Tour!!

I absolutely cannot wait to go on tour to Phoenix, San Diego, and LA!! Check out my new tour flyer:

Tonight I played 2 songs at the Songwriters Hall of Fame "Writer's Showcase."

Did some good networking with songwriters - have a writing session tomorrow with a girl named Raquel, who I met through SongHall

Till next time!

My Duplex show & the weekend

Show at the Duplex was so much fun! Click here to read Chuck Taylor's blog review of the show.

My band Jordan, Jeffrey, Iakov, and Evgeny, plus newbie Ashton Parson on backgrounds, killed it - plus I had Heightz spittin some verses, Yvonne, Scott, & Brian dancin with me, and Alex Cowings (Emily King's brother) came up and tapped his ass off to "Trust in Me."

Check the video at the bottom of this blog entry for my interview with John-Andrew Morrison & some clips from the show.

This weekend I hosted Samuel Buscape from Germany - a friend of Simon Kirsch, brother of Kate Kirsch, who my family hosted a few years ago. (Yes, I believe that's 3 degrees of separation).

He's a budding filmmaker, and he stopped by my show to take pictures. He got some great ones.

Over the weekend, I went to Joe Buffa's Dance Strong workshop. Very proud of him, he's really grown his following & is passionate about teaching.

Went to a dance performance at Steps with Samuel. He was game for pretty much everything, and it was nice having him along.

On Sunday, we went to a video shoot for rapper So Fly Smooth. I did a hook on one of his songs, but for this video, I was just chillin, and did a couple shots with him. We'll see how the video turns out.

Afterwards, we went to an open mic at Tom & Toon, through Songhall. I played a couple tunes, then me and Samuel headed over to AMC to see Unknown. I loved the movie!

Now check out this vid:


Untitled from Web Show New York on Vimeo.

New Songs & Good Vibes

I thoroughly enjoyed my show last night at Bitter End!

Loved the band - Evgeny on synth, Carras on sax and flute, Josh on drums, Jordan on bass, and Nick on vocals.

Did some cover snippets of Fiona, Bjork,

new songs - "Love You Too Hard" and "My Freakin' Heart" -

Also loved our arrangement of "Seed" with me on keys, Nick harmonizing with me, flute, and synth pad.

Emily King came!!!! (Amazing artist who I've been going to see for a few years now)

Here are some pictures - one with Mindee Anoff and one with Ashton Parson, who both came to the show, and were very supportive.

New song

This hasn't happened in a while, but I wrote a whole song tonight over the course of a few hours.

Completed, and happy with it.

Thats what happens when you're really *inspired* - whether it be a good feeling or bad.

Something beautiful came of it, I believe.

Songs & artists

I worked more on a song with Ryan James .... we are kinda crazy together LOL!!! The phrase of the night was "That just doesn't sing right"

& then I went to see the beautiful Erin Christine at Bitter End... IT was a good set! She did a new song called "Naked" which was HOT!!!

Iakov

Today I had a writing session with Iakov Kremenskiy - my guitar player for many gigs now for about a year and a half...

This was our first writing session, and I think we came up with a great song! So excited to do lyrics and get it finished....

Epic picture of Iakov at my Bowery Poetry Club gig 8/09

I feel like my creative juices are FLOWING.... have come up with some good material with co-writers in the last week, and can't wait to finish and have some new songs in the repertoire.

Woo-hoo!!!

Writing

Had a couple students today -

and then

WRITING sessions all dayyyyy........that's what I'm talking about.....it was awesome!!

First up was Amy Crawford, wonderful singer/songwriter and fellow keys player. We've been to a few of each other's shows, and we had been wanting to get together for awhile. It finally happened and we came up with a great song, discovering we blended nicely together....can't wait to finish it!

Next was Ryan James, who I knew in Boston back in the day and we've reconnected here in NYC. He's a great songwriter and producer, and I really like what we came up with as well...

In both cases we did a whole song structure - form, melody, and harmony....so now just have to plug in the lyrics.

I can't decide which song I like better, but I feel so grateful for the opportunity I have to use my gifts and create music with others.........So happy!!!

Kick me down

Early morning with The Story Pirates, performing stories by and for kids at an elementary school in

                 Jamaica, Queens




A kids party at a sick apartment on Park Avenue on the upper east side. Kids seemed a little spoiled, but the parents were nice, and we got a little tip. Always nice and appreciated.

And actually, I talked with a co-worker about rich kids, and really, there are pros and cons to growing up in any economic circumstance. You can't help where/how you were born. I heard once that happiness is measured by your capacity for delight.....or something like that...I like that.

    Had a session tonight with Ryan James, and we started working on a song. We are inspired by bullying and teen suicides. As a gay male, I remember being depressed, and feeling alone in high school. It can be really hard. And I was picked on ALOT in middle school...

Hopefully we can write a good song that's relevant. I look forward to working more with this crazy guy.

Snow Leopard!! Boo-yah

I have a new operating system for my computer and have been downloading lots of new software....

Fun...

Last night played at Bell House in BK with The Bloodsugars. I always have a good time with those guys!

Tonight I met with a songwriter named Ron Gerald and did some recording at his place.

Song was called "Constantly."

He lives in Jamaica, Queens. Kind of a trek on the subway, but it was fun.

I love meeting with new people, and I love recording. Every time.

Even if it's a small hot room, and I'm sweating. LOL

Jones in my bones

Had a great meeting today with a talented songwriter named Ron Gerald. I may be referencing some material with him or doing some collabs.

Took a great Bikram class & then went to rehearsal for LoveJones. (Show on Wednesday at the Greenhouse)

Should be fun. Big day tomorrow too.....wishing myself luck!!

Over & out

Family Reunion here I come

Had a good meeting with Janet & Nate, who will be working on some bookings for me.

Was writing a little bit, came up with a new chorus called "Relief," or "It's such a relief" that I'm diggin, and still working on a song called "Leak."

Had an awesome Bikram class earlier.

Tomorrow (or later today that is) I will be going to PA for an extended Shenk family reunion, which I'm really looking forward to.

Over & out.

Artists & Inspiration (John Legend sighting)

What a great day!

I met this afternoon with Devin Bing, an amazing songwriter and singer who I met from Craig's List. He came over and we had a chance to vibe, and do some listening/playing. Very talented guy. I think we can learn alot from each other, and I'm very excited to work more with him! He is primarily a jazz pianist/vocalist, but VERY versatile singer & writer.

Then, tonight I went to Bitter End to check out Erin Christine. It was a big show for her, as she had some label people coming out. She did a great job! She is an amazing singer, very beautiful, and great performer.

Um....there was someone special who came to see the show...... John Legend! What???? I know! Erin and Tiffany Starr (songwriter that Erin works with) had met with John's label, but apparently she didn't know he was coming out! I was so excited for her! I can't believe he was there! Amazing!

I stayed after for a set from an artist I had never heard of, Olamide. I just had a feeling he was gonna be good. HE WAS! Apparently, he's on Sesame Street, and his older brother is Donald Faison, one of the stars of Scrubs. He's an amazing songwriter and singer (plays guitar) and his band was killing it! His bass player is Brady Watt, who I went to school at Berklee with, and the piano player & drummer in the band were great! They said they didn't have a rehearsal, but they sounded tight as hell! Looking forward to more from Olamide!

All in all, a very inspiring day!!!