February 20th, 2007

The sixth year of Mardi Gras Potluck Chocolate, David Lee & Friends playing jazz, and burning of the last year’s Palm Sunday palm leaves to remember and celebrate Mardi Gras – Fat Tuesday.

The evening starts the same. Each year there is a wide selection of chocolate and, as we are enjoying the desserts, there is a Mardi Gras trivia challenge. From the winning table a king and queen is chosen who lead us into the concert by David Lee & Friends. This jazz expresses a love of life and is the first thing that strikes the listener. The concert starts and ends with When The Saints Go Marching In that summons us to the party.

The music is spirited, up-front and exciting. The pieces moved from Indiana to the latin jazz standard Desafinado to David’s favorite Rosetta.

Gavin Bondy of Pink Martini plays trumpet; Kevin Dietz on string bass from Salem Chamber Orchestra; Pete Petersen, currently leader of Porkpie, on clarinet and saxophone; Carlton Jackson on drums and David Lee on piano.

The depth, talent and joy is extraordinary. There is a freshness in their approach to standards that is hard to describe but there love of the music shows.

Listening to David's CD is another experience I must write about later.

After the show we burned the palms. It is a smaller group gathered round cinder blocks off to the side of the Fellowship Hall. Pastor Dayle has us think about what in our lives has grown as dry as the palms since last year. Pastor Mark sings a song and people silently reflect as the fire burns out.

Many experiences, many moods that I have come to appreciate annually.