[TPIN] A wonderful show, with trumpet content and some other feelings towards the end ..........

[vaxtrpts at aol.com]

I have waited until today to send this message, even though
I saw the show last Saturday evening. 
Thought it might be appropriate. 



On December 22, Peggy and I were guests at Andy Williams
final Christmas Concert of his final Christmastime tour. It was here in
Prescott Valley, Arizona, at the arena. 
There were more than 2000 in attendance and this was the smallest crowd
of this year’s tour.  This was one of
the best shows I have seen in a long time.



 He has been doing
these kinds of shows both on TV and on tour for at least 40 years and he is
REALLY good at it.  He was just 80 years
young on December 3rd.   He
is still in great shape and still has a remarkable singing voice, which is used
with ease and efficiency.  He is a
wonderful entertainer with great timing and a relaxed demeanor.  His jokes go over really well with the
audience and his introductions to the music are well done and informative.



TRUMPET/BAND CONTENT: 
The one draw back to the show was the lack of “live” instruments, but
the arrangements were really well done and the band sounded GREAT.



Instrumentation: 1 Trumpet, 1 Sax (lots of doubling), Three
keyboards (One for brass, one for woodwinds and one for strings.), Piano, Bass,
Drums, Guitar and Percussion.



The trumpet player is Paul Von Adam.  (Some might remember him as Paul Adamson on
the Kenton Band.)   I actually hired him
for the band in 1971, and we have remained good friends ever since.  He has been in Branson, Mo for many years
and stays so busy it is amazing.  This
past season he was doing 14-18 shows per week - every week.  Now that’s some good chops.



This show is like the great old time variety shows on
TV.  There was a family vocal back up
group – The Warnock Family.  Mom and Dad
and four dauthters.  They were fantastic
and sang in styles all the way from country to “Singers Unlimited.”  Good intonation, blend and phrasing –
everything you look for in a vocal group. 
There was the Williams brothers dancing duo – no relation to Andy – and
they make a good joke of it ----- they are black.  In the realm of the Step Brothers, The Will Maston Trio and other
great dance teams, they were very entertaining.  Also an AMAZING dance and magic act – Pasha and Ailona from
Russia.  I have NO way to describe this
act.  Their dancing could win on Dancing
With the Stars, but at least a half dozen times in their routine, she is
covered for no more that a couple of seconds, and each time she ends up with a
new and completely different costume on. 
Then at the end his costume magically changes too.  The audience was spellbound and they got a
huge ovation at the end.



I have saved this part to the end for a good reason.  As a person of Jewish decent and faith, I am
completely disgusted with all the politically correct crap that goes on
today.  I have no problem saying Merry
Christmas to my Christian friends.  My
wife is not Jewish and we have had a Christmas Tree every year for 32 years,
and until this year have always spent Christmas with her family. It is
something that she really enjoys. (This year we are all alone at our home in
Prescott, Arizona, having a very quiet Christmas Day.) We also have a huge
Hannukah gathering with my family every year. Our daughter Leslie, has had the
“best of both worlds.”  



I wonder why people of all faiths can’t just get along and
understand that Christmastime is just that 
---- a season of love and joy for everybody.  It DOESN’T need to say anything about Muslums, or Kwanza or
anything else!



Andy’s show was full of Christmas Carols, other Christmas
Music, and yes even a little “preaching” about the holiday and what it
means.  Do I believe in all the words of
the Christmas tunes?  No. Do they offend
me?  ABSOLUTELY NOT!  The music is beautiful and the basic message
of “Good Will to All People” would do much to help the whole world.



Mike Vax



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