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Noa's concert in Boston USA Nov 10th |
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After the "Boston" concert (it was in Framingham, a town in the middle of the state, surrounded by farmland, forty-five minutes away from Boston--Noa wondered aloud how it was in G-d's plan that she'd be in Framingham three times so far in concert. Some people who live in Framingham wonder how it's in G-d's plan that they even live there, Noa, so you're not alone): Noa mentioned that this was her last show in the US for this tour: the Framingham show. She's headed into the studio to record their new album, so won't be touring for a while. I think that her previously scheduled concerts in the New York area were cancelled because not enough people bought tickets--ticket sales for all shows have been down because of September 11th tragedies, and fear of another attack. Anat and I had a wonderful time getting to know each other, and Denis, you were nowhere to be found, but Anat and I didn't know what you looked like--I did see your picture on BarcelNoa, but you must look a bit different now because I didn't see anyone looking exactly like that picture...There was a man with a French accent and curly hair sitting next to us...if that was you, well, it was very nice to sit next to you and trip over you a few times, even if you didn't know it was me :-) We had seats W10 and W12. Where were you? Hope you enjoyed the concert as much as Anat and I did. Anat, I'm so happy to have met you--I'm glad your father was loudly wondering where "the guy from Montréal" was, because that's how I figured out it was you. Your family is lovely and so are you--I had a great time talking with you. If you and your family end up going to see Broza in NYC this December, let me know and we can all meet at the Y. This was my first time seeing Noa in concert (don't say it, I know what you're all thinking, but speaking as a woman who has been in the front row of a David Broza concert twice in the past year and plans to do so again on Dec. 24 in NYC, "virginity" just isn't in the musical vocabulary anymore...). So bear with me while I publicly go into overflow mode: Noa was, in a word (okay, technically two), a blessing. Her voice was perfection, her range continues to blow my mind (low, smooth alto to the purest high soprano in ten seconds flat), and I was in a state of unearthly bliss throughout the entire performance. Zohar was easily the most amazing, gifted percussionist I've ever seen. If he could, Tito Puente, G-d rest his soul, would come back from the grave just to hear this man play. Zohar, you are a band's dream percussionist--thank you for such an incredible, uplifting performance! Gil was fabulous as well--gave a stunning performance of "Panama"--and what a beautiful voice to pair with Noa's. Enthralling, endearing, ai, ai, ai... The crowd was a bit quiet for the first few songs, it seemed to me (could have been the acoustics where I was, with a balcony hanging over our seats--muffled the applause in front of us but you could hear the people behind us if they so much as ruffled their hair), but when Zohar and Gil got going together on "Panama," and Zohar did his solo bit, the crowd went wild. When Noa sang "The Beauty of That," all bets were off--we couldn't hold it in, and it was such a wonderful feeling, the entire hall moving and shaking and clapping as hard as human hands can clap. Ah, the power of music. We wanted Noa to come back to do a second encore (she did one encore) but she came out with Ayehli and said that if it's between singing and him, he wins hands down--she gracefully declined. Who can blame her--Ayehli was crying for her at one point in the concert, and she had to wipe tears away. I don't know how she does it, but we were all glad that she does--such light and love at a time when we all desperately needed it. The concert was in danger of being cancelled because of slow ticket sales, thanks to the fear and depression that hangs like thick smoke in the air around here, but the sponsoring synagogue pulled out all the stops, sold 1,000 tickets, and the show went on. She came through for us--todah rabah, Achinoam, for your generosity of spirit, your beautiful voice, and the best two accompanying musicians anyone could possibly have. You did us all a world of good. I know Framingham must feel like Nowhere, USA to you, but for one evening, a cold, windy little town in the middle of Massachusetts became an oasis of warmth for music lovers from all around. What more can I say? The English language has many words to say "beautiful," but last night we added "Noa" to that list. |
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This item is specially dedicated to the Balazuc Team with my love and gratitude. Quoting Serrat & Noa's words: "es caprichoso el azar" (Very Capricious is Fate) because Lee Ann and Denis ended up marrying each other in 2003 after "not meeting" that evening in Framingham. Isn't it very capricious fate? Indeed... |
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Fue sin querer |
Review of Noa's concert in
Framingham, 
