Music, Music, Music

What a week I've had, indulging my love for music!  Sunday I started off at the Burlingame Hyatt, listening to Margie Baker who I did the blog about recently.  I had sent her a copy of it since this delightful retired school teacher doesn't even use a computer ( she is over seventy ) - she has one, she says, but it is still in its box!.  She had called and left me an endearing phone message, thanking me profusely for what I had written.  She said it made her feel like crying, it touched her so deeply.  Margie was terrific, as always, and Shota Osabe, was on the piano - my dear friend, along with a great bass player and a drummer I hadn't seen before who was outstanding. 

Monday night, I went to Zingari, the intimate jazz lounge at the Hotel Donatello, that is part of Zingari Restaurant, one of my favorite places to see performers - small, with just a few tables and a bar off to the side.  Shota told me Sunday that he would be playing for Kathy Holly,  who I know, so that's all I needed.  My friend, Silvia, went with me.  I was so delighted to find a handicapped parking place right down the street, which I always consider a good omen!

Kathy Holly is a native San Franciscan whose love of show business begin at the venerable age of six when she had the lead in a school play.  From then on, she began doing plays for her own family, elisting her young relatives as the actors and, of course, Kathy was the director!

Kathy is multi-talented.  She can sing, dance and act.  She sings in eight different languages and has performed all over the world.  Her venues have included hotels, cruise ships, clubs and restaurants.  That's what I love so much about her shows - she acts out her songs and they are all wonderful!  I was telling her how much "Scotch and Soda" impacted me the other night
when Anne O'Brien did it.  Kathy sang it for me and it was easier to hear this time.  Of course, I had been playing it on my computer all weekend!

The lovely Kathy Holly at Zingari Jazz Lounge at the Donatello Hotel, San Francisco

My favorite piano player of all time, Shota Osabe, with Kathy Holly

Getting close and making beautiful music

Kathy says every lady HAS to have a boa!

My beloved friend, Silvia Solorzano

Kathy Holly sings Anema e Core

Kathy Holly sings Danny Boy

Tuesday, Shota was playing for Amanda King at Zingari.  He's been telling me for the past two years that I should see her.  Well, all I can say is that I was completely blown away with this woman's unbelievable talent!  That I deprived myself of hearing her voice for the past two years is incredibly sad.  She is such a joy.  Amanda has songs that she absolutely will not sing -

some she calls "karaoke" and, when a patron requested, "Summertime," she said she would not do that ( though I bet she would be incredible singing it ).  She sings songs she likes though she does take requests.  Another patron asked for "New York, New York."  Amanda said, "Sorry, I don't do cabaret."  With a big smile, though, she offered to do her favorite song of the moment.  I forgot what it was but, oh, my goodness, was it fabulous!  I asked her if she did blues and she said she'll work on it.  Shota Osabe is her pianist and he's been working with her so I asked for some blues!

Toward the end of the evening, an Australian couple came in and joined us.  They were doing a month long trip of the U. S. and were staying at the hotel.  Another lady, a drug sales rep was also in the lounge.  She'd been to Zingari the year prior and saw Amanda.  When back at the same conference this year, she came to Zingari and was thrilled to find Amanda performing again.  She had requested a song for which Amanda didn't have the lyrics.  This young lady promptly pulled them up on her I-phone  ( modern technology ) and Amanda sang it.  After Amanda had announced her last number, the Aussies asked for "It's a Wonderful World" which, of course, Shota could play ( I wonder if there is anything this man doesn't know ) but, for which,

Amanda did not have the lyrics.  So Amanda sang it, with Mr. Australia, joining her, then we all began singing along.  It was really kind of moving and a very nice United Nations end to the evening!

The fabulous Amanda King

A magical voice!

Amanda, Mr. Australia and "It's a Wonderful World" - thanks to an IPhone!

Amanda King and Kim Nalley, Jazz at Pearl's, San Francisco

Amanda King at the Fillmore Jazz Festival 2008

Amanda King at Pearl's, Slap That Base, Shota Osabe on the Piano!

Since I constantly rave about Shota Osabe, whose piano is simply superb - he's actually the draw that got me to see many of the great singer's I've met in the San Francisco area, I've added a couple of links where you can hear him at work, performing with other artists.  He has a couple of great CDs of his own but I see no separate entire pieces on YouTube ( get to work on that, Shota-san! ).

 

Season - Jazz at Pearl's with Shota Osabe's great piano!

Amado Mio - Lydia Lau with Shota Osabe on piano!