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Pat Appleton, given notority through her work with De-Phazz, kicked off a five concert Diva series last evening on the a38 concert boat. Billed as ‘electro-soul-shock’, I went expecting something a little…ahh…more shocking.
Hmmmm….

What I got, was a mellow, mainstream, lounge-jazz delivered by a big voice dressed in a brown turtleneck sweater and mid-calf length brown skirt, backed-up by a band made up of Hungarian musicians put together by local music manager/producer Peter Podlavics (I hope I’ve spelled that correctly).

Chatting with Pat backstage prior to the concert, I learned that Peter had called her and invited her to participate in this series. She had some new lyrics she was working on, but no band, so she sent Peter a recording of her singing the songs with music put together by different producers. Peter played the recording for his ad-hoc band and they learned the music and after two rehearsals with Pat put on the show.

Pat and I also talked about writing lyrics - I have a few lyrics myself - and the agonizing process of getting them together with music and musicians. Pat - like me - does not play an instrument so - like me - cannot write down her music. Fortunately, she had De-Phazz to bring her into the market; but she’s ready for her own band now and she really likes the guys who backed her up last night and said: “Who knows, maybe I’ll go on tour on with them.”

I’m looking forward to the next show which bills local songtress Varga Zsuzsa, who incidently is managed by Anima Sound System’s, Prieger Zsolt.

Hmmm.
I must go and memorise my poems for my performance/reading in Vienna this weekend. If you see me standing there with papers in my hand, you’ll know it’s ’cause I spend way too much time talking and listening to, and writing about other artists. I excuse my procrastination by saying: “I’m learning. It’s my education.”

Ciao, ciao.