Hello all!  I realized that I haven’t posted any news in quite a while!  It’s been a beautiful, long autumn in Kansas City but now it’s turned cold.  We’re gearing up for a family, friend and fun-filled holiday season!  This is my second Christmas at my charming condo.  I’ve put a small Christmas tree with colored lights on the sun porch, and decided to do a different kind of tree inside.  I went to the nursery and bought a palm-type tree (they took off the tag when I bought it so I don’t know exactly what it is ).  There are about five of them in the pot that range from about four to six feet tall, then at the bottom of the pot, there are several young ones that are just covering the dirt.  The trunks are thin and lovely, and I’ve wrapped them with warm, white LED lights and silver garland with tiny stars.  It’s just what I had in mind as a Christmas tree alternative, and is something I can leave up all year (sans garland).

The creative front has been fun lately.  I’ve been playing some fun gigs (check some out on youtube!).  I still pinch myself that I get to make music with some really wonderful musicians.  And the bonus is that they’re all really good people.   This Saturday night, I’ll be at the Briarcliff Piropos with pianist Mike Pagan from 7 to 12.  Come out and see us!  Also, I signed with a talent agency a couple of months ago.  I’m surprised that I’ve already shot four projects: an episode of a reality show that should air on a major cable network next spring (I can’t really talk about it because I signed a bunch of papers saying that I wouldn’t), an infomercial for Deos earbuds which I think will be a national spot, a Missouri Lottery commercial and a Price Chopper commercial.  Years ago, I did commercial work and really enjoyed it.  I’m finding that I still love this kind of work.  Every project is different, and I get to meet new people.  I hope that I’ll get to do much more!

Well, that’s all for now.  I hope this season finds everyone happy and healthy.  It’s a great time to look around and be grateful for all our blessings.  Peace!

JAM Review of All The Things You Are

The August/September 2011 JAM hits newstands today.  In it, Roger Atkinson reviewed our new recording.  Please pick up a JAM, or go to the Press page on this website to read the review!

CD Release Party

Hi All, my CD release party/concert will be August 30, 2011 at the Kansas City Intercontinental Hotel’s Oak Bar from 7 to 10pm.  Come and join us!  Paul Smith, piano; Danny Embrey, guitar; Bob Bowman, bass; Tim Cambron, drums; and Steve Hall, drums.  CDs will be $15.  Please see the August/September JAM magazine for a review of the recording!

Jardine’s July 5

Hi all, I’ll be singing at Jardine’s on Tuesday, July 5 from 7 to 11pm.  It will be a fun evening of muic, and we sure hope that you can join us!  Paul Smith, piano; Bob Bowman, bass; Tim Cambron, drums.  Make your reservation today! 816-561-6480.

It’s been a fun and busy time, wrapping up the CD.  I’ll be mailing my master to be duplicated within the next couple of days.  We’re currently working on updating the website, which will incude information and song samples for the new recording.  It looks like the release party will be at Jardine’s on Tuesday, August 30.

Cafe Augusta

Hello my friends, I’ll be singing at Cafe Augusta this Saturday, April 30, 2011, from 6:30 to 9:30pm with pianist Wayne Hawkins.  Cafe Augusta is located in Lenexa near 87th and Quivira.  I’ve heard wonderful things about the food and about the room.  We hope you can join us!

Spring, Recording Almost Finished!

Spring is upon us!  I’m looking out my dining room windows and see the budding trees and hear the birds singing.  I’m blessed with a beautiful and peaceful, treetop view of the neighborhood.  Two weekends ago, just as the weather was starting to turn nice, P.K. and I took a trip to charming Hermann, MO.  We loved the 1850′s brick buildings and the hillside wineries.  We toured Stone Hill Winery and brought home several bottles of their delicious whites.  We loved our stay and plan to go back again.  It’s nice traveling with someone who is so fun to be with.  My car broke down on the way back, an hour from home.  We had to wait at a filling station for two hours for the tow truck to come.  P.K. is a fun person to be stranded with.

The album is very close to being finished.  The artwork is complete and I had the master in hand, but after listening to the master, Justin and I decided that we had the bass set just a little too hot.  We’re remixing everything to bring it back just a bit.  I’m really looking forward to having this project finished and available on my website, on itunes and at gigs.  This recording has been a long time coming.  I’ve loved producing it!  I’ll soon be meeting with my web designer for changes to the website.  Fun stuff ahead!

Intercontinental Hotel, April 1 and 8, 2011

It’s been a little while since I’ve updated the blog!  Been a little busy.  We’re going to play the Intercontinental Hotel’s Oak Bar the next two Fridays, April 1 and April 8 from 8pm to 12am.  There is free parking in the hotel’s parking garage, and no cover.  It’s a very comfortable room to come and enjoy the music and a drink.  They even have a bar menu if you’d like to nosh on some good food!  The Oak Bar has a nice view of the Plaza.  Please come out and join the fun.  We’d love to see you!

Mornings

Morning walks with my dog, Ringo, are more fun since the weather is getting nicer.  He’s always interested in the ducks and geese and in the other dogs we meet, and there are more of them out since it’s getting warmer.  Most mornings on our walks, a tune pops in my head and I softly sing it all along the way.  Yesterday, It was “But Not For Me”.  Today, it was the theme from Mister Roger’s Neighborhood.  Yes, really.  I never know what’s going to come to me and it’s not something I consciously think about until I find myself humming.  Who knows what makes a file in one’s brain open? Well, I took a moment to check email and write this post, but I must get back out for my jog.  My little buddy can’t join me on those.  His legs are too short. :)  During my jogs I don’t usually find myself singing, but rather, thinking about things I want to do or places I want to go.  Mornings are a particularly optimistic time.

Almost Finished…

The final mixing on the new recording is finished!  I’m listening to the tunes in the order they’ll be on the recording.  There seems to be a good flow.  Everything is sounding nice!  Justin and I are getting together next week for a few hours of mastering.  I should have the master copy next Wednesday.  So now, I need to start working on the package design.  I hope to have that finished by the middle of next week so I can get everything sent off for duplication as soon as possible.  Originally, I thought we might have CDs available the end of April, but it might be after the first or second week instead.  It looks like the CD release party will probably be at the Intercontinental Hotel, which will be great because we all really like that room.  I‘ll keep everyone posted.  Enjoy this beautiful KC weather, everyone!

Intercontinental Hotel Friday Night

Friday, March 11, I’ll be singing at the Intercontinental Hotel from 8pm to 12am with Steve Hall, drums; Paul Smith, piano; Bob Bowman, bass.  This will be guaranteed fun!  Please come out and enjoy the music if you can.  There is no cover, plenty of cushy chairs and great drinks.  Hope to see you there!

I’ve received the images from the photo shoot and have been working on the CD jacket design.  I’m going Monday to finish the final mixing.  We’re closing in on the finished product, and I love how it’s coming together.  It’s been a rewarding process!

A Fun Day

Yesterday, I spent most of the day with Justin at Soundtrek and started the final mixing of the album. We finished seven tunes.  On the 14^th, we’ll do the remaining four tunes.  At that point, I’ll take the final mixes home and live with them for a few days and decide upon the final order of tunes.  Then, we’ll go in for mastering.  I feel blessed to be in such capable hands.  Justin really knows his stuff, and is a five time Grammy winning artist.  The album is sounding so good, very musical.

After being in the studio, P.K. and I went to the Rieger Hotel Restaurant to sit at the bar and try a couple of their signature drinks.  I can’t remember the name of the drink I had but it was delicious, an award winning recipe of the bartender’s.  We ran into several friends there, Dennis Fallon who directed the film All Roads Lead Home, and Butch and Christy.  After the Rieger, P.K. and I went to First Fridays to see artist Kale Van Leeuwen’s exhibit.  P.K. works with a girl who was the model for Kale’s exhibit, Urban Fairytales.  Check out Kale’s website: www.vankale.com.  It was fun talking with him about his process and with Alyssa, his model.  I’m naturally drawn to art like Kale’s because I’m always interested in the contrast and music between light and dark, reflection, and to vibrant colors.  Kale’s art is striking in that respect and also in his whimsical subject matter.  P.K. and I finished the evening by walking down the street and dining at Lidia’s bar.  We had a yummy Chianti and I ate the Chicken Spiedini.  Delicious!

Today is the photo shoot for the album.  We have several potential locations.  I’m looking forward to seeing how everything turns out.

Session Tomorrow, Fun Night!

Our session on Wednesday was rescheduled to tomorrow morning.  So, I came home from a fun night out with P.K. at a decent time so I’ll be able to get up and out the door.  P.K. and I went to JJ’s to visit with some friends.  The owner, Jimmy, and I had a spirited conversation about our dreams.  He’s an institution in KC and a really great person, fun to talk with.  He’s interested in developing his voice to do voiceover work.  He really does have a distinctive voice.  I’d like to do the same, and we’ve taken lessons from the same teacher.  I’ve taken a hiatus from the lessons while I’m working on the album, but will get back to them when I’m finished.  My friend, Angela, came in and it was good to see and talk with her.  It had been a while.  After JJ’s, P.K. and I went to see the Sons of Brasil at Jardine’s.  I love this band.  Probably my favorite in KC.  While we were there, a girlfriend of mine, Bess, came in.  It was her first time seeing the Sons.  I look forward to talking with her soon to see what she thought of the band.  I really love the people, sights and sounds of the Plaza.  Well, it’s 11:30 now.  Time to sleep.  Looking forward to being back in the studio tomorrow!  Night.

Final Mixing, Cover Art…

Tomorrow, I head back into the studio to start the final mixing of the new album.  It will be fun to work with Justin again and take part in the process.  On Saturday, I have a photo shoot for the album cover art.  I also plan to use the images for my website.  I love the way this site functions but it needs a bit of a facelift.  Yesterday, I did some shopping for clothing to wear for the shoot.  The wonderful ladies at White House Black Market on the Plaza helped me put together a couple of really nice looks.

As I left the store, my friend, Julia, called me.  I love talking with her and feel a kind of kindred spirit with her.  We have memories of playing together at recess in elementary school.  We helped and encouraged one another then and still do the same all these years later.  After talking with Julia, I met the always fun and easy to be with P.K. for a glass of wine and dinner at JJ’s.  I gave him the section of his novel that I’ve been proofreading for him.  I can’t wait to read more!

mitchthefilmer

My son, Mitch, is a budding videographer.  He has his own youtube page: mitchthefilmer.  Here is his most recent short video that he uploaded.  He films skateboarders doing their tricks.  Taking this type of video is harder than it may look since he has to do much of the shooting from his own skateboard as he is following his subject.  After filming, Mitch comes back home to edit the footage and put it to music.  He has found something he loves to do and would like to pursue a career in filmmaking.  He’s very talented!http://www.youtube.com/user/mitchthefilmer#p/a/u/0/OIa8Fy-Fdkc

Working Out the Art…

I just got home from dinner with P.K. I’m sitting on my sofa with my little dog, Ringo, and am getting ready to proofread a section of P.K.’s novel. His story centers on the Arthurian legend. He’s been researching the topic for years and is constructing a story that is fun to read. The action moves right along, the characters and prose are strong. I feel privileged to be able to read and share in something that is so important to him. He really is brilliant.

I head back in the studio next Wednesday to start the final mixing of my recording. I’m very interested in seeing how that process takes shape. Mid March, I’ll have a photo shoot for the artwork. P.K. and I both feel fortunate to be doing the things we love to do. It’s so nice to encourage one another.

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