three pumpkins

privacy

oh, i agree!

 

 

I have made a practice wherever I go

to ask intelligent amateurs . . . 

who their favorite composer is. 

 

Almost without exception . . . they will reply

"Puccini . . .  He doesn't keep us waiting.  He gets on with it." 

 

And that is one of the abiding attractions of "Boheme." 

It doesn't keep us waiting.  It does get on with it. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sir Thomas Beecham, conductor, in an interview with Irving Kolodin from Saturday Review (1956)

From the album SIR THOMAS BEECHAM PUCCINI: LA BOHEME 

SERAPHIM

evol

 

The Alchemy to Gold art show was held last tonight at evol society which is the home store of Roma boots and a huge supporter of local artists and causes.  It's an odd name, evol, I thought when I first heard it, wanting to call it evolve from then on.  By all its definitions, evolve made sense to me when I thought about the store hosting this show.

evolve: 1) develop gradually and naturally
I suspect that is how much of the art shown last night came to be; a spark of form or color or matter gradually and naturally became something tangible.  Likely too, that many personal and business relationships had to have evolved as well for this night to come together.

evolve: 2) devise (a plan)
Artists were chosen, this venue was secured, sponsors stepped up, volunteers did too, details were ironed out and disasters were avoided.

evolve: c) unfold
Finishing touches given, doors open, music starts, drinks are poured, food is served, talent is absorbed. 

This night did indeed unfold beautifully and here are a few of my photos to take you there.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the company of all this wonderful art, there was one snapshot which truly made me gasp.  It was early in the show when I took the picture, a view I like to take, inside looking out.  This time was different.  There was a message and innocently enough, I finally, clearly, understood evol.   

 

 

 

 

evol society @ The Shops at Park Lane

Alchemy to Gold benefit for AIN, Aids Interfaith Network 

Show organized and designed by David Call

David Call Interiors and Alchemy Arts

(The Oxford American Desk Dictionary)

 

page 43

 

 

Sorrow like a ceaseless rain

Beats upon my heart.

People twist and scream in pain,

Dawn will find them still again;

This has neither wax nor wane,

Neither stop nor start.

 

People dress and go to town;

I sit in my chair.

All my thoughts are slow and brown:

Standing up or sitting down

Little matters, or what gown

Or, what shoes I wear.

 

 

 

 

Sorrow

Renascence and Other Poems (1917)

Edna St. Vincent Millay

 

i'll look around

 

 

i've been working on this book

this brilliant book

which may never see the light of day

light of day

unlike the brilliant light

which two hours ago

shone through this window

that light

and

madeleine peyroux

keeping me

hopeful 

 

I'll look around

until I've found

someone who laughs like you

 

I know somewhere

spring must fill the air

with sweetness just as rare

as the flower

that you gave me to wear

 

I'll look around

and when I've found

someone who laughs like you

 

I'll know this love

I'm dreaming of

won't be the old love

I always knew

I know somewhere
love must fill the air
with sweetness just as rare
as the flower
that you gave me to wear

I'll look around
and when I've found
someone who laughs like you

I'll know this love
I'm dreaming of
won't be the old love
I always knew

 

 

 

I'll Look Around

George Cory/Douglass Cross

Madeleine Peyroux-Careless Love



top shelf

The music was just loud enough.  The drinks were cold and the food was hot.  It was my birthday party and it was perfect!

Twenty something of us gathered that Saturday night, the Mark McKenzie Quartet squeezed into the alcove a few feet from where we claimed our space.  New friends were introduced to old friends. 

As any good and authentic evening of jazz demands, the party was held in a bar; Zanata on 15th Street, an understated gem and a favorite of mine.  Stairways on opposite ends of the room, connect the downstairs restaurant to the upstairs bar.  The stairs are many and they are deep but the rewards are great. 

Fly me to the moon, let me play among the stars

Let me see what spring is like on Jupiter and Mars

In other words, hold my hand

In other words, darling, kiss me 

 

As requested, the band played standard after standard.  I snapped my fingers to them all, a good three hours and more.  I kissed my darling as the quartet played It Had To Be You; a kiss to thank him for this night but also because it did, it did always, have to be him. 

Perhaps it only seems we heard them all, all the greats; Antonio Carlos Jobim, Bart Howard, Cole Porter, Dorothy Fields, Duke Ellington, Fred Coots, George and Ira Gershwin, Henry Mancini, Hoagy Carmichael, Jerome Kern, Johnny Mercer, Irving Berlin, Irving Kahal, Isham Jones, Rogers and Hart, Rube Bloom, Sammy Fain, Victor Young . . . 

As the evening evolved, many friends mentioned my parents, this music being their music passed on, and they spoke of how Ernie and Colleen were surely with us in spirit.  I smiled a little smile, touched they were remembered.

The lonely night discloses

Just a passing breeze, filled with memories

Of the golden smile that introduced me to

The days of wine and roses and you 

 

A pastry tray of cannoli and tarts was passed around, sweet closure to the night as the MMQ gave us Snapple From The Apple, a song which often ends their set and makes me happy and sad, at once. 

Saturday had long turned into Sunday when Curtis poured me and my sister two final drinks; a scotch for our dad, white wine for our mom.  We raised our glasses and raised our eyes, and toasted them both.

Our parents really were with us that night.  Their ashes had been placed discreetly on the highest shelf of the bar, on the far edge, closest to the music.  It was my birthday but the night was all about them and the music they so loved. 

I couldn't imagine the party without them.   

I'll be seeing you, in all the old familiar places

That this heart of mine embraces

All day through

In that small café, the park across the way

The children's carousel, the chestnut trees

The wishing well

 

I'll be seeing you, in every lovely summer's day

In everything that's light and gay

I'll always think of you that way

 

I'll find you in the morning sun

And when the night is new

I'll be looking at the moon

But I'll be seeing you

 

 

 

Fly Me To The Moon; Bart Howard

Days Of Wine And Roses; Henry Mancini, music/Johnny Mercer, lyric

I'll Be Seeing You; Sammy Fain, music/Irving Kahal, lyric