You didn’t really think I’m not going to write anything about the concert, did you?...
I returned last night from a week in NYC that was mostly offline (to the very shock of yours truly and her friends…), wrapping up an amazing, memorable and long birthday celebration.
Courtesy of my jet lag and finding myself wide awake at 4 AM, I thought I might as well sit down, flip through the reports and write my long awaited one.
In the spirit of Thanks Giving, although I am not American, I’ll use the opportunity to pay some thank you dues (and pardon me if this post is going to turn out long):
• I am so grateful to have been able to make the trip from Israel to SJ. I couldn’t have asked for a better birthday present (and people can call me crazy till my next birthday..)
• First and foremost thanks goes to the one and only MaryB, thanks to whom I was able to nail a front row center ticket. I wouldn’t have been able to have the experience I had without you, and I’m so grateful.
• Thanks Jarkko for all the amazing work you’re doing, it was great to finally meet you.
• Thanks Maarten for the beautiful nametags you made.
• Thanks to all the forum members I got to meet in person for the first time, for giving me such warm welcome.
• Thanks to the pre and post concert meet-ups organizers.
• Thanks Leslie for the glow lights – they reminded me so much of Tel Aviv, where we had them glow the entire concert.
• Thanks to the ‘Magnificent Four’ who skillfully and secretly orchestrated operation: “blouse tossing” – thanks to you, this concert won its unforgettable moment.
• Big thanks to my teammates of the flying polka dots squad – you rocked!!! Leonard’s smile at the sight of the flying shirts was priceless and just as adorable was his loosing his place in the song (at first I thought all that blouse tossing made me forget the lyrics..)
• Thanks Arlene for your beautiful presentation. Yes, I chocked on watching that photo where I look like a complete “mishugene”, but what the heck, I did go wild during ‘closing time’
(I finally got to dance, we Israelis are warm blooded, dancing lovers, we need our fix during concerts…)
• Thanks Albert for your exquisite vids and to all the other photographers for the great tracks that keep this concert a living memory. I don’t think I can ever watch ‘Closing Time’ and the blouse tossing or ‘I Tried to Leave You’ too many times. Watching Dino crack up when Leonard lost his place in the song is priceless.
This was only my 2nd concert (though if you count YouTube, then I’ve been to more than a few..)
Sitting on the 1st row, watching the talents outburst in front of my very own eyes was breathtaking. Their body language, completely in sync with the music, it was more than listening to the music and watching them in action, I could feel them playing from the bottom of their hearts, giving life to each and every note, word, phrase. The way they communicate with one another, the way the communicate with Leonard- it’s almost invisible, yet it’s so magnetically there.
‘I Tried to leave You’ was a display of pure talent and joy of all band members and I didn’t want it to end – I saw Dino preparing himself to sit on that monitor and was thinking to myself “what’s he up to?”, when he started his solo, the spotlight was still at his usual post and only when he knelt it found him down there – truly priceless.
• When you tell people that members of the band are coming out to the foyer before concerts to meet the fans they give that look of “seriously???” – it was great meeting Rafael Gayol, Roscoe Beck and Hattie Webb in the foyer of the HP. Thanks for being so nice and welcoming and for sharing your Tel Aviv concert feelings with me.
• Thanks Roscoe for letting me buy you a drink and the wonderful interesting conversation at that wee hour in the Fairmont's bar. Being able to learn about the personal side of a great artist whose talent you admire is a privilege. I would have a drink with you any day! And yes, definitely keep the hair short - looks fantastic!
• I guess I should be grateful for forgetting my scarf behind at the bar of the Fairmont. when I came looking for it the next morning, meeting Vlasta and Bill’s Bar at the lobby, I got to speak with the lovely Sharon and then a very short but precious & memorable moment with Leonard, a quick tour book signing and off he went on his way (no photos – he was in a hurry to leave and I wasn’t about to get in his way more than I did)
• btw, the scarf was found – the hotel staff actually neatly folded it, packed it and tagged it as if it was fragile glass, not a beloved wool garment- I couldn’t believe it.
I’m uploading a few photos and will upload more in the next days.
I don’t know when my next concert will be, I only know there will be a future one or future ones.
So till our paths cross again, have a fantastic Thanks Giving if you’re In the U.S, and if you’re not, be thankful anyway, life is beautiful.
Got 2 hours to (try and go back to) sleep, ciao.
--Sharon
EDIT: Saw LC's thank you note on the blouse tossing just now. some timing i've got...ha.. all I can say is that the man is in a league of his own. always will be.
- LC
- Roscoe "the kid" beck
- Dino Soldo glowing in the dark
. Thank you for that, Leonard 
.