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building

I finish my cappuccino with the knowledge that my vacation is coming to an end (in fact, it ends precisely at the 7:30pm faculty meeting). I spent the day mailing packages, returning receipts, and other general end-of-break things. I will cook one last home-cooked meal for myself and then it is over. However, it has been quite the vacation!

Building applies to what I have done in many ways, literally and figuratively. I’ve built actual fences (in the 50º weather) and walls (in the Bunker 2.0 in Williamsburg). I’ve rekindled old friendships and made a few new ones. I’ve built up my résumé too with recording work as a sideman. Clearly, I don’t like to sit idle, though there were a couple of days of that as well!

I was so psyched to help at the Bunker! The studio is looking amazing…and SOUNDING amazing as well! I spent about six hours up a ladder putting up the finishing touches on a section of the A live room. It is amazing how far the space has come since I was there in the early summer framing up some basic walls. Finally the finish work is beginning to go up. The following day I was in the B room tracking B3 for my good friend Dan Griffith’s upcoming solo record. Hopefully I’ll be able to go in this summer and track a project…maybe an EP.

My next big project is to finalize the program for my graduate recital which will be some time in late spring. Two years have flown by, and though it will take me five semesters overall, I am that much closer to getting my masters degree. Professionally that has been great. I’ve been able to study and play with a bunch of great players on the Boston scene. However, it has reinforced for me how much better the NYC scene resonates with me. If I can get to New York this summer and make some more connections I think I’ll be well positioned. Also, I’m still writing so another album is in the near future as well! I also have a ton of new ideas for my work at Pomfret, so I am excited to finish my degree and throw myself back into working full-time and getting some things accomplished. Overall, it has been an excellent three days of 2012 so far, and I an excited for what’s next…

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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…

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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!