Not only this, our dear friends Cathy (with a "C") and Bruce drove all the way from Syracuse, IN to come and hear us. They sit in the front corner near the window enjoying dinner and drinks with our manager. Thanks, guys, for your willingness to make the drive and spend your night with us. You are dear, dear friends, indeed.
Tim and Brenda, from Elkhart, faithful supporters of our band, also greet me when I arrive. What a great surprise! I usually do not know when they'll show up, but it's ALWAYS a happy surprise when they just "pop" in at our gigs unannounced! They reserve a table right in front of the stage. It's their first time hearing Demos & Kimberly, too. Man, are they in for a treat. They aren't disappointed, either! Kimberly's vocals pack a sassy punch that's really captivating. Not only does Kimberly demonstrate that rare quality of being a true musician/vocalist, but she is also entertaining to listen to. I see it in Tim and Brenda's eyes. I scan the audience and see it among them, too. they are gripped by her stage presence, not to mention Demos' herculean piano playing. It was wonderful to see Tim & Brenda enjoying themselves so much and telling me how much they dug the music. You see, I respect Tim's feedback because he has an extensive background as a musician. he knows music, and he knows music when it's played well. Thanks, Tim and Brenda for your faithful support and for choosing to spend your evening with us!
There are just some gigs a musician gets to play where you think to yourself, "Man, can it get much better than this?!" I mean, when the music is swinging and the audience is loving it, it's hard to beat. If you are a musician, you know what I'm talking about. Tonight was one such night. But just when you think the evening can't be beat, I'm proven wrong....
It'
s our final set of the evening. We're in the middle of a tune, and I look up to see our dear friend Tom Vaitsas stroll in. Why is this such a surprise? Because Tom lives in Chicago, and as a full-time working pianist, he's always busy playing somewhere in Chicago. But, here he is, at Trio's in South Bend---WHAT IN THE WORLD???!! Tonight, Tom had a gig just across the street at the Marriott and heard that we were also performing close by. Tom is simply one of those rare individuals who is easy to love. We simply love him and relish any opportunity to play with him, too. Not surprisingly, Demos and Kimberly love Tom, too. As soon as the song was finished, Kimberly insists on Tom sitting in at the piano (much to his embarrassment). He told me later that he really wasn't dressed for the occasion. But who noticed?! Though I don't recall the name of the ballad, he did a gorgeous job of backing Kimberly (David and I get to along for the ride). At the conclusion of the song, the room went wild---and rightfully so! After a couple more tunes, we finish our last set and enjoy visiting with Tom and his drummer friend who accompanied him on his gig. Talk about an incredibly wonderful surprise! Like I said, working with our musician friends from Chicago is always an exhilarating experience---no exceptions! Thanks, Tom, for stopping by and visiting with us. It's always a joy to see you!Before I sign off, I'd like to offer a special thanks to Herb Wilson and Mike (owners) for treating us so wonderful. It's a pleasure to play at your beautiful establishment. Don't forget to make your calendar for Saturday, July 26, when David and I are scheduled to play again at Trio's with two very special friend, Eric Clancy (piano) and Rich Cohen (also sax). Start time is 9:00pm. It's been years since I've seen Rich and I look forward to the reunion! Should prove to be a dynamic night of great jazz. So, bring your friends and your appetite and plan to spend the evening with us. We look forward to seeing you on Saturday, July 26th!!
Tom
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