All:
On behalf of the Ozark Jazz Society, many thanks to all of you who made their August event such a resounding success!
The OJS' normally conservative and somewhat stoic mind-set was completely blown away by the RJB! I've heard nothing but rave reviews - even from some hardened, wizened trad jazz fans what know most of the big name trad performers around the USA on a first name basis. It became impossible for them to retain their "cool" and, as you saw, they were out on the dance floor en mass - inhibitions cast to the wind (a first in my experience). It was absolutely great, guys! Two thumbs up! On to Kentucky!
.... Mark
Subject: Good Friends Have Great Times
I'm back into the mundane...the car is clean amd unpacked, the bills are paid, the washer and dryer are humming, and I'm getting ready for the work week. But I'm doing all this with a big grin on my face, thinking about the fantastic time I had this weekend.
The prelude to the weekend was not good. Several players who planned to be with us had to back out. I really do understand the ebb and flow of everyone's lives, but it always leaves a hole in my heart when one of us has to cancel.
We patched all the holes, and ten players and partners showed up in Laurie, Missouri on Friday. We enjoyed dinner together at the restaurant next door to our motel. Before we knew it, it was time to scoot to the Elks Club for our 7:00 show.
I'll be honest...I was a little nervous about how we would be received. The Ozark Jazz Society is well known for being rather discriminating They attract some of the best jazz groups in the country to play at their events...I was wondering how we'd measure up. I needn't have worried. From our first song to the last, the audience was most gracious. And man, do they like to dance! Mark had set us up in the best venue to play for OJS. The Elks Club has a huge dance floor, and the audience cut a rug on nearly every song. All too soon, Friday night came to an end.
The daytime Saturday was spent enjoying the many amenities that Lake of the Ozarks has to offer. The Reunion Jazz Annual Open golf tourney ended up with Jim McCormick and Jim Roller splitting the million dollar purse...or was it an $18 purse? Anyway, the guys had a good time, and have lots of lies to tell, if you ask them. Some of the ladies enjoyed the many spas in the area, and a few of us found some bargains at the outlet mall.
Jeff England and Tom Gassaway joined us on Saturday night. Again, I was worried...the big OJS event was on Friday, so we had no idea how many people would show up on Saturday. And again, I shouldn't have worried. The crowd was as big and responsive as the night before.
Many thanks to Mark for putting this event together for us. And to all of you who made the music that makes everyone smile and have the time of their lives. Pictures will be sent this week.
Next stop...Kentucky. Pat has put together a great weekend for us in October. A lot of new things are planned, including a barbecue to be remembered.
Still coming down from the high, Dan