Fantastic Day at Willamette Valley Jazz Sociey!

KJ and I had a great time performing with Puddin’ River Jazz Band at the Willamette Valley Jazz Society’s monthly Jazz Party today.  The audience had fun dancing, and was very receptive and appreciative of the different songs that the band presented today.  There will be pictures of this event in the WVJS’s upcoming newsletter, but for now, here is KJ and I on a break in between sets:

KJ and Athena at Willamette Valley Jazz Society Jazz Party, October 9, 2011

We got to sing some fun songs–I was featured on I’ve Got A Feeling I’m Falling and Stormy Weather, while KJ sang 42nd Street and Let’s Misbehave, among others.  We had a great time–got to talk to some friends who were in the audience, and we appreciate them coming and supporting the band.  More gigs to come in the days ahead–can’t wait!

We’re Performing With Puddin’ River Jazz Band In Salem This Sunday, October 9th–Come Join Us!

Here is the scoop on our gig on Sunday, October 9, 2011:

Who:        KJ and Athena McElrath with Puddin’ River Jazz Band
What:       Performance at the Willamette Valley Jazz Society
Where:      Salem Eagles
                2771 Pence Loop SE
                Salem, OR  97302
                Venue Phone:  (503) 363-4637
 
                Map here.

 
When:        Sunday, Oct. 9, 2011, 1-5 pm 
Cost:         Free to first time guests.

Puddin’ River Jazz Band will play Dixieland/Traditional Jazz music.  First-time guests are admitted free of charge – come listen or dance and enjoy this old-time jazz – it’s upbeat and a lot of fun.  You do not have to be an Eagle to attend this event.  Food and drinks will also be available.  Although this is not strictly a cabaret show, you will hear several songs that often make an appearance in cabaret performances.

We’d love to see some friendly and familiar faces there, so come on down this Sunday!

Just “Shakin’ The Blues Away”

Here’s some video from the Portland Dixieland Jazz Society’s Mardi Gras Party from February.  A great tune called “Shakin’ The Blues Away” written by Irving Berlin in 1927 and made very popular at the time by the “Sweetheart of Columbia Records,” Ruth Etting.  I, Athena McElrath, on vocals, KJ McElrath at the piano, Steve Boden on guitar, Wayne Travillion on trombone, Ron Hayes on trumpet, Barry Benson on saxaphone, Larry Burnet on bass and Jack Dawes on drums comprise the Puddin’ River Jazz Band.  Enjoy!

A Great Mardi Gras Party!

Just wanted to let you know that KJ and I had a great time performing with Puddin’ River Jazz Band at the Portland Dixieland Jazz Society Mardi Gras Party yesterday!  A high-energy afternoon of fun tunes, great dancers that stayed on the floor for all three of our sets, and an outstandingly good time.  We appreciate those who came out from Vancouver to see us perform–thank you!  It was nice to see some familiar faces out in the crowd. 

If you could not make it to the party, here is a little taste of what we did.  This is a live recording taken yesterday of the popular swing tune, “You Turned The Tables On Me.”  I am doing the vocal, KJ is at the piano, and we have the wonderful Puddin’ River Jazz Band providing the rest of the instrumentation.  Barry Benson on clarinet and sax, Ron Hayes, band leader on trumpet, Wayne Travillion on trombone, Steve Boden on guitars, Larry Burnett on bass and Jack Dawes on drums.  Please visit our “Hear Us Perform” page for the audio!

KJ and Athena With Puddin’ River In The Press

This is from the February 2011 Portland Dixieland Jazz Society newsletter:

For more information about this event, please check out this earlier post.  We hope to see you there!  Leave a comment letting us know if you are coming.

Come Have Fun At The Mardi Gras Party!

KJ and I want to invite everyone to join us in the festivities at the Portland Dixieland Jazz Society’s Mardi Gras Party. We will be performing with Puddin’ River Jazz Band, and we would love to see you all there for the fun!

Here are the details:

Who: KJ and Athena McElrath with the Puddin’ River Jazz Band

What: Portland Dixieland Jazz Society Mardi Gras Party

Where: The Milwaukie Elks Lodge, 13121 SE McLoughlin Blvd., Milwaukie, OR 97222

When: Sunday, February 20, 2011, 1-4:30pm

Cost: $10 for Portland Dixieland Jazz Society members, $15 for non-members. Food and drinks available for purchase.  You do not have to be an Elk in order to attend–all are welcome.

Why: Because there will be great music, dancing, drinks, food and a fun time to get you in the Mardi Gras mood!

The music will include an audience-favorite blend of Dixieland Jazz, Swing, and even some early Rock and Roll. This is not strictly a cabaret-style gig, but there will be plenty of songs that you would hear in a cabaret setting, such as “Anything Goes,” “Stormy Weather,” and “You Turned The Tables On Me,” to name but a few great tunes I’ll sing that day with a seven-piece band backing me up. If you have Dixieland-style (1920’s or so) clothing/costumes, beads, umbrellas, etc.,  feel free to dress for the occasion!

Here is a link to our Upcoming Performances page.

Leave us a note in the Comments below if you can make it!

Yet More Auditions, Thinking About Mabel And Working In The Theatre

More auditions coming up, so we’ve been singing up a storm to get ready.  In the meantime, a couple of weeks ago we had a fun gig playing and singing with a traditional jazz band with whom KJ plays regularly and with whom I will resume performing, the Puddin’ River Jazz Band from Portland.  It is always great to have the opportunity to get up and perform a song in front of an audience, and with a seven-piece jazz band to back me up, I am quite happy to oblige.

I received an online invitation to attend the Cabaret Convention in NYC earlier this month, but I wrote back and let the sender of the invite know I could not attend.  He wrote me back, and turns out it was Donald Smith, Mabel Mercer’s manager of twenty-some years!  He also was kind enough to send me another biography of the great Mabel, entitled Midnight At Mabel’s by Margaret Cheney, which he says is a more accurate representation of Mabel than Haskins’ biography.  I have started reading this, and hope to make a post about some of the topics covered soon.

I have also been enjoying the free online video programs put on by the American Theatre Wing, which offers the Tony Awards.  The show is called Working In The Theatre, and it offers interviews with some of the top performers, writers, directors, producers and designers on Broadway today.  It is quite encouraging to hear the performers talk about what they do to get ready to perform a part.  I was particularly struck by the musical theatre performers–someone said that getting ready to do a show is a lot like being in training for an athletic event, and I would have to say that I agree.  I exercise constantly, watch what I eat so healthy choices are being made, drink Throat Coat teas and if I am singing I pretty much eliminate alcohol from my diet, because it dries out my vocal chords and makes my throat sore.  That is not my favorite, because I love a glass of wine with dinner, but it makes a big difference in my vocal performance if I forgo that during the rehearsal and performance periods, so I do it.

Feel free to leave a comment–are there special steps that you take to get ready to perform?  Have you had some great gigs lately?  We’d love to hear from you.