SINGERS' SINGER ED REED: Yoshi's Late Show

Jazz vocaliste par excellence Ed Reed held court at Yoshi's Oakland Monday night - that's the where and the when - and I was fortunate to be off work and able to attend his late show. The show kicked off at 10 PM and there was a decent sized crowd in attendance, despite the hour and the fact that it was a Monday night. The occasion was a celebration of the release of Reed's sophomore effort, "The Song Is You" (I love that song, too bad he didn't sing it) and if anyone embodies song, it is Mr. Reed. He brought along a crack band composed of Brian Cooke (piano), Anton Schwartz (reeds), Robb Fisher (bass), Akira Tana (drums, and they had the audience sitting slack-jawed at their tremendous creativity and drive.

But it was Ed Reed who was the glue that held the show together, with amazing reimaginings of classic and obscure American standards like "Daydream," the incredible "This Shouldn't Happen to a Dream" and a powerful "Ask Me Now." He took the Broadway classic, "Where or When," and transformed it into a powerful meditation on memory, loss, age and time.

The power of love weaves its way in and out of Reed's repertoire, and his sometimes silky, sometimes booming voice handles the myriad chord changes and melody shifts with ease and aplomb. It was a pleasure to sit there wrapped up in the moody spell Reed cast with his superb vocal style and on point commitment to the lyric.

I haven't mentioned Ed Reed's age or his oft-related history. While both inform his song selections and his interpretations of them, they are just part of the whole artistry that makes up this world class singer.

Ed Reed - a name to remember. Don't miss him next time he comes around.

Oakland Chinatown Street Festival 2008

I love Oakland. I wake up on a warm Sunday morning, run down to Fruitvale Peets for my AM coffee, pick up my nephew at his sleepover and bring him home to my sister's home where they were recuperating from a slumber party bridal shower for my next sister-in-law. Breakfast was laid out and I had a chance to catch up with my sister, her husband and my nephew about their recent trip to Paris and Provence. Of course they want to go back immediately, or at least next year! Can't say I blame them. I've been three times in the past ten years.

Then I have a three-plus mile walk around Lake Merritt, a man-made, salt water jewel of a body of water in the middle of Oakland's downtown, replete with micro-climates around every corner, sailboats, gondolas, joggers, Children's Fairyland, bocce ball courts, fountains, flower gardens and more eye candy than the mind can retain without a camera at the ready.

From there I drive a few blocks away to Oakland's rapidly enlarging Chinatown district for their annual street fair, where vendors sell all kinds of plants, clothes, jewelry and snacks of every stripe including, of course, Chinese, although the neighborhood is rife with Chinese restaurants and bakeries. Even Safeway was handing out free snack and drink samples, and the live bands were kickin'. The crowd-pleasing dragon dancers had all of us, especially the youngest, captivated.

Yes, there is much more to Oakland than takeover robberies and some rough neighborhoods.

Loose Ends: "Transsiberian" Late Show

I'm at loose ends these days, especially on my weekends, particularly on Fridays. My partner of nearly seven years moved in six months ago and within two weeks our relationship basically dissolved. It was a shock to discover I no longer had my companion by my side. Yes, we still cohabitate, but weekends I'm on my own while he's out having a ball. I have friends, but I've been so wrapped up in this relationship for so long, all my time off work involved my erstwhile partner. I need to make some new friends to socialize with, and I find the prospect daunting. Fridays after I've run errands and taken care of business all day, I end up at home, listening to music, playing online, and feeling overwhelmed and a bit anxious about leaving the house.

Last night I decided that I'd had enough of staying in the house from Friday afternoon until Saturday morning stewing in my own juices. I drove into Berkeley for a late show of "Transsiberian," a train thriller with Woody Harrelson, Ben Kingsley, Emily Mortimer and Kate Mara, excellent and diverting. It got me thinking about how two people can be married for years and still be unknown to each other in many ways. I guess that can be a good thing sometimes.

It was showing at the Shattuck Theater, and I had time to notice the detail in the theater, which is fixed up like an Egyptian temple, similar to the Grand Lake in Oakland. I wonder if they are connected. In any case, it's beautiful.

On my way back to my car, I noticed the sculpture above near the Berkeley Public Library. Perhaps it is part of the library. I don't know. I thought it was beautiful, too.

I'm still at loose ends, but taking baby steps. Step one, if you will.