Jul 04 2009
Performances–New Category
Why is this important for my starting-over community? Performing is a huge step for me. It requires a huge leap of faith, and it also forces me to deal with a lot of issues, some physical and many emotional. I remember the first time I performed, that is, this time around. It was at the Tzora Folk Club, and my hands were shaking so frantically that I didn’t even need to strum my guitar–I just placed my fingers over the strings and the frantic shaking took care of the rest. Percussion was provided by my knees.
I performed a song titled, A New Life, and I literally felt I was performing naked in front of about 100 strangers. I don’t know if it would have been easier to perform a song I didn’t write, but I had been asked to perform this one and, truly, I wanted to.
Yes, I do want to perform, almost more than anything. And I’m determined to overcome any anxiety I might have about it. I’ll post here about my performances because I want my readers to understand that doing almost anything new is frightening, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do it. If it’s something you want, something that will bring you happiness and fulfillment, you should go for it. The anxiety will fade with experience, and the people who love you will support you in every way because they want you to be happy and healthy. After all, what is life about anyway?
So please stay tuned, and check out my performance category from time to time. I’ll give you stage-fright updates too–the most recent is that I’m really starting to enjoy it a LOT more, my hands are shaking a LOT less, and it really is one of the big loves of my life. 
Last Tuesday the Gospel Jazz group of Rimon Music School soared through Edwin Hawkins’ OH HAPPY DAY and it was such a happy performance with Joanna smack-dab in the middle of these amazing singers and musicians. The group’s leader, Ofer Portugali occasionally conducted from off stage and you could see a well tempered musical instrument creating such fantastic soulful music. I’m sure there was even coaching about how to move because in some songs the singers moved with a typical gospel church choir side-step that added some great physical tension into the music. There were so many great songs like Aretha’s NATURAL WOMAN and songs by Stevie Wonder and superb originals by Ofer. I was hoping for Sunday morning style church gospel that I miss so much (yeah - living in the holyland) and was happily surprised to learn about a style that was kinda new for me - Gospel Jazz. Nice fusion of pop, jazz and gospel. Hey can’t go wrong with those great ingredients. There was Joanna naturally fitting in right in the mix, looking radiant and lovely, adding her beautiful voice and spirit. What a joy! Oh happy day indeed.
Your set was beautiful. Art is about sharing, and not only about technical prowess. It’s about the way you see things, and the way you do things. When you get on stage and let us see the rough edges, the throw away comments, the slips and graceful recoveries, that’s art, too. Lest I be misunderstood: the technical prowess is coming along very, very nicely.