Making music again

So it’s been nearly a year since I’ve posted, but here goes!

It’s a sunny, snow-melting day in the Carriage House, and I’ve been working on adding vocals to a track created by artist/musician, Tony Shortway.

The lyric, though sparing, is really meant to reflect a general feeling of wanting to get the insides out. And why certain people have more of a compulsion to do so. Is it that we have residual memory from past lives. Is there something specific that we need to say in this life?

Have a listen to: From Another Life

Picasso's "The Dream"

Solo Festival

Here are two of my piano students, Claire and Jessica, both of which did a lovely job on their piano solos at the NYSSMA Festival at the College of St. Rose on Saturday, March 6. It always seems like a very long journey to that short period of time when you perform your piece, scales, and sight reading for  a judge. Luckily, I think that all of my students were really having a good time, which is really, what matters most!

Semester Update

As it happens, I have not updated for nearly 5 months! During these months, I have moved to Potsdam, NY to finalize my pursuit of the certification to teach music K-12 and begin my MM in Music Education.

My apartment in the Arlington Inn, complete with clawfoot tub…

It has certainly been a new experience to be at The Crane School of Music as a stranger to all but a few. I’ve been learning how to play flute, trombone and trumpet…

And I’ve been completely out of the performance practice, by choice, except for the gigs with The Jeanine Marie Quartet (Brad Closson, Darryl Kniffen, Max Weinbrown) at Apertivo Bistro, which were by far, some of the most challenging as I do not usually fill the role of a front person. Here are a couple of shots from our first show at the Moon & River Cafe, which despite the meager monetary earnings, was the most attentive audience and artistically enjoyable show.

The private students that I have been able to work with on the weekends when I am in Saratoga have continued to engage in musical experiences and push ahead in their acquisition of instrumental techniques. I’m not sure exactly where I would’ve put all of that energy that I am able to spend on this, since it is a huge outlet of my ideas and passion for music & learning.

Nick is visiting for a couple of days, and we had nice anniversary trip to North Adams, MA, where we went to museums and a great show at MASS MoCA to see the Winterpills, who signed their album for us – totally cool way to celebrate.

The semester is about to wrap up on Dec. 16, at which point I will be throwing a lot of thought into my own music and various projects again, including this blog!

Falcon Ridge Folk Festival

Falcon Ridge Folk Festival July 2004

In about 24 hours I will be driving off into the sun in search of peace and love!

Kathryn & I will be volunteers at the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival in Hillsdale, NY : my favorite place to escape the negativity and pressure of our current day society. So many musicians, so much dancing – I don’t think I have EVER seen an unhappy face in my five years of attendance, despite the unavoidable rainy day. There is a beautiful waterfall, at which we one year walked right past Ani Difranco. AMAZING! Here’s to happy people! Here’s to minimal bathing! Here’s to drum circles! Here’s to dancing with strangers and hearing new artists!

Here’s to good friends!

As though I have wings

Lately I find myself out gazing at stars…

Sometimes the things I do astound me…

Mostly, whenever you’re around me.

Recording Session

It is a beautiful Thursday afternoon; I am reveling.

Recording session last night with John Nazarenko at the The Creek Studio with featuring talented gentlemen: Darryl Kniffen on drums, Brad Closson on bass, and Max Weinbrown on guitar.

The tracks are on my Recordings page, but in the case the embedded media does not show up for you, here are the links:

Corcovado

I Thought About You

Detour Ahead

 

Have a listen! Band photos & a name are soon to follow…

DC Style Galavant

 

The lovely host of a DC weekend, as we dine in the fabulous La Tasca in the heart of Penn Quarter. It was so delicious – everything was so wet with flavor, and I discovered: I love Spanish food! :)

On the left, lovely host no.II, Rachael as we enjoy the multitudes of beer and savory menu!

On the mall, there seemed to be birds everywhere. This is the National Japanese American Memorial.

The arm warmers from an earlier post on the intended wearer!! We were trying to be nonchalant in the crowd of gallery goers.

 

Oh, they appease me… In front of corresponding colors of the Sol Lewitt installment

     

Some I Ching art and Warhol.

An Anselm Kiefer piece

Henri Matisse, <3

BEHOLD: ART!@ The National Gallery of Art

 

 

 

From the Library

So I’m in one of the cozy alcoves of the Saratoga Springs Public Library – quite the palace of learning, in my opinion. This particular window seat looks out onto two of my favorite Saratoga landmarks: the Pepto Pink House and the Soul Saving Station for Every Nation. I’ve been there to worship only once, but it probably one of my favorite memories of all time.

Come Sunday, as a 17-year-old believing she is suffering through the plaguing existence of small town America, I drag my ultra-conservative boyfriend to the strange building that sits neatly juxtaposed to our favorite Chinese food place: The Soul Saving Station for Every Nation. What brought me there? The music of course – the tambourine, the jazz organ, the hallelujahs, and the very important fact that the congregations were not neatly buttoned up in uncomfortable clothes. They seemed to have slid into there flowery dresses and tailored pants – sophisticated, illustrious African-American lovely looking people brought together in praise and good music. We sat in the back, white and astounded. The preacher spoke of soaring over our difficult times, as an eagle would – and the rhythm of his speech was a vehement rhythm of its own accord. I was mesmerized and very jealous that I would never feel “on the inside” of this frame of religious reference – very jealous.

…

Let’s see, lately I have been coming to grips with the economy and my sundry commitments which at first seemed too piecemeal to count as significant and now seem to be hovering over me like a fleet of threatening clouds. I know that this week is just the first and most difficult of untying this metaphorical knot that my calendar has become. Because, really, it’s all very exciting stuff, I just need to compartmentalize and conquer.

 I lose myself in the panic of a thrumming thought, I look out the window, in this quiet corner of the library on a muted greyish day and I’m okay. SO! More updates soon on: performances, making of the band, trip to DC, NYC, & Montreal, teaching, knitting, playing, etc. As the library is currently being infiltrated by the after school crowd, children, and men who are speaking loudly about motors and cars and “whoah, that’s too big a book to be readin’,” I must close.

The Year of the Ox

Happy Chinese New Year! It is the year of the Ox. As a baby of the year 1985, I was born under this sign, and I would say that this description of those also born under this sign is pretty accurate for me.

My sister Bridget and I saw Bobby McFerrin perform solo last night and the brand new and certainly beautiful Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center (EMPAC) in Rensselaer . He is perhaps the finest example of a perfectly tuned human being – resonating love and creativity by means of a rich four-octave range. 

Gracious and groovin’, Mr. McFerrin was his normally astounding self and closed with his schizophrenic rendition of The Wizard of Oz. Yes, the whole movie, and yes, all characters. It was deifinitely crowd-pleasing and a true demonstration of his versatility as a performer.

I’m off to a rehearsal for the pit orchestra of The Pajama Game at the Saratoga Springs High School. Music and Lyrics are by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross, who I am less familiar with, but I’m sure we will be acquainted soon enough. I get to play bari, bass clarinet, and clarinet, so that will be a vibration to shake some brain cells loose for sure.

AND! I will finally get to watch Who Killed the Electric Car since it’s on hold for me at the public library.

Who Killed the Electric Car (preview)

What a grand beginning of the new year!

Friday Night Groove

Tonight, I have five dates.

Saxophonist Joshua Redman

Drummer Brian Blade

Drummer Gregory Hutchinson

Bassists Larry Grenadier & Reuben Rogers

 

I will be seeing these amazing musicians perform at the EGG tonight in Albany. The anticipation is killing me!