So you want to be in a band 15

Now for Something Completely Different

The BlueShadow Band is still playing nearly every weekend. We have been adding new songs to sets and as a band really gelling with very few issues. BlueShadow has gigs lined up to finish out the summer and get into the fall. Things have been going along smoothly. That’s always the way just before…
Joanie (our exceptional lead vocal) came to Blueshadow from a very successful stint as Patsy Cline in the play “Always, Patsy Cline”. This role has followed her ever since. So much so that we have added a few Patsy Cline charts to our sets. It is inevitable that we get P.C. request when she is recognized on the stand.
A few months ago Joanie and Jerry began kicking around the idea of a Patsy Cline show/review. This was proposed as a 2 hr show. As we had only 2 P.C. charts I didn’t think much about it. Of course I would be happy to play in any form of our band but at that point it seemed far away.
Now, let’s refer back to an early part of this blog. Jerry has only one speed…go hard! He and Joanie contacted an arranger put up the money and charts started to roll in. Next thing I know I was handed charts, a shirt (with rhinestones) and a ten gallon hat. Cowboy up! You’re in a country western band.
I started looking at the charts first of all the Bari sax will be replaced with a clarinet. The next change is the keys these charts are written in. Gone are the friendly keys of F, D, C typical Motown and Rock Roll saxophone fare. Now we have B, F#, and C#. Get a rope!
In 3 weeks the first of these shows will be at the Williamsburg Dinner Theater. A venue I have always wanted to play. The first site reading proved to be challenging. Other than Joanie none of us knew these tunes (unlike Motown). I had to research for melody lines and style. It was quickly decided that it will require two rehearsals a week.

I will tell you how it goes.