Tary Tribute on Los Dias de los Muertos

[Pepi Plowman]

Gerry, et al.,

Here's the post mortem for those who couldn't make it.
Thank you, everyone who came, and most especially,
thanks to the volunteers like Mary Jane, Bob, and
Rafael Diaz (the first to arrive) who worked like
slaves to get the place ready for the party.

By the way, Miles not only performed all those jobs at
once, but he also set up and tuned the Star Classic
drum set.  There ain't no way I would have known how
to do that.  We stayed to break down til about 2 or so
in the morning.  He told me I would make a good
roadie, given my ability to fit all the drum parts
into the drum cases.  (I can tear down, at least.)

After our gospel renditions, Rich Harney played with
Alex Coke, then Martin Banks came onstage to jam with
them.  He didn't stay long, some problem with his
dentures falling out or something (and he didn't come
back later on, either, I'm sorry to say (what a
guy!)).  But Rich, the jazz piano monster, and Alex
sounded great together, anyhow.  

Early in the afternoon, there was a fine
extemporaneous pickin' session going on outside in the
back with all kinds of acoustic musicians playing. 
John Clay was great inside and out.

David Halley sang up a storm, but poor Stan Alexander
had to wait what seemed hours to go on, and so did
Mary Jane and Jim Barry.  I was happy that Stan got to
be backed up by Texas a la Moag--he sounded great.  I
love to hear old-timey music done right.  I was
especially glad that Maryann Price got up and sang
with them.

I was disappointed that Larry Williams (sax), Clarence
Pierce (guitar), and Donald Jennings (trumpet and
vocals) didn't show (all from the East Side Band and
the Texas Horns).  I think I had scheduled them too
late and it was raining.  Clarence said he was walking
with no ride and I said I would give him one and for
him to call me, but he never did.  I probably should
have called him and the rest, but I was running around
being hostess with the mostest, most of the time. 
Also, R.V. from the Victory Grill didn't show up, even
though he said he would come. The others who didn't
show were Chris Layton and Tommy Shannon.  Jerry
Lightfoot's aunt got sick and is staying with him; she
is registered in the Mayo Clinic close to where he
lives.  He had a plane ticket that would have gotten
him here on time, but not back home in time to take
care of her.  He was sorry he couldn't make it.

Sarah Brown blew me away with Papa Mali and the
Imperial Golden Crown Harmonizers.  It's electric
gospel dance music.  You either feel like getting down
and funky or you want to squeeze your baby.  Super
good.  I saw some folks dancing cheek-to-cheek in the
hall.

Like I said before, I was entranced by Christy and Dan
Foster, they sounded so pure and unpretentious.  I
thought the bass was way too loud in Texas a la Moag,
and was amused at Rod, who was as astounded as the
rest of us when the bass player asked to be turned up.
 Gee.   

Considering the venue was so small, I was happy to not
hear too much ear-bending music.  I must say the
acoustics were fantastic.  And I especially enjoyed
dancing with Madeleine, even though it practically
stopped my heart.

When I think about it, there weren't too many scratch
bands, except that the Nortons were out a drummer and
freaking at the last minute.  I told them not to
worry, my friend who was playing with me was coming
early, then who should arrive but the person I played
with 25 years ago, Pat Carpenter.  Apparently Will
Indian, guitar picker for the Nortons, and I had the
same idea--I had been meaning to call him but had been
so frazzled I hadn't got around to it--Will e-mailed
him and he came on down to the gig (sans drumsticks,
but Eve Monsees had a tattooed pair in her car), so he
saved the day for the Nortons.

The West Side Horns came without Sauce on the B-3 and
Ernie Garabay to sing, but Spot Barnett, Al Gomez, and
Rocky Morales were all there.  Speedy Sparks played
bass for them, and I think my friend Pat Carpenter
played drums again.  Eve Monsees played with them,
which I thought was strange--I thought she was going
to play with the Nortons and John X. Reed was going to
play with the Horns.  Anyhow, it all worked out.  I
missed their set because Benny Rowe and my cohorts
were practicing in the back room, so correct me if I'm
wrong on any of this.  Not that it did us much good. 
Getting together to learn songs at the last minute
like that.  Somehow on the last song we started in A
and ended up in E.  (that was the funk song that Tary
recorded on Milagros) Brother, was I screeching by the
end of that song! I was embarrassed for Dr. Polk, too,
because I couldn't hear the piano (and apparently no
one could hear me, either), and every time I'd try to
give him a lead one of our deaf group would take it
cause they didn't hear me, I guess.  (Our deaf group
consisting of me, Benny, Ed Vizard, Charlie P., and
Carl Ryals on drums and David Jarrott on bass (who
usually plays viola with 3 symphonies in the area, but
can play the kind of bass I like).  Anyhow, we were
rushing more than we needed to, I think, behind
schedule or not.  We should have taken the time to
test out the monitors.  Charlie played a good blues
lead, and on the piano song I expected James Polk to
take a lead on, Benny comes in, with his eyes closed. 
Oh, well, can't read minds if you can't hear or see, I
guess.  Dr. Polk did get a good lead in on Tell It
Like It Is.

The jazz group was super duper, as I said (and Gerry,
you'll have to ask Miles what songs they played,
'cause he knew every one of them).  Really tickled my
fancy, big time, it's been so long since I've heard
straight ahead jazz like that.  Slim Richey was
playing super hot, and Meaux Jeaux on the bass was
hopping--you know those jazz runs, Gerry, with the bom
bom bom bom bom bom bom bom bom bom--wow! Ed Vizard
sounded fancy and free and I must say, I was blown
away by Floyd Domino on the piano, not to mention
Bobby Natanson with his fancy flourishes on the drums.
 Everyone was SO GOOD.

James Wagner and Orange Jefferson did a thing similar
to the one they did at the memorial service, without
all the extra talent. Orange didn't get home to take a
nap like he should have--he had to get up at 4:30 a.m.
after playing at 10--I hope he managed okay.  Clifford
came down and emceed for a bit--he invited Orange to
come on Blue Mondays to sing at Antone's, which is a
great feather in Orange's cap.  

The last blues sets were cool, too, with Gary Clark
Jr. (you'll have to try to see him when you're next
here, Gerry), a young black dude from Austin
(graduated from Austin High, I think).  He's getting
so much acclaim I think his head is swelling a little.
 It was interesting to see the contrasting styles of
everyone from Jake (more rock oriented in the Stevie
Ray style) through Carolyn Wunderland (more
passionate, good guitar, great singing) to Gary Clark
(more danceable, if old fashioned, but dynamite). 
Frosty Smith (what a great guy! what a wonderful
attitude!) started out with Derek O'Brien and Sarah
Brown, but Gary Clarke's highschool buddy took over
the drums midway.  I'm sorry that Erin Jaimes didn't
get there in time to replace Sarah on the bass.  She
arrived halfway into the last song, having played a
benefit at KPFT in Houston, racing to get back in
time.  By then all the audience was gone (I think it
was 1:30 or so, and so they quit playing).  Sarah had
really gone beyond the call of duty, given she played
in the afternoon and then came and played in the
evening at 11.  Derek O'Brien also came from his sick
bed to play--I was totally aware of how much that must
have taken of his energy, and I was totally
appreciative as well.

I know I've skipped a pile of folks--fill in the gaps
if you want.

What really made me feel alive were the pervasive good
vibes coming from everyone! I felt like musicians were
there to see other musicians they hadn't seen in a
long time, not to mention the people who weren't
musicians seeing folks they thought had disappeared.  

And I especially loved the Day of the Dead table; I
could have stood there all day writing names down on
pieces of paper of friends of mine.  As it was, it was
beautiful to look at.  And the Karen Ferguson skeleton
cake, I don't know if anyone saw it before it got
eaten all up, was gorgeous!

Thanks, one and all, for coming out!

Pepi

P.S.  And there should be pics of some kind,
eventually, good gawd, everyone and his uncle/aunt
were videotaping it!

P.P.S.  Sad to say, we didn't make expenses, and I'm
out about a thousand bucks.  A combination of fucked
up phone company (SWB--it's like we live in Africa or
something, trying to get a phone put in anymore) (if I
hadn't been using my cell phone I could have saved
lots) (I did have the minutes changed on it, as soon
as I found out how much I'd racked up in four days'
time)


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