Well, my performance with the local Brueggeman-Gauge Jazz Group this past week went well.  It was such an odd feeling to be looking forward to it, rehearsing, and preparing for so long, and then it was just a moment in time that was quickly over.  I had about a dozen family and friends that came out to hear me sing and show their support.  They all said that I did a fantastic job.  The thing is that I was so nervous that I felt disconnected from myself, the band, and the people that came out to listen.  It felt surreal.  I’ve had plenty of opportunities to perform before. I’ve sung in front of over a thousand people before.  That was so long ago, that it feels like another lifetime. Currently, I sing to over a hundred people on a regular basis with our Eagles tribute band, and 25-30 people regularly come out to hear me perform with my little Jazz duo.

Somehow, the Jazz night performance with the Ladies of Jazz Series felt like a whole different ball game for me. There were three other ladies that performed that night.  We each did a mini-set of four to five songs.  There was no rehearsal.  The week before, the band leader spoke to each of us over the phone to go over song keys, tempos and progressions.  Then we simply showed up and performed our set for the first time with the band.  It was nerve-wracking and fun at the same time.  It was quite an evening, and people seemed to really enjoy it. Maybe I’ll get the opportunity to do it again someday.  

For now, I'll just have to enjoy the memory of performing "Sunny Side of the Street", "It Don't Mean A Thing", "I've Got the World on a String", and "On A Clear Day" with a full Jazz group on one cold and windy Tuesday evening in a little brewery in Springfield, Missouri back in March of 2023.

My husband, a couple of friends and I are heading out to Fort Worth early in the morning.  We'll be visiting some friends who play in a band called Left Arm Tan.  The genre is Americana and they call it "Texas Driving Music" - the kind where roll down the window, stick your left arm out on the sill, sit back and drive along to some laid back tunes.  Thus the name of their band.  I've always found it very clever.  Unfortunately, they are disbanding as some of their members want to quit touring and focus on family.  I get it, and I think it is wonderful for their families.  I'll just miss hearing their fun music.  We're driving down to spend the weekend with them and hear their final performance.  

I imagine we'll put on some Texas Driving Music as we cruise on down.