Cookie Coogan at The Jazz Corner, Hilton Head, S.C. 11/9;11/10

[cookie]

For this rare appearance in the southeastern U.S., I will sing with the Bob Alberti trio for two nights of what I expect will be some really swingin' music. The shows start at 8 PM. Check the club's website for more info.

The Jazz Corner
The Village At Wexford, C-1
Hilton Head, SC 29928
843.842.8620

[Ron Thorne]

Good for you, young lady!

I wish that Patti and I could be there, especially since the 10th will be my __ birthday.

Break a leg or two, and have fun!

[bluenoter]

Woo-hoo!

Here's the club's website: http://www.thejazzcorner.com/
(The Jazz Corner--sounds familiar . . . )

[Tom Storer]

Knock 'em dead!

Now if only someone can film this on their cell phone and post it to Youtube...

[Gary Sisco]

Great, Cookie.

[rollhead]

Congrats!

Can I have your autograph?!?

[Valerie]

i am really thrilled for you, my dear, and like the rest of us wish i were going to be one of the in-person folks whooping and hollering!! enjoy!

[clinthopson]

Waydago Cooks!

I'll bet you get them rednecks all stirred up.

[hornplayer]

SuperDuper, Cookie! I just emailed some good friends who live down there. (copied you in for reference).

Break a Leg!

[cookie]

Thank you so much for your good wishes (and for sending out info to jazz fans in the area--much appreciated, H.P.!).

Bluenoter informed me that the banner running at the top of the club's website says they are closed for a private party November 10. It may be a typo, but I emailed the owner just to make sure. Will let you know if only the Friday is open to the public. I am listed on the schedule for both nights.

I'm looking forward to singing out-of-town. The owner of the Jazz Corner, Bob Mastellar, is a great guy who puts on a jazz weekend in his hometown of Waverly, NY each summer. My pianist Dave introduced me to him and we hit it off immediately on the bandstand (Bob also plays trumpet and vibes). Dave has played several times at Bob's club (and on the jazz cruises he organizes). He told me the place is lovely and the piano is a beautiful instrument. I've heard wonderful things about Bob Alberti who has a great reputation among singers as one of the best accompanists around. He's apparently one of those guys who knows a gazillion tunes AND their verses! Can't wait to rehearse with him 'cause I love guys like that!

Anyway, I feel honored that Bob is bringing me into his club. So many musicians that I admire have played there and I'm grateful that Bob books "unknowns" that he likes along with "known" players that he likes. It's nice to be given that opportunity.

Thanks again for your good wishes. I'm pretty psyched!

[jazzy mary]

Hilton Head is a beautiful place. I hope you have some time to explore the surroundings.

[patricia]

Go get 'em Cookie!!! Good for you.

[Dr Dave]

Oh, shit, I wish I could make it...I would LOVE to hear the Divine Miss C in person. You'll have to forgive me Cookie, it's 11 hours round trip by car...

[Ron Thorne]

Originally Posted by Dr Dave

Oh, shit, I wish I could make it...I would LOVE to hear the Divine Miss C in person. You'll have to forgive me Cookie, it's 11 hours round trip by car...

Me too, Dave!

How do you think I feel about a road trip?

[cookie]

If I hit the lottery on Saturday, I'll fly all of y'all there!

The word from Bob regarding 11/10 is that a large private community has reserved a block of the room that night. They had previously said they might fill it, but to Bob's knowledge, it isn't sold out yet. He did recommend that people come to the Friday show, but that he would make every effort to seat anyone who comes to see me on Saturday.

I'm so excited about this!

The word is that it's supposed to snow here in upstate NY the day I take off.

[Dennis Gonzalez]

Swing it baby! And congrats!

[cookie]

Thanks for your support everyone! Thought I'd report back that it was a most triumphant and swingin' time!! The band was top notch in every regard and the house was full both nights with most folks staying for the second set. I was asked for an encore both nights, and I'm glad I made people happy.

I can't say enough about the musicians. The opportunity to work with and *listen* to Bob Alberti was priceless to me. In addition to singing with one of the all-time great accompanists, it was great to hear his Hollywood stories, especially the ones about hanging out with the great classic arrangers/composers like Riddle, May, Mancini etc. He worked with many of the very best entertainers in the business. He gave me a copy of his memoir and it had me laughing out loud the whole way home. The bassist was Frank Duvall of Charleston, SC. Everything about his playing was great: time, tone, solos, walking lines. He would put those great runs in while walking. And the drummer, Arlen Strader (of Myrtle Beach) and I hit it off right away. His playing was just as swingin' and solid and tasty as can be. I worked up quite a sweat because I just couldn't stop "dancing" while singing and listening to them. Bob Mastellar added some nice trumpet on a few tunes, too.

What made me happiest was that the *band* applauded me at the end (and I for them--God I hope I get to play with those cats again!). We all had such a great time together on the stand. And the fact that we can pay the mortgage this month. That makes me pretty happy, too.

I also enjoyed the hospitality of Bob and Lois Mastellar. This club is beautiful in every way: the sound of the room, the piano, the ambiance, the art on the walls, the *excellent* gourmet food (I had roast duck in a blood orange sauce that was absolutely perfect), and the friendly attentive staff. They have commited themselves to jazz and have created a very vibrant upscale club where jazz is not just spoken, it's respected. They also support local jazz education and on the first night, two high-school musicians--a pianist and a drummer took the stand with Frank Duvall, and they were terrific.

I play good jobs here, but this was something really special. I took your good wishes with me in my heart. I even sang "Do Nothin' 'til You Hear From Me" because Gary was talking about it on the "Tunes you're lovin' on..." thread.

So thanks a million for the good vibes!!!!! (And Ron, I hope you had a great birthday!)

[Valerie]

what a wonderful post, cookie! i can hear and feel the happiness and joy! you deserve all of it and many more to come! thanks for sharing with us.

[Ron Thorne]

I'm so glad that the gig was everything you hoped for, and more, Cookie. You deserved it!

I had a *great* birthday, Cookie. Thanks.

[stereojack]

Nice post! Glad it worked out so well for you.

[Gary Sisco]

Great, Cookie. I was wondering how it went.

[Jimmy Cantiello]

[Gary Sisco]

Cookie -- Your reception outside your turf comes as no surprise to me. When I played your CD for Bronwyn, she said, "Wow. She sounds like a real jazz singer!"

I told her, "That's because she *is* a real jazz singer."

[bluenoter]

[graypencil]

Hey Cookie:

I got to this party a little late, but I'm tickled pink the gig was such a success and such fun for you ..

you should try to get out more often, girl !!!

YAY COOOOOOOOOKIE!!!!!!!!!

[jazzy mary]

Thanks for the report, Cookie. It sounded like a wonderful time for everyone! It's so nice to hear about a venue that has nice people running it, good food, good vibes and good crowds! Wonderful!

[cookie]

Thanks everyone. It was somethin' else. Mary's right: it's great that this sort of place is there. The owner was telling me that early on, when the club was getting established and they were hemorraging money, some folks told him he needed to book rock and roll or blues on some nights in order to make money to "subsidize" the jazz. Bob refused and said that if he was going down, he was going down on the jazz ship. You can't know how much I admire this stance. I've seen too many guys open a "jazz club" only to have it turn into a rock club once the economic challenges of presenting and supporting jazz reveal themselves. God Bless Bob for his vision. I hope people will support this club if they go to the area as tourists (like Jazzy Mary said, it is a really beautiful place) or consider making a donation to their "Junior Jazz" programs. At the very least, think kindly of them. They are commited jazz people.

Oh, and BTW, Bob Alberti told me his website is here on jazzcorner! I'm going to go check it out now!

[clinthopson]

Congratulations, Cooks!

Sending warm fuzzies from the Left Coast.

[Lois Gilbert]

Cookie

Congrats

Isn't Bob Alberti the greatest. I've never met him, but has always been lovely and a great pianist.

You should pick up a copy of his book - which is fun, entertaining read


Artist: Bob Alberti
Title: Up The Ladder And Over The Top: Memoirs of a Hollywood Studio Musician

through his website
http://bobalberti.com

Glad it went so well for you Cookie

what are the chances that the woman who co-owns THE Jazzcorner is also named Lois!

[hornplayer]

Way to go, Cookie! You really have a voice and a personality deserving of a wider career. Maybe this will be the "start of something big!" (pun intended!)

Thrilled to hear you are sitting on top of the world!