Claudia sees a ghost - a cherry ghost - and mixes her musical references

Rita's smile was a mile wide as she announced his arrival. And she zeroed in on it right away. He was wearing suede pants, laced up the sides and the front. A snappy dresser, a confident, full grown man. (see the song, "Full Grown Man"") And believe me, he looked GOOD.

I didn't expect it. In fact, I didn't expect to see him alive again. It wasn't until after the interview that I allowed myself to get a little teary, but I was feeling deeply emotional throughout.

It is truly a miracle that Alejandro Escovedo isn't dead. He was ravaged by Hepatitis C and when that didn't kill him, the Interferon treatment almost did. We heard nothing about him for months at a time and I would play his CDs on the radio, wondering how he was doing, feeling helpless and uninformed.

I had only met Alejandro once, but he made quite an impression. He is a man whose honesty and integrity draws you in immediately. I interviewed him a few years ago about his project,"With These Hands. I felt we connected. So to see him again — it was almost like seeing a ghost.

Later, I reflected about his willingness to discuss his illness — something so, private. I felt slightly awkward raising all these questions about such a personal struggle, live on the radio. I think I even tripped over his name once. He was wonderfully gracious and if he noticed my discomfort, he didn't let on.

Not only has Alejandro Escovedo triumphed over a near-fatal illness, his CD, The Boxing Mirror, has been hailed as the best of a career that is already critically lauded. And Friday night can only be a triumph for him, playing Carnegie's groovy space, Zankel Hall.

Trust me: go — if only to see what he wears!!

P.S. When the band arrived yesterday, we were in a meeting (yes, radio people have boring meetings, too — only maybe just a little LESS boring because we're arguing about music half the time!). We glanced up to see an entire crowd of clearly COOL looking people fill the anteroom. Rock and roll had arrived at our door. I LOVE MY JOB!