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Do you have a special seat reserved for me?
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the gentleman asked.
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Why don’t you check with Mr. Eastwood there?
”
“Do you have a special seat reserved for me?” the gentleman asked. “Why don’t you check with Mr. Eastwood there?” the man at the door answered. As I looked in the direction he was indicating, I was surprised to see that Clint Eastwood and I had decided to attend the same event that night: a concert with jazz legend Marian McPartland – wow! At 84, she is still touring as one of the best jazz pianists you can see live. Two shows sold out, and Clint was there with his dazzling wife Dina Ruiz at the cozy and intimate Kuumbwa Jazz Center in Santa Cruz. They are taller than you expect; in heels, Dina seems almost as tall as Clint – and he’s six foot four. You cannot miss them in a crowd, even a theater packed with people. I actually had to brush up against Clint in order to get by him to go down the aisle to my seat. Ahhh . . . a brush with fame . . . having to practically push Clint Eastwood out of the way . . .
It’s no wonder that he was there to pay tribute to jazz legend and elegant host of “Piano Jazz” on National Public Radio, one of the longest running weekly programs on NPR, airing since 1978. This is a wonderful program where Marian interviews a wide variety of jazz musicians, and plays duets with them. It’s an hour show, and a good opportunity to get an idea of that particular artist’s style, sound, personality and background. With her signature lyricism and grace, and an ever-widening range of innovation, Marian is able to swing with real power, displaying much taste, humor and knowledge of jazz history.
A former entertainer for World War II troops, Marian was an early jazz pioneer who formed her own jazz trio and record label. She is versatile as both composer and pianist, and her songs have been recorded by Tony Bennett and Peggy Lee. She spun her spell Monday night with such songs as “Windows,” “Little Girl Blue,” and her own magical “Twilight World.” After playing the haunting “Willow Weep for Me,” Marian looked up and said, “That song comes to you courtesy of the Arthritis Foundation; it’s hell but what can you do? Just keep moving.” And she does as she tirelessly tours the continent to bring music education to the country’s public schools. It’s no wonder Clint came out to pay tribute to the woman who’s been the reigning queen of jazz piano for 60 years.
Apple pie, pumpkin pie, cherry, blueberry, and olallieberry pie . . . Albundigas (meatball) soup, chicken soup, French onion, beef burgundy, ham bean, split pea, and clam chowder with French bread . . . baskets of mandarin oranges, persimmons, pineapple guavas, and homemade gingerbread . . . Hungry yet? I sure was as I browsed the Christmas Bazaar on Church and Fourth the Saturday before Thanksgiving, a Gilroy tradition. For the 66th year in a row, the Methodist women held their annual sale of homemade crafts and foods. This may have been more than the 66th continuous year, but no one can remember it back any further than 1936. Gilroy teacher and community volunteer, Barbara Gailey, and her husband Hugh, did a fantastic job of organizing and directing the Bazaar. As usual, the oldest church member, LaRhee Nichols (100 years of age) crocheted lap blankets for the Bazaar. They all sold as fast as fresh Krispy Kreme Doughnuts. Sophie Chase, a 38-year resident of Gilroy who passed away Nov. 14, made beautiful quilts, and one of her meticulously hand-stitched quilt tops was on display at the Bazaar. Over forty years ago, Sophie was in a near-fatal car accident which took one leg and left her in a wheelchair, but she continued to be a vital member of our Gilroy community, an artist who stitched hundreds of doll outfits by hand and painted beautiful scenes on porcelain. The Methodist women’s group decided to donate Sophie’s final quilt top to her grandson, rather than profiting from it themselves.
This year’s Bazaar also featured wonderful birdhouses handcrafted by Richard Freitas which sold for an incredible $5 each. May we dare hope that he will make them again next year (and offer them at a similar price)? Clay Riley was a special treat at this year’s Bazaar, the 14-year-old violinist who entertained the lunch crowd as they dined in the fireside room. He plays his grandmother’s violin, which he restored with money from his own pocket. Café Hostess was Wheeler Manor’s Virginia Bendel, who entertained those waiting in line by playing a musical Gingerbread doll. Local youth like Nina Guizar made Christmas ornaments, festive baskets, warm slippers and holiday decorations to donate to the Bazaar, including a painted window made by artist Charles Kirchner, a local high school student who recycles old windows into creative art pieces by painting an image backwards on the inside glass; the window frame then becomes the frame for the painting. That’s what I love about Gilroy: We are close enough to attend events where we can run into Clint Eastwood while enjoying a great night out with a jazz legend, yet we live in a community still close-knit enough to carry on the tradition of a 66-year-old Bazaar which brings together the combined talents and interests of so many diverse people.
