Not only did I agree without hesitation, I suggested to her that we'd be really charged to do Black Friday, November 23, 2012. That's usually a hard one to book, and the consensus was that they'd probably blow off that Friday. I thought it was a great opportunity, so I let Nancy know that we'd do all we could to make this otherwise unlikely afternoon a success.
So far, I've secured the services of sax players Kurt Stockdale and me (waiting on Paul Contos and a special guest on baritone), the brass is Stan Sorokin, John Hemsley and Dave Gregoric, Jon Dryden on piano, guitarist and former Santa Cruz resident Steve Hayes, Chris Charmin on bass, and Olaf on drums. This will be a very hot band, at least the equal of the bad that played back in August in Bocci's.
And then I thought about Stella.I have a couple female vocal charts I did with Marilyn Rucker back in Austin, and several more we didn't get to back there. So I sounded her and she responded with no small enthusiasm. We'll be harnessing her energies. I've been talking to her, and I need to talk to her some more, about the classy girl singers I've worked with in the past (and in their twilights), notably Helen Forrest. Stella is a student of her craft, a hard-working singer who has disciplined practicing techniques. I look forward to working with her.
So far, I designed the flyer, put an event up on Facebook, and we've got more than a month to go before the Happy Hour. I designed the flyer around the concept of Black Friday, as in, "What are you going to do? Shop at the mall?" Adding one of Stella's flirty head shots was a natural.
So, come on down to Bocci's on November 23 for the New Flamingo Swing Orchestra, with Stella D'Oro on vocals. Your $5 cover goes 100% to the musicians.
