I am back in New York now after a particularly poignant Barry Harris Jazz Workshop in Rome. It was really special being there with so many people that love jazz, that love Barry, and maybe even love me a little too. At one point I was overcome with emotion as I looked around the room and realized I knew almost everyone by name and that some of the dearest people to me were there. People I truly love and cannot imagine living without.

At a casual “picnic” dinner a couple of days later I mentioned this epiphany to Barry and I thanked him for bringing so much joy and love into my life. After we finished eating he asked us to sing and I did an a capella rendition of one of Lester Young’s solos on “I Never Knew” – not as fast as Lester blows it out, but fast enough (I include my lyrics below). I had joked with Barry earlier in the week that Lester was my new boyfriend as I had spent every evening with him for the past couple of months. Barry laughed out loud at this revelation — he thought it was funny I was “hanging with the Pres“.

“Now I really know what love does–
Wakin’ us up like all those cars honkin’
(and they were really honkin’ man.)
I never really knew that life could be so sweet, but
now that I’ve got you here with me
I know how good my life can finally be.
I never knew, I never knew,
Oh my God, I really never knew.”

-Laurie Early (March 2018)

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Here are some “snapshots” of the week:

Of course there were jazz cats, playing late into the night, making us happily sleep-deprived.

 

And, there were house cats, street cats, and cats keeping watch over storefronts.

 

 

I stayed in the San Lorenzo area of town. It rained and rained and rained this month. It was also unusually cold. But I did not mind because my heart was warm.

 

 Rome –  it is never the same two days in a row. The day it stopped raining this impromptu chess game appeared near my ATM (Bancomat).

 

 

💙 Yes,  I was very happy on Via dei Sabelli 💙

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One of the cool things that happened in San Lorenzo was meeting the artist/sculptor, Franchina Casella, as she was decorating the outside of her studio on Via dei Reti.

 

She had a effervescent spirit that instantly lifted my already happy mood.  Her website is: www.franchinacasella.it

 

 

 

 

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I NEVER KNEW
lyrics to Lester Young’s solo
© 2018 Laurie Early

Over my head, and I’m goin’ round in circles;
am I seeing clearly? (Everything is spinning…)

I never knew that roses grew,
all around the world, every single day.
I never knew, anytime breezes blew,
all the little birdies flew around me, and it didn’t mean a thing.

I never knew, when dreams come true,
I’d lose my cares like they never were there.
Now I’m aware your love’s a magic deep in my heart (yes, it is)
and baby, it’s good! (You know it)

Every little breeze that whispers ‘round me in the summertime,
or night-time, when the moon, is shining above,
blows all my cares away!
Now, the way I feel about you, baby, shows.
I cannot hide it, so what!
I don’t care now who knows.

Grab your coat I’m takin’ you out on the town,
out where all the music’s crazy, and pulsing;
Baby, hold on to me and never let me go!
No! I don’t want to lose you!

When you’re in my arms I know you hear my heart,
it’s beating now like there is no tomorrow
waiting out there for you and me.
Listen to the beating of my heart!
Listen to the rhythm of all that we share.
Baby, don’t you think it’s time that we just go
(where lights are turned down low?)

Baby, watch out for all those damn honkin’ cars!
Not up at stars!
Now, just look at me babe.
Won’t you trust in me? Please, baby.

Now I really know what love does–
Wakin’ us up like all those cars honkin’
(and they were really honkin’ man.)
I never really knew that life could be so sweet, but
now that I’ve got you here with me
I know how good my life can finally be.
I never knew, I never knew,
Oh my God, I really never knew.

[I never knew life could be so wonderful, No, I didn’t.
Just let those cars and breezes blow around us now.
Ain’t nothin’ goin’ stop us now that we know.]

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