Jim, your performance of Days of Wine and Roses on youtube inspired me to change my other mind and play that, instead of Blue Velvet at a solo gig I did last Saturday night. I practiced the former for about 30 hours--over the five days following that mind-change--and off in a remote corner of the building about three times shortly before I stepped onto the stage. I held the mic comfortably in my relaxed grip--port-side--and was just about to begin. . . when the MC stepped up to my stool, took the mic from my hand, and mounted it in a holder about a half-foot above my mouth. The Key of F remained at the lower elevation, and when I finally began to play (with only a small measure of success) it was like, well, it was like we used to say out in eastern Oregon: "That ruly blew my dress up." Chalk it up to humble pie. I felt absolutely criminal, although the roughly 200-person audience gave me gracious, albeit sympathetic, applause.
All that being said, I thank you profusely for your command performance of that gorgeous song on youtube; Mancine (and Mercer) would be proud, indeed.
Sincerely,
peterpaul
