I have been at this for many, many years. Playing the piano. Yes, I took lessons as boy and kept at it. Played all the way through school and into college. During my freshman year at the university, some guys needed a pianist for a gig they were doing. I didn't know crap about playing jazz piano. But there was some money involved and beer. That is where things began. We did a terrible show. The others weren't very good, and I couldn't read the charts.
So, I faked it by listening. The longer we did this the better I got. I investigated taking some jazz piano lessons. The university was a great place for that. I did manage to finish a business degree. But studying jazz piano became an all-consuming passion. I worked with every teacher and professor I could. Not just the pianists, but also the theory teachers and some of the instrumental teachers. I spent countless hours in the record library. Yes, I said record library. Yes, I am that old. But I listened to countless jazz albums and many greats. The remaining years of college had me playing a lot of gigs. I played with anyone I could. It didn't make me rich, but I had a lot of fun and many good and bad experiences.
The time at university came to an end. I briefly held a job in my major area of study. But the nights and weekends I spent playing piano in some bar or lounge. Occasionally, there were others. A percussionist, a bassist, a singer and sometimes a horn player. None of us worried about it. We just played. I was in several bands, but it never lasted. Life took over for most and made trying to make a living more important. But I worked my day job and played at night. I began to make a little bit of a name for myself. This led to more gigs. But it also led to more travel. I did an illogical thing and quit my day job to go play and travel. The business degree helped me manage money and my schedule. I admit there were times I didn't know what city I was in or sometimes, what state. The constant was playing piano. Alone or with others.
Many of those I played with drank alcohol. Mind you, I did as well. I found I didn't like how it affected my playing. So instead, I drank coffee at gigs instead. Somewhere along the trail, I discovered espresso. I was hooked. The different roasts and flavors were almost as important as my music. Yeah, I liked it. I drank espresso at gigs instead of booze. Watched too many succumb to booze over the years and I didn't want to go there. Espresso kept me on my toes and on top of things.
The years went by you know. They do that. I suppose I had been in just about every bar or lounge in every city. I got tired of the travel as I wasn't a young man anymore. I found myself in my early sixties with no home, no family, and no attachments. Yes, there were women along the way. But nothing that was serious. I settled in St. Louis. My grandparents had lived across the river in Alton. My reputation and skills gave me a steady gig. No more traveling for this guy.
It was a big hotel I played at. There were a couple of local guys that had day jobs and wanted to play on weekends. First there was Gus, the percussionist. He had this long curly, shoulder length hair that flew around when he played. But he could hold a groove for eternity. Then there was Nick, the bassist. He played upright bass and his was probably a 50's vintage bass. It had some travel on it, and he held and played it like he held a woman. But Nick could lock in with Gus and they were solid. All I had to do was jump in. We made a good team.
The management suggested we add a vocalist, preferably a female vocalist. We found this a bit disconcerting, but we went with it. They were paying the bills, you know. So, we spent a Saturday morning auditioning for a vocalist. Some of them were good and some were plain awful. I found myself thinking that we were going to get stuck with someone that didn't mesh well only to satisfy the bosses. They thought we need more sex appeal.
That changed at about 2pm that afternoon.
Jessica walked, or should I say, glided into the room. She had on medium heels and a knee length beige skirt. There was also a maroon spaghetti strap camisole that gave me a good look at her shoulders and some other parts of her. She had these great brown eyes and cute brown hair.
Jessica is introduced to all of us and then smiles to speak.
"Bésame Mucho, key of b minor."
Gus counts us off. Now Jessica was on the small side. We played the intro; she took a breath and began to sing. This gorgeous alto voice comes out of her. It was full and round and sexy as hell. Gus and Nick just started grinning. Jessica looks right into my eyes as though I am the only one in the room. She sings and croons. I can't help but play and stare right back at her. She had us. She had us all wrapped around her finger with her manner and her vocal style. The shirts and ties are looking at each other and nodding their heads yes. It seems we have a vocalist now. It's been a long time since a girl had such an effect on me. Wow!!
We finished the first tune and proceeded to go through our playlist. Then, we wanted to add Jessica's favs to it as well. I have to say. Jessica had a way with phrasing and melody unlike any I have ever heard. It didn't matter what song. She had you with that first note and then you were hers. There will be plenty of rehearsals in the days to come. We all needed to develop a feeling for each other.
There was one morning. Jessica showed up to rehearsal in jeans that had been painted on and a white tank top, no bra. Her hair was pulled back into a ponytail, and she wore no makeup. Those nipples of hers stared at me all morning. She was hot even when she wasn't trying to be. Jessica would hover around me as I played, and she sang. She would watch my hands and place her hand on my shoulder.
At my age, I would have thought I was immune to stuff that Jessica did. But I wasn't. After about a week, we were ready. We had our set lists and Friday night would be her debut with us. The shirts and ties had spent money on advertising her and us. We needed to knock 'em dead. The first set was composed of tunes Jessica sang very well. I think we were ready.
The three guys went on first. We played a few tunes and warmed up the crowd. No one had seen Jessica yet, but we were told she was there. The announcer guy does his thing and Jessica came out. I'll start at the top.
Her hair was loose and covered her eye a little. Her brown eyes were framed in purple and black. Those lips of hers were the color of cherries and moist. The shoulders were bare as were her arms. That little body of hers was incased in a dark purple sleeveless gown. It hugged her in a way that we all wanted to do. The slits up the side to just below her ass. The legs flashed at us as she glided to center stage. Black heals on her little feet. Every eye in the place was on her.
Click, click click went Gus's sticks and we launched into "The Look of Love." Jessica's voice was warm and sweet. We did everything we could to make her sound exquisite. She had the crowd in one song. The remaining sets only cemented her hold on us all. People danced, people listened intently and just enjoyed what we did.
There were lots of young guys in the room. One by one they made their approach to Jessica with bulges in their pants. She was polite and let them know she wasn't interested. I had my own thoughts about her, and they were dirty. But she was a coworker, and I didn't want to complicate things. I kept my thoughts and bulge, to myself. The night was a grand success. Tonight, we went from a trio to a quartet. Jessica was a fine and welcome addition. She was always willing to learn new songs that we did and had done. We had to make a few adjustments to her vocal range, but that was no big deal.
Jessica was confident and comfortable enough to offer her own suggestions. Several of her songs were in French. I don't speak French, but when she sang, I wanted to learn it and understand it. So, our repertoire expanded as did our group. Jessica was just the thing we needed.
During the week, I was a solo act in the lounge. Gus and Nice had families and jobs. Jessica would come and watch and listen. She always sat at the front table. The waiter kept me supplied with espresso and my jar slowly filled with tips. After about the third night, I was sitting at the piano and doing a version of "La Mer." I did the first verse straight and then began to improvise. At the end of the second verse, Jessica came up on stage and sat on the piano bench next to me. She then proceeded to sing the song in French.
We had not planned this. Jessica was wearing jeans and a polo shirt. She sang without a mic. She'd sing a verse and then I'd improvise. Jessica caught me off-guard when she did some vocalese while I played. It was the most fun I'd had in a while.
I finished my night.
Jessica speaks.
"Roger, I'm tired of being here and cooped up in that little room. Take me somewhere fun."
Now normally, I head for home and sleep. I found I wanted to take Jessica somewhere. St. Louis has some great places to go if you want jazz or blues. My time in the city had me getting to know a lot of the local musicians. We went to a quiet place I knew. The band there were good players. We got a small table and something to drink. We didn't really talk much but listened to music.
During our second drink, Jessica speaks.
"Let's dance Roger."
So, I stood, offered her my hand, and led her to the floor. The band was playing "Let's Face the Music and Dance." Jessica felt tiny in my arms. The sight of her face and eyes filled mine.
She purred.
"Oh Roger, you dance like you play. Smooth as glass."
