My Favorite Things

Today I felt something I haven't since shortly after I moved here-- cold! Thankfully, albeit a rainy one, we were delivered a nice, refreshingly cool day. I actually wore something with long sleeves when I went out tonight.

Tonight was great. Nothing earth-shattering amazing, just another day cementing the feeling in my soul the fact I'm really supposed to be here right now.

I went and saw Tierney Sutton, playing around the corner from my apartment. There were a couple of friends initially interested in going, but dropped at one point or another, so I went on my own-- something I actually prefer at times.

Now, I should preface for people who don't know me in certain situations, I am not typically social when I don't know anyone. I'm a lurker and downright shy. You'll find me hanging in the corner, probably nose in a book, waiting for whatever to start, or for my food in a restaurant, etc. Even in social situations where I'm perfectly comfortable, I'm also just not much of a "networker". Enter Jazzbird in New York-- where there are lots of other people who, like me, have no fear going out alone. Tonight another nugget of advice was given to me with the addendum of "and you'll meet tons of people". My usual inner-monologue response to that is a sardonic, "Aaah, you don't know me and my stealth, hiding ways!", but I'm starting to believe it since I seem to be meeting people in just about every jazz venue I visit (and then some). Tonight was no exception.

I walked in, requesting a table for one. Behind me was another solo patron, so we were seated together at the same table (jazz clubs here are like comedy clubs everywhere-- tables are like tight-fitting cattle in a small pen). He was very friendly and we started chatting. He looked familiar, but also thought he could just have "one of those faces" (whatever that really means). Turns out he's one of the big hitter jazz pianists in the City.

It didn't take me long to figure out just who he was and why I knew him. It's not like I was sitting with some big superstar or anything (although his Oscar noms might say otherwise), but of all the people in that club with whom I could have been seated, it was such a perfect happy accident. We chatted away before the first set and between sets before he left and as we finished our dinners (he wasn't staying for the second). Having now also looked up his bio, he's beyond modest. I already knew I'd heard some of his recordings (and even own some), but had no idea just how much of his work I was familiar with. But I can be terrible with names and we were only on a first name basis anyway, so the name alone probably wouldn't have done anything for my memory.

I love that jazz is one of the worlds in which I'm seen as young (and sometimes green- but that's relative) as I often feel. I can talk to someone like this who's been around several blocks and just get pockets full of stories and advice. He gave me several helpful tips, but also just sat and treated me like any other colleague, without pretension. I was fascinated and delighted to sit and jabber away with someone so interesting. I think I gained points by knowing the name of another singer's piano player that he brought up in conversation-- admittedly one of very few trio members whose names I ever even remember.

I'm now armed with a new jam session on my radar, and I have plans to see him play later in the week. Just yet another musical foot in the local musical door. And a new friend and ally.

Outside of good company, it was also an excellent show. I really like Tierney. Not necessarily for her voice, although she has a fine instrument, but what she does with it. I fully respect her as a musician. She's also just so nice and unassuming, letting her music speak for her. She can take a tune, flip it completely upside down, and about 99% of the time come up with something cool and interesting. I also absolutely adore her trio, if nothing else, for the fact that they're all really interesting to watch. But they have such a wonderful collaborative spirit and are truly a cohesive unit, having been together for about 15 years now. As she joked, they can only play New York now because in LA (where they're from) they've lasted more than most marriages and people get jealous about that, lol.

So, I'm home somewhat early for having been such a pleasant night, but it was pleasant none the less. And I'm home. Really, truly home. It was very sweet last night when a (native NYer) friend said (in response to a conversation about "being a New Yorker"), "You're more a New Yorker than some natives I know-- it just took you a while to get here". Yep. I think she's right.