Heading home to L.A.

I have passed through Hope, AZ several times on my way back to CA from sis's. I am always compelled to stop each time to photograph the sweet painted wall that sports the Hope, AZ signage. This time I was prompted by a need for gas and a pit stop which caused me to take pause to notice the last sign outta town...luv it! (esp "your" now beyond hope)

Hope, Snowflake, Surprise, AZ

I love the names of Arizona town. Towns like Snowflake, Surprise and Buckeye are just a few of the comforting names that I see when I passed by. With the immediate threat of snow has subsided but reminders.  After a successful show in Phoenix (at the Champion House Concert series) I am making my way up the Yarnell grade to my sister Bonnie's ranch in the town of Skull Valley (another cute AZ name). I finally head past the cattle fields down the dirt road lined with age old willow trees to the end of Cottonwood Ln.

 

My sister and I share the love of horses and healing. At her ranch, she facilitates equine assisted learning programs and teaches equine classes at the local Prescott College. Before my concert she did a demonstration for her community of her programs with the horses

Boston

Today I am driving to Boston to hang out with a dear friend who I have not seen in years. Bonnie Hayes is one of the most talented songwriters I have ever met as well as keyboardist and singer. We share many touring experiences having worked with a few of the same artists in the 90's. She now chairs the Songwriting Dept at Berklee School of Music. I arrive around 3pm and we have a lovely reunion at her stunning loft just a few blocks from Berklee. Later we go to see Bonnie Raitt (with Mark Cohn opening). What a great show and then Bonnie sits in on the encore to sing the tune she wrote, Have a Heart. Fabulous! The band is Mike Finnegan on keys, Hutch Hutcherson on bass, Ricky Faatar on drums and George Marienelli.

the road to Springfield, MA via the Port Jefferson Ferry

Once again I am on the road. This time to a house concert in Springfield, MA. I opt for the ferry to Bridgeport not just to save some time and tolls but also because I love the experience of being on the water and the view of the harbor from the sea. Once on shore it's an easy 2 hrs to my destination where my lovely host Tracy has arranged a wonderfully attentive group of friends to listen to my concert.

Day off in Stony Brook

Mostly about sleep but then Marci and I go for a drive around this historic town. We end up at a darling tea room for lunch. The perfect experience on this cloudy fall day. After catching up a fair amount we head back to her place. I decide to brave the city one more time and drive in to see James Maddock at the Cutting Room. The drive into town was exciting as well as finding a place to park. NYC at night just feels like a giant movie set at Universal or Pramount. Unreal, thrilling and dangerous. After stressing about my parking spot. I convince myself that the signage is friendly for those who park after 7pm and head to the club. James Maddock is fantastic actually. An amazing Rod Stewart-esque voice hat fills the spectrum so nicely, he hardly needed the sonic support of his five piece band. My friend, talented guitarist, Carl Burnette meets me there and we catch up on our lives. We used to tour together with Dave Koz back in the day. I am relieved to find my car still waiting for me and proceed to get out of the city. That's when the fun begins (NOT). I probably will no be driving a car in NYC any time soon. Friday night getting to the mid town tunnel felt like Escape From NY meets Bladerunner 4. My relief was audible as I cruised past the last toll onto the L.I. expressway.

in Stony Brook

I leave the city feeling good. Hopped into the rental car and it wouldn't start! Sh#t! The smokey grey Ford Focus had been threatening us with failure for days now. Taunting us with it's knocking engine and slow get up and go and now THIS?  When seconds to spare before the giant New York street sweeper came roaring up behind us, the engine catches on and we scoot out of our timed release spot in front of Washington Square. I had to keep my foot on the gas at each stop light to keep from stalling. It was an easy decision to head straight to Hertz to exchange this lemon for something a little more reliable. (My Toyota Highlander would have never acted this way). After a semi quick interaction at LGA we were on our way in some med size Chevy to start my official day off.
After an hour I reach my good friend, Marci Gellar's home in quaint, historic Stony Brook, Long Island. Ahhhhhhh. Time to sleep

Up town!

Back in NYC working on ideas for a new recording project. My dad always wanted me to sing jazz standards and I always rebelled against the idea. Now that I have gotten to know myself a bit better, I feel it's time to explore that genre. Choosing tunes that have a particular connection to my father,  I (along with producer and exquisite sax player, David Mann) am starting to put into motion a recording project that would honor this wish of his and showcase a different side of my voice as well. Much more on this later.