The Florida Youth Symohony at the Bob Carr.

Posted on by Thor

Heide Evans Waldron invited me to sketch the 61st Season Opener featuring all of the Florida Symphony Youth Orchestras at the Bob Carr Theatre (401 W Livingston St, Orlando, FL 32801). I walked to the concert. The gutters around Lake Eola still had shards of rainbow colored confetti left over from the Pride Parade. Outside the Bob Carr, the remnants of a Blue Box could be seen. The sidewalk had been ripped up during recent construction, but two blue strips remained behind painted on the curb.

All the youth classical orchestras were featured at this concert. As always, academic and
music educators receive complimentary admission to this and all FSYO
season subscription concerts. A common thread throughout the concert was how honored each conductor was to work with these talented kids each Sunday.

I kind of groaned to myself when the youngest orchestra took to the stage. The theatre was about half full. Clearly most of the audience was full of adoring parents. Sketching kept me sane. I couldn’t help but think of Professor Henry Hill in  The Music Man who really didn’t teach music at all, but the racket created at the concert still brought admiring parents to their feet. Actually, the kids on stage did an admirable job.

When one orchestra left the stage, another took its place. The classical music became increasingly recognizable and full of emotion. The real surprise of the concert was the first performance of the Youth Jazz Ensemble. Piano, electric guitar, saxophones, and trumpets performed toe-tapping jazz from Count Basie, Charlie Parker, and others.  

The FSYO’s new Jazz Orchestra, conducted by Jeff Rupert, is a 17-20 piece ensemble that focuses on the study of big band jazz music. Students learn the theory behind jazz
composition and improvisation and have the opportunity to do sectional
work with some of the area’s top jazz musicians.

The Youth Jazz Orchestra is for students ages
13 to 20. Though the majority of students fit into these age groups,
upon request, exceptions are considered on a case-by-case basis at the
discretion of the board, in consultation with the conductors. My sketch was finished, so I just relaxed and enjoyed the music. If I were in my teens, still playing trumpet, this ensemble would have been my ambition. They were tight. This music made me want to dance in the aisles.

Marty Morell and Michiko

Posted on by Thor

On Sunday June 2nd, Marty Morell and Michiko performed a free Jazz concert at the White House (2000 South Summerlin Avenue, Orlando FL), with many special guests and a little Latin music.

The guest visual artist was Lorraine Turner. Lorraine didn’t paint live on stage because there were so many musicians. There just wasn’t enough room. Steve Rodney was shooting a documentary, so Benoit Glazer in his introduction advised us all to look enthralled. Richard Drexler was at the piano, Carlo Garcia was on the drums, Jeff Rupert on saxophone, Benoit Glazer stepped in on trumpet, and Ben Cramer was on Bass.

Marty met Michiko at a jazz festival in Japan and they have been performing together ever since. Michiko sang several of the songs. It was an up beat concert with plenty of energy. I tapped my toes and bobbed my head as I sketched. I was perched on the third floor balcony. I like getting this bird’s eye view, but it means standing for the duration as I sketch so I can see over the railings. By the end of the concert my legs were aching. I’m always afraid that I might drop my palette on someones head, so I step back a bit as I’m painting. Having to sketch in so many people and instruments means I’m working right up to the last note in the concert.

It seems like the number of concerts held at the White House keeps accelerating. It is one of my favorite places to listen to music and let the lines dance on the page.

A Taste of Jazz

Posted on by Thor

Every Monday starting around 9pm there is free jazz at Taste (717 W. Smith Street, College Park). When I arrived, the drum set was just starting to get assembled. I ordered a beer at the bar and started sketching the empty stage and the paintings on the walls. All the paintings were of celebrities. Who actually hangs a painting of Marilyn Monroe or Marilyn Manson above their couch? As more musicians arrived, the buzz began to build in the room. A tall African American man, named Zion, entered the room with a leopard skin cap and an open jacket with no shirt underneath. He was shouting and happy. He shouted, “I will be throwing money on the stage tonight!” He had been given a watch by his woman and he wanted the world to know. He showed me his watch and it was as big as a saucer covered in gold and silver.  The inner gears were exposed. He shouted out, “look how beautiful she is!” as he gestured to the woman in the doorway, and she smiled. Then, as suddenly as he appeared, he was gone.

I heard the drummer say that all The Jazz Professors from UCF were going to perform. Jeff Rupert, the program director was on tenor sax, Bobby Koelble was on the guitar, Per Danielsson on the keys, Richard Drexler played bass, and Marty Morell, the band leader, was on drums. Flying Horse Records put out a live recording from the UCF-Orlando Jazz Festival of this group, The Jazz Professors remained on the Jazz Week charts for 17 weeks, peaking at 19. The music began and my lines danced as I tapped my foot and swayed to the beat. These guys were great! I had stumbled upon an amazing performance. People were shouting and clapping in appreciation. Everyone was lost in the free flowing adventure of smooth improvisation. The air was electric. With my beer and sketch finished, I decided to leave after the first set. On the drive home, I realized I was hungry for another taste.