Tuesday, August 7, 2012

St. Maarten...

I thought I would have a quiet week, just me and the dogs…  Then Russ called and said that Ms. Roberta Flack would like me to call her that evening...  The next thing you know, I am flying around the house packing, making lists, checking the stove, driving off to airport, learning songs, rushing through NYC traffic to rehearsal, packing again, flying off to St. Maarten, trying to stuff more songs into my head, FREAKING OUT like a groupie over Maxi Priest, taking video on my hotel balcony at 5:37AM, hopping back on a plane, packing again, back in the car and finally collapsing right back where I was a week ago… Maybe I can sit still for a while THIS week (probably not - LOL). 



People have told me that I am “so lucky” when they see this video of my hotel balcony view.  I am indeed very Blessed, but not in exactly the way they probably think.  Although the Island was beautiful and it was definitely a privilege to be there and to see it, I was not on vacation in St. Maarten (at least not the way most people think of vacation).


View from my hotel balcony

When other people (there on vacation) were enjoying the sun and relaxing, I was worrying myself to death about remembering my harmony parts.  I trotted through a sea of tanned sunbathers, who were playing BINGO and drinking fruity cocktails by the pool bar, in a mad dash to eat quickly and gather my electronics from the room in time for the bus that would take us to soundcheck.  While tourists cooled themselves in the ocean, we baked in the hot sun checking microphones and running through songs on stage – and finally, while most of the Island slept, I jumped in the pool at 3:30AM, because it was the only time that I could, and took pictures off the balcony at 5:30AM.  Some band members never slept at all.  But you wouldn't hear any of us complain - this is what we do, and we all LOVE it.


Soundcheck

Soundcheck

Soundcheck

While my schedule and activities might have been different than what most people think of doing when they go to a Caribbean Island for the weekend, I had an absolute BLAST just the same.  The lucky (or Blessed, rather) part for me is that I LOVE working on music and being part of the band of musicians.  Oftentimes, we work while others are “playing” (although it’s funny how we say that we are “playing” music).  We are incredibly fortunate in that we are able to work at something we truly enjoy. 


Dinner with some band and crew members before the show...

At dinner... I was still reviewing my parts on headphones

St. Maarten is beautiful.  It was rainy and windy when we first arrived (Friday) – Tropical Storm Ernesto was responsible for cancelled flights and we worried for a little while if some band members flying from Barbados and NYC would make it.  They did, and the weather cleared up nicely for the day of the show (Saturday). 

From the bus window en route to soundcheck

I was so excited about singing behind Maxi Priest!  (For those of you who don’t know, my first professional music experiences were when I joined a reggae band in Buffalo, NY.  We used to cover some Maxi Priest songs and I felt like I journeyed back to my musical roots when I heard those familiar rhythms and melodies.)  Although I was there as a singer with Ms. Roberta Flack’s band, she once recorded a very successful duet with Maxi Priest and they would be singing it in this show.  Maxi performed with his own band as well as for the duet with us.  I danced around on the side of the stage during his set – AND OH!  I forgot to tell you… I knew Maxi’s guitar player!  I sang in a band in Brooklyn when I first moved to New York and J.J. was a part of that band.  I hadn’t seen him in years and it was so nice to see him and reminisce.

Russell Graham, me, J.J. Sansaverino


Our set followed Maxi’s.  Ms. Roberta Flack is one classy lady.  I’m quite sure I would like to be her when I grow up.  It is an absolute privilege and honor to be a part of her band and performance.  She has a love and passion for music that shines through in everything she does and it just makes you smile.  She performed some of her classics as well as some from her new album of Beatles material that recently came out.  Her band consists of INCREDIBLE musicians who are also beautiful people and it's just a pleasure to be a part of her family of musicians – and staff and crew.

Click here to preview "Let It Be Roberta" - in iTunes

It was a late show – our set started after midnight and we didn’t end until sometime close to 2AM.  I got a picture with Maxi Priest! J.J. (guitar player) introduced me.  Maxi was so nice – and didn’t mind our taking pictures at all.

Me and Maxi Priest!

Russell Graham, Maxi Priest

After we got back to the hotel, I knew it was my only chance to get into the pool.  So despite the fact that I had to be in the lobby and ready to go back to the airport at 9:45AM, and it was already 3:30AM, I changed, went back downstairs, eased into the cooler, night water and swam up to the pool bar (then closed).  The sun was just coming up when I finally got all packed up and went to bed.  The last pictures I took were of the moon still high in the sky as the whole horizon was illuminated by the sun.

Can you believe this is the MOON!?

Easier to tell here...

After we arrived back in NYC and were saying our goodbyes, Ms. Flack told us to go on and write some songs now… vocalize, music music music… there’s no time to waste…

OK Ms. Flack.  Thank you.
Xoxo!

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