July 2010

Last month I saw the Los Angeles Opera perform Wagner's Ring Cycle. It was fantastic and over the course of 4 different evenings I took in the entire epic fourteen and a half hour opera. (Yes, it's that long!) I was way up in the last balcony and against a wall and peering through a handrail - but I was there! The music and the staging were amazing. I also really enjoyed the pre-performance lectures given by James Conlan, who would talk about the production for an hour and then dash downstairs to conduct the orchestra for the next five or six hours. It was obvious that Conlan is very passionate about the music, and I find that very inspiring.

Also this month I had the opportunity to attend an book signing and lecture by Leiber & Stoller. They are a wonderful songwriting team and even if you aren't familiar with their names, I'm sure you're familiar with their songs which include "Kansas City", Hound Dog", "Jailhouse Rock","Yakety, Yak", "Charlie Brown", "Stand By Me", "On Broadway", and so many more. They have been writing songs together for the past 60 years, and it was great hearing them kid each other and reminisce together. Again I had the chance to hear two guys talk about their passion for music and again I couldn't help but be inspired.

It may not have been grand opera, but this past month I performed with John Reynolds at the Hollywood Fringe Festival. This was the first year for the festival which they hope will become an annual event. The concept is good: a dozen or so small theaters in Hollywood open up for people with independent projects to perform in. It's almost like an indy film festival but for live performers.

Since it was everyone's first time trying this, we were all feeling our way through it, but in the end I think we had a pretty good show. I'll include a short video here that was taken at our final performance by one of our friends in the audience to give you an idea of what we did. I had a good time and I hope we'll be able to try it again in the future!

John Reynolds and the Hollywood Hotshots at the Hollywood Fringe Festival.

This month I'll performing again with Vaud and the Villains on Friday July 2nd! Seriously, you have to try and see this band sometime. It's more then just a band it's a real show. If you can't catch us this month we'll have two more dates in August. I'll remind you.

The second week in July I head up to the Bay Area for a couple jobs. Wednesday July 7th, I'll play with Clint Baker's New Orleans Jazz Band at the Wednesday Night Lindy Hop. Then I'll play at Cafe Borrone on Friday of that same week. Check my calendar for details!

At the end of the month I'll be at the Evergreen Jazz Festival with both The International Sextet and The Feetwarmers. For more info visit: http://www.evergreenjazz.org/. This festival will be a little bittersweet because Hal is moving to San Antonio this month to play drums in the Jim Cullum Jazz Band. We're really going to miss having Hal on the West Coast, and as many of you know, over the years I've played with Hal in a lot of bands. - Everything from trad to swing to rockabilly! But I'm happy that Hal is moving on to bigger and better things and we'll still get to play together at some really good festivals this year and next year too!

This month I'm also adding two new CDs to my discography page with Hal on them! I'll update them with music clips soon so you can hear a little sample. I'll let you know when I have future dates with Hal and if you want to keep track of my favorite drummer as he sets off on this new adventure, you can visit his website at: http://www.halsmithmusic.com/

Thanks for stopping by!

- Katie

Playing with Hal Smith at the Sacramento Jazz Festival.