So I was in NY Today.....

[Tusk]

Haleyholic posted about her experience with Haley at IDF

The Holic meets her Haley

After waiting backstage and at the stage door and briefly at the Rose Museum where there was supposedly a cd signing, a stranger's kindness led to a round of Reinhart. "Haley's over there" he said.
She wore her brown leather jacket over her glistening, gold gown. She was focused on two young Halien girls. I waited patiently with Tony. (Tusk)
A beautiful smile and a warm hand shake launched the convo:
I told Haley I was a big fan of hers and I’ve been a jazz-head for years. That I worship at the alter of Ella and Miles and all those greats. Haley’s eyes widened and she said something like, “Oh yeah. I hear that.” She talked about her performance (which was amazing), but she confessed that she wish she wasn’t so stiff. She accentuated the point by doing some robot moves. She’s funny. She talked about Dee Dee Bridgewater and we talked about how funny she was and Haley talked about how easy-going and just chill she was to hang with backstage. I told her she definitely loosened up on the finale when the band and the artists did a funeral procession up and down the aisles of the Hall.
Irvin had performed a beautiful musical tribute that he wrote for his father, the man who taught him to play the trumpet and whose life was tragically lost during Hurricane Katrina. In true New Orleans fashion, the song ended in an improvisation of “When The Saints Go Marchin’ In” and then it exploded into a Dixieland blowout, where audience members and performers alike brought out their handkerchiefs and waved them in the air. The procession was great everybody was dancing around, including Haley who had loosened up considerably, courtesy of one of Ray Charles original Raylettes. I’m embarrassed I don’t know her name.
Anyway back to the stiffness. I joked she might want to have a little drink before she goes on. She joked that that might be a good idea. Although she expressed some concern about the quality of her performance after the cocktail. LOL.
Of course, I can’t talk to my jazz kitty without telling her how much I love hearing her sing jazz. She told me how important it was to her. I told her she was a true throwback. That she harkens back to Billie and Ella. She talked about how she loves Billie Holiday. Lady Day it turns out, is her favorite artist. I told her a little Billie Holiday anecdote I once read and she got a kick out of it; which made me very happy! And I told her that she could never abandon jazz and that she simply must do a jazz album. That I loved classic soul and rock too and her album is great… but jazz was, without words I beat on my heart. She just looked at me and said “Exactly.” She said, “No one could ever stop me from singing jazz.” (I wanted to cry tears of joy and relief and my heart did a Riverdance.) We talked about Interscope, not being very jazz oriented and she gave them credit for letting her do what’s in her heart. After looking into her eyes and hearing her talk about jazz… I can now say, she is Jazz Kitty #1 and my love for her has been rekindled. I always loved her, but you know, after a awhile, the honeymoon is over and she’s just there… coming around on your iPod from time to time, showing up on your computer, vacuuming under your feet… oh wait, I’m sorry, that’s my ex..
Anyway, I can’t tell you all how great it was to talk about jazz with a fellow jazz-head. She was sweet and wonderful and passionate about America’s first fusion music. She gives me so much hope for the future of the art form. And yes, she’s beautiful in person. And the dress was stunning and she straightened and put a wave in her hair, very old Hollywood glamour. Really lovely. Inside and out.

But I'm still writing Steley.