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.

WESU, Middletown, CT

Another day another radio show. This time with Bill Revill at WESU in Middletown, CT. I played live and talked about my record, the songs and my inspiration for writing. Bill was a lovely low key interviewer. This was particularly helpful as I was starting to really feel the fatigue of the last few days.

WRRW, Williamsburg, VA

We arrived at the studios of WRRW at 10AM where I come to the realization that I've left my guitar in the hotel!! Luckily it's just minutes away and easily retrievable. (Not like my computer that I left on Southwest Air last month....I got that back too, thankfully) Anyway, we set up for my hour long guest DJ show on Revolutionary Radio. I played five songs live and Ed spun seven from the record. After song intros and station ID's were recorded I ended up with a fully produced show which they will air next week. Thanks to all the promo and airplay, this visit boosted me into the #10 position on the national AMA chart whoo hoo!!! Show link TBA. Thanks Ed! You ROCK!

The Birchmere

7AM I leave the Hudson Valley and arrive in the city to pick up my travel partner, Alex, who will be sitting in with me on sax for the next couple of days. The drive is another 4 hrs from there. we arrive in plenty of time to make a soundcheck. In fact take a quick drive around the Capital and surrounding buildings before landing at the venue. The Birchmere is a fantastic club near DC that I have only played as a sideman. So nice to finally play there as an artist with my own music. I also have the luxury of playing a lovely grand piano. The crew and staff treat us like rock stars and Al and his musicians make us feel at home as well. Afterwards, we head to Williamsburg (2.5 hrs). A brutal drive after the day we've have already had had.

Northeast Regional Folk Alliance conference, Hudson Vally NY 11/8-9

 I part with my friends in the city and head up to the Hudson Valley to the Northeast Folk Alliance Conference. The whole Folk Alliance thing is very new for me. I never considered myself a folk artist, but after securing an official showcase artist slot at the Folk Alliance Regional West Coast Conference (FAR-West) just a few weeks back, I was encouraged to pursue these regional conferences in hopes of meeting interesting people, making new connections and finding fresh ears for my music. NERFA was recommended to me by more than a few people. I show up on Day 2 with keyboard and guitar in hand. First showcase at 5pm at LilFest. For those of you who don't know what this is, the Folk Alliance International sponsors five regional showcases per year in different territories. This one is for the east coast. For this California girl, I am sort of an outsider looking in. Basically 900 attendees made up of musicians, singer/songwriters, folk enthusiasts, radio people, club owners, booking agents, radio promoters converge on the hotel and basically take it over for four days. Music is ongoing in the lobby day and night. Official showcases are scheduled from 7-11pm then multiple hotel rooms on three floors of the hotel host private acoustic shows from 11:30-3pm each night. Lots of music to listen to. Lot's of good music and some not so good but definitely something for every one. Workshops and panels were scheduled each day as well as one yoga class and one 12 step meeting option in the AM which I thought was a nice touch. I was so happy to see my friends Red Moon Road from Manitoba. I first met them at FAR-West and feel this delightful folk trio is destined for great things. It's hard to put into words the amount of input that is received even for the just the two days I was there. My last showcase ended at 3:30AM early Sunday morning. I laugh because my gig that night is 6 hours away in Alexandria, VA at the Birchmere opening for Al Stewart. The delightful booking agent, Michael Jaworek, who attends NERFA regularly, passed me in the hall way nervously inquiring as to whether I'd be making my gig the next night LOL! I pack up my clothes and gear by 4AM and set my alarm for 7AM to start my trekk to VA.

LAX to LGA

11/7/12 4:45am-Park at Lot C. I have condensed my needs for 10 days into three easy-to-carry pieces of luggage. Guitar, keyboard and rolly bag. We arrive in NYC after a fairly easy flight. Rental car is picked up and we head to the city. The lights of the city seduces us as the energy of the city engages our west coast imagination of all night music jams and endless great food at all hours of the night. The reality is that parking in Washington Square is our greatest challenge. 

Home again...

Ashland, OR

Portland, OR

 

Mount Shasta, CA

Home again after a fun week of house concerts! So great to see all of my friends up North including Kiki W, Janni, Amy, Scott, Dixie, Peter, Carl and Kathy, Ken, Doug, Richard, Christy and Nick!! I made some new venue connections in Portland as well. Yeah Gene and Debbie, see you next year! But it's still awfully nice snuggling up with the ones that I love at home. The weather finally cooling off a bit. The ranch a buzz with excitement as we prepare for my niece Jenn's royal wedding here next Saturday. Looking forward to some real quality time with the horses too. Not enough hours in the day anymore to do everything you want to do :) Practicing for my local gig at Cafe Cordiale Wed 7/10!

The night before the "Girls who LOve HOrses tour kicks off!

Spent some quality time with August today before packing up the Toyota Highlander with my touring stuff. Keyboard, guitar, sound and lighting gear. Everything the traveling performing singer/songwriter needs to get by for a few weeks. Looking forward to performing and traveling with my old friend Lily Wilson. we did this ten years ago in the Southwest. Saddling up again !