I was feeling a little down this past week. First, it was raining, make that pouring, in the beginning of the week, I would not make it in the Pacific NW, I really DO need to see the sun! Not only is pouring/pelting rain a pain in the butt, crummy for dog walking, it also stinks for driving! Second, when the rain was over the 9/11 news, reminders, events all came into full swing, and that too was depressing. Important but depressing. Third, I knew I had a weekend of basement cleaning ahead of me. Not fun. Overall, I was just in a grumpy mood all week. The carrot at the end of the stick was on Saturday night we were going out to eat and hear some music from Debra Mann. She is turning into a friend as well as a favorite female jazz singer and pianist. I was just reading her website and found out…”The National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences placed Debra Mann on the Official Ballot for the 2010 Grammy Awards in the following categories: Record of the Year (‘Autumn’), Album of the Year (‘Home’), Song of the Year (‘Heart of Love’), Best Pop Vocal Album (‘Home’), and Best Improvised Jazz Solo (‘Autumn’).” Wow! Congratulations Debra!
Last night at Chan’s in R.I she sang/performed many of her own original songs. I asked Debra about how she felt about last night and she said “I just loved the intimacy of the smallish crowd, and how the sound was so great. We were able to play with a wide dynamic range because of the conditions. The band sounded so great, too. I feel so blessed.” One of the motifs Debra played with last night was humor and songs by Dave Frishburg. I had never heard of him so I “goggled.” The first part of his Bio reads-” It’s difficult to find a category for Dave Frishberg’s songs. The New York Times described him as “the Stephen Sondheim of jazz songwriting”, and The London Daily Telegraph called him “a Woody Allen of song”. In his song “My Attorney Bernie” the first line is “I’m impressed with my attorney Bernie…. and further into the song … I admire my attorney Bernie I. I admire any guy who knows his stuff” Well, I have to say – “I’m impressed with my musical friend Debra – I admire my jazz friend Debra.. I admire any gal who knows her stuff!” … I walked in grumpy and left happy! The power and joy of music, with The Debra Mann Quartet, who made it all happen… Thanks!
‘A voice that wraps itself around a microphone like a soft feather boa’ – Rebecca Parris, Eight-time Boston Globe winner, ‘Outstanding Jazz Vocalist’
Have I enticed you? I hope so! Want to hear Debra Mann play for yourself? I hope so. Here is her upcoming schedule.
Saturday, September 17, 2011 Greenvale Vineyards 582 Wapping Rd. Portsmouth, RI 1-4 PM (401) 521-3333 Debra/keys and vocals Joe Esposito/sax Dave Zinno/bass
The Debra Mann Trio interprets the music of Joni Mitchell: A Retrospective Concert Sunday, October 2, 2011, 2 PM : Barrington Public Library Theatre Sunday, November 6, 2011, 2 PM : Warwick Public Library Theatre.
If you go to the Library shows, I hope to be there too! Unfortunately we will miss the vineyard one next weekend, but, we went in the beginning of the season and it was a lovely afternoon. Highly recommend it if you can make it. Wine, scenery, and great music-hard to go wrong!
Debra Mann Website : http://www.debramann.com
