Saturday, June 29, 2013

Winding down

It's eleven p.m.-ish. The concluding event of the NMA reunion, the Saturday night banquet, has ended. We're packing up our gear, and folks with early departures tomorrow are saying their goodbyes. It's over.

Well, not exactly. The lounge is still open and our equipment is still set up. If enough hearty souls show up--and I just saw a few heading in that direction--we'll cap off the reunion with a farewell jam session.

And what a reunion it has been. I'll have much to tell you and to show you, thanks to the magic of unfocused photographs and shaky videos. Yeah, they suck, but you'll get the picture.

Meanwhile, I'm heading towards the lounge myself. I get to sleep in tomorrow, so I can do a little night owling around the hotel tonight. Since I don't leave until Monday, I'll have time to catch up on coverage. My postings always gets sporadic on the last night of reunions, as there's so much going on I hardly dare take a break.

So until I get the chance to reconnect with you, let me just say that the word "stellar" would not be too strong a description of the 2013 NMA reunion. Our functions are always wonderful, and you always hear me praising them, but something was different this year. I've heard people say that exact phrase: "Something was different this year." I have some ideas, but they need pondering and refining.

And I need to go downstairs to the lounge.It's almost over and I don't want to miss a damn thing.

2013 NMA Membership Meeting

Two topics dominated the 2013 general membership meeting of the Navy Musicians Association: what a good time we're having, and how attract more MUs so they can share this experience.

The meeting was marked by a distinct lack of whining, moaning and bitching. Somehow, we're all on our best behavior. Vice-president Kim Holl noted that the hotel management and staff have complimented the NMA on its conduct and professionalism. I guess they were expecting the Ringling Brothers Clown Convention.

President Terry Chesson announced the appointment of LCDR Carl Gerhard as our Active Duty Liaison. If you've ever met Carl, you know that he's the right guy to spread the word to our active-duty shipmates about the benefits of membership in the NMA. And if you've heard him at our jam session, you also know that he's a hell of a trumpet player.  

Our current officers and board of directors were reelected by acclamation to serve further two-year terms.

The meeting was over in 45 minutes. The whole thing was smooth, efficient and focused. It just didn't seem right.

And now, until tonight's closing festivities: Liberty Call!!!!.

Behind Closed Doors

Members, families and guests are now in the ballroom, finishing the traditional NMA Saturday morning breakfast/gabfest. Much of the gabbing concerns last night's concert. I'd like to gab about it too, but time is short. For now, let me just say that it was, so far, the high point of a reunion that has been bursting with high points. I'd say the band has never been better. More on this later.

In a few minutes our families and guests will be excused and we'll hold the annual general membership meeting. The president and members of the Board of Directors will update the members on the year's behind-the-scenes business and report on plans and possibilities. The members will have the opportunity to raise concerns and offer suggestions.

This afternoon I'll report the highlights and any crucial information that can't wait. In fact, we'll have a full afternoon of liberty before the evening banquet, so I won't be rushed.

Speaking of rushing, it's about time for those doors to close.

The Secret of Longevity


George Dietzler says that the key to keeping a sharp mind in your later years is to exercise it. Every morning, you'll see him in the hotel lobby with the morning paper, following the news, weighing editorial opinion and reading advice that someone who enlisted in the late 1940s obviously doesn't need.

Friday, June 28, 2013

Sea Legs


Mike Vax

Mike Vax led the renowned Dukes of Dixieland, played lead trumpet in the Stan Kenton Orchestra and still leads the Stan Kenton Alumni band. He's a busy, world-class performer.

But that's not why he's here. Mike is here because he's an MU. Sure, we'll feature him as a soloist during tonight's concert, but after the applause, he'll sit back down in the trumpet section with his shipmates
.

NMA Reunion SitRep

The concert band rehearsed this morning; veterans of the U.S. Navy Show Band had a lunchtime get-together. Tonight is our concert and buffet.

And this afternoon is the first liberty we've had since getting underway Wednesday morning. Finally, I have time to sit down and tell you what's going on in more than two sentences.

Sign-in sheet, p. 3



This is our biggest reunion in recent years. We've almost filled up three sign-in sheets, and more folks are expected for the weekend. We've filled all our rooms. We've filled the concert band seats. And, boy, have we filled the lounge. Night after night, Ashley's has been packed with MUs, playing, reminiscing and. well, lying to each other.





The bands are excellent this year. The concert band includes five french horns, bass clarinet and saxophone, enough Bb clarinets to cover all parts and a set of timpani. Dance bands have played morning and night, with exceptional soloists and better cohesiveness than ever. And the jam sessions--wow. Eventually, I'll have time to post a few short video clips. In the meantime, let me just say this: one night I played walking bass behind Marty Nau, Mike Vax and a few others swinging MUs, and I could hardly keep up.

This is a reunion we'll be talking about for a long time. Sea stories, music and magic. We're doing just fine in Virginia Beach, wishing you were here and already talking about next year.



Bumper Sticker of the Year



By George




Have you ever wondered what playing in a Navy band was like in the 1940s?

Wonder no more; just ask George Dietzler.

Pondering Deep Thoughts

Two of Navy music's concert band greats--Terry Chesson and Leo Leary--consider the fine points of tone, phrasing and nuance of a performance of "Bill Bailey."

Thursday, June 27, 2013

It's Harder Than it Looks

Music Stand Assembly with Shipmate Frank

Picking up the pace






By noon, we were on our third sign-in sheet.










MUs and families just kept pouring in.











And today, the concert band sections were well-filled. In fact, you had to get there early and leave your horn set up to reserve your seat.

Conversational Snippet #22

"I can't play sixteenth-notes--I'm 67 years old."
"You couldn't play sixteenth-notes when you were 19."

We're baaaaack....

Apologies for unannounced silence from Navy Lyres. A technical glitch needed to be solved by our IT guy, and since the IT is me, it took a while. Updates from the NMA reunion will resume.

Wilbur Smith at 0730


I can be optimistic, but not while the sun still hasn't wiped away the night shadows. Wilbur Smith doesn't have this problem.

Frank: "How ya doin', Smitty?"
Wilbur: "Glad to be here and to be part of the magic."

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

First NMA Concert Band rehearsal

The first concert band rehearsal of an NMA reunion is nerve-wracking. We haven't played together in a year. All the players haven't arrived yet. We're sight reading unfamiliar music.


 And we don't make excuses. We put our hearts into it, and by the end of the rehearsal, things are going much more smoothly.


And members of the audience seems to enjoy the rehearsal,, too--each in his own way.



Hoist the anchor, ahead all engines.

It's 0900, Day One of the 2013 Navy Musicians Association Reunion in Virginia Beach. The next four days will be busy, so check the P.O.D. frequently for orders, orders modifications and modifications of orders modifications.




TalkTalkTalkTalkTalkTalkTalkTalk

It's hard to get anything done around here, when all people want to do is talk...


















...talk...






...talk.

Getting a head start on the NMA Reunion

 The "Early Birds" were out in force, by day...


and by night.




Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Shipmate Frank Checks In

What do you do when you arrive at the Navy Musicians Association Reunion? Shipmate Frank is confused, but, fortunately, Deb and Deb are on hand to guide him through the arduous task.



Attention Tex Waldron:

From: NMA Reunion, Virginia Beach.
To: Tex Waldron, Seattle.

Dear Tex,
If your ears aren't already burning, it's only a matter of time.

MU vocabulary refresher course

Sitting poolside with a couple of old MUs:

"Wasn't Chief Smith homeported at CINCLANT?"

"No, he was offered 8, obligated for a couple of years and took his twilight tour in GLAKES."

"Hell, I knew him when he was a slick-armed first class."

It's amazing how quickly the vocabulary comes back.

Make all preparations for getting underway





No, you can't sign in for the NMA reunion yet, anymore than you can spot porpoises in your wake while the ship is still moored at the pier. We're taking on provisions, checking the operation of equipment and otherwise preparing for the cruise.










Deb Holl, the Registration Queen, intends to be set up by afternoon, at which time early-bird members will file in, sign in and inspect the bling.






Monday, June 24, 2013

Your Diligent Board of Directors

Board members who live here in the Tidewater area--Terry Chesson, Bob Leketa, Leon Harris and Kim Holl--are here, of course. But duty seems to have already called others from afar. I spent time this afternoon poolside with Cecil Strange, who drove up from Florida. Later, I spent some time with John Branham who had just arrived from Fort Wayne, Indiana.
The Board of Directors engrossed in deep deliberation.
Then, strolling through the lobby an hour ago, I peeked into the BLU Bar--yes, the Holiday Inn now has two lounges--and ran into David Blakeley and Wilbur Smith from away down South, and Bill Sterck from the western wilds of Colorado.

I guess I'm not the only one who enjoys a little pre-reunion preparatory time.


War!!!!!




Read the original story and Lee Hudson's semi-literate response  here.

Hail, Hail the Gear's All Here

Our gear is heavy, bulky and a pain to move. 

I trudged downstairs at 10:00 a.m., thinking to be around when the equipment crew showed up with our gear. I was just in time to miss it all. Kim Holl, Bob Leketa and Leon Harris were all sweated up and wiped out after hauling a reunion's worth of stuff into the storage room. Curse my bad timing!

You keep thinking you've moved it all, and remember one more thing.
 
Leon Harris tries to tell somebody who cares.

Internet Access: Bravo

It's always a concern for in this new, wired world: does the hotel have wifi? Is it dependable? Is it free? This year at the Holiday Inn, yes, yes, and yes. I've been here since Saturday night and have had close to zero problems getting a dependable signal in my room (once I had to wait a minute or so for the connection to kick in.) Setup was a breeze; the desk clerk gave me a password, I typed it in and, bingo. We've had problems in other hotels, but this year looks smooth.



Begin NMA LiveBlog 2013

Now begins NMA LiveBlog2013, your source of news, views and sea stories from The Navy Musicians Association reunion in Virginia Beach. The reunion starts Wednesday, but the activity will begin today.

The Commodore of Navy Lyres at the Command Center.


It's still quiet about the decks, as the equipment bearers have not yet arrived bearing equipment, so it's still quiet about the decks of the Holiday Inn. But the news stream is flowing.

I just heard from NMA member Mike Vax a veteran two prominent bands, U.S. Navy Show Band and the Stan Kenton band. He's arriving late tomorrow night and hoping a jam session will be in progress. You never know; the reunion doesn't start officially until Wednesday morning, but members who arrive a day ahead of time generally have a hard to keeping their horns in the cases.

Speaking of the Show Band--and there's been a lot of that going on recently-- another UNITAS vet, Mike Beegle will soon get important advisory word from his doctor. Mike had a medical scare a few days ago and is weighing the prospect of fun with his shipmates against the reality of maintaining his health.



Lowering the Bar


It's likely that we'll start jamming in the lounge this evening, so before I sit down at the piano, let me take care of the preparatory business of listing the reasons why I will suck.

-- I'm 64 years old.
-- I don't play the rest of the year.
-- I haven't gigged in so long that I don't remember the tunes.
-- I suffer pain and muscle fatigue in arms and wrists due to tendinitis and carpal tunnel syndrome.
-- NEW! I sliced open the third finger of my left hand last week slicing an onion.

I'm hoping to get decent mileage out of that last one. The first three have never fooled anyone.

There. Now I   

The Daily Poop - Monday, 24JUN13 - Final Issue




As you can see, the NMA has definitely not arrived. This, however, will change within hours. The setup crew will soon arrive to begin hauling in stands, fronts, music, computers, pianos, amplifiers, cables, trap sets, bass drums, cymbals, photo displays and the scores of other paraphernalia.




Keep in mind that when I say "setup crew," I'm not talking about hired roadies or a gaggle of seamen from X Division. I'm talking about the members of our Board of Directors who live in the Tidewater area and take on the vital  responsibility of setting up so that when we arrive, the basic dirty work has been done.


This, then, ends the "alone time" I've enjoyed this weekend. This, then, also ends a few weeks of The Daily Poop. Although the action does not officially begin until Wednesday morning, or in the case of undesignated jam sessions, Tuesday night, things will start picking up today.

So, NMA LiveBlog 2013 starts today. I'll post through the day, regularly and irregularly with news and scuttlebutt. Visit NavyLyres through the day, or catch up with it all in the evening.




Sunday, June 23, 2013

The Daily Poop - Sunday, 23JUN12

As is generally the case, my worries were for nothing. Planes left on time, arrived early, and I got to Virginia Beach last night without a hitch. It was a long day, particularly sitting on a plane across the aisle from two kids who had never flown before. "I'm scaaaared!" "Are we flying yet?" "Grandma, I hafta go to the bathroom!" On the other hand, it wasn't even close to being the worse flight I've ever been on. Think sitting in a C-130, strapped into parachutes with 16 other guys, five tons of gear and some clown that thinks singing "99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall" would be a morale builder. So, yes, I'm here, ensconced on the third floor of the Holiday Inn.





I toured the decks and walked the perimeter a number of times during the evening. Yes, it's still our good old Holiday Inn, but, as you can see, something is sorely lacking.




One of the reasons I came early is that I'm hoping to improve the Reunion LiveBlog this year (What? Improve the LiveBlog? How can that be, Frank?), which will take some preparation. Technical stuff, for the LiveBlog, for the NMA website, and other documentation.

Surprisingly, the bar was empty last night, but the hotel was packed. The Fraternal Order of Eagles is holding its convention. Their motto is "People helping people," but they do it everywhere except in the lounge. Oh well. at least they've got a motto. Say--should the NMA have a motto? I wonder. Any ideas?

The Daily Poop will end soon, to be replaced by more frequent blather. Don't know when. Soon.

That may mean "today." We'll see. Have a good day