Life of Wry

Five saxes, five trumpets, four trombones, and a six person rhythm section combined to  b-l-a-s-t, with great flare and musicianship, ten surprisingly distinct arrangements by Tito Puente last night.  It was rousing and very attention-getting. Explosively rousing!  I–who struggles a little to understand and enjoy band music–could hardly hold still.  I tracked our place in the program because I wanted to remember the names of the songs, not because I was counting songs until the end, which is what I kinda do at band concerts. The music was deeply beatful. Beatful, yes. Should be a word.

Fun, too, was seeing Peter (in the row in front of me, and many seats to the left–calculatedly far away and among his friends), so engaged.  He appeared utterly fascinated by his band teacher who was playing trumpet–fascinated and twitchy in that way kids are when they see their teachers being actual real people in the world.  He also looked to be transfixed by the moves and sounds of the phenomenal bari sax player.   He even, even, turned to catch my eye a few times with a look of “can you believe this!” and “that’s MY instrument!”   

I was gratified beyond words to hear the band leader talk of Tito Puente so admiringly and smartly, and describe his music as joyful and complex, sure that Peter was being drugged for a lifetime with this appreciation for latin jazz.

It was all just very cool.

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NOTES:

– That’s Clyde Quick, Holmes’ band teacher, on trumpet, top row, left most.                            – This is the Sacramento Jazz Orchestra, and the concert was at Sac State’s music hall.