This crew pulled something off in television that was straight up out of the Golden Age. The Original Jazz Cabbage ‘s second gig was me showing them songs I wrote AFTER our rehearsal the night before, on the set of Band in Seattle ‘s 4th Christmas Special.
I showed them the changes and I walk on with them playing the tune behind my fellow hosts in segments, as I dropped in singing with my acoustic guitar in character.
Now the thing is, there NO amplification. Only Daniel Oliver has an amp because the baby grand is out of tune so I thankfully kept my mixer and JBL in the car from the night before and on a hunch told Daniel to bring his keyboard…because you never know.
Miriel McFarland is behind her stripped down kit snug against the piano with choices of brushes, sticks, and these cool boom sticks that are sort of in between.
I joke on set before I go on that I am older than both of them combined which is probably accurate, though we haven’t counted the days.
They have all this pressure on them and they bring the volume subtly up and down as I’m mic’d up like I would be in a talk show with a tiny invincible mic clipped to my lapel, but really this is 1920s radio with Jazz, Hillbilly, Blues type folks all singing into one mic, mixing by listening to each other to make sure we sound right and don’t step on each other.
There’s nothing like the feeling of showing a song to TV director you wrote on the way to a shoot, having him say, “that’s the one”, showing it to your new Jazz band of kiddos and a minute later filming the performance on television as Marquetta Miller harmonizes.
I knew my little young bloods would rise to the occasion. I’m ready for this looking fresh at 40, but what would I have done at 19 or 20?
It takes all kinds, young and old to in between, every kind of person when you’re looking for quality and talent and the spark that builds a team.
Conrad Denke brings wisdom and infrastructure as a show runner and Studio Boss that we simply can’t bring to the table.
Jazz Cabbage didn’t come to that table empty handed. Marquetta introduced the band on TV in the most clever old television way.
…and I hope to sing on some Jazz Cabbage gigs with Marquetta in 2020. Because like Mrs Miller making her own star turn on this Special, that my friends…
…is the plan. And if I love to be a man with a plan….that is ready to listen to great ideas. Because when I put a team together there is a lot of talent in that room. And love.
Also the Holidays don’t start till Thanksgiving. This is Television.
Tune in to KING 5 this December.
– Musician and writer Davin Michael Stedman has many ventures, such as the AMAZING blog, 100milesofmusic.com. Davin’s recent song has become a global earworm and Caribbean dancehall hit. Listen here on Reggaeville: DAVIN MICHAEL STEDMAN & ANTHONY RED ROSE – FREE YOUR MIND FEAT. SLY & ROBBIE WITH LENKY MARSDEN. The video is now available on Youtube: Tuff Gong Television. His single with British band Sherlock Soul is available here.
