THINKING OF MUSIC

I was listening to NPR and they were highlighting a new Jazz musician who combines Jazz, Brazilian and several other influences. I am sad to say that I don't remember her name. But I do remember the conversation. She was talking about the way it feels to be in a room filled with talented people, all breathing and listening to one another.

I remember that feeling. Riding on a cloud that lifted me off the stage and into another place, I was in a Heaven that included artists who humbled me with their talent and thrilled me with their gifts. I still can't believe they included me in their circle. To make it even more amazing, they loved me and they were my friends.

I was thinking, especially, about one amazing time when we were in Cincinnati and it was the holidays. All three boats were docked together. I got a bug in my mind about 11 am and asked my friend, a genius bass player named Ed Wise what he thought. He thought it was a fabulous idea.

I made certain that the grand saloon on the Mississippi Queen was free and it was. We started gathering musicians - knocking on doors and awaking layabouts who usually sleep until 2pm. They all said "YES...LET'S DO IT."

What we did was a Christmas present to us. We decided to all get together in the grand saloon and have a jam session. If the passengers wanted to show up and listen, fine, but there were no requests and it was for us. I was the MC and I made it clear to the audience that they were watching all the musicians from the three boats exchanging their Christmas gifts.

Everyone who usually played an instrument but wanted to sing had a chance to do so. I watched musicians who rarely got to sing raise their hands like little kids: "I got one" Called the Key and the Song and we went for it. When there was a lull these incredibly talented musicians would holler "Call it, Patti!" And I called the song.

We switched off drummers, did double bass, had doubles on horns. Three piano players traded off and I got to sing a bunch.

We must have played for an hour and a half before we had to quit to get on with the actual schedule of the boats. By the time we finished, it was standing room only, including a lot of Delta Queen brass.

My buddy Mikey poked me and said "You did a good thing." I said, "I know." My heart was so full of joy, and everyone left the stage as though they were walking on air.

Some of those wonderful musicians are gone now. Brian Ogilve...Vic (who will live in infamy as the man who named the lounge on the American Queen "Carpet World")...gone too soon. All of the others live far from me and we talk now and then or do the Christmas card thing. Most of them still play and I'm so envious.

Soon after that wonderful day, the brass tried to implement a planned jam session as a part of the lounge performances. Yeah...planned jam session. It was awful. How could it be anything but? It wasn't for us, it was for them. It failed miserably. No big surprise.

How do you pretend to have a Christmas party with and for all your friends? How do you pretend to look at everyone around you and realize that you are riding on a river of love and music and joy? You can't fake that.

Oh, how I miss the music. Oh, how I miss them all. But, oh, how lucky I am to have been there.

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