Now She Sings, Now She Sits

I have a confession: despite all of my training brewing caffeinated beverages, apparently I am incapable of operating a simple folded cone filter. My kitchen task was immediately downgraded to unwrapping butter. Sigh. (Julia is giggling gleefully in the background.) Double sigh. However I did prove my prowess at milking goats.

We went to bed late after a schmabulous concert, reception, and a midnight snack. I was in bed by 2am but had to be up for 8 for brunch. It was so wonderful finally performing with Julia for a rapt home audience. It was great to be in a room full of the warmth and friendliness I love in Julia, and obviously that was a big part of her upbringing. Despite the early hour Julia’s dear friends from New York, who had just come down for the concert, came to breakfast further reinforcing Julia’s magnetic charm. After discovering the goat cheese was home made, Idit and Steph wanted to see the goats and we had a impromptu milking lesson for the City folk (see pictures). Then after some sad goodbyes to our hosts, Farmer Chris and Leslie, it was back to the car for the trek north.

Ten thousand million years later we’re still in the car…

The Diva heads south

The Chalfin family arrived at 11am with the trunk already mostly full! After making tea, we headed over to the school building to load in the PA. After some creative packing we were on the road to Kimberton, PA.

I love touring a show. There is nothing better than focusing on a set of music for a long period of time, with the same people, and really honing the whole show. Getting to know the show makes you more comfortable on stage, and you learn to react with your fellow musicians as well.

Also, working with Julia this much has been a real pleasure. It is amazing that after being friends at school for so long we never really worked together. Hopefully, we will be able to do this again!

When we arrived at Rose Hall, I was thrilled to find a 7 ft. Steinway waiting for me. This is actually the piano I hope to purchase some day, and an absolute pleasure to play. It was fun just to rehearse my own pieces and get to know the instrument. I can’t wait to head back tomorrow and work a little more before the concert.

It’s also really great to have such gracious hosts housing and feeding us. We are staying at the home of Chris and Leslie Jones right down the windy hilly road from the hall. They treated us to dinner of soup and salad with home made goat cheese, wine, bread, and roasted candied nuts. They were Julia’s second family growing up. So this gig is really a homecoming for her.

I finished writing a paper recently looking at my connection to music and family. I realized I love the collaborative aspect of music, and it’s ability to build community between diverse individuals. The joyful act of making music should be a shared experience. We are meant to create something and give it away. And who better to give it to than friends old and new!

“Places” by Joel Brown, ft. tp

I had the pleasure recently of working with a former professor from Skidmore college. Joel Brown called me up to lay down some Hammond B3 tracks on his record. It was a great project! I headed up to Saratoga for the day to record a few tracks and hang at the studio. I hear the record is finally finished! Check out the press release.

Also, on Sunday December 11th at 10am Joel will be talking about the record on WSPN 91.1 FM (and streaming) and playing a few tracks.Check it out if you are able.

Once the disc is available for purchase I’ll put it up on my discography. Great work Joel, and happy listening!