off to the races!

Those would be the races to gnab desired postings, of course.

"Postings for what? I didn't think you followed racing of any type."

Oh, I don't, ya got that right. I was speaking of the volunteer job postings for the 31st Savannah Music Festival.

"Wow, is it that time already? I thought that didn't begin until late March."

That's true! However, they opened the site today, at 5 PM, for us to sign up for the events we wanted.

"That was just... less than an hour ago! Did you get your top picks?"

I did! After the debacle of 2018, I've made sure to have a list at hand, with priority values for those musicians I most wanted to see and hear.

"So, what was so bad about 2018?"

Well, I was still teaching when they opened the "races", so I didn't log in until the next day. By then, there were pretty slim pickings. I had the lowest number of volunteer hours I'd ever had that year. That was the time I worked the Artist Hospitality Monitor for the first time. That was for Jason Isbell and his group before their concert at the Civic Center.

"I remember now. You only had about six or seven shows that year."

Actually, the magic number was eight, and I enjoyed every one of them! Pat Martino, Derek Gripper, the cinema marvel Manual Cinema's "Lula del Ray", dancing to the Swing Central Jazz Finale: Stomping The Blues, American Brass Quintet, a bit of international fun with Mike Block and Sandeep Das, last-minute switch Sam Reider and the Human Hands, Goodbye Girls, and a hot Brazilian number named Jovino Santos Neto.

"Plenty of toe-tappin' going on there, for sure! Plus a good bit of bands you'd never heard of, to broaden your music knowledge."

True, true. Since I'm not married to a radio man anymore, I have to take care of that myself. And I think I've been doing an excellent job of it, too!

"Yes, you have! Last year, you managed to see an incredible EIGHTEEN shows!"

Yes, I did! That's because of careful planning on my part, especially to snag the seven shows I most wanted. That planning paid off handsomely! By April 13th, I was at my final gig and the last of my top picks - what a blast!

"What were the other shows at the top of your list?"

Well, there was the Swing Central Jazz Finale, naturally. I especially wanted that as the theme was "Romance, Swing, and The Blues" - three favorite genres!

"But of course they are, you hopeful romantic, you!"

That's right! Then there was the dance ensemble with a recipe to combat insomnia - that was great hilarity! Plus, I finally got to dance to The Punch Brothers, after years of missing out. No wonder my nephew Stephen calls them his favorite!

"Well, about time you got to hear them!"

Truly, they had been the first on my list last year. Yep! I also had a cabaret show which was pretty good, with lots of Johnny Mercer tunes to 'sing' along with - quite right! I ushered for the Talking Heads show, per Angelique Kidjo's version, which I'd really wanted. It was nic and lively, but a bit preachy, so I most enjoyed being with Kristin and Amanda afterward!

"Well, alrighty then! Wait a second... that only makes six. What was your seventh pick?"

That had been Santiago Ballerini, a tenor who trained here. I actually had to let that one go, as Miyah only turned two once. LOL!

"Understood. Christina would have been quite disappointed had you not gone, you being her "favorite aunt" and all. LOL!"

Most definitely!

"So, any other shows of note last year?"

Well, I did enjoy the North Carolina photos that had been turned into a film - that was a nice step back in time. And, earlier that same day, I'd absolutely been taken away by the Mongolian horde and their thundering horses!

"You speak of "Kannapolis" and Anda Union, of course. Both were superb!"

The two big-name concerts I did were good, but in very different ways. Ricky Skaggs showed himself to be a national treasure, whereas Pat Metheny seemed fairly aloof. Both had excellent music, but such different approaches to being in front of an audience!

"Yes, I recall. I also recall two shows that turned out to be true favorites for you."

Oh, my, yes! The two Robbies! What an absolute hoot and a half they were! I would go to another of their shows in a heartbeat! And The Pine Leaf Boys - another unexpected delight! I was there for the Courtney Granger at noon30 and he showed up with his whole band! Woohoo!

"Those noon30 concerts offer so many surprises, don't they?"

They most certainly do, that's why I've snagged every open one I found this year. So, that'll introduce me to Hawktail, Martin Hayes with Jeremy Kittel and Roger Tallroth, Rob Ickes & Trey Henley, Amythyst Kiah, Andre Mehmari, Christian Sands, and Foghorn Stringband. I love their name! It reminds me of that rooster in the cartoons! I'll also be seeing Väsen again! I had so enjoyed these Swedes when I first saw them in 2016!

"Then there's one more you got, with Mike Marshall, pairing off with Caterina Lichttenberg this time. Remember that 2016 show with the Brazilian? So, this new one holds promise!"

It certainly does.

"Okay, enough already about years past. What were your top choices this time around? "

I again had seven "must haves" this time, and, amazingly, I again got all of them! My top desire was the Chamber I: Tales of the Unexpected, featuring the works of Edgar Allen Poe... and it is to be at the Kehoe Iron Works! That's a new venue for me, as well as a first time to hear classical music behind that science fiction writer's words! I am soooo excited!

"And you just can't hide it, eh? Settle down now, child! Try to be patient, okay?"

I will try, but it's going to be hard! Fortunately, that's during the first week of 31SMF.

"Yes, good. Let me see if I can guess two more of your choices. The Swing Central Jazz Finale and... the Stringband Spectacular for the Acoustic Music Seminar."

You are correct! Those were my third and seventh top pics, by the way.

"SO what else rounded out your list?"

Georgia native Leo Kottke, country and songwriting legend Rodney Crowell, and jazz pianist Kenny Barron, joined by bassist Dave Holland and drummer Johnathan Blake.

"Hey, I can still count. That only makes six."

Say what? Oh, you're right. I had not included BalletCollective: Translation! How about that - a dance show! Yes, definitively had that on the list, at spot five.

"Good for you! Sounds like you have a very lively spring planned!"

I certainly do, and that's just with the music festival. There are also plays and the Georgia Elvis Festival and who knows what all!

"Who knows!"

Who, indeed. Now, if you'll pardon me, I need to get some dinner before I bop downtown! PFS has an oldie martial arts flick, with a noir-ish Japanese hitman played by Jo Shishido. He's "Branded To Kill", don't ya know!

"LOL! No, I didn't know, but it sounds fun. later, chica!"

later, g'friend!
(smile!)