Jam Session With Rudy, et al

The attempt to get a musical jam session started here at IBE got off to a rather quiet start today. The only other person to show up, other than me, was a guy named Rudy that I met at choir practice on the past two Tuesdays. Rudy plays a baritone ukulele, quite well actually.

We played a few songs together, from memory and from some sheet music that Rudy brought with him. The most exciting part is that Rudy is a barberhopper (bass) with over 40 years experience. Back in the day, his chorus finished in the top ten at the International Competition. He worked as a programmer for IBM, which he says stands for "I've Been Moved." He spent time in England only four years after barbershop had been introduced there. His experience and knowledge made him a hot commodity and he became the director of a chorus. Then he was transferred to France. He spoke no French and there was no barbershop in that country at that time. Fortunately, he and his bari uke caught on with a small group and he ended up traveling around during his off time from IBM and playing at hotels and clubs.

Art, a friend of Rudy's, eventually came by (he is a barbershop tenor). Rudy made a short walk home to get his wife, Eleanor, who knows most of the lead parts to the "polecat" songs that all barbershoppers know. You can guess what happened then. The four of us spent about 45 minutes singing those songs plus a few others like "Coney Island Baby". We rang a few chords here and there too.

Rudy attends rehearsals of the Naples barbershop chorus every Thursday, so he is going to stop and pick me up tomorrow night and I should get to do some more singing.

There was a lady who walked through the rec hall today that is a keyboard player and I think that she might join us next week. There is also another guitar player that Rudy knows and he will try to bring him next Wednesday also. I guess that small steps are better than no steps. Stay tuned.