Wow! What a Show!

Local Jazz Masters Steve Alboucq, Willie Thomas, and Martin Lund, far right, are joined by Jay Thomas, second from right at the Funhouse/Commons benefit.

By Margie Doyle

Willie Thomas and the Jazz Masters rocked the old Center last night. The packed house heard tributes to Charlie “Bird” Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, and even Clint Eastwood, a jazz composer and fan himself.

Produced by Donna Laslo, the show spotlighted Orcas Jazz Master Willie himself, at 82 years old totally at home on the stage and totally enjoying himself and his fellow musicians. Sassy, soulful and spontaneous, Willie is a testament to age as a work of art. He mentioned that jazz musicians too spend hours and hours year-in and year-out  practicing the jazz standards that were performed at the Orcas Center Show.

The  numbers performed were announced from the stage, and the written program featured notes by Joseph Murphy on “Willie T and the Persistence of Bebop.” Murphy wrote,

“I ask Willie, “Why bop, why now; what does this music speak to, here in 2012?” and get the rap I knew would be coming…”Why is Shakespeare still good? Truth, beauty and freedom aren’t just words, abstract concepts; it’s what you take out of the air right now. Not everybody heard that, but for those who did…Besides, it’s just in the blood — once and awhile you’ve got to play the music with some people for some people.”

Singer Gail Pettis sang several up-tempo and blues numbers (“They’re always about a man, aren’t they?” she commisserated), and then delighted the audience with a just-composed number inspired by the speeding ticket she earned driving up to Orcas that day. Along with Pettis, the musicians included Steve Alboucq, Martin Lund, Jon Hamar, John Hansen, Tony Morales and Jay Thomas.

Willie Thomas at far left, jams with his protegés Matthew Laslo-White, Paris Wilson and Christian Bailey Take Three

An upcoming contingent of jazz musicians, Christian Bailey, Matthew Laslo-White and Paris Wilson, the violinists (and, in the case of Paris Wilson, vocalist) who comprise “Take 3,”took to the stage in starring and backup numbers.

Willie Thomas and producer Donna Laslo were sparkling too in their appreciation of those who helped put the show together, interspersing their comments throughout the show, rather than giving the nod in a long list of names. Net proceeds from the show will benefit the Orcas Funhouse Commons, a community center that fosters fun and learning funhousecommons.org