Just REVEL in it.

Many of you know this already (possibly because I talk about it all the time, or because I’ve blogged about it before), but I work for this INCREDIBLE group in Austin called REVEL.  They are an Austin-based classical band, with a mission that attracted me before I even heard their music.  It goes as follows:

REVEL.
Clap between movements if you feel like it.
Laugh when the music is funny.
Cry when the music is sad.
Come as you are.
Go barefoot.
Hang out with the musicians.
Savor every moment.
Forget the rules.
REVEL.
Let yourself be moved.
Dance.
Make up your own story.
Feed your soul.
Get carried away.
Listen with abandon.
REVEL. 

I’m sorry, doesn’t this sound like something YOU’D like to be a part of??

Their wonderful approach to the classical music performance is only surpassed by their INCREDIBLE musicianship.  These people are true artists. And I love them.

Last weekend, they had their first concerts of the season.  It was glorious and exhausting and wonderful.  And this:

Free concert.  Ballet Austin.  BYOB.  A wonderful turnout with glorious people.  A view of the street through those amazing windows.  It was magical!

Can’t wait until their December concert!!

Austin Jazz Fest

A few weeks ago, my incredibly talented friend Gabriel Santiago played with his jazz orchestra at the Austin Jazz Festival. It was magnificent, as all of Gabriel’s musical ventures are. The lighting was wonderful, and allowed me to take this:

Hi, blog. I missed you.

Withdrawal

Dear Elephant Room:

I miss you. I know you may not believe me, but I’ve been housesitting in Bastrop. I promise I’m not cheating on you with some other jazz club. I was such a tease the other night with that extremely brief visit – I promise you’ll get the real thing soon. Here is a photo to prove my love for you:

Jazzily yours,
Liz

REVEL

Everyone, meet REVEL.

photo shoot, liz love style

They are a completely awesome classical band here in Austin. I work for them, and I am so very honored to call them my friends.

A few weeks ago, my parents came into town on the same weekend that REVEL had their final concert of the season. It also happened to be my parents’ 41st wedding anniversary. (Yes, you heard me correctly – 41 years. That’s a freakin’ long time. My dad says it’s because he learned to say “Yes, dear” a long time ago. My mom says it’s because she’ll put up with jokes like that.)

I asked the members of REVEL if we could collaborate, and they graciously agreed. Here’s how the chat with Carla went:

Liz: Hey Carla, can I sing with REVEL?
Carla: Sure!
Liz: Great!
Carla: Awesome! We’ll need your arrangement for violin/viola/cello/piano in 2 weeks!
Liz: ** Freaks out because she’s never written for strings before. And by “written for strings”, I mean “written”. **

We decided on “Nature Boy”, by Eden Ahbez and made famous by Nat King Cole and the movie “Moulin Rouge”. It fit REVEL’s concert theme, but it also ends with this spectacular phrase:

“The greatest thing you’ll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return.”

And that, my friends, is what it’s all about.

So HERE IT IS! The moment you’ve ALL been waiting for! (All….6 of you reading this!) My dear friend Sunil recorded it, because so many people were interested to see how my first venture into writing would go (as was I). I pulled it off, but only because of the absolutely INCREDIBLE musicians who played the music. A BIG thank you to REVEL, and an even bigger thank you to my mom and dad, for being the best parents in the history of the universe!

[vimeo http://vimeo.com/23707081]

(Don’t miss the totally rad double thumbs up I give at the end. I am just SO cool…)