why music is everything.

I just got home from playing a gig with Jazz Orchestra at UT and it was a blast. I am always on such a musical high after I play for people with amazing musicians. We played for the opening of this new AT&T Conference Center on the UT campus. It was a really big deal, and we were the featured entertainment. We started the set with "It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)" and one couple got up at danced. We moved on to "You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To" and we got a couple more out on the dance floor. And by dance floor, I mean the small area of rug that was in front of the band. By the time "Moonlight Serenade" hit their ears, we had a full dance floor and they absolutely loved "In the Mood", "Pennsylvania 6-5-000", and our flashy closer, "Sing, Sing, Sing". I know that "serious" jazz cats give these tunes a bad rap sometimes, but it totally killed with these people. I don't know how many times I rolled my eyes in rehearsal at something silly in "In the Mood" or whatever, but this is seriously what gets some people excited about this kind of music. Everyone was so gracious and thankful when we finished the concert - we had so many people come up and thank us and tell us that the music was great. I got a lot of "only girl in the band" comments, but I'm used to that. :)

The other cool thing about tonight - we have this great guitar player in the Jazz Orchestra that moved here from Brazil very recently. Tonight he played us his album that he recorded in Brazil before he left. The music is extremely beautiful and I was ridiculously impressed. He said that he about 35 musicians play on the album (including a string orchestra) and it took them about a month. His stuff is awesome!! He's arranging at least one of his tunes for Jazz Orchestra to play sometime this year. I cannot wait. Here is a video on YouTube of him recording his arrangement of "Spain" in a recording studio. CHECK IT OUT.

Gabriel Santiago trio plays "Spain"

Seriously, though. My life rules. Plus I got an awesome package from my parents today, including a very old, long lost friend of mine. :)