Songtaneous » Sarah Sings http://songtaneous.com/blog Mon, 25 Oct 2010 02:00:00 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 May Memories (and Photos) http://songtaneous.com/blog/may-memories-and-photos/ http://songtaneous.com/blog/may-memories-and-photos/#comments Mon, 14 Jun 2010 19:57:14 +0000 Sarah M. Greer http://songtaneous.com/blog/?p=4371 Lots of stuff happened in May (as you’ll soon see) and I didn’t have time to blog about all of the cool stuff going on at the time. So … my blog, my prerogative. *smile* (Besides, I just got all these cool pics … what better excuse for a trip down memory lane?)

 

With Friends Like These …

TCCAN event performers, Rhonda Laurie and me.

(L to R) Connie Dussl, Jennifer Eckes, Erin Duffy, me, Rhonda Laurie and Heidi Zim

Fellow TCCAN-er Dean Elwell and I greeted guests to the event.

As I’ve mentioned before, I’m a member of TCCAN – the Twin Cities Cabaret Artists’ Network. In May, we held our premier cabaret event directed by Timm Homly and featuring several of our group members.

The evening was comprised of a songs and stories presented by eight of TCCAN’s members – Dorothy Doring, Erin Duffy, Connie Dussl, Jennifer Eckes, Judi Gronseth, Timm Homly, Kevin Werner and Heidi Ziman — and took place at CAMP in St. Paul.

The show’s theme was friendship, or rather, how friendship has changed in our highly social, highly digitized world. Songs and stories ranged in topic from mix tapes to body image, and from the silly to the sensitive.

 

As The Rhythm Changes

I was so excited and honored to be a part of this improvised show. I’ve been wanting to work with composer/creator Mankwe Ndosi for some time. Imagine my delight when she called me about joining her project. Below are some more pics and a short audio excerpt.

We spent the week before the show in rehearsal. On the day of our photo shoot, we met at the home of our instrument creator — Douglas Eiwart to try out some instruments and continue to build “our troupe of griots.”

The shows themselves were incredible — a really fun, supportive environment for a spontaneous singer such as yours truly. But even though pics are great (see below), you can’t really get a sense of the show without hearing it. So I made you a short audio excerpt.

[Oops! You\'ll have to visit songtaneous.com/blog to listen.]

As The Rhythm Changes cast members with constructed instruments

An early rehearsal for "As The Rhythm Changes"

Libby tries out one of Douglas' hand-made instruments

Libby Opanga-Turner

Libby Turner Opanga

Aimee K. Bryant

Aimee K. Bryant

Mankwe Ndosi, Sarah Greer, Libby Turner Opanga

Mankwe, me and Libby

Kenna Sarge dancing

Kenna Sarge


More Bloggity Goodness

]]> http://songtaneous.com/blog/may-memories-and-photos/feed/ 0 The Dakota Ate My Homework http://songtaneous.com/blog/the-dakota-ate-my-homework/ http://songtaneous.com/blog/the-dakota-ate-my-homework/#comments Mon, 08 Feb 2010 12:00:58 +0000 Sarah M. Greer http://songtaneous.com/blog/?p=3716 According to my editorial schedule (which is a grandiose way of referrencing a list scratched on a Post-It®), I was supposed to write about how I became a blogger today. But, as you may recall, I sang at the Dakota this weekend as a member of my good friend Jay Young’s Lyric Factory. (That’s him and me in the photo.)

...

Let me tell you, I had a blast! Being on stage with all those great players (and good-hearted people) was exhilarating.

(Fellow factory workers included Ian Young (bass and Jay’s son), Thom West (keys), Kevin Washington (percussion), Pete Whitman (brass and woodwinds), Sol Testimony (spoken word artist) and my sisters in song -- Judi Donaghy and Michele Denise Michaels.)

It was a swinging, fun and cool night of music. Jay took the Wonder and Jackson tunes we all know and love and reworked them into fresh new treats to savor and enjoy. The new arrangements and integrating the spoken word worked so well it could have seemed easy (or obvious?) -- but Jay told me he spent a year thinking about the concept and the tunes. (That's genius.)

...

anthony cox and jay youngLooking out and seeing so many friends and colleagues -- Spices' members, Lori Dokken, Ann Kay, Nancy Harms and Debbie Duncan and Anthony Cox (Debbie and Anthony have a show at the Dakota this coming weekend) -- in the audience was great fun, too! One of the sweetest moments of the night was the woman washing hands next to me in the restroom who excitedly whispered “Wow, I'm standing next to the singer!” I responded “Wow, I'm standing next to a fan!” (Hey, it’s all about perspective.)

And, of course, I was happy that my dad was able to buzz up and catch the show.

...

Well, all that good, clean fun took it’s toll. Not only did I abandon my posting plans for today, I meant to have more photos** to share with you ... (It’s just I was busy being in the moment, so I didn’t do a great job of recording the moment.)

In other words, the Dakota ate my homework.

...

For extra credit, I put together this medley of audio from Saturday night’s show. Enjoy! (No comments on my editing, please. *smile*)

http://songtaneous.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/dakota_medley.mp3 ...

Thanks again to everyone who came and supported me at my Dakota debut. I really appreciate it. (And, if you were at the show and took pics, I would love copies. *wink*)

]]> According to my editorial schedule (which is a grandiose way of referrencing a list scratched on a Post-It®), I was supposed to write about how I became a blogger today. But, as you may recall, I sang at the Dakota this weekend as a member of my good friend Jay Young’s Lyric Factory. (That’s him and me in the photo.)

…

Let me tell you, I had a blast! Being on stage with all those great players (and good-hearted people) was exhilarating.

(Fellow factory workers included Ian Young (bass and Jay’s son), Thom West (keys), Kevin Washington (percussion), Pete Whitman (brass and woodwinds), Sol Testimony (spoken word artist) and my sisters in song – Judi Donaghy and Michele Denise Michaels.)

It was a swinging, fun and cool night of music. Jay took the Wonder and Jackson tunes we all know and love and reworked them into fresh new treats to savor and enjoy. The new arrangements and integrating the spoken word worked so well it could have seemed easy (or obvious?) – but Jay told me he spent a year thinking about the concept and the tunes. (That’s genius.)

…

Aces of Bass: Anthony Cox & Jay Young

Looking out and seeing so many friends and colleagues – Spices’ members, Lori Dokken, Ann Kay, Nancy Harms and Debbie Duncan and Anthony Cox (Debbie and Anthony have a show at the Dakota this coming weekend) – in the audience was great fun, too! One of the sweetest moments of the night was the woman washing hands next to me in the restroom who excitedly whispered “Wow, I’m standing next to the singer!” I responded “Wow, I’m standing next to a fan!” (Hey, it’s all about perspective.)

And, of course, I was happy that my dad was able to buzz up and catch the show. *smile*

…

Well, all that good, clean fun took it’s toll. Not only did I abandon my posting plans for today, I meant to have more photos** to share with you … (You see I was busy being in the moment, so I didn’t do a great job of recording the moment.)

In other words, the Dakota ate my homework.

…

For extra credit, I put together this medley of audio from Saturday night’s show. Enjoy! (No comments on my editing, please. *smile*)

[Oops! You\'ll have to visit songtaneous.com/blog to listen.]

…

Thanks to everyone who came and supported me at my Dakota debut. I really appreciate it. (And, if you were at the show and took pics, I would love copies. *wink*)

More Bloggity Goodness

]]> http://songtaneous.com/blog/the-dakota-ate-my-homework/feed/ 3 Food for Thought (#37) http://songtaneous.com/blog/food-for-thought-37/ http://songtaneous.com/blog/food-for-thought-37/#comments Fri, 05 Feb 2010 12:00:27 +0000 Sarah M. Greer http://songtaneous.com/blog/?p=3699 “Do what you can instead of all or nothing.” ...

The nugget of wisdom above comes from my sis.

(It’s the reason you’re getting a teensy blog post today ... instead of nothing. *smile*)

...

P.S. Here’s a 30-second preview of this weekend's tribute show.]]>

“Do what you can instead of all or nothing.”

…

The nugget of wisdom above comes from my sis.

(It’s the reason you’re getting a teensy blog post today … instead of nothing. *smile*)

…

P.S. Here’s a 30-second preview of this weekend’s tribute show.
(Click the triangle.)[Oops! You\'ll have to visit songtaneous.com/blog to listen.]
More Bloggity Goodness

]]> http://songtaneous.com/blog/food-for-thought-37/feed/ 2 Singing the Blues with Judi Donaghy http://songtaneous.com/blog/singing-the-blues-with-judi-donaghy/ http://songtaneous.com/blog/singing-the-blues-with-judi-donaghy/#comments Mon, 31 Aug 2009 03:55:41 +0000 Sarah M. Greer http://songtaneous.com/blog/?p=2607 Continuing my efforts to document my spontaneous singing (i.e. vocal improv) and to work with a phenomenal vocalist, I invited my friend and former instructor Judi Donaghy to join me in the studio this past July.

I admit I was a teensy bit apprehensive. (She was my teacher! She sings with Bobby McFerrin!). But I needn’t have worried, Judi’s generous and thoughtful (and did I mention a superb vocalist?). She cheerfully held rock-solid grooves and let me explore. Once I got comfortable being front and center, some nice things happened.

…

We did a number of things during our brief time together, but I think this blues we created is my favorite. I used my thoughts about how it felt to improvise the piece to make up the text. (Judi brilliantly — and patiently — laid down the bass line for over four minutes!)

“So I’m sitting her with my friend Judi
She’s the one who’s singing those low notes
she’s laying it down
building a floor for me to stand on
so I can riff all over the place
sing the blues
got lots to do’s
while we work out this improv game …”

Listen to the track by clicking the play button (the little orange triangle) below.

Enjoy! (And let me know what you think. *smile*)

[Oops! You\'ll have to visit songtaneous.com/blog to listen.]

…

Thanks, Judi, for the musical conversations and the continuing education!

]]> http://songtaneous.com/blog/singing-the-blues-with-judi-donaghy/feed/ 2 Duets w/ Anthony Cox http://songtaneous.com/blog/duets-w-anthony-cox/ http://songtaneous.com/blog/duets-w-anthony-cox/#comments Tue, 23 Dec 2008 04:12:26 +0000 Sarah M. Greer http://songtaneous.com/blog/?p=126 In an attempt to document my work as an improvisational vocalist (and to work with a great bassist!), I approached my mentor friend Anthony Cox last summer about getting into the studio together to play. We finally aligned our schedules earlier this month.


I was a little apprehensive that morning. First of all, 9 am is not the friendliest time for singers and, second, Anthony and I had not discussed what we were going to do — at all. The folks recording us didn’t know what to expect. (Neither did I.)

Anthony has earned his reputation as a talented and versatile player, however, and he made it easy.

More important (to me!), he had a plan which, being the planner I am, I appreciated. We’d do something open, work on a song, do something abstract and then do something more abstract. (c;

Anthony started right in with a repeating pattern I didn’t expect to hear come out of his bass. I took a deep breath … and off we went.

Something “open”
[Oops! You\'ll have to visit songtaneous.com/blog to listen.]

Something “abstract”
[Oops! You\'ll have to visit songtaneous.com/blog to listen.]
…

Later, I had to laugh when we were in the booth listening to the playback and one of the engineers asked me when Anthony and I had composed these pieces. My definition of successful improv? When the audience doesn’t know you’re making it up!

Anthony, thanks so much for the musical conversations. I had a great time! (Can we do it again? Soon? (c;)

Patty, thanks for getting up early to take the wonderful photos.

]]> http://songtaneous.com/blog/duets-w-anthony-cox/feed/ 7