Ella

I must confess that when I first heard The Laguna Playhouse was going to present "Ella," the life and times of Ella Fitzgerald, I wasn't very interested in seeing someone impersonating my favorite jazz singer. However, after I read a few reviews that raved about Tina Fabrique's voice and the terrific band performing with her, I hurried to see it on the very last day. I am so happy I did. I can't remember when I enjoyed a performance more. Tina is fabulous; it was a joy to listen to her sing nearly two-dozen songs associated with the great Ella. What a talent! A great actress as well with quite a resume.

When Tina finally left the stage after many standing ovations, the band played on, and many of us stayed until the very last note was hit. George Caldwell conducted and played piano; Rodney Harper on drums; Clifton Kellem on bass, and Thad Wilson on trumpet. They were outstanding! Harold Dixon did a good job of playing Ella's manager, Norman Granz.

Congratulations go to Andrew Barnicle, the Artistic Director, of The Laguna Playhouse for presenting this great program. I first met Andy when he came to the playhouse by taking an acting class he offered. I hadn't been pursuing acting that long after leaving a career in marketing. I learned a lot from him. This show was conceived by Rob Ruggiero (who directs) and Dyke Garrison. Musical Supervision and arrangements are by Danny Holgate.

Andy has continued to bring exciting productions to the playhouse, many being world premieres here. If you haven't ventured to Laguna Beach lately, why not make plans to spend a lovely day at this quaint beach city. I love walking in the shops and having lunch or dinner around their shows. I think I'll plan to come see the first show in this year's subscription series for my birthday in July, My Way: A Musical Tribute to Frank Sinatra. If it's half as good as Ella, it will be a winner.

Disneyland Glass Shop

The newspaper had an interesting story last week on the Arribas Brothers Shop on Main Street in Disneyland. The Spanish family set up shop at the theme park decades ago, and one family member is still there, Manuel Arribas. He is the fourth generation of his family to practice the ancient art of glass cutting, and he's been doing it at Disneyland for almost 42 years. His brothers operate the Arribas Brothers Shop at Disney World In Orlando, FL. This is where they both work their magic on fine crystal running against a copper wheel. Walt Disney brought them to Disneyland after seeing their work at the 1964 World's Fair.

It reminded me that I have had a beautiful piece of their work on a shelf above the bar in our family room for quite a few years now. When I worked for Pacific Telephone, before it became Pacific Bell and now called SBC Global, I was asked to be a volunteer in the Public Relations Department, speaking to community and business groups in the Southern California area.

One of our gifts at the end of the year was a beautifully engraved Mickey Mouse glass with my name on it, presented to us at the private club within Disneyland, where we were served an elegant lunch. It was a memorable event.

Last year, I met some of my telecom friends downtown Disney to visit Cafe du Monde. Since most of us had been to New Orleans before, we wanted to once again sample the beignets, those wonderful powdered donuts, which even if you buy the packaged mix will probably be unable to duplicate their goodness. I don't see it listed in the shops there anymore, but you can check it out on the internet.

I'd like to visit the Arribas Brothers Shop on Main Street soon to see what other gems they have. You can also visit and order online.

Multi-Talented Singer & Songwriter

Check out Mark Winkler's website and watch his new video, Sissies, a tribute to Truman Capote. I really loved it! A trip down memory lane with all the celebrity photographs.

"Do something that nobody else has done. Dazzle the world!"

Music, Music, Music

I'm organizing my charts (sheet music) today...don't know how things got so out of control. However, I feel compelled to write about music, in general, and the impact it has on our lives.

I can't imagine a life without music. I hear people say all the time how certain songs tranport them back to a time in their lives where it was nice to reminisce. When I sang, "Yesterday," at one of my cabarets at The Gardenia, one of my friends said he could remember driving to this girl's house for their first date when he heard that song on the radio. I thought, "How nice." I hadn't really had any song impact me that way until one day.

We were bbq'ing on the weekend, just the two of us...watching a PBS station playing songs from my teenage years. I was so enjoying singing along to these wonderful songs when I felt this overwhelming sensation that caused me to run up the stairs and into the bedroom. I started sobbing uncontrollably. What???!! I've always prided myself on my ability to control my emotions. Then it hit me..."Oh, I get it. This is the time my mom, brother, and father were all alive and well at home. My family was all there. " Just about the time you think you've dealt with the losses all these years, the feeling comes back. I guess there's more healing to be done.
Maybe that experience served the purpose.

Well, it doesn't have to make one sad to be transported. I think I'll take a break and listen to some new artists.
Make some new memories.

Forgiveness

Sometimes it's one of the hardest things to do, isn't it? Yet, I believe,
"Forgiveness is a gift you give yourself."

On a Clear Day

Did you ever find yourself disoriented while driving? It happened to me the other day. I'm sure my mind was on auto pilot when I suddenly wondered where I was on a route I've taken many times. You see, the landscape looked entirely different. Oh, look at those beautiful snow-capped mountains. And the tall buildings in the background. That's when you realize what a lovely day it is in Southern California. There's nothing like it after a storm has passed through. Breathe in the fresh air.

On a clear day is when you realize how many smoggy days we must have living in this wonderful place.
We get used to it, but isn't it refreshing when the weather is wonderful. I never really noticed smog that much until I started flying in a small plane. When you descend into it, you can see it and smell it, and it ain't pretty. However, I must tell you that this really isn't the worst in the country. Several years ago while flying across this great nation at around 7,000 feet, we were appalled to see the smog in St. Louis, for example. I believe the LA basin has actually improved over the years with the anti-smog technology for automobiles and other environmental factors.

Get outdoors and enjoy it while we can. I hear another storm may be headed our way, but that only means more scenery on the other side.

A yellow daffadil just popped out in our front yard. Spring is here! That reminds me of a great song.
My friend and fellow vocalist, Denise, just gave me a tiny frame with musical notes and a rose that says, "Love is the music in the heart of every flower." I like that. We went to a jazz brunch at Spazio's in Sherman Oaks today to hear The Flying Pisanos, Jeanne and John. They were fabulous.