The Joy of Singing

Last night was definitely a night to remember!  Big Band Night was a success--again!  Pictures soon to follow...

I loved being able to participate in honoring those who currently serve and have served in our military forces with some great music!  I sang two of my absolute favorite jazz songs, "Alright, Okay, You Win" and "Cry Me a River."  I thoroughly enjoyed interacting informally with the audience on the dance floor in between everyone--including me--dancing to live music!

With tomorrow being President's Day and Big Band Night being yesterday, I think it's totally appropriate to have "Battle Hymn of the Republic" from my album As American As Jazz as today's song!

Oh, If Only Big Band Music Was Still "Popular"

I love to sing jazz.  Hence my majoring in Jazz Studies and recording jazz songs.  My full jazz standards album will be released this summer.

I've loved jazz for as long as I can remember.  My older sister, Amy, is a saxophonist and I heard her playing jazz.  My first real accompanist was Dave Christensen, an incredible jazz pianist who revered Thelonious Monk.  Dave plays like Monk, and I thought, as a ten-year-old, that all pianists played that way.  Not so, but thanks to Dave, Monk is my favorite pianist!

And yes, I know Monk was not a big band pianist.  He had a big band in his hands.  But, I do love big band music and I absolutely love to sing with big bands.  There's just something incredible about all those "voices" coming together, almost like listening to an orchestra.  Except, I'd much rather listen to a big band than an orchestra, though I'm not against orchestral music.  I am also a harpist and know very well how satisfying orchestral music can be.  But when it comes to the "fun factor," big bands win hands down.

Today, I performed to advertise for a yearly event at BYU called Big Band Night.

Each year, an armed forces veteran is chosen to be honored for the evening.  Singers perform a skit circa 1940s and the ballroom is turned into a stage door canteen from 1945.  A live big band, Synthesis, performs instrumental dance music which is interspersed with number that include singers.  I'm one of the singers!

This year I'm singing "Alright, Okay, You Win" and "Cry Me a River."  Admittedly, those are two of my absolute favorite songs to sing with a big band!

What "Sing, Sing, Sing" is to the instrumental big band genre, "It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)" is to the vocal big band genre.  I know I've highlighted this song before, but this one is a live performance of Ella Fitzgerald!

If Only Life were a Musical

Have you ever wanted to break out into singing and dancing in the middle of your day?  I sure have...wanted to do it, that is.  I've never been brave enough (perhaps that should be "dumb enough") to randomly start singing in the middle of the Walmart ice cream aisle.  However, I realize that without the support of many others (i.e. flash mob or fictitious movies like Enchanted (2007) and The Muppets (2011), I am resigned to "sing out" my day in my head.

It just seems totally appropriate to break out singing "Blues in the Night" the first Friday night after your lousy, two-timing boyfriend dumps you, instead of just yelling at the wall all the things you wish you would have said to him.  It's equally as plausible to sing "Cry Me River" (check out yesterday's blog) when that same lousy, two-timing boyfriend calls you to apologize and ask if you'll take him back--instead of tactfully saying why you aren't interested in dating him anymore.

And of course, someday, I sure hope there is an appropriate time for me to want to start singing "Alright, Okay, You Win!"

But seriously, haven't you ever been somewhere or had a really strong emotion and just wanted to break into song?  Even if you're not a fan of musicals, films still employ strong music/visual connections by using songs (generally with vocals) as background to a montage of images.

Hooray for music!

Big Band Night: First Meeting

I love participating in Big Band Night and today I got to meet the team putting it together and the other performers!

Every February, BYU puts on the Big Band Night event to honor those in the armed forces as well as those who have served.  This year it's on Saturday, February 16th.

BYU's ballroom is turned into a 1940s canteen--similar to the one featured in Stage Door Canteen, a movie from 1944.  A formal sit down dinner is served and a veteran is honored.  Then the cast puts on a skit revolving around interactions at the canteen.  Then the dance starts, complete with BYU's premiere big band, Synthesis, and singers!

Some of the songs you're sure to hear are "Blues in the Night," "The Lady is a Tramp," "Cry Me a River," and "I'll Never Smile Again."

I'll be singing "Cry Me a River" with Synthesis in this year's Big Band Night!

Julie London made "Cry Me a River" famous.  Here's one recording of her singing this classy jazz number.