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Christina Perrone
Hometown Weekly Intern
On Wednesday, June 28, the Willow Crossing Ensemble Trio played a mix of jazz and classical music for the residents at the Briarwood Nursing home. It was a sunny, warm evening, perfect for spending time with friends and listening to great live music. The beautiful venue was decorated with string lights, plastic pink flamingoes and bright flower arrangements.
The band was made up of a violinist, a banjo player, a guitarist, drummer and a pianist. The first song the ensemble played was the classic from the roaring twenties, “Has Anybody Seen My Gal?” Audience members hummed along to the upbeat melody: "Five foot two, eyes of blue, / But oh what those five feet could do / Has anybody seen my gal?”
Stacey Clinton, a staff member at Briarwood in charge of the business office, joined members on the patio to hear the band play and mingle with some residents. “Every year we do a little ‘Music Under the Stars’ concert series, and this is the first concert of the year,” said Clinton.
“They do this just for fun,” she continued, referring to the Willow Crossing Ensemble, “they do it because they like to play music, and they enjoy entertaining the older crowd, so we’re lucky to have them.”
According to Clinton, the most rewarding part of her job at Briarwood is the residents. “I’m always learning something new with them,” she said smiling.
Izzy, a Briarwood resident, came up to sing a cover of Woody Guthrie’s song, 'Hard Ain't It Hard,' and even treated the audience to some yodeling between verses. Photos by Christina Perrone
“The gentleman who’s on the piano is the husband of one of our recent rehab residents,” she added, gesturing to the talented piano player and lead vocalist, Joseph Lilliman. “We just kind of sparked up a conversation. He said he was in a band, and I just invited him to come play."
After working in the nursing care business for most of her life, Glidwell has come to appreciate the wisdom and humor of those she cares for. “They’re very wise and they’ve been through a lot, so they have a lot of experiences,” she told Hometown Weekly. “If you just make it a point with them and sit down and have a conversation with them, a lot of them are very funny. And if you give them a minute, they’ll talk your ear off.”
One of the highlights from the concert was when the banjo player, an Irish gentleman, came up to sing the popular Irish folk song, "Who Threw the Overalls in Mrs. Murphy’s Chowder." Nearly all the residents knew the words by heart: “Oh, who threw the overalls in Mrs. Murphy’s chowder? / Nobody answered, so he shouted all the louder / It's an Irish trick that's true / I can lick the mick that threw / The overalls in Mrs Murphy's chowder!”
“Perfect pitch is when you throw an accordion into the dumpster and it lands between four banjos,” joked Lilliman between songs. “You gotta be there.”
The apex of the show came when Izzy, a resident at Briarwood, came up to sing “Hard Ain't It Hard” by Woody Guthrie and even authentically yodeled between verses. “Oh, well, it's hard, ain't it hard, ain't it hard? (oh, yes) / To love one who never did love you / Oh, well, it's hard, ain't it hard, ain't it hard, great God? / To love one who never will be true?” sang Izzy in a gentle voice reminiscent of Johnny Cash.
“We always end all our music sessions with ‘Just a Closer Walk with Thee,’” said Lilliman before playing the last, and perhaps best song of the evening. "Just a Closer Walk with Thee" is a traditional gospel song that has been covered by many artists including Patsy Cline, Willie Nelson, Louis Armstrong, Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash. It is often played at traditional New Orleans jazz funerals for musicians, according to Lilliman.
“We’ve known each other for at least twenty years,” said Lilliman after the show. “We just came together because we play music. If it wasn’t for music, we’d never know each other. One’s an engineer, one’s a Harvard Business School graduate, one’s a writer, the drummer is an attorney in Rhode Island, and I’m a therapist. But what brings us together is music,” he said, packing away his keyboard.
There is more in store this summer for those who missed the first concert. The Briarwood Nursing Home plans on hosting more musical acts throughout the summer months as part of their "Music Under the Stars" series. For those who love hits from the greatest generation or for those just looking to have a good time, be sure to keep a look out for the next concert.
