Another Stellar Evening with Pippi... Cookin’ @ the O

The Oldenburg House seems to have found its groove this year, and Pippi Ardennia was back at the O this weekend for two more evenings of entertainment. One thing different this time. She's now married, to her keyboardist Daniel Leahy, and has left her home in the Twin Cities to join Daniel in Illinois.

The backing trio – Daniel Leahy, Matt Mobley and Glenn Swanson – opened with a Herbie Hancock number, providing a foretaste of the skillset these guys possess. This was followed by a funkified variation of "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy," made famous in the Sixties by The Buckinghams, with Daniel Leahy’s fingers delightfully dancing on that keyboard.

You could tell it was going to be a special night, and very different from the previous year of performances inside the Carlton Room. We were outside, under a big tent, and Swanny was free to let go a bit more on his drum kit, all the amps turned up a tad for the others, allowing the sound to sweep out over the landscape, as opposed to ricocheting off the walls. I later learned that they entertained and served 80 people Friday the night before, which tells me that the next time Pippi's in town you'd best get your tickets early or you'll be left out in the cold.

After warming up the audience Leahy slides into some Ramsey Lewis mood music to usher in Pippi Ardennia who ascends to the stage, ready to take us away, singing Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Oh what a beautiful morning,” elevating the audience and winning us with ease.

There's a bright golden haze on the meadow,
There's a bright golden haze on the meadow,
The corn is as high as an elephant's eye,
An' it looks like its climbin' clear up to the sky.

Oh what a beautiful morning,
Oh what a beautiful day,
I've got a wonderful feeling, Everything's going my way.

And we’re right there with her, because that’s why we’re here, to be lifted up, to be swept away.

IT'S EASY TO SEE why everyone loves Pippi. She brings a shine wherever she goes. She coils the music into a tight ball of energy within, then releases it into her audience.

Before slinging in to her next song she mentions her latest CD, Black Coffee, then tells a story about a club she used to perform at in Chicago. When things were going good, but the band was set to break off for the night, the manager in the back of the room would gesture, lifting his arm and moving it as if spinning a wheel to indicate, "Keep it going, keep it going." Pippi would look at Killer Joe on the piano and he would be shaking his head, "No more." Then Pip would look again at the manager, and he's still gesturing because he wants to sell more drinks. She's stuck in the middle, unable to end it there... Hence the title of the CD, Black Coffee. Black coffee is what kept them going.

After the anecdote Daniel rips in on the ivories, Swanny getting that swing-time rhythm hpping and Mat Mobley walking his fingers up the strings on his big bass as Pippi smiles and sing the ever popular Josef Myrow/Mack Gordon tune made famous by the likes of Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald and Michael Bublé, among others.

You make me feel so young
You make me feel as though spring has sprung
And every time I see you grin
I'm such a happy individual

A big surprise for many was Pippi's invitation to be joined on stage by James Pool, lead singer from the Moonlight Community, to perform two songs together. Poole made his way to a microphone that was awaiting him on the left side of the stage. He's got the iconic look of a Jim Morrison and the stage presence and moves of a veteran lead singer like Robert Plant or Roger Daltry.

The two songs he performed with Pippi are classics beginning with "Summertime" which has been covered by artists as varied as Doc Watson and Janis Joplin. He not only sings and moves, but he's a white boy who can do scat. Watching the veteran Pippi share the spotlight with a young dude doing his first live performance in a jazz setting was fun.

Flipping the page they jumped into "Fever."  Where there's smoke, there's fire, though the heat Pippi shares is clearly generated by Daniel Leahy whom she married this past year, his only crime being that she's now been carried off to Illinois and no longer lives in the Twin Cities. No prob. There's little doubt a portion of Pippi's heart will remain here in Carlton at the O.

Pippi sang a song for the womenfolk next, or rather for the Sisters. Then she asked them to stand and shake their shimmy. This was the end of the first set which allowed the servers to bring our main course: grilled pork tenderloin doused with spiced orange and cranberries on roasted orange/almond green beans and baby potatoes. (Or something like that.) Yummmmm. (I should have taken a picture.)

SET 2

The backing trio once again gets the mood going for the second act. Pippi takes the stage and lifts us once again with an inspired rendition of another classic, "On a Clear Day."

On a clear day, rise and look around you, and you'll see who you are.
On a clear day, how it will astound you
That the glow of your feelings outshines every star.

During the intermission Pippi has done a wardrobe change, returning in an altogether different outfit that strives to be equal to the task of matching her kaleidoscopic spirit, embellished with her sequins, jewels and fan of feathers. Her sumptuous voice delivers Roberta Flack's "Feel Like Making Love" with a wholesome sensuality that is restrained and tender.

From there she brought Louis Armstrong's classic "What A Wonderful World" to life. It's such a beautiful song. "I see friends shaking hands, sayin', 'How do you do?' They're really saying, 'I love you." And I think to myself, 'What a wonderful world.'"

It's a song about the beauty and simplicity of friendship. And love. Pippi sings it so persuasively that I'm certain there were eyes moistened there under the ten.

This was followed by George Gershwin's "They Can't Take That Away from Me," another classic performed by Sinatra, Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday and boatload of other crooners. originally introduced by Fred Astaire. This was followed by another highlight of the evening, a tribute to the late Aretha Franklin, so moved us all. The song was Carole King's "You Make Me Feel (Like a Natural Woman)" during which she charmed a number of women from the audience to join her on the stage to be a backing chorus, a maneuver that delighted participants and audience alike.

The night ended with a rousing rendition of "Taking It To The Streets".... Pippi knows whereof she speaks.

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We drove home with hearts lifted, our spirits energized by the generous manner in which she pours herself out for her audience. For Daniel and Pippi, you can tell it's not just entertainment. It's about transforming lives. Thank you, Pippi.

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You can take Pippi home with you by following this link here: https://www.amazon.com/Black-Coffee-Pippi-Ardennia/dp/B009191Q2M

For upcoming events at the Oldenburg House visit oacc.us

Jazz Fans Give a Standing O to Carlton Room Performers

They packed 'em in at the Oldenburg House again this past weekend. Both Friday and Saturday evening's show were stellar, as was the Carlton Room cuisine. The performers were top drawer and gave it their all.

For those unfamiliar, the Carlton Room bills itself as "a performance space with a nighclub atmosphere in a historic house in a timeless setting. If you were there this weekend, you would undoubtedly assent to this description. (For more on the Oldenburg House story see this article in The Reader.) Here's how the evening went for those of us who attended Friday's performance.

COOKIN’ AT THE ‘O’

Billy Peterson, making love with his music.

It was early evening when we arrived and you could see that people were gathering out by the pool for a little pre-event cocktail. The musicians joined us and a mood of expectation permeated the gathering crowd. As dusk settled in we meandered back to the house to find our seats

Glenn Swanson welcomed us, introducing the band: Danny Leahy on keyboards, Billy Peterson bass and Glenn himself on his new drum kit. Guitar man Michael Scroggins was delayed by traffic coming North from the Twin Cities for the annual spectacle of the regionsAutumnal splendor. (He did make it for the second set.) Glenn, Billy & Dan opened the first set with an instrumental piece, traditional jazz with rotation that features each of the instrumentalists, setting a tone of mutual appreciation for their various talents, creating anticipation in the audience as we get a foretaste of their virtuosity. “Boy, did we pick up some hot tickets,” someone said.

Pippi lives fully in the moment.

Then Pippi Ardenia sashayed through the tables to the stage to join the threesome there, opening with “I think you made your move too soon, I got more than money on my mind.” Sultry and playful, Pippi is enormously comfortable and has quickly captured the room, though she can tell that the band has already won them. After this tune she instructs Billy to grab the electric bass by declaring, “I want to put a groove on.” Peterson squares up and Pippi breaks into “That’s the time I feel like making love to you.” The night would be hot.

Her set was full of style. “My Prelude” she says, is just a simple melody, nothing fancy. This was followed by a tender flowing duet with Danny, “I Hadn’t Anyone Till You.”

I've sometimes heard Glenn refer to Pippi as the Pipster, and she knows how to make things snappy, swiftly jumping into a jammin’ version of “My Favorite Things.”

When Pippi sings like that one can't help but make comparisons to that great lady Ella Fitzgerald whose energy and voice defined classic jazz, in which a popular song is transformed and an audience is transfixed.

Michael's vibe: smooth and cool.

The band broke to give servers a chance to clear tables (there were appetizers awaiting us when we first arrived) and deliver the main course. I stepped outside and listened to a discussion about jazz clubs in the Cities. Many of the old clubs have eliminated the bands in favor of DJs. "We still have Crooners, Jazz Central and a couple others," one of the veterans said.

When I returned to my table I found we’d been served tenderloin so tasty and tender you could cut it with a fork and potatoes so creamy and flavorful you temporarily imagined heaven. Guitarist Michael Scroggins was now on hand for the second set, which opened with Pippi singing “Sugar” followed by a wonderfully evocative version of “Walk On By.” You could feel the tears. Another classic followed, “I Only Have Eyes For You.” There were smiles all around now and then some real cookin’ kicked in.

“Here come ol’ flat-top he come groovin’ up slowly…" Pippi's rendition of John Lennon's Abbey Road opener was tantalizing, but when Lennon's lyrics were complete the band played on and she commented on how creepy some of those lyrics were, adding that she had a couple more verses to close it out, on point, fine tuning the theme which was ultimately love. Come together, right now, yeah.

Glenn "Swanny" Swanson: a passion for expression.

Pippi and Billy then did a heartfelt, innovative Blue Moon which evolved into a rowdy "Takin’ it to the Streets." Other songs of note that she covered included Stevie Wonder's "Foggy London Town," Sinatra's "Fly Me to the Moon" and the classic "Look of Love."

If you can find a way yo find your way to the Carlton Room, I promise, it will be an evening you won't soon forget. The next show is slated for Saturday, October 21.

Learn more here... along with a link to how to find your ticket to a great evening of fine dining and a great show.

Thank you, Pippi, Billy, Glenn and friends, for a great evening. If you want to add a shout-out to your sponsors in the comments, that would be great, too.

PHOTOS courtesy Andrew Perfetti