June, and a Relaxed Summer Ahead

It’s been rather quiet on the work front this spring – thank heaven for residuals! – and the summer is no busier for me. This is OK, as I’ve learned – well, am still learning – to enjoy the slow periods and relax. The kitten is now 6 weeks old, eating food out of a bowl, jumping, playing, and thriving! I’m so excited that I managed to rescue her.
This is Marzipan now:

It’s been an amazing journey to watch her grow and develop!

Sixth Wave had another well-attended show at the Coffee Gallery earlier this month, and we’ll be back there on September 30.

Beethoven’s Wig performed at the OK Mozart Festival in Bartlesville, OK, just north of Tulsa, which is surprisingly rich in the arts. Here are Susan Boyd and I all ready to go on stage:

The performing arts center:

and a view of “downtown” Bartlesville:

Our next show is at The Grammy Museum on July 11.

Next week, I’ll be recording some excerpts from the opera “Hansel and Gretel” for the PBS series “Curious George”. One of his friends attends the opera in one episode and tells the little monkey all about it.

I wish you all a relaxed summer!

May Day! Life in the Cat’s Lane

The big excitement in my life is a new kitten, that I found abandoned near a geocache in a small town near Visalia. Although I was too late to save her siblings, the little diva is doing well, and will probably be my (unneeded, but very welcome) fifth cat. The idea that anyone would abandon animals appalls me, and at least I could save the life of this one precious creature. I get to bottle-feed her every two hours around the clock, and rather than wearing me down, I’m finding new energy with the odd schedule.

I will still be glad to get back to a normal sleeping schedule, though.

This biggest excitement for me and Sixth Wave this month is the release of the new Star Trek movie. We all got to sing on the score! As a long-time Trek fan, I’m thrilled that the film is getting just rave reviews and enthusiastic response. I’ll be seeing it myself in Toronto, finally! Sixth Wave performs here for MusicFest on Wednesday, May 14, to two sold-out shows!

On May 19, don’t miss the premiere of the TV show “Glee!” on Fox. I’m featured in the vocals between scenes, singing with an a cappella quintet in classic Swingle Singers and Doo Wop styles, among others. The amazingly talented other four are Cindy Bourquin (Sixth Wave), Gerald White (formerly Sixth Wave), Tim David (Nashville and LA sessions), and Alvin Chea (Take 6). I’ve been one bigger choral sessions with Alvin before, but what a treat to be in a small group with him! Take 6 is one of the groups that ALL a cappella groups want to be, and Alvin has been it’s bass anchor since it’s inception, and it’s always exciting to work with those that have inspired you.

Coming up:
Sixth Wave at the Coffee Gallery, June 11
Beethoven’s Wig in Tulsa, June 14
Beethoven’s Wig at the Grammy Museum, July 11

This is Constitution Hall in Washington D.C. where Sixth Wave sang last month:

Here I am with Beethoven’s wig in Springville, photo by a local geocacher who came to the show!

April – A Season of Renewal

As my life progresses year by year through the seasons, I try to value each one for its innate gifts and unique pleasures. Spring always come with more light and typically more performances and singing work after a mid-winter lull. This year is no exception, and my next concerts are all clumped together in April and May. As I type this, I’m in the air, on my way to Washington D.C via Houston to sing the two shows listed first below, and I’m greatly looking forward to singing in Constitution Hall!

April 16 Sixth Wave at the America Sings 20th Anniversary Gala Concert at Constitution Hall in Washington, DC
April 18 Beethoven’s Wig in Spring, TX, outside of Houston
– link to tickets and location is HERE
April 23 Sixth Wave at the acclaimed UNC Jazz Festival in Greeley, Colorado
– more info HERE
The UNC Jazz Festival has fast-forwarded the careers of many jazz artists, including one the a cappella groups we most admire, Take 6. Perhaps we’ll ride a little in their wake? Whee!

Speaking of Take 6, I got to do a couple of sessions with their bass, Alvin Chea, for an upcoming TV show, “Glee!”. He and I, along with Cindy Bourquin, Gerald White, and Tim Davis, are the quintet of a cappella “swingle-style” singers you’ll hear in the bumpers and backgrounds for the show. It premieres on May 19, right after “American Idol” on Fox, with the rest of the season airing in the fall. It’s a musical sitcom (!) about a glee club, of all things, and looks to be a rather prominent artistic endeavor, and a nice relief from the rehashed reality series.

Other recent sessions include choir cues for the scores for “Witch Mountain”, “Wolvervine”, and “Ice Age 3″, and commercials for Lexus and Cocoa Puffs.

My next concerts are on May 13 with Sixth Wave for MusicFest in Toronto, and again with them at the Coffee Gallery in Pasadena, CA, on June 11. Beethoven’s Wig appears in Tulsa, OK, on JUune 14, and at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles on July 11.

March – A Lull Before the Spring Rush

Not a lot going on this month, although I did get to sing on the upcoming film, “Wolverine”.

On March 20, Sixth Wave performs in Edmonton, Canada for ChoralFest.
– details are HERE

Our latest CD, “Happy Madness”, is available either through CDBaby, which also has digital downloads, our website, and NOW on iTunes with the first two CDs.

Further into the future:
April 16 Sixth Wave at the America Sings 20th Anniversary Gala Concert at Constitution Hall in Washington, DC
April 18 Beethoven’s Wig in Spring, TX, outside of Houston
– link to tickets and location is HERE
April 23 Sixth Wave at the acclaimed UNC Jazz Festival in Greeley, Colorado
– more info HERE

May 13 Sixth Wave in Toronto, Canada

June 11 Sixth Wave reappears at the Coffee Gallery, Pasadena, CA
June 14 Beethoven’s Wig in Tulsa, Oklahoma
July 11 Beethoven’s Wig at the Grammy Museun, Los Angeles

February – Time to Travel

Sixth Wave sang in Pasadena, CA and Flagstaff, AZ recently – here are a couple of photos:

Coffee Gallery, Pasadena

Cindy, Greg W., Greg J., and I at the Grand Canyon after the Flagstaff show:

Performances coming up:

On February 20, Beethoven’s Wig performs in Thousand Oaks. I am the resident Diva! Click here for details! Shows are at 9:30am, 11am, and 6:30pm and also feature tenor Jonathan Mack as well as the creator, Richard Perlmutter.

On March 20, Sixth Wave performs in Edmonton, Canada for ChoralFest.

Our latest CD, “Happy Madness”, is available either through CDBaby, which also has digital downloads, our website, and soon to be on iTunes with the first two CDs.

Further into the future:
April 18 Beethoven’s Wig inTexas
April 23 Sixth Wave in Greeley, Colorado
Memorial Day weekend in Nashville, TN for the release of my geocaching book at a big, big geocaching event, Geowoodstock
June 14 Beethoven’s Wig in Tulsa, Oklahoma

Meanwhile, you can hear me on upcoming commercials for Lexus and Cocoa Puffs, the latter being a cartoon opera, and on the score of “Race to Witch Mountain.” I’m on this season of “10 Items or Less”, currently airing on TBS. Each season is funnier than the last, and my off-camera ooh-ahhs are the signature Greek chorus. I got to sing a parody of the song “Car Wash” for one episode – way too much fun!

January – A New Year of Singing

Not only should this be a new year of singing for me, but a new year of creativity, as I’m picking up the proverbial pen (since it’s really a computer now) to write – both words and music. I’m currently publishing a novel on Twitter, finishing a book on my experiences in life through my geocaching hobby which will be available in May, and honing my music composition skills with the intent to write songs, arias, then operas.

This month, I have a performance with Sixth Wave, at the Coffee Gallery in Pasadena. Here are the details…

January 22 8:00pm
The Coffee Gallery Backstage
2029 N. Lake
Altadena, CA. 91001
Reservations/Information: (626) 398-7917
http://www.coffeegallery.com/home.html
Cover: $15 (never a food or drink minimum!)

The Coffee Gallery Backstage is a 49 seat show room connected to a coffee house surprisingly called, “The Coffee Gallery.”  The Backstage is a listening room with a nice sound system, good lights, comfortable seating and a killer atmosphere. Please call right away to make reservations because at 49 seats, it’ll fill up quick!

Next month, we’ll be performing at the Northern Arizona University Jazz/Madrigal Festival in Flagstaff. I’ll be taking an extra day to check out the Grand Canyon – I haven’t been there in over 20 years.

On March 20, Sixth Wave performs in Edmonton, Canada for a music festival there.

Our latest CD, “Happy Madness”, is available either through CDBaby, which also has digital downloads, our website, and soon to be on iTunes with the first two CDs.

Further into the future:
April 18 Beethoven’s Wig inTexas
April 23 Sixth Wave in Greeley, Colorado
Memorial Day weekend in Nashville, TN for the release of my geocaching book at a big, big geocaching event, Geowoodstock
June 14 Beethoven’s Wig in Tulsa, Oklahoma

Meanwhile, I’m back in the studio of composer Steven Argila for another season of “10 Items or Less”, currently airing on TBS. Each season is funnier than the last, and my off-camera ooh-ahhs are the signature Greek chorus. I also sang a fun Latin-ethnic number for one of the scenes and a big musical theater song for another.

I also got to sing in a women’s chorus for the Spike TV Video Game Awards last month. I and 23 other top-notch classical singers backed up a band called Weezer.

Yes, these are my classical professional singer friends, partying afterwards:

I’m in the choir for an upcoming film “Earth”, a current film “Marley and Me”, and on Steve Amerson’s newest CD.

December, the close of a great year

This has been a wonderful year. I’m calling it the year of my personal renaissance. I’ve found renewed vigor in my life and for all of the things I do.

I sang on the score of a film called “Earth” earlier this month, which is the big screen version of the National Geographic series. I’m looking forward to seeing that!

Sixth Wave will be appearing at the Coffee Gallery in Pasadena on January 22, 2009. See the Sixth Wave site for details.

Have a Merry Christmas and Happy 2009!

November, that thankful time

The Sixth Wave CD release party went as well as it could have! We packed the place and had a grand time singing for our enthusiastic friends and fans. Our CDs are available either through CDBaby, which also has digital downloads, our website, and soon to be on iTunes with the first two CDs.

I’m back in the studio of composer Steven Argila for another season of “10 Items or Less” on TBS. Each season is funnier than the last, and my off-camera ooh-ahhs are the signature Greek chorus. I also sang a fun Latin-ethnic number for one of the scenes and a big musical theater song for another.

I love showing up for a session and never knowing what exactly I’ll be doing until I get there. Being asked to do a variety of styles is a satisfying challenge for me musically and mentally.

My next performances are in February in Arizona with Sixth Wave. Next month, I should have more details on those.

Have a blessed Thanksgiving!

October brings hot weather and hot gigs

Los Angeles is having a typical fall: warm and sunny! Well… OK, that’s typical weather here most of the time. Ha!

Sixth Wave has finished our new CD, Happy Madness, and our release party is Nov. 3 in Hollywood:
We’d LOVE to see you there and hope you’ll make a reservation (if you haven’t already) since the seating is limited in this wonderful venue! In addition to performing, there’ll be games, giveaways, and a special election eve discount on the CD itself. For out-of-towners, we are now taking pre-orders. Just click here or go to the “Hear samples!” page on our website – Sixth Wave site – to hear clips and be the first to order!

Here are the party details…

Monday November 3, 2008
M Bar & Restaurant
1253 N Vine St. (at Fountain), Hollywood, CA 90028
323-856-0036 for reservations (recommended)
http://www.mbarhollywood.com
www.myspace.com/mbarhollywood

Dinner starts at 7:00pm.
We’ll be performing at 8:30pm.
Cover: $10, and $10 food minimum (never a drink minimum!)
Valet or street parking available

In other news:
You can hear me on an upcoming episode of “Cold Case” singing the Habanera from Carmen. I’m the off-camera voice of the on-camera actress.

I also got to sing on the score for the upcoming Star Trek movie, just choir this time, and we all sang the the original theme together. Other than that, I know nothing at all about the film, but I’m really excited to see it.

Speaking of Star Trek, I made a couple of surprise appearances (surprises to me too!) with Clay Jenkinson at his performances in Seattle. From his sublime portrayals of Oppenheimer and T. Roosevelt, we went to the ridiculous, when he asked me to sing the original theme from Star Trek, inspired by the gift of a Captain Kirk shirt from a mutual friend.

Clay’s personal recreations of historic characters are outstanding, and his observations of current events are astute and refreshing. I recommend a listen to his “Thomas Jefferson Hour”. More information on him can be found at his website .

OH – here’s my high note:

September 30 Update

Here’s the time and place for Beethoven’s Wig in Bishop on September 30:

Bishop High School Auditorium
Bishop, CA
Tuesday, Sept. 30
7:30 p.m.

We sign CDs afterwards, so please do say hello if you attend!