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My Journal / May 2008
31st Annual Atlanta Jazz Festival |
The 2008 Atlanta Jazz Festival, an annual musical showcase, celebrated jazz legends and up-and-coming jazz greats in venues throughout metro Atlanta during the month of May and culminated in a 3-day music festival on Memorial Day Weekend.
My good friend, great drummer Bernard Linnette invited me to join his group for this exciting event. I first met Bernard through another wonderful friend, Atlanta based pianist, Takana Miyamoto during a tour in Tokyo. We had good vibes from then on and indeed Bernard put extra efforts to make this collaboration happen.
This year's jazz festival spotlighted on the depth of Atlanta's jazz community, I was so inspired and honored to be part of it. It was held in a new location at Woodruff Park, just a couple of blocks in downtown Atlanta. Though much smaller than Piedmont Park, the festival had a good turnout of around 15,000 people that Saturday afternoon, May 24.
I enjoyed every minute I was there. We were interviewed, photographed, autographed, even the local policeman in his funny looking two-wheeled motor machine, stopped by and said, "good luck! I hear good things about you and looking forward to the show".
The minute I opened my mouth to sing, the audience looked at me with delight and amazement : ) and that carried me, floating like a breeze throughout the show. The band and I gave them our best and had so much fun! I received a never ending wonderful applause and the people backstage came up to me with beautiful and unique praises. I felt on top of the world!
Even the ladies raved about my outfit, I was wearing a dress that had an alternative design of a kimono, they all wanted to know where I bought it! So you can imagine how we were bathed in glory and to all of it I just felt simply grateful for my moment.
We also had a club gig that night at Churchill Grounds. It was packed on both different sets. I was expecting they must have been at the festival but apparently it was a different crowd, the place was filled to capacity! we welcomed that too, of course, did our thing and they all loved it!
One guy came up to me and said "I have one word for you - WOW!"
I had too much music in one day : ) but I was in perfect bliss!
Two nights later was Jazz Appreciation Monday at STAR Jazz and Blues. I was featured singer with Bernard's group. Here I met and performed together with Atlanta's leading jazz vocalists. We all had a wonderful time together and I felt like a part of a big family.
I thank Atlanta for giving me such a warm welcome.
Charito
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 | | with Bernard Linnette |
 | | Takana at Churchill Grounds Jazz Club |
 | | Showtime! |
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 | | gig at Churchill Grounds |
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