The fat almond croissant tasted like Sunday morning in Paris; the music sounded like Saturday night at the Cafe Carlyle, and I sat in a Midwestern furniture store yesterday morning and marveled at the delightful convergence of it all.
And then, as Steve March-Tormé and the trio he’d assembled for the occasion began to perform, I felt familiar waves of admiration and gratitude wash over me,
What a lovely way to spend a Sunday morning! What a treat to hear such talented musicians play and how strange and cool to sit in an extremely comfortable chair with its expensive price tag still hanging off it, sipping a pear mimosa and enjoying it all.
I’m not exactly sure how August Haven teamed up with the Avenue 91.1 to present these free concerts, but I’m glad they did. How many high-end furniture stores do you know that built a stage onto their sales floor? Or let music patrons make themselves comfortable on their inventory, sipping, noshing and chatting as if that furniture were their own?
And, as exquisite as that furniture is, the music is even better.
Sunday morning Steve, a NY and LA-based musician who has made his home in Appleton, sang two excellent sets featuring his original music, songs from his dad Mel s Tormé’s repertoire, and some of the pieces he and a ten-piece band will be playing this coming weekend at the Thelma Sadoff Center for the Arts in Fond du Lac.
At that concert, the band will showcase Elton’s John’s album, Tumbleweed Connection, and feature other artists from 1970, which was a banner year for musicians. They’ll play songs by Paul McCartney, James Taylor, Chicago, Crosby, Still and Nash, Todd Rundgren and the Band.
Those songs sounded so good Sunday morning, backed by Mike Kubicki on piano, Andy Sachen on bass, Michael Underwood on drums and Michael Murphy on vocals and guitar, that I could have listened to them all day. They’ll sound even more lush with a full 10-piece band on Friday and Saturday night.
I highly recommend this concert. You can get your tickets HERE.
I’m also already looking forward to “For Kids from 1 to 92”, the March-Tormé Christmas concert that will be making its way around the Midwest, including two Appleton shows on Dec. 21.
In addition to being a renown musician and lyricist with a rich voice, Steve March-Tormé is also a champion of live music and the people who perform it. Through his radio show and concerts, he’s done a lot to elevate the live music scene in the Valley and you can count me among his grateful fans.
Bravo!
He looks like his dad.