Gotham 12/17 & thoughts on a song
Happy Sunday! At least here in NYC it's a gloomy, rainy one, but I'm sending two things that I think will brighten any day. First, is the album concert Ted and I (and the big band!) will be performing on 12/17 at 6pm at Gotham Restaurant. Gorgeous dining room, incredible musicians, and of course this music which at least one critic has said is "...brilliantly done, but a touch too out there to put on for background music while you unwrap presents." Exactly. Next, one song from the record I want to highlight for you, and a little story about how it came to be. "Solstice" began its story as a song set to a famous poets' words for Ted's "Transformation" project with a gorgeous melody by Brian Byrne. When it came to pass the poet would not allow for their work to be musicalized, the song remained unheard, criminally so. Whenever I heard the arrangement Ted and Brian wrote I would burst into tears every time the Marcus Printup's trumpet soared (it was a little embarrassing.) Fast forward to our making a holiday album, Ted wondered if I might be able to write new lyrics to it. The profundity and grace of this song demanded the highest possible echelon of feeling and language from me. And even when singing it, it's still hard to keep it together when Marcus does his thing! Solstice is the darkest time before the light returns. In most traditions, this time of year is all about the evocation of light. I can't think of a time more in need of that than now...and this song is for those of us carrying our light through it.
Here's where you can stream the release. Or buy a CD. Thank you for reading, and for listening. Yours in song,
|
PO Box 20264 NY NY 10023 |
Jazz & Juice
Your weekly pairing of wine & song
Happy Friday! Hope you're looking forward to a great weekend. I've been working on the tunes for August 5th, tending to a sunburn and working on some new songs...but onto what I've been sipping on and listening to! Juice There is no discovery, really, in matters of wine. If something’s made by humans it’s already been some combination of discovered and created. However that doesn’t stop me from feeling a sense of satisfaction, victory even, when I encounter something new and seemingly away...
Happy Friday! Hope you're looking forward to a great weekend. Oh, I'm too excited about singing with Ted Nash's Big Band at Dizzy's Club on August 5th not to remind you about it! Onto your weekly pairing... Juice Greatness in just about anything over time requires a paradoxical balance: that of persistence and consistency matched with innovation and reinvigoration. Too much of the former, things get a little stale; too much of the latter and things become unfocused and diffuse. Rioja is one...
Happy Friday! Before I get to this week's pairing, I wanted to let you know I'll be singing a few songs each set with Ted Nash's Big Band at Dizzy's Club on August 5th -- the band couldn't be better, and the theme is "Jazz Meets Pop." It's going to be a great time -- hope to see you there. Onto your weekly pairing! Juice Gemischter Satz is the name Vienna has given its signature melange of white grapes — maybe more important that than what grapes it contains (riesling, grüner, etc.) is the...