 |
|

Ritt performing on the Main Stage @ the 35th Annual Pori Jazz Festival
in Finland, July 2000, between
Freddie Hubbard and Bela Fleck & the Flecktones.
Got to hang & play with cats from Finland, Turkey, Russia, Germany,
Georgia (the one over there), Orlando (the one over here) & Woodland
Hills. Besides playin', the highlight of the week over there was hangin'
with the guys from Buena Vista Social Club, who were headlining the festival.
I got the gig by playing a Christmas gig at Borders in Pasadena. I ended
a tune with a Picardy Third (ending a minor tune with a major third),
& this guy next to me sez, "Y'know, in ancient times that was
considered sacrilege." I go, "Whoa, Mr. Musicologist over here."
He sez, "My wife's a singer, she's over there gettin' coffee, you
should have her come up & sing with you." So she does, &
it turns out he's one of the promoters of the festival. Kismet, baby.
Click
here for more Pori photos.
|
|

©Craig Schwartz
Ritt as Officer Bell
in the world
premeire production of "The People vs. Mona" at the Pasadena Playhouse,
Spring 2000.
This was a courtroom musical dramedy co-written
by Jim Wann, a co-creator of "Pump Boys & Dinettes." (In
fact I did "Pump Boys" with Jim in L.A. in '86.) Mona's accused
of killing her heinous husband, a record producer, by hitting him over
the head with a guitar. Bell's
one of the witnesses testifying at the trial. His biggest thrill in life:
Portraying Curley in the local theatre production of "Oklahoma."
(Think booming bass/baritone voice. Every note reaches the rafters. The
guy's a ham. It was a stretch, but I managed.) In the end, it turns out
I'm the murderer. When I'd confess, the crowd would erupt in applause
& I'd throw kisses to the balcony. Now that's my kind of gig. Click
here for more Mona photos.
|
|