Working with faculty is a blessing and a curse. We in concert production often have a lot of complaints about the disregard of our department's procedures. No set up information, late paper work, starting late, ending late. Usually the worst offenders are faculty members. At the heart of it I think we feel that they take us, and the performance spaces for granted which students never do. But, Berklee faculty is faculty for a reason... they're really good at what they do. I think perhaps for this show I underestimated the size and difficulty of it, I wrongly assumed it would be a night of jazz, simple ensembles that wouldn't need much from me. What I got instead was a large and varied mixture of big bands and small duos, acoustic folk bands to musical theatre. I was not prepared mentally and am grateful that everyone seemed understanding of my uncharacteristically flustered demeanor. After what seemed like a endless sound check of striking mics, adding mics, adjusting stage set ups, trying to make everyone comfortable and happy, and oh yeah trying to make it sound good, I actually had time during the show to relax and listen to the music. Usually these hectic shows keep me agitated throughout the performance. This time I could listen and enjoy. I was pleasantly surprised by the variety, cleverness, and fun in the music. Typically Berklee faculty take themselves far to seriously.
This year's concert was a collaboration between the voice department and the harmony department. So I had a little something to latch my attention onto. (Sometimes when listening to instrumental music it's hard for me to focus.) The concert started with an interesting re arrangement of "Over the Rainbow" and then Progressed to the strange but ultimately funny "visiting my aunties" by Darrell Katz, and the cute and witty songs by Lucy... "Don't Let the Fun Begin" and "Go Away". Which would have been very funny had they been better performed, as it was they were merely sad. I feel Lucy is a better composer than she is a performer. Her witty lyrics were lost and the subtle irony of the clichéd stylings of the song was over shadowed by a performance that lacked conviction. The highlights of the evening were "Red Blues" performed by Donna Mc Elroy and George Russell. Also composed by Darrell Katz this was a beautiful ballad that was just strange enough to make it interesting and was performed beautifully by Donna. I'm a big Donna fan though and it appeared most of the crowd was also. The other highlight for me was "Screw Cap Vino", because how can you not like a song where the hook is "Guess I'll play a round of Keno and drink my screw cap vino". We also got a taste of Michael Wartofsky's new musical "The River is Me", which I look forward to hearing concert in March.
Each piece was performed with a fun carefree-ness that I can only assume comes from years of doing what you love. That is the blessing of working with faculty. Yes they can be intimidating at times, you know "I've been doing this for twenty years, I know what I'm talking about" I get a lot of that, and I can respect that but it sometimes makes the job a little stressful. But watching and hearing them play is a pleasure. I wonder if they get the same feeling of disbelief that I do, the disbelief that they actually do this for a living and are constantly in an environment of talent and creativity. Or is the awe greater for those of us on the side, who only get to bear witness.
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