Dear Friends:

Who could have envisioned that anything could keep us from singing together? After several months of pandemic life — a stay-at-home order, teleworking for some of us, masks everywhere, outdoor dining into the fall, and the elimination of regular gatherings and shared meals — the members of the Pam Ortiz Band got together in August to toast our successes. If there’s one thing you can’t do during the COVID-19 health emergency, it’s to hang out in the small space that is our music room with your closest musical comrades, open your mouth, and sing. We brought tables and chairs outside, along with a little bubbly, shared a socially-distanced meal (when that was still possible in summer), and expressed our gratitude for all the amazing experiences we have had together – the coffee and conversation on Tuesday rehearsal nights, the friendships, the trips to various shows, the performances (good and bad!), and most especially the music we made together.

To everything there is a season. When the world reawakens, most of us will find ways to continue performing, but the Pam Ortiz Band has laid down its instruments and walked off the stage.

Of course, most of us continue to make music or art in one way or another. Nevin has been doing online performances. Philip has been recording with his Louisianna band, the Alligators. Ford has managed the Garfield Center’s online open mike, and he and his sister continued to host the Chestertown Ukulele Club well into the late fall – outdoors with masks, of course. Bob continues to craft furniture and is envisioning new ways to keep the arts alive at the shop. He’s been planning a mural supporting the work of local Latin American artists and the local Latin American community. Pam has rediscovered the joy of just playing for herself — playing much more piano than she usually does– because that is an instrument that gives her great joy, but which she will rarely play in performance.

We worry about musician comrades who depend on performance for their livelihood. We mourn the dark stages of our local venues, fingers-crossed that they’ll make it through the extended economic crisis. And most of all we miss you — we miss large crowds and sold-out shows — we miss hollering and yelling, unmasked, with delight upon seeing you in the street or at the theater, we miss shared meals, we miss running into you at the pub for a high volume conversation over drinks and clamoring voices. We miss quiet confidences and intimate discussions. We are desperate for hugs and long to raise our voices with a large crowd in shared song.

You have been an amazing part of our musical journey. We are so incredibly grateful for those of you who have walked that journey with us. We’re all still around. That journey will continue in some way at some time. Right now it’s a very quiet, slow journey to nowhere. We are all in the desert, living our 40 days and nights, doing what we are supposed to do, centering and quieting, and preparing for the next chapter.

All of us from the Pam Ortiz Band wish you a healthy, joyful holiday, and the very best for the coming year.

Pam, Bob, Ford, Philip, and Nevin