Musicians: Kat Eaton (vocals) Pete Lee (piano)
I’d not been to Bridgeside since January so I was pleasantly surprised to find that masks and covid tests were no longer mandatory. It’s been a privilege to sing for the residents of Bridgeside Lodge but it’s been quite a struggle to breathe deeply for the long notes behind a mask! It was also nice to see visitors and staff unbridled by their masks too. I even struggled to recognise a few of them. I don’t know about you, but I definitely found I was imagining the parts of people’s faces we couldn’t see because of face masks.
Spring has sprung in London and as pianist Pete Lee and I set up to play for Ms JC, I could see the cherry blossoms floating down river outside the window. JC looked pleased to see us and when we asked what music she might like to hear she asked for Nat King Cole. She seemed more confident today, happily taking the lead vocal as Pete played the piano and I dropped out on the choruses. We usually provide music for her in her room when she’s in bed but today she was up and about and I wonder if that made her feel as though she was able to involve herself more in the music. After two or three songs we moved into the dining room to be with JR, but where JC would still be able to hear us. As we moved she thanked and complimented us as she so often does, saying that hearing live music brings her joy.
JR was ready for us when we arrived and we quickly launched into one of his favourites, Bob Marley’s Three Little Birds. He confidently took the lead and we sang backing vocals on the chorus with all the nurses in the room and walking down the hall joining in. The mood changed however, becoming a little more sombre when JR sang his song Mother (written with Spitz musician Nat Keen). One of the carers shed a tear, it’s a very poignant song. Afterwards Pete told me that he felt overwhelmed seeing Joseph so proud of his song and so involved in performing it.
Pete says he’s noticed a real difference in JR since the last time he was here and I have too. Ever since writing his own material JR has grown in confidence as a performer and taken real ownership of the music he creates. The lyrics are honest, humbling and easily relatable and he’s always game for an anthemic chorus that Pete and I are more than happy to sing loud and proud. One of his newer songs Music Is Friendship has a call and response chorus, which is great fun to sing. JR obviously wants his audience to be involved and sing along with him, spreading his positive and hopeful message in the process.
In the third floor lounge we were challenged by Mr DW and his wife Marge to play another song we don’t know! This lovely couple have a wider musical knowledge and repertoire than most jazz musicians and we love learning about musicians and songs we’ve never heard of before. Pete and I make a pact with each other to learn one of the more obscure jazz standards that Marge and DW suggested.
In the same room Ms KN and her sister joined in with At Last and Bewitched Bothered And Bewildered with Mr JC on fine form, smiling, singing and strumming away on his guitar whilst directing the choir. It was lovely to see KN’s sister and Marge interacting and enjoying their visit together. The atmosphere they created was incredibly calm and welcoming. Resident DB kept walking in and out, as he tends to do, enjoying the music but choosing not to be right in the heart of the action. I hope that he felt the same sense of calm and community that I did.
On the second floor, just outside the lift, Pete and I met two residents who are fairly new and whom we had not met before. Mr KL and Ms GT, who proudly told us of her Maltese roots. It was quite loud in the hallway for one reason or another so we decided to split up for a moment so we could better connect with our new acquaintances. Pete spoke to KL while I spoke to GT. The one-to-one interaction was great for both parties. It was clear that both residents appreciated having our undivided attention and it was lovely to get to know them individually. GT came across and very intelligent, creative and kind. She showed me her crocheting and sewing skills and as I said “I couldn’t ever do that” she kindly encouraged me that I could and it was easy. Had I stayed longer I’m sure I would have been given a lesson, such was her generosity. From across the hall I could tell from his body language that KL was open and kind-hearted. He was constantly smiling and his gestures were welcoming. When we started playing music he instantly began crying and we were humbled at his willingness to shed a tear in front of strangers.
I’d had a bit of a hard week so KL’s outpouring of emotion affected me but was also a sense of release. I had felt the need to cry myself but held back the tears and lived vicariously through him for a moment. I’ve spoken before about residents living vicariously through us, through the music, but this time it was the other way around. And it felt good.
