Last night (March 4,2009) I went to the Old Town School of Folk Music for one of their World Music Wednesday Concert series to see Esperanza Spalding. She was amazing, amazing, amazing. They're free ticketed events with a $5 suggested donation. Well worth making the donation. I wanted to share my experience, a review of sorts, though I'm no music critic. I had just checked my balance and much to my chagrin it was zero. Zilch, nada, nothing, nyet, zerO. I intended to make my donation because it is the right thing to do. It soured my mood just a bit and I didn't want it to ruin it completely. God is my supply. I decided to worry about it tomorrow. My friend Sylvia picked me up and I was grateful for the ride.

The signs on the doors proclaimed THIS CONCERT IS SOLD OUT and I was glad I'd made reservations early and had even relinquished a ticket.
I picked up the tickets and the nice woman said "let me see your face to see if you are Christina Villasenor", she scanned my face and decided yes, you look like a Christina.........I was still concerned about my finances but she see made me smile. The doors were open and we were able to grab one of the side tables, resulting in a great view.

I'd been reading about Paris, the cafes, the painters, the creatives drawn to the city of lights, like moths. I'd read about Dora Maar, KiKi and was pleased to find that my favorite Latina painter, Patssi Valdez, finally had a website. Happier still that if I saved my money I could afford to buy something. It is my intention to buy something from Diana Solis, a Mexican painter, who lives here in Chicago.

Esperanza was an amazing performer. She's a talented young thing with a clear voice and a sense of humor. I'd recently seen her on Tavis Smiley and he was besotted. The concert hall was packed and people seemed so happy, in spite of the fact that the published starting time was 9:30 even though it was 8:30. I've attended concerts at the Old Town School of Folk Music and they have a knack for bringing in great talent. They did so again. All I can really say is that Esperanza, hope in Spanish, was magical. Her performance was magical, nothing I had ever heard before, for some reason I didn't listen to her play on Tavis Smiley................I watched her fingers move across the bass strings and I remembered my lame attempts at playing the cello, only to find that my hands were too small and it was not my instrument. I realized early in life that the telephone is my instrument. She played with joy and she sang as though she was channeling lots of scat singers from beyond, but original nonetheless. I was inspired and grateful for the experience. She engaged us in a sing-a-long and none of the sections could respond in kind....it was fun and she came up with a simple response for us and we sang. I know I sang, cause I love audience participation and I recommend musicians add it to their repetoire. It's corny, it's fun and I am never too cool to participate. It is always an honor to be in the company of greatness and even better to in the company of kindred spirits.

Today I am going to be creative. I've brewed a pot of French Roast coffee and I am ready to go. It has been a long time since last I've written and maybe that goes without saying but I have to admit it out loud. I haven't exercised or dieted in a long time either. I've been basking in the historical feat of a new president, a smart man with a sense of humor and the desire to solve the problems never seen before. It's crazy out there.

I'm listening to some Daniel Knox music from his Poison Tree EP. He is a genius, another smart man with a sense of humor.

So for some reason I am really intrigued by Mrs. O's fashion sense. I've read that she shops at Ikram and am further intrigued by the fact that Ikram's owner is not talking to the press about any of Mrs. O's purchases. There is a web site called Mrs. O and they keep track of what she wears. Sometimes when I am not so happy I find that checking in to see what Mrs. O is wearing, well it brings me joy. I don't understand why she insists on going sleeveless in winter. Perhaps if I considered my well-toned arms one of my best features, I'd have a better understanding, but since it seems as of late I am incapable of exercise, my flabby arms are best kept covered. Mr. and Mrs. O have the resolve, the will to exercise daily in order to maintain their respective temples, their bodies. Even Brittany Spears is back in shape!!! I am inspired and happy that she has bounced back. I try not to take my role models for granted.

Tonight I am going to see Esperanza Spalding at the Old Town School of Folk Music, it is my favorite venue for live performances. They provide great musicians and the acoustics are great and it's easily accessible and the people are mellow and visually interesting. Chicago and Chicagoans at their very very best.