Gig updates
Hello all -
This is my interpretive dance called "Summer": a rhythm of being very busy, interspersed with periods of lying on the floor in heat-induced stupor. But I have some gigs coming up that I want you all to know about.
This week, starting tomorrow! Ashokan Fiddle and Dance Western and Swing Week. Learn more about this extraordinary musical experience by going to www.ashokan.org and clicking on Ashokan FIddle and Dance Camps. Then reserve your space for next year!
In July I am co-producing CDs for two other artists here in the city, which is fascinating work. Then on Thursday, July 24th, I will be at Stone Mountain Center for the Arts in Brownfield, ME. I sang there last year, and it was a revelation. The venue is delightful, and the owners, one of whom, Carol Noonan, is a highly-regarded folksinger, have done everything they can to create a performance space that is pleasurable for audience and performer alike. And the food is very fine. (Note: this date has been postponed. I will repost as soon as the new date is finalized).
The next day, Tex Arnold and I drive down to New Haven for the start of this year's Cabaret Conference at Yale. This year I am again part of a splendid teaching staff, and will be singing several songs in the faculty concert on Sunday, July 27th.
August will be devoted to practice and planning. I am doing a concert of sacred music at the Church of St. Francis Xavier on 16th Street in Chelsea (Monday, November 17th), as part of their annual PAX concert series. I have not done such a concert for a few years; the last ones were a capella, but this time I plan to have accompaniment. The concert must be designed, and new arrangements created. I am also putting together an Advent/Christmas concert (more on that when the tentative booking is confirmed). And Jalala will be rehearsing! Janis (Siegel, Manhattan Transfer), Lauren (Kinhan, New York Voices) and I have a lovely repertoire started, and will be continuing to arrange, rehearse, and refine so as to step into the studio in September as part of jazz guitarist Frank Vignola's new recording.
On Monday, September 15th, I will be making my solo debut at Birdland. I have not sung there since Moxie (Janis, Cheryl Bentyne and I) played sold-out shows there back in 2000. So I am very excited about this upcoming date, and sincerely hope that I will see some of you there.
Finally, on Saturday, September 27th, in Washington, DC, Wendy Lane Bailey and I will be teaching another master class for performers. These classes are genre-free: the basic principles of song interpretation and stagecraft are the same regardless of genre. If you sing jazz, great! Musical theater? Fantastic! Opera? Welcome! Western Swing? Let's dance! Folk? Country? All are welcome. Not so sure about my heavy metal performance chops, but I did meet Ozzie Osbourne back in the Transfer years... For information and to register, write to parkroadmanagement@verizon.net
At the moment, that's the performance news. More to come, my friends... and more kinds of news, too.