Having returned to the challenge that is performance music, I often think about who to build audiences for the various bands and ensembles that I participate with. Part of the art of attracting an audience can be supercharged by carefully selecting the time and date of the performance. If you are in an area where the audience can ‘discover’ you like a mall or park, you can gain new followers.

This assumes your band or ensemble provides world-class entertainment. Select music that your audience can relate to and that your band can do well. Get your musicians invested into the concert by challenging them and highlighting the best the music group has to offer. Even a music group with average to above average talents can have an inspired concert. When that happens, the audience will notice and want to come back.

So in that vein, I’m reprising my jazz xTet and including the songs we performed as part of the best concert we every played as determined by audience response. For example, one of our regular listeners told us that after the first set, she heard the book vendors humming the last song of our set, Sway. Here’s the rest of the story. Hope to see you there.

Dissonance 2010 – Ballard Locks ~ Saturday, 3 July 2-4 PM – Gig at Ballard Locks

First set (2 – 2:55 PM)

• Killer Joe
• Do Nothing (vocal)
• Embraceable You (vocal)
• Blue Bossa
• Black Orpheus (A/T)
• They Can’t Take That away from me (vocal)
• My Funny Valentine (vocal)
• Straight no Chaser
• Blues for Kim
• Nice Work if you Can Get it (vocal)
• Stolen Moments
• Sway (vocal)

Second Set (3:10 – 4 PM)

• When Sunny Gets Blue
• Doxy
• Freddie Freeloader
• Nightingale Sang in Berkley Square
• Night and Day (vocal)
• Summertime (vocal)
• Indiana
• I’ve Got You Under My Skin (vocal)
• Blue Monk
• Love is Here to Stay (vocal)
• The Lady is a Tramp (vocal)
• Jersey Bounce

Hip pocket:

• Blue Skies (vocal)
• Too Close for Comfort (vocal)

Dress: Hawaiian casual, goofy hats, and boa’s.