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Autism "Golf Ball" Halifax, NS October 20, 2007
One of the things Matt loves the most about playing jazz (OTHER than the music, of COURSE!) is having the opportunity to travel. On October 20, 2007, Matt performed in beautiful Halifax, Nova Scotia at an event called the “Autism Golf Ball” to raise funds for the Provincial Autism Centre. The event is a fun-filled golf-themed evening featuring a unique 18-hole indoor mini-golf course, gourmet food selections, prizes, an exciting silent auction, and a lively “aprés-golf” dance. This trip was definitely one of the highlights of the year for us both! The Maritimes is a uniquely special place in Canada. We have been all over Canada and haven’t found a single place we haven’t loved. Each location has its own attraction and beauty and its own wonderful people. But the people in the Maritimes are just so, so special and warm. This was to be reiterated to us over and over during our entire stay in Halifax…especially on the day and evening of the main event when people worked nonstop from unbelievably early in the morning until the minute the doors opened for the event that night. The warmth and camaraderie and smiles the entire day completely belied the fact that every single person was volunteering time and energy. It was mind-boggling the shear number of people with hearts of gold and embraces and words of warmth. Matt and I have never felt so at HOME when we were not at home! We arrived in Halifax two days before the main event so Matt could perform at another event. The IWK Health Centre held a special concert for its patients and families. The facility set up a piano right in the foyer, so Matt’s playing could be heard throughout the hospital!!! The acoustics were amazing! It was a musical teaser for people of what was to come the following Saturday. Friday was partly a PR day and partly a relaxing, fun day for Matt. All the event promotion was complete by lunch time, which gave us the REST of the day for sightseeing. Early AM on Friday brought an interview on CBC Radio’s “Information Radio” program with hosts Don Connolly and Elizabeth Logan.
After that we went back to the Centre for a tour and an interview with the Chronicle-Herald Newspaper. Then we were off to a television interview for CTV’s “Live at 5” with Starr Dobson. Normally, the interview would have been filmed live (yes, at 5 PM), however, the studio could not arrange for a piano in the studio. So, they arranged to pre-film their interview with Matt at The Maritime Conservatory of Music.
We were back at the hotel before lunch and immediately set out to enjoy the Boardwalk, a wonderful walk along the piers of Halifax. You can walk and walk and walk… There is so much to do and see. Our first goal was to EAT! We had a great seafood lunch (of COURSE) and then set about exploring. Just as we finished lunch, we saw a television camera man walking down the pier towards us. We followed the direction of his gaze and saw a gorgeous Tall Ship sailing into Halifax Harbour. It was a German vessel with all of its sails unfurled. It was magnificent. We watched as it came closer, the crew working furiously to strike the sails as it approached the docking pier. It passed so close to us that we could hear orders being shouted on board. Tall Ships are unbelievably huge up close! We then walked a bit down the pier and explored the beautiful CSS Acadia, a Canadian former hydrographic surveying and oceanographic research ship. It now serves as a historic museum ship stationed outside the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. It is the only ship still afloat that served the Royal Canadian Navy in both World Wars.
We spent the rest of the day wandering around the boardwalk until it was time for us to meet our hosts and sponsors (Scotiabank, The Craig Family and The Provincial Autism Centre) for a special dinner at a wonderful restaurant. I must say at this point that there were many, many organizations who gave of their time and money and energy and enthusiasm to bring about the fundraising event. Scotiabank was the MAIN sponsor, and the Craig Foundation, CTV and the Chronicle-Herald were also big sponsors, but there were many other organizations that also came to the plate. So if I forget to mention someone here who should be mentioned, I apologize!!!!! But this dinner was held for us and for the other out-of-town “headliner,” Barry Morrow, and his wife Beverly. Barry Morrow was the writer of the movie “Rain Man.” He had participated in last year’s fundraising event for the PAC and was returning again to speak. An effusive and exuberant individual, he gave Matt a Rain Man movie poster with his autograph. And Scotiabank gave Matt (and Barry and several other people whose work had brought about the reality of the fundraiser) a beautiful plaque to remember the “Autism Golf Ball.” Our time spent with our hosts at this dinner was when we started to know the warmth and caring of the people in the Maritimes. What generous and special people live there... people with the biggest hearts ever! Finally it was the day of the event. We went to the Cunard Centre for sound check and were stunned to walk into a frenzy of activity. The theme for this year’s “Golf Ball” was “Around the world in 18 holes.” Matt was the “music” draw for the early part of the evening. Actually, the Mike Cowie ‘Big Night Out’ band played while people mingled and ate and played golf and bid on the silent auction. Early in the evening, Mike and his band took a break and it was Matt’s turn to perform. He played several solo piano jazz tunes. At 9 PM the host, Jamie Patterson from KOOL 96.5 came on and introduced the chairman of the Golf Ball committee, Danny Graham, who spoke and presented this year’s “Green Jacket.” Then the PAC showed a video montage of still photographs of people on the autism spectrum. As the video played, it was musically accompanied (live) by Matt on the piano. Matt played a beautiful rendition of “The Rainbow Connection” (by Paul Williams and Kenny Ascher). It was perfect!
After the video, Barry Morrow took the stage and gave a wonderful speech about Kim Peek, the “real” Rain Man. He then introduced Matt at the piano, discussing everything he had read about Matt on the internet. Barry sat on the piano bench next to Matt and briefly interviewed Matt, “testing” Matt’s ability to identify multiple notes played simultaneously without having to look at the keyboard. Of course, Matt aced the “test” and Barry gave up and invited Matt to play the piano.
Matt was in a silly mood, so he performed the jazz standard “All the Things You Are” (by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II) intermingled with the pop song “Bad Day” (by Daniel Powder). As you might guess, these songs have nothing in common other than Matt, but he seamlessly weaved the tunes as if they were MEANT to be together. It was REALLY cool! There was a little more speaking after Matt’s performance, and then it was DANCE time. Mike Cowie and his band performed a few tunes to get people going, then invited Matt to come up and play the piano with them. This was another highlight for Matt AND the audience. The music being played was all the best dance music out there…from “Mustang Sally” to “Twist and Shout,” to “Dancin’ in the Street”… from the Beatles to Bruce Springsteen to the Rolling Stones to James Brown. I don’t even remember all the songs. The plan was for Matt to join the band for a song or two. But when it became apparent to Mike that Matt learned every song played by the band as they played it the first time around, the band just kept playing with Matt at the helm of the piano! Matt was up there for the rest of the band’s set! As someone who grew up with these great tunes, it was REALLY fun for me to watch Matt getting down and funky, playing rock and roll and blues and learning a WHOLE bunch of “classic” tunes and having a ball! Matt was ALL smiles. And he loved playing the music with the big band, too…replete with a horn section and vocals and everything! Mike, if you read this, THANK YOU for allowing Matt to jam with your band for the evening. Matt had such a great time!
I normally don’t write such long entries in my scrapbook, so please forgive me. But this experience with our wonderful friends in Halifax was memorable for so, so many reasons. We were honored to be a part of the Provincial Autism Centre’s most successful fundraiser to date. And our friends in the Maritimes are friends we will never forget and hope to see again SOON!
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