+ spectators clapping, moving and grooving to our music.
At the conclusion of the parade, we had to high-tail it down to the fair. Again, the logistics were much better this year. Dan O'Neal was right there with a flatbed Cushman to whisk the string bass, tuba, sound system, drums and keyboard up to Heritage Park, just south of the Gateway Arch. We played from 1:00 to 8:00, taking breaks for the air shows and musical acts on the main tage. The weather was beautiful, with temps in the 80's and low humidity. We sported the white Fair Saint Louis polo shirts that were given to us by the fair.
As we set up for Sunday's shows at Heritage Park, it was reported that we had received good TV coverage on the local news Saturday night and Sunday morning. On Sunday we wore the new Reunion Jazz shirts and baseball caps that Larry had arranged for. Very classy, with our new art deco logo.
Sunday evening, we played for the sponsors' dinner on the 40th floor of the Met Life building, which overlooks the Mississippi River and fairgrounds. It was certainly a lot drier than playing the same event on the Eads Bridge, which got washed out last year!
Monday began as a normal day. By then, we were in the routine, playing our hearts out and entertaining listeners as we always do...but maybe a little tired from the long hours. We took a break at 2:00 p.m. for the Ted Nugent concert on the main stage. The skies started darkening, so we moved all our gear under a nearby circus tent. At about 2:30 the heavens opened up. Before long, there were about 300 people gathered under our tent! Luckily, Rich had moved our electrical connections over, and before too long we started making music. The TV cameras showed up gain. This glitch turned out to be a good one.
Thanks to everyone who turned out for FSL and made it such a success.. See y'all in August at OJS!
Dan
Ampy Kollman-Moore wrote:
From: Ampy Kollman-Moore
To: "DAN KELLEY"
CC: "Rich Meyers"
Subject: Thanks for contributing to FSL's success!
Date: Mon, 18 Jul 2005 18:11:35 -0500
Dear Dan and Mike,
Thanks to you and Reunion Jazz for your contributions to Fair Saint Louis' 25th Anniversary edition! Isn't it a great feeling to have such positive results after working so hard to make them happen? Everyone rose to the occasion, exceeding expectations - like you guys playing in the rain with so much gusto to get people to polka in the rain!
Rich Meyers has an amazing team of employees and volunteers that under his leadership can make great things happen. It is a real pleasure to be involved with such a great group of people, which seems to get bigger and better all the time. We are delighted to have Reunion Jazz as part of the FSL team and look forward to a repeat of this year's success in 2006.
Mike, per your recent request, by copy of this note I am asking Nicole to please check with Tara Raeber at FH to see if they locate some of the video clips that featured your band during the Fair.
Best regards,
Ampy Kollman-Moore
Rich Meyers
Subject: RE: Success!
Date: Mon, 18 Jul 2005 09:06:20 -0500
From: "Rich Meyers"
To: "DAN KELLEY"
CC: "Mike Thaman"
Dan,
Everyone did everything in his/her power to make the event an outstanding one and from the incredible response we’re getting from the public, we were overwhelmingly successful.
We are so grateful for the unbelievable commitment you and the guys made. I heard that you continued playing during the ‘deluge for the Nuge’. I think the Reunion Jazz Band might have played on the deck of the Titanic during an earlier incarnation!
You know, we had so much fun, let’s do it again next year! What do you say?
Rich
Jay Shields writes:
Andy,
It was great to see you at Mike's. I went to your website and see that your band will be playing at the Lake of the Ozarks Aug. 5,6,7. Our Sigma Chi Alumni Meeting is on August 10. However, I will forward your link to some of our alumni who frequent the Lake - they might be down that weekend and want to relive their days at the Village Inn.
Jay
Brothers:
Andy Waynick is a member of the Shingleshakers, the band that played at Village Inn in Columbia during the early 70's. They play Dixieland Jazz and other music, incredibly talented. My neighbor is also a member in the band and they played on stage at the Fair St. Louis Celebration over the 4th of July weekend at the Arch. Their schedule is on their website. Click on the link. We might want to have them for an alumni event sometime.
Jay