Friends of Jazz celebrate wonderful women: thoughts and photos

Mosaic Woman and I spent Friday and Saturday night in Harrisburg, PA digging the fact that women play jazz...

The Expected Joy: Helen Sung was beautiful in every which way and when she played three straight Monk tunes... I was blessed.

The Most Pleasant Surprise: After the Diva Jazz Orchestra finished a tune, it was announced that Sharel Cassity had just played a sax solo. In January I bought her 2009 CD. She was the only musician I made an effort to say, "you are wonderful."

The Exuberant: Anat Cohen did nothing but make the Hot club of Detroit even hotter. And then she was still exuberant when the festival was over and she rode the elevator with us to the same floor.

The New: I had never heard of Tia Fuller, but now I have and would gladly listen to her play again.

The One Who Sang Ella: I was so hopeful to hear the great America songbook to end the festival. And Patti Austin delivered.

and the Future... The young women in the youth orchestra:

quilt shows in Pennsylvania

8 days ago we decide it was best not to go on an adventure, there was a tropical storm overhead. The next day at church, I was asked if we had gone to the quilt show. It seemed like it wouldn't be seen, but her question made me wonder how late it was open. Home from church, I asked Mosaic Woman if she was up for a whirlwind trip to our state capital. Two hours and some minutes later we were at an international display of quilts.

My passion goes back to visits to my grandma who quilted. I own three of her creations. Ask Mosaic Woman why she makes so many mosaics in quilt patterns, and it may go to the day the third one came into our life. The first she ever owned, a gift to both of us. Mamie sensed the time had come to make one more quilt for all of us, and that is how a beautiful blue log cabin quilt arrived.

What quilters can do amazes me. Check these out:









need to see more and the names of the quilters... HERE

At the time it didn't seem like a blessing when the batteries went dead, but after all the posting at FLICKR, I am glad I didn't have more to tag and name.

So, you say, "Give me some of those great quilts of the late 1800's." Well, they didn't let me take my camera out, but if you are close to SE PA go over to Ursinus College in Collegeville to see their EXHIBIT. It just opened today and to escape sweltering in our house, we went on a shorter adventure to check it out.

before and after the jazz

I leap into the conversation..."Do you know the traditional place to plant hollyhocks?"

Left work on Friday and headed to our state capital where the Central PA Friends of Jazz were having their annual festival. They chose good folk and there were plenty of moments where I just sat back, closed my eyes and let the music flow through my brain. It was at those moments that I missed Mosaic Woman, who did not go with me.

Friday before the big show, I headed down to eat some tapas at Suba above Mangia Qui. It was early and I had the place to myself. Twice I left my quiet introverted self behind. Once to ask if the neighborhood was still threatened to be demolished for a new courthouse. It seems another is now threatened.

The two waitresses had a moment of free time and started talking about gardening. My ears perked up and then they began talking hollyhocks.

They don't know the answer to my question so I say, "Next to outhouses." So what are the odds the one waitress has an old outhouse on her property. She has just bought a hoop house and has dreams to start a community supported organic farm. I tell her my job, and in the quiet restaurant we all have a chat about our love of plants as I finish my wine.

Sunday morning, the jazz over, but too little sleep and more coffee and alcohol than normal has me wanting to linger in bed. I need to push myself out the door of my hotel room and walk towards the river. The Holy Eucharist is to be had a few blocks away. The early service at St. Stevens features no music, but I want to head towards home, so I walk in to where I will be greeted warmly. The sermon focuses on education Sunday and addresses the adults. "What have you done in the last year to strengthen your foundation?"

He loses me as I try to think thoughts requiring memory. OK, those who have been with me for this blog... I did eventually remember what I said I missed so much in my last post. The spiritual exercises of Ignatius have strengthened my foundation. I knew this, but it took a moment in a strange church to pause and be grateful. I look up and smile as the man who asked the question makes eye contact.

After the Eucharist I raise my hand to show the world that I am a visitor and announce that jazz has brought me to town. Next thing I know a bag is handed to me with info and cookies.

as for the jazz, I did buy one CD from a very tall German who played harmonica and vibes and is in love with the samba music from Brazil...

what do all these things have in common?

yes, even the VW Rabbit was made in my home state. This is one exhibit we checked out before listening to Cyrus..... The museum shop is a combo of cheap stuff for students on field trips and handcrafted items from the local community college and members of the PA Guild of Craftsmen. Mosaic woman is juried into a local group of the latter so she queried and the pesron from the shop approved of the mosaics, thus Mosaic woman's wares will soon be on sale at the PA State Museum. I am proud of her.