Tomorrow was made for some....

She’s 77 years old. She has retired from several careers. She shares a comfortable home with her long-time partner and a sweet old dog. She’s a respected elder and orator, invited to speak at rallies and fund-raisers for causes she believes in. She holds several lifetime achievement awards. She’s an icon for civil rights and human rights; people call her the “conscience” of the State. She’s made her mark. But she’s looking for a growing edge, a new challenge, a new direction to explore. What does she do?

Our friend Kathleen Saadat (blipped here three years ago) just embarked on a career as a jazz singer, and on March 1st she sang her first-ever CD-release concert to a full house of six hundred people. (Scroll down in that link for a video of one of the songs on the album.) She has been singing all her life--in the shower and at parties. But until a few weeks ago she never sang for the public, never even considered a concert tour. Eight years ago she asked her friend Thomas Lauderdale, of Pink Martini , if he’d help her produce a little private recording for friends and family. He ended up writing new arrangements for her songs and providing backup instrumentation by himself and Pink Martini. The result is Love For Sale. 

As I looked over the audience, I saw it was predominantly gray heads. There were more walkers, scooters, and canes than you usually expect at a jazz concert. I wouldn't even try to count the pairs of eye glasses, hearing aids, and dentures. I think every one of us felt hope arise: hope that we can still forge new paths, explore old dreams, kiss again and sing. In patter between songs, Kathleen laughed, “When I hold onto the piano, it’s not just for dramatic effect.” 

I enjoyed every song, but the one that left us all breathless is a reminder that we have little time left,  “For All We Know.”

Love me tonight
Tomorrow was made for some
Tomorrow may never come
For all we know. (Lyrics by J. Coots and Sam Lewis.)


Standing next to Kathleen in the photo is China Forbes; the musicians of Pink Martini include, at far right, Thomas Lauderdale playing a kind of electronic bagpipe melodica.