I’m on the plane with the etype crew from Los Angeles to New York. Looking out the window as we cross the USA there is an ever-changing landscape to see below. We have passed snow-covered fields, the great lakes in the Mid West, cloud so thick I think it is laden with snow and right now a sprawling suburban city. I wish my knowledge of geography were better so I knew exactly what I was seeing.
Somewhat appropriately I’ve got an Australian film “4” playing on the in-flight entertainment system. This documentary contrasts four young violinists from four different countries as they play the Vivaldi’s Four Seasons concertos. Appropriate as I keep flipping from summer to winter weather. Three weeks ago I was in the brutal dry heat of the Adelaide summer, two weeks ago I was wearing short sleeve shirts in not-so-wintry Hong Kong. Back to Adelaide where I actually caught a couple of milder summer days and then to LA. The sun may be always shining in Los Angeles, but when the sun goes down at the end of the day it gets quite chilly in January. I’ll have forgotten all about that chill by the time we touch down in New York where I gather it’s been snowing for much of the past week. My balmy Hong Kong experience lulled me into a false sense of security with winter weather and I didn’t even think to pack my scarf and gloves which I know I’m going to regret greatly. I can forsee that being the first items to get on my NY shopping list.
I’m going to see Barb Jungr play tonight at New York’s Metropolitan Room. I know I blogged before about how much I’m looking forward to seeing Barb again. I’ve been thinking about how interesting it will be to see her perform with the pianist Charlie Giordano (I hope I’ve spelt that correctly!). I’ve had the chance to play quite a bit with Barb now, both at the Adelaide Cabaret Festival as well as accompanying her on the her first Australian Tour in September last year. It’ll be fascinating to watch her work with someone else and to get a sense of their musical relationship. Charlie has played with heavies such as Bruce Springsteen so I guess he comes from quite a different background to me which I imagine will give a different flavour to what he brings to Barb’s performance.
I’m a huge fan of Barb’s work – I love what she brings to a song, I love what she wrings from a song and I love how she never subtracts from the song’s integrity. It’s like the ideal relationship – the singer and song complementing each other, lending their strengths to each other and yet never demanding that the one bends to the other’s will. I think Barbra Streisand or Whitney Houston once said this Quincy Jones, but I think it applies in Barb’s case…Barb Jungr is a song’s best friend. Just as a relationship weathers a great deal of give and take, so does a rich and fully lived life. I know that the past few months have demanded a lot of Barb personally and so I’m glad I happen to be in NYC at a time when I can show her my support. As difficult as it may be to gather, I am sure that every bit of pain as well as every ounce of joy informs and enriches her already wonderful artistry. I’ve learnt so much from Barb and I’ll always be very grateful to have her as my dear friend.
Tags: etypejazz, Matthew Carey, Barb Jungr, Charlie Giordano, Metropolitan Room, Vivaldi, The Four Seasons, Bruce Springsteen, Barbra Streisand, Whitney Houston, Quincy Jones, music
