8th, 9th, and 10th Cities: Texas {Tour Life}

In October 2013, I went on my first National Tour with Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. I sang the Abyssinian Mass written by Mr. Marsalis with Chorale Le Chateau led by Damien Sneed. 

Around this part of the tour, it REALLY was starting to feel like we were at work, which, we were...and nice work if you can get it. But Texas was legitamately a blur to me because it happened so quickly. Here are all three cities...er from what I remember.

Houston
So it was about an 8 hour ride from NOLA to Houston and it was all very much a blur. We left really early in the morning to get there in time for our concert which was the day of. Once we got to the lovely hotel, I think I took like a 40 second nap before getting ready for soundcheck. The show was awesome and we came directly back to the hotel. A few friends from NY perform with the Houston Grand Opera house so we got to see them that night!!

View of the lobby from the balcony outside my hotel room

Dallas

I mean Big D, lil' a, double L-A-S! Who knew that when I sang that ridiculous song lyrics in Most Happy Fella 6 years ago, that I'd actually go to this place? All I remember really was the delicious BBQ. The other thing I remember were the little Halloween cookies we got from one of the choir members' Mom upon our arrival at the hotel. Cookies in Halloween bags?!?! More tour magic!!!












Austin

So around the time we got to Austin, all I knew was that I had no idea what day it was. It might've been Wednesday or Sunday, no one really knows. But what I do know is that I had an entire afternoon to rest before the next concert. My friend gave me a manicure (as I was starting to look like an actual Halloween witch) and I had the largest possible iced coffee from Starbucks (conveniently located in the lobby).

At our final stop in Texas, Austin was a great time and I was reunited with another one of my old friends I hadn't seen in years because she lives down there!! I'm excited to go visit Texas again some time since I didn't have much time to really get to see everything. And um, yeah the bbq down there is the best.

7th City: New Orleans - The Saenger Theater {Tour Life} Part II

In October 2013, I went on my first National Tour with Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. I sang the Abyssinian Mass written by Mr. Marsalis with Chorale Le Chateau led by Damien Sneed. 

On my second day in New Orleans, I got to have an incredibly delicious lunch at Royal House Oyster Bar with a couple of tour mates. Ridiculously good.

BEHOLD!

We basically had a foodie excursion ending at Marie Levaux's House of Voodoo. Which was really serendipitous because that next month, I created the role in a new musical The Witching Hour.

We got back to the hotel with enough time to get ready for soundcheck. The theater was the most incredible theater we had seen. It looked like we were outside on a starry night. I was having so much trouble keeping my jaw off the floor that I barely paid attention to the soundcheck, ha!

I mean, seriously?

We sang our hearts out as always and were really excited to be in Wynton's hometown. I have to say this was my MOST favorite part of tour and it was when I finally realized how absolutely magical and enchanted my life has become. I knew from this point onward things would never be the same again...in the most positive way!

Please enjoy a clip of us singing that evening below.

Post by Wynton Marsalis.

7th City: New Orleans - The Saenger Theatre {Tour Life} Part I

In October 2013, I went on my first National Tour with Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. I sang the Abyssinian Mass written by Mr. Marsalis with Chorale Le Chateau led by Damien Sneed. 

There are so many things to say about my visit to this incredible town, which is why this will be a two-parter. I don't want to leave anything out. It was around this time that I started to realize that my life had taken the most excellent upward swing. The magic of the tour was really showing itself and this particular leg was when it really started.

Firstly, the trip from Augusta to New Orleans was 12 hours long. Somehow, this was the most comfortable 12 hours I've ever experienced. We made some really good pit stops, including one with a HUGE Barnes and Noble & a Waffle House (duh, winning!) Not to mention that a mom of one of the mezzos in the choir (hey Amber!) made us all pie.

Maria, Jonathan, and Josh!

Even our rest stops were magic and fun. We needed to stretch our legs so naturally, NATURALLY everyone went outside and started dancing. What a blessing and treasure to know that there is a legion of musicians/performers who are on the same eccentric level as you.

Bobby and Martin!

I think we got to the Hyatt Regency, which was my most favorite hotel, around 8pm or 9pm. I'm pretty sure I was still sleeping so I was moving rather sluggishly to get off the bus. I noticed a small commotion outside of the bus but figured everyone was just excited to finally be in NOLA. Nope, turns out, Bobby Brown was outside the hotel, just minding his business smoking a cigarette. Maybe I dreamed that, I don't know, nothing seemed real anymore. But the fact of the matter is, Bobby Brown really WAS there and I was totally going to go do the running man with him. I wanted to say "Too hot to handle, too cold to hold, they called the Ghostbusters and they in control!". But I decided against that and just told him how big of a fan I am and that I did earnestly still listen to his greatest hits quite regularly. He asked me what I did for a living and I told him I was an opera singer on tour with WM and JALC and then, Bobby Brown imitated an opera singer and sang opera to me. Because, well, you know, of COURSE.

I was completely unprepared for the majesty that awaited me when I walked into the hotel. OH THE MAJESTY. It was like a cruise ship sailing to Narnia. And there were two Starbucks inside the hotel itself. I mean, sign me up! There were direct flight elevators and chandeliers and jazz clubs and restaurants. The tv even greeted me when I got to the room. Just, what? But I had to get ready for an event in town that one of the tour girls put together so I didn't fully take everything in. Next thing I knew, me and the girls were taking in the sights and the sounds of the French Quarter. It was there that I partook in my first mouthwatering, perfectly seasoned, crispy, exceptional, heavenly Shrimp Po' Boy from a local hole in the wall. If someone a year ago when I quit my day job told me that I'd be standing in New Orleans, in perfect weather, mid-October, eating a shrimp po' boy (that I still dream about to this day), after being sung to by Bobby Brown, while on tour with Wynton Marsalis, well I'd tell them they had a very active imagination.

Lauren, Belinda, Me, Anne!

YUP!

6th City: Augusta, GA - Good Shepherd Baptist Church {Tour Life}

In October 2013, I went on my first National Tour with Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. I sang the Abyssinian Mass written by Mr. Marsalis with Chorale Le Chateau led by Damien Sneed. 

This post is video heavy, which isn't so bad. So make sure you watch them all, they're very short, but you'll feel like you were there with us!

After Athens, we had a quick jaunt over to Augusta. This town is our conductor, Damien Sneed's hometown and you could feel the excitement among all of us. I personally was nervous because I didn't want to ruin the show, might've just been me thinking that though, because how would I have done that? Teehee!

The hotel as usual was very lovely and we got to spend a little time there before going to soundcheck. I caught some video of some of the guys throwing around a football with the composer.

As usual, the show was fantastic and emotional as we could feel the immensity of Maestro Sneed's presence in that church. How big of an event it was for him to bring Wynton Marsalis, who is also his mentor, to his home church. I loved hearing the shouts of praise for Damien and feeling the love for him as people gave him standing ovations. I was so incredibly inspired by the entire experience.

Here's a clip of us at soundcheck that day:

Post by Wynton Marsalis.

Last but not least, check out this awesome video that Jazz at Lincoln made of us in Augusta:

5th City: Athens, GA - University of Georgia Performing Arts Center {Tour Life}

In October 2013, I went on my first National Tour with Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. I sang the Abyssinian Mass written by Mr. Marsalis with Chorale Le Chateau led by Damien Sneed. 

So I've never been to Georgia and I was so excited about EVERYTHING. I may or may not have asked what timezone we would be in when we got there...

It's a GEORGIA Peach!

Full disclosure, the only thing I was concerned about regarding this tour was whether or not I would implode from riding on a tour bus for hours at a time all through the South. The fact is, it was such a good time. Every single time we stopped, it didn't matter if we were at a sprawling outdoor mall or a tiny gas station - we made the absolute most of it. It was like one long field trip.

Darnell, John, and Josh

We got to Athens while the sun was still out. It was a proper day off so we got to catch up on laundry and sleep. Some of us went to explore the college town not too far away from us. This was the first city that I completely indulged in a day off. We layed by the pool and tanned and it was just luxurious and incredible. I was having trouble making any of this make sense. Like, this is supposed to be WORK? I'm having the time of my life, I'M SITTING BY A POOL ON A WEEKDAY.

I would say the coolest part of this particular leg of the trip was getting to know everyone better and relaxing. One super amazing is-this-real-life thing that happened was being invited to a dinner party at the last minute. There were some extra seats available to dine with Mr. Marsalis and a few band members at a close colleagues home. When I say they welcomed the 5 of us that came to the dinner party with open arms, I mean it! There was savory beef stew, hearty

The most Southern picture I've ever taken

potatoes, perfectly sweet Sweet Tea, and let's not even TALK about dessert. Okay, no, let's talk about it. Pecan Pie. And so much of it that they let us take a couple back to the hotel with us to share with the others.

Anyway, the next day we performed at the University of Georgia Performing Arts Center and for some reason, I only took a picture of the ceiling. This might've been because my hair was still a hot mess from Charlotte and I was waiting until after soundcheck to let someone who really know what they were doing (Hey Chenee!) to hook me up.

I might be mixing days up but after the show, a few of the band members and Mr. Marsalis were standing in the lobby eating some of the local cuisine (read: Ribs) and I asked a choral member if she'd come with me to take my picture with him. I still hadn't really figured out how to greet him but I figured it was now or never, or else people would think I was making this whole thing up. I probably said "Um, hello, uh sir? Can I er, takeapicturewithyousorryyoureating" and I'm certain he replied, "What? Of course!" And there you have it, my first picture with Mr. Wynton Marsalis. Is this real life?

My First Picture with the legend Wynton Marsalis!

4th City: Charlotte, NC - Friendship Missionary Baptist Church {Tour Life}

In October 2013, I went on my first National Tour with Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. I sang the Abyssinian Mass written by Mr. Marsalis with Chorale Le Chateau led by Damien Sneed. 

After DC we took a semi long ride back down to North Carolina. I had never been to Charlotte before and everyone mentioned to me how cool of a town it was. We stayed right downtown Charlotte and they were right, it was a really nice area and I wished I could've stayed and explored longer!

We got there not too late at night and we had the night off! A bunch of people went out bowling and as I am the worst bowler and most competitive game player in the world (doesn't matter if it's Volleyball or Tic-Tac-Toe, I aim to destroy you!), I decided to sit that one out and do my hair. And well, I used to know how to do my hair but that night, I'm not sure what happened. So I took a much needed rest that night at the hotel with my funny looking hair, some pizza, and my kindle. The good life!

The next day was when we actually performed at the beautiful Friendship Missionary Baptist Church. This would be the first time we were performing the piece in a church and there was something so special about that. The mass was slowly becoming closer and closer to our hearts and no longer just a piece we rehearsed all year and were taking on the road, it was now part of us.

Mmm, bisque.

I'd the say the most fun I had was after the concert when some of the girls from the alto section started free style singing in the dressing room. We were definitely having church in that room! It was just amazing to hear what those girls could do with their voices and their unrehearsed harmonies. We were all becoming a lot more familiar with each other and it was starting to feel like I was on the road with my closest friends and family. Some of us even went to Karaoke that night. I'm certain someone has this on tape but I'm not going to look around for it for everyone's sake.

Oh also, I had this sumptuous She Crab Bisque for lunch at the restaurant in the hotel. I'm still dreaming about that bisque.

Third City: Washington DC - The Kennedy Center {Tour Life}

In October 2013, I went on my first National Tour with Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. I sang the Abyssinian Mass written by Mr. Marsalis with Chorale Le Chateau led by Damien Sneed. 

We drove to DC early in the morning and I slept most of the time. I was so afraid to be riding a tour bus everywhere, but it was so totally fine. I had some amazing meditative music and it always kept me pretty zen. Before I knew it, we were in DC (it was only 3 hours anyway). I was SO excited to be back there as I hadn't really stepped foot in DC in a good 22 years. Yikes! What?

I was also extremely excited to sing at the Kennedy Center and to see my best good friends Parker and David. I was definitely taking pictures of everything like that tourist that I was.

There's me on the right, with the hat on! Behind the piano!
Photo credit: Frank Stewart

Mmm, lobster.

In between soundcheck and the show, we got to go out in the city and have lunch. I had THE MOST DELICIOUS Lobster Ravioli at CIRCA at Foggy Bottom. I mean, so good. After that we went up to the top of the Kennedy Center to look at all of DC from there. I was told the that view at night was stunning, but I didn't get a chance to indulge. Next time, for sure!

I actually bought a wig for the tour. I don't normally wear wigs, I don't know how to put them on or ANYTHING. I had my friend Lauren Michelle help me out with the pincurls and the actual putting on of the wig. I was pretty excited too and I was telling just about everyone that I was walked by that I was wearing a wig. How convenient!

But by the time I got on that stage, I was sweating bullets and I felt like my scalp was slowly being ripped off of my skull. I was also afraid to move too much just in case it shifted or something. And to top it all off, I wore the most Presidential dress I could find, because you know, we're in DC and everything. BUT I only brought knee highs, not full stockings. SO between my wig potentially falling off and the entire audience noticing that there was about 1/8 of my legs showing between the knee highs and the dress, I was very happy to stand in the back out of anyone's line of sight. As luck would have it, I was moved to the front row at the last minute. Yep, of course. Cheers!

Luckily, there were no knee high or wig mishaps and we had another thrilling concert. My phone had no reception so I sent my friends in the audience about a million texts before I got to meet up with them really quickly and take about a thousand selfies before getting on the bus to the hotel which wasn't very close to the venue this time around. My dinner was these AMAZING Angus Sliders and Truffle Mashed Potatoes at the rooftop revolving restaurant in the hotel. I'm drooling thinking about them. BRB walking to DC to get more.

Also, they were topped with fried onions.

Here's a snippet of our performance!

Post by Wynton Marsalis.

Second City: Norfolk, VA - Chrysler Hall {Tour Life}

In October 2013, I went on my first National Tour with Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. I sang the Abyssinian Mass written by Mr. Marsalis with Chorale Le Chateau led by Damien Sneed. 

Our next stop was Norfolk VA to sing in the Chrysler Hall. After two days in Chapel Hill, I was almost sad to leave. Then of course I remembered we had so many other cool places to go to.

We got to the hotel pretty early in the afternoon after a bit of a drive and the weather was just incredible. I don't think I ever got used to how deliciously warm the temperatures remained while we were out. We got to our rooms and still had some time to enjoy our surroundings. We were right on the water so a bunch of us went out back and pretended we were on vacation for like 5 minutes before it was time for soundcheck.

This time around when we got to the Chrysler Hall, we couldn't help but take pictures of the house. And some of us (read: me) thought it might be cool to have a photoshoot all the way downstage. So much fun!!

After another delicious dinner, we got ready for show 3. This was a great audience too and we got a great ovation from them. After the show, I was so wired from all the energy. I was starting to hear the piece in a much more different way than I ever had in rehearsal or even in the 2 previous shows.

Additionally, we found out that The Virginia Arts Festival had an after-party and invited us to it. This was the first of a few surprise events that occurred after the concert. I remember thinking to myself  "Wow really La Toya, all of the dresses that you have in your suitcase and you didn't think to bring one with you for after the show?!" But like everything, it was completely fine for us to hang out as we were. We all had on our Chorale Le Chateau hoodies so it was uniformed enough. The food was delicious and the wine was plentiful. We all got back on the tour buses and threw an impromptu dance party...on the bus, because, tour life.

When we got back to the gorgeous hotel, who was sitting on the couches in the lobby but the man himself! I was probably the last to know that Wynton is the coolest most approachable dude ever, so when I saw him there, I immediately thought of the most professional greeting to say so that, you know, I'd look professional when greeting him. I probably said "Good evening Mr. Maestro Marsalis sir" and courtesyed or tipped an invisible hat or something, who knows, seemed appropriate! I was so tired that night and thankful for the experience in Norfolk and was very ready to get to DC the next morning!

Photo credit: Frank Stewart

Here's a clip of us singing the Our Father that evening

Post by Wynton Marsalis.

First City: Chapel Hill {Tour Life}

In October 2013, I went on my first National Tour with Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. I sang the Abyssinian Mass written by Mr. Marsalis with Chorale Le Chateau led by Damien Sneed. 

Originally, when I went on my first tour this year, I wanted to write about each city and show you pictures of my food and all that. While I did eat and take pictures of everything, I didn't lift a finger to write down all my experiences.Well, while it's still fairly fresh in my mind, I'll write about as many cities as I can remember.

Our first stop was Chapel Hill. It was a pretty long bus ride that started out at 3am and we made quite a few stops. One of my most favorite was at Cracker Barrel somewhere in Virginia. Just about everyone who doesn't have a Cracker Barrel within reach of them is OBSESSED with it. I am no exception. Doning our super dope new hoodies with our names emblazoned on the back (thanks Damien ^_^), we descended upon the first of many Cracker Barrel oases.

Photo credit: Jorell Williams

It was all pretty much a blur after that because I recall getting to the hotel, remarking to myself (and everyone) how AMAZING it was that it was still so warm in October down there and then going to sleep.

Also, I didn't get very many pictures because I was so tired! AND I got a little sniffle over night, so for the first concert my voice was so shot! I was super bummed about getting a cold so soon but I also not bummed because, I'm on tour.


 I had never been to UNC Chapel Hill before, nor had I been on a college campus in a long time, so I was oddly (and tourist-ly) excited as we pulled up in our fancy tour bus, looking important. We got to sound check and there was a buzz of excitement. This was our first performance after all the rehearsals! Eventually, when we got to the performance spaces (as you'll see) we all spent an elaborate amount of time taking pictures of the house and of the band. But for now, here's a picture I "snuck" because I didn't want to be *that* person.

After sound check, we went to dinner (I didn't take pictures of the food because I still didn't want to be *that* person), and finally went backstage to get ready for show 1. It was so well received and exciting to finally sing this in front of a bunch of people. Tour was definitely off to a great start.

Here's a shot of us from the photographer Frank Stewart, I'm the fifth dot from the left on the top row. Teehee!

Photo credit: Frank Stewart

First Tour: T minus 3 days to go {a look back}

In October 2013, I went on my first National Tour with Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. I sang the Abyssinian Mass written by Mr. Marsalis with Chorale Le Chateau led by Damien Sneed. 

I found out earlier this year that I was going on tour and didn't really mention it to the masses for months and months because I felt like I was dreaming! Showing up to Jazz at Lincoln Center at the stage door every few weeks and rehearsing a piece that the legend Wynton Marsalis wrote...I mean, how could this be real life? It was a question I'd be asking all year long.

I don't really know what I was expecting but whatever that was, it was BEYOND what I could imagine. Firstly, I was surrounded by greatness. From the conductor Damien Sneed to the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra and everyone in between, we had some of the best musicians around in that room with us. And every single person in that choir could sing their faces off and it really validated my place in that room. That I was among the best of the best and I was included in that best.

Photo credit: Candice Hoyes

Fast forward to the beginning of October, it was the first of 3 days of rehearsal where we'd be rehearsing the Mass with the band for 6 hours per day. During those 3 days, there were some very interesting guests. On my way to lunch that Monday, I'm the only person in the hallway getting on the elevator and WHO walks out of the Dizzy's Jazz Club with their entourage but Fantasia Barrino. I don't even get star struck by people but for some reason, I was with her. Maybe because we were both at work that day, in the same place, and I was thinking, maybe I shouldn't say anything. But then she said "Hay-llo" to ME in her signature raspy voice. HA! I'm actually a really big fan of her and voted for her every week when she was on Idol.

The 2nd day, Crosby, Stills & Nash randomly showed up to the rehearsal. I don't know why, surely they were performing somewhere themselves and just wanted to check out the production. No big deal I guess. But *I* was freaking out because I spent a year trying to figure out the name of this one classic rock song, but I could only think of this part "Do do do do do DOOT DOOT DO DO". And it was such a long frustrating year because when I typed that into a search bar, don't you know, google COULDN'T TELL ME WHAT I MEANT. Anyway long story short, it was "Judy Blue Eyes" by them and I felt closer to that band after someone finally told me and sent me their CD (Thanks Debi!!). Okay, so that's why it was important to me that they showed up. I wanted to yell to them "Hey!!! Do do do do do DOOT DOOT DO DO. You know what I mean?!?!" What a La Toya-centric coincidence! (I cued up a YouTube Vid of this song HERE just in case you have NO idea what I'm talking about)

Ron Raines!

And on the 3rd day, someone who looked like Ron Raines showed up. Only, it WAS Ron Raines. This sealed the deal for me because after my friend Lawrence Saint-Victor got a role on Guiding Light, I started watching the soap opera to support him. I very quickly became a mega-fan of the character Alan Spalding (played by Raines) and how tremendously exquisite his villainous portrayal was. Just supreme. I loved him. So on that 3rd day when Ron Raines showed up to rehearsal I really had to ask myself if this was real life.



And we hadn't even left for tour yet...!

Here's a clip of us singing from one of our rehearsals that week:

Post by Wynton Marsalis.