Grand Times: News

MARCH 2010:    Recent news includes LaDonna, Tena & Tory entertaining at the International TRAILWAYS Convention at the Renaissance Hotel at Ross Bridge.  The theme for the evening was "Moonlight and Magnolias".  We set up around the grand piano in the lobby area of the ballroom, for the happy hour gathering, surrounded by beautiful Magnolias, and many items that were being displayed for silent auction, as guests mixed and mingled, looked and listened. 
Grand Times was happy to present the theme-song for the event, "Stars Fell On Alabama" along with more than an hour's worth of music from "back in the hay-day of the American art song!"

Selections included classic song favorites from the 1940's. Some of the titles included
"Blue Moon", "It must have been Moonlight", "Somewhere Over the Rainbow", "Somebody Loves Me", "Stormy Weather", many Gershwin favorites, and others.

Especially notable, was when Tory Malavet pulled out his violin for some rousing upbeat swing-jazz selections, and when we dedicated songs to specific states and cities in song that are served by the Trailways Bus Lines, including  "Chattanooga Choo-Choo", "Stars fell on Alabama", "St. Louis Blues," "Tennessee Walz"...you get the idea!  

Grand Times, loves to give a grand time, and we will tailor each event to it's specific theme or need.  Whether a rousing 60th Birthday Party, a themed corporate event, or the more poignant personal moments of a wedding or memorial, we are there in heart and spirit to serve you.

Perfect wedding music for a perfect wedding day. 

 It's all about you and what you envision for the most creative ceremony of your life.  
Grand Times,...the beauty of the voice! the piano!  a duo, or a trio with violin, your song selections! Making your ceremony sparkle!  That's what we are all about!

    This year, on February 28th, GRAND TIMES took part in the PWG Bridal Market hosted by 'ENGAGED" at the Winfrey Hotel in Birmingham. LaDonna, dressed to the 9's in a gold-pleated tailed-tuxedo, performed popular wedding favorites, such as The Prayer,  You Raise Me Up,  A Time for Us, Love Me Tender,  My Heart Will Go On, and I Will be Here... on the large 9 foot grand piano in the lobby and also upstairs as brides shopped and vendors exchanged cards in one of the biggest bridal events of the year.

Tena arrived on the scene a little late, due to her busy schedule with church music, teaching voice, and making sure that Tory is at orchestra, but indeed a "grand time" was had by all, as we provided beautiful backgrounds to inspire the attendants.

         Tena Wilson is a joy to behold, from head to toe!

 For your wedding music, Grand Times, is an excellent affordable choice.
We will provide beautiful music from vocal selections, piano and violin specialties
and ceremonial ambience. 

Call us for a free consultation. We love to serve,
and dishing up beautiful music is what we do best!

:)

The golden voice of Tena Wilson teaming up pianist LaDonna Smith, creates a collaboration that is as elegant and smooth as it is free and exciting.  Grand Times,  for the grand piano and for the grand time had by all.  Our music floats effortlessly from the keys, the voice, and the heart strings.

Grand Times loves to make the perfect music for all occasions, whether in concert, or an event, on your grand piano in your private living room, at a club, or elegant entertainment setting. Grand Times is a specialty at events & fundraisers, sacred ceremonies, weddings and memorials.  We spent much time with the older generation over the summer, entertaining in assisted living communities, nursing environments, and even some SCALF Units. Tena considers this our "musical tithing," and there is truly nothing more satisfying and worthwhile than bring joy to the hearts and smiles to the faces of our elders, serenading them with their familiar music of "back in the day!"   Classics like Lena Horne's "Stormy Weather" and Gershwin's "Somebody Loves Me", "Summertime" or the upbeat "Fascinating Rhythm" or "Chattanooga Choo Choo" to choo choo them on home, to fuel old memories, and light up the night with dreamy romanticism.

      We always enjoy what we do, and it is a mission indeed to interpret some of the most stunning and beautiful melodies ever known to music. Smith's versatile performance style on piano brings out the many voices and colors of the instrument, in delicious delicate textures and backgrounds, as well as at times reveling in wild, or dramatic, improvisations. Tena's son, Tory Malavet,  is in his own right an accomplished jazz and classical violinist, makes heads turn as he contributes to the repertoire of GRAND TIMES.

                                                                      

Our music never fails to capture the essence of the audience. Going with the flow of the specific event, we oscillate from background ambience to showcase," perhaps leading an inclusive, spontaneous sing-a-long, leaving the audience with a sense of joy and shared well-being!   Need more than a duo? When Tory joins us on violin, or Jerry on guitar, we make swing jazz improvisation, colorful melodic orchestrations, and render popular classics with a sweetness that makes you want to cry.

GRAND TIMES creates a grand experience, music for the sake of beauty, memory, and compassionate care of the soul.  We play & sing!  And our heart strings do ring!

Some of our notable engagements recently featured several private parties on a very special Steinway, including the Magic City Women's Chorus,  a social for Women Writing for a Change, Meredith Smith's 60th Birthday Party,  Concerts, and Serenades for the elderly: The Oaks at Parkwood, Brookdale Place at Somerby, Chateau Vestavia, Mount Royal Senior Living.  Grand Times also entertained at the Magic City Choral Society Annual Fundraiser. What a blast!


Appropriate and affordable.  Grand Times would love to make the music at your wedding or ceremony sparkle with the beauty of music for all occasions. We invite you to consider having one of many Grand Times with us soon!

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