Tonight, my friend Karen Marguth performed at the Rogue Festival with "her band" Heavy Sugar Jazz Improv. Every year, she gathers together a group of amazing musicians--this year Kevin Hill on bass (sans dreadlocks), Gary Newmark on drum (singular), a guy from L.A. on saxophone (sorry I couldn't find your name on Karen's myspace page, dude), Jason Wanner from Sacramento on piano, and Dustin Peterson on guitar. Although they definitely have songs they're prepared to play, the group doesn't rehearse together--they basically play off each other . . . improv at its best. They're all talented musicians, so it totally works. Karen's vocals resonate with ease and self-assurance, and the guys tonight were confident enough to let each other shine. One of the things I love about Karen's performances is that she is so generous. She can step back and allow each of the performers to receive love from the audience. If I were a musician, I'd want to be in her band. And Karen's generosity is only exceeded by her talent as a singer. She's grown so much as a vocalist in the almost 10 years that I've known her--and she was good when I first heard her perform!
The highlight of the evening for me tonight was Karen and Jason's collaboration on the jazz standard "Lush Life." I've loved this song since Johnnie and I listened to it on the way back from one of our trips to Monterey last fall. It's a gorgeous, melancholy song. As she introduced the song, Karen noted that the composer was 18 when he wrote this song. Amazing! Karen's silky voice did it justice.
Romance is mush,
Stifling those who strive.
I'll live a lush life in some small dive...
And there I'll be, while I rot
With the rest of those whose lives are lonely, too..
Atmospheric music serves as the perfect background to such sad lyrics, reminding me of the ways that we each strive to feel that our lives are meaningful.
Tonight was one of those nights when I was really happy to live in Fresno. There really are interesting things to do in this town--and the Rogue Festival is definitely one of them. I wish I could go to Joe (Karen's son) and his band's performance Wednesday night (The Makeshift Champions at the Spectrum Gallery). I'm also in awe of my friend John Jordan who is producing the show this year (great article in the Undercurrent, John!). Fresno is defined by its talented and warm inhabitants . . . who explore and develop their talents with joy.
(I was hoping that one of my photographs would turn out. This is the best one, unfortunately.)
