So much has happened since I last updated my news page at the website. My sincerest apologies to those of you who have checked in and haven't gotten the latest news. I think I will have to be flayed with a wet noodle. That is about all the punishment that I can take. Thank you for your patience.
So to fill you in on the events. Pacific Place was its usual blast. Thanks to all of my friends who came out and sang along during the Holiday Season.
Then it was on to Julia's on Broadway with Kacey Evans at the keyboard. There were two pretty young girls dressed in their finest on their way out to enjoy the Nutcracker in Seattle. They got up and sang with me and totally made my night.
The Big Holiday show at the Historic Everett Theatre with Dehner Franks was wonderful...It was a lot of hard work though.
again next year and that you all will come out to support the effort of the Volunteers of America Food Bank. But that is WAY too far out in the future.
Let's see...I had another appearance with Karin Kajita out at Julia's on February 18th. That one never did get up in my calendar out at Shantibrook but I DID get an e-mail sent out ...and it got sent AGAIN and AGAIN and AGAIN. Finally I had a very good friend write me and say "This is ridiculous....Stop sending this to me, will you?" As if I did that on purpose. I apologized to everyone; I think I am forgiven. Anyway that was my final appearance at Julia's because rumor has it that they are mounting a different kind of show. I don't know if it is up and running yet so I won't blow it. I just recommend you go out to Julia's and see WASSUP!
Since then I have spent my time writing & arranging new music and
Symphony Board of Directors. There have been meetings and then more meetings, followed by even more...MEETINGS. However I am very pleased to say that all of that effort has paid off. Dr. Cobbs is back on board at the Symphony, we have a new acting Executive Director and we have started recruiting new board members. That means I will have some time now to get back into the swing of all things musical.
I heard from Jeanine Wagner and Margaret Simmons. "The New Orleans Suite" went over well in its premier performance in Illinois in November. They sent me a recording and I was very happy.
The duo is performing it at Xavier University at the end of this month and also at a fund raiser in April in Caine River, Louisiana to benefit the Hurricane Katrina survivors. And that brings me right up to the present and to "What's fun..."
What's Fun...
I am currently preparing for a concert that I will be doing in April with Eugene Bien on keyboard in Everett, WA.
I am extremely excited about this event because it will mark a new development in the music that I am composing. The concert is for the Port Gardner Bay Chamber Music Society (PGBCMS). It will be on April 16th at 3:00 PM in the afternoon. Yes, children, that is indeed Easter Sunday afternoon but I am sure that your morning services will be done. You will have already enjoyed a Sunday Brunch with family and friends and you will be looking for something to do that can move all of that wonderful food through your systems.
So I recommend that you load up the car or maybe a bicycle (if the weather cooperates) and head out to beautiful downtown Everett. There you can enjoy a wonderful concert of great music.
April 16th marks the West Coast premier of "The New Orleans Suite" by your humble neighborhood singer/songwriter, moi!
The Suite is a collection of 6 songs for piano and voice that celebrates the City of New Orleans, its rich Creole culture, the language, the food and the music. The movements are entitled "Dawn", "Eat, Drink and Be Merry"," Good Black", "Saturday", "New Orleans", and "Prayer." We will also offer up an eclectic mix of well-known, favorites to round out the afternoon. Count on a little Beatles, Carole King, Rodgers and Hart, Gordon and Warren, (WHO?) Harold Arlen, etc. Tickets are $10 ($8 for students). You can purchase at the door or call Cheryl Lindley at 425-258-2586 for reservations.
Tickets can be purchased in advance by mailing a check payable to PGBCMS to PO Box 12763, Everett, WA 98206.
See you in April!