off-topic: "Cleopatra Had a Jazz Band"

My friend Brad posted a note on Saturday about an online collection of old sheet music available at The University of Colorado, Boulder. Aha!. Another point of common interest, which leads to a story...

The Kingwood High "Pops Concert" is coming up (May 12-14), a very big event with some 400 kids on stage at one time during the big numbers. ElenaClaire wanted to audition for a solo slot and needed a song. After rejecting a few ideas, I pitched her an old song from 1917 called "Cleopatra had a jazz band". I heard it once about 30 years ago and just always remembered it - memory is a funny thing.) She loved it - where could she get an accompaniment tape and sheet music, she asked. Now I knew I was in trouble. But I did an internet search and found it! Indiana State University has a collection similar to the one Brad found.

I found the song and downloaded the pdf; wrote an arrangement for piano bass and drums on MIDI and recorded it to CD. Alicia gave her some costuming and choreography tips and we both coached her on how to "sell" the song. "Forget the Pops Show", I said. "The performance to be excited about is this one, even though the audience is only 2 directors. Make them enjoy your performance. If they do, they'll want to share their enjoyment with the whole Pops audience."

End of story: She was selected to do a solo on this song, backed by two women's choirs. We've since learned that it's pretty rare for a singer to get a solo for the song she auditioned with, especially as a sophomore.