Story Jam on MLK Day

"Can we pull this off?" I was asking myself during sound check for our annual MLK Day celebration.

As always, there were a bazillion moving parts: an almost ungainly 11-piece band; five tellers (one I had never actually met in person); 

(Erica Nicole Clark, who shared a race-driven story about her childhood in Lake Forest, IL)

an overwrought yet, thankfully, super adept sound guy; the audio recording set up; the videographers; the photographer; the venue operator/manager and staff; the Story Jam team (who handled selling merch, making guests feel welcome, finding seats for those with disabilities, organizing tickets and managing venue relations); the audience; and, of course...the looming fear concerning the state of our country/world/climate and presidential impeachment, coupled with a burning desire to rectify a positive, hopeful, MLK-style outlook and entertain an eager crowd.

I was wishing we had time for one more rehearsal (the music was pretty challenging!), and worried that someone wouldn't show up, or that I would forget to say something important...and I wondered for a moment if I pathologically thrive on the exhilaration and tension of such highly charged "show biz" moments.

(Doesn't this look like someone who thrives on highly charged show biz moments?)

However, when Dr. King's voice played over the house sound system in the dark at the top of the show, I could feel the anticipation in the room; the buzzing crowd was already on board.

Unfortunately, the day before the show, I had heard the horrible news that a beloved member of our Story Jam Fam had lost her 21 year-old son. She and her hubby were supposed to have been at the show, and their absence (and the reason for it) left a massive gaping hole. In listening back to the recording of the night, I can clearly hear the heartbreak in my voice.

But the love in the room was elevating.

Sarah Marie Young and Liam Davis, who are two extraordinary talents, wrote some unbelievable songs, which the killer SJ band utterly nailed.

(Sarah Marie Young, flanked by John Bowes on sax and Danny Shaffer on guitar, with Fred Simon on the piano behind them)

(Liam Davis holding court, with Rafe Bradford on bass behind him)

Thair Thompson and Shannon Wright both brought down the house when they sang "Rise Up" by Andra Day and "Stand Up" by Cynthia Erivo respectively. 

(Thair Thompson throwing down)

(Shannon Wright, in red, leads the singers in a rousing rendition of "Stand Up," a protest song about escaping the tyranny of slavery from the movie "Harriet")

Story Jam MLK Day 2020 was, yet again, an incredible love fest, and I believe, a special night for all. I am honored, as always, and proud to have been a part of it. 

Photos by Lee Klawans © 2020