It sounded like a columnist’s dream item when local jobs guru Andrew Hudson posted this on his Facebook page Monday:
“I’m at the condo in Winter Park in the middle of changing a diaper and a friend of a friend calls (with a bizarre NYC area code/number.) I almost didn’t answer it. ‘We need a bass player for a last minute gig that happens to be where you are at, in Winter Park at a big mountain house. It’s just for one hour and its with a trio. Charts will be provided. Can you sight read?’ Uhhh…yeah. I can sight read just about anything.
“‘OK – the normal bass player got the stomach flu. It’ll pay $500, the bass rig will be set up, all you need is your bass.’ I’ve brought my bass to the condo with a small amp to practice, so it’s no problem. I yell up to (wife) Christine to make sure it’s OK. I show up at the gig about an hour in advance. HUGE house. They show me where to park. It’s a big anniversary party for some rich couple, there’s about 50 people there.
“I quickly set up. Simple set up: Yamaha grand piano, a small bass amp and a small drum set. I go through the music. All Billy Joel hits. “Piano Man”, “Just the Way You Are”, “AllenTown”, “New York State of Mind”, “Only the Good Die Young”. Hmmmm….strange.
“And then out of the corner of my eye, I see…. freaking…. BILLY JOEL! What? I’m playing bass with Billy Joel!
I’ve played most of these songs in bands in the past, but I quickly look at key signatures and anything else that might throw me.
“He walks up to me and is pleasant as can be. ‘Just relax and have fun and watch me closely.’ I’m trying to remain cool and not star struck but let him know how much his music has meant to me over the years.
“I nail the gig. Billy Joel looks like he’s enjoying it. We play a few jazz standards that weren’t in the book. No problem. It was an amazing night! He says afterwards, ‘Great job, I really enjoyed playing with you!’ His ‘person’ takes my card and says Billy wants to talk later about some things.
“Still walking on clouds this morning. Can’t believe it!!!!”
Don’t believe it. I did and Andrew got the last laugh: “OMG – you are an April Fools sucker!!!!”
True dat.
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