Ken Lelen Combo — Autumn 2010 North Carolina Tour

Tuesday, October 5, 2010 to Saturday, October 9, 2010

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We entertained 400 people at six concerts in five days.

The Ken Lelen Combo played four concerts and Ken Lelen Solo played one event.

I played four guitars: 1912 Grauso; 1926 Maurer #493;

1937 Kalamazoo KG-21 (Riggs); and 1938 B&D Groton 1.

Tuesday, 5 October 2010

Springmoor, Raleigh, NC

We planned this as the first concert by the Ken Lelen Combo at this venue, but car problems delayed bassist Matt Koch, so I performed it solo. Springmoor is a large CCRC with cottages and apartments around a multi-service core building with dining facilities, theater, etc. As I've seen many times before, our sponsor drew an enthusiastic crowd of 75 people to an early evening concert of 17 songs in a 75-minute program.

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Wednesday - 6 October 2010

Cypress of Raleigh, Raleigh, NC

This was our first time at this facility, a fairly new community with a big, ground-level ballroom. We attracted 85 music seekers and wowed them with a 19-tune, 75-minute program.

     We discovered performing "Moonglow," a 1934 swing favorite by tunesmmith Will Hudson, lyricist Eddie DeLange and promoter Irving Mills, evoked the same sweet memory for several people in our audience, who recalled renditions of the song by clarinetist Benny Goodman, trombonist Jack Teagarden, pianist Art Tatum, and vocalists Ethel Waters and Billie Holiday. Apparently, back in the day, a Raleigh radio station solicited dedications and played this song every night at 11 pm. Hearing about this shared memory made us feel like we'd channeled a special wavelength as it wound through the air.

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Thursday - 7 October 2010

Stewart Health Center, Charlotte, NC

Located on the grounds of Cypress of Charlotte, Stewart is a stand-alone, skilled nursing facility with about 50 residents. In the past decade I've played intimate soirées at Stewart two or three times a year for 15 to 20 residents in the activity room. This time, because people could hear the difference in the sound with the addition of the bass, we pulled 35 people who walked, rolled, wheeled, slid and cajoled their way down the main hall to our 17-song, 60-minute concert. Lest it go unsaid, a fun time was had by all.

     Skilled nursing facilities at grand communities like the Cypress of Charlotte don't have large budgets for full-figured entertainment like ours. Musicians often get the feeling they're expected to donate a portion of their services. Sadly, this event was further marred by a lack of timely payment due to staff oversight and an obnoxious accounts-payable person.

Arbor Acres, Winston-Salem, NC

I've played concerts in the multi-use auditorium of this sedate CCRC in the heart of cigarette country for six years, each time attracting an average crowd of 75 people. With the addition of bass to my music, we drew a respectable audience of 55, half familiar and half new to us, for a 16-song, 70-minute concert.

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Friday - 8 October 2010

Forest at Duke, Durham NC

I've played this facility once or twice a year since 2002, drawing an audience of 50 - 60 people to each concert. Even as residents move out of the independent living facility into the assisted living or skilled nursing centers, I've been lucky to attract new cohorts to my Vintage Music Concerts. This time was no different; with the vibrant addition of the bass and entirely fresh set of jazz and swing hits, we were pleased to draw 50 people to a 16-song, 70-minute concert.

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Saturday - 9 October 2010

The Heritage, Raleigh NC

This is an unusual senior facility, more hotel than retirement center. We played an 18-song, 70-minute concert for more than 50 people in the lobby, which was set up at the last minute by someone from housekeeping. Held on a Saturday night, our core audience were people who did not plan to go out; passers by, visitors and family, another 15 people, comprised the balance of the audience.

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