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!!!

MUSIC

Aaah, I love music!

Took Joanna again today, and we danced to "Say It Right" by Nelly Furtado. Someone gave me the compliment that I dance with so much feeling, and I realized, I just love music. I can't help but feel the music, especially if it's a song I can really connect to.

This is Joanna's fierce facebook picture.

Here is another tidbit from this great book I am reading, "Networking Strategies for the New Music Business" by Dan Kimpel.  I think this can apply to any social situation.

"Follow the 10-5 rule for meeting and greeting: If you make eye contact with someone within 10 feet of you, you must acknowledge them with a nod or a smile. At five feet, you should say something--'Hello' or 'Good evening.' Don't pretend you don't see them."


I was going through a lot of old music to put on my phone, starting with songs that got a lot of play in my Itunes, and I came across "My Petition" by Jill Scott. This song is so beautiful! You gotta take a listen and let me know what you think. And after that, watch the video of Jill Scott's most classic song in my opinion, "Long Walk." That song/video made me fall in love with her....I still think she is one of the best vocalists I've heard.

My Petition - Jill Scott

LAZY DAY

Today, I am grateful that I wore sweatpants all day!!

Someone came over in the morning for a coaching, (I play piano for people to prepare for auditions, etc. I am a great sightreader and really enjoy doing it) and then I did pretty much nothing for the rest of the day.

However, I am reading a great book about networking in the music business. I highly recommend this book. There is a great quote that I came across while reading it:

"I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."    -Dr. Maya Angelou


I love this! It's so true!

Martha Graham

I had to steal this from my friend Demond's blog. I love this quote!!


“There is a vitality, a life force, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and there is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique, and if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium; and be lost. The world will not have it. It is not your business to determine how good it is, not how it compares with other expression. It is your business to keep it yours clearly and directly, to keep the channel open. You do not even have to believe in yourself or your work. You have to keep open and aware directly to the urges that motivate you. Keep the channel open. No artist is pleased. There is no satisfaction whatever at any time. There is on a queer, divine dissatisfaction, a blessed unrest that keeps us marching and makes us more alive than the others.”


-Martha Graham

Sleep / Rain / The Crazies

SOOOO good to sleeep iiiin two days in a row!  


I got up and went to take my friend Joanna Numata's class at Broadway Dance Center. Check out her choreography in a video we did last year at the end of this blog. 


I went and saw "The Crazies" at Regal E-Walk 13. It was pretty good! Nice rainy night activity. I think the following pictures will help explain the insanity of the rain & wind in NYC this weekend.....broken umbrellas everywhere! I had to throw mine away at the end of the day.

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La Quinto Pino

Forgot to mention that I met up with an old friend from my Inwood days, Charles Wood, at the wine bar he works at, El Quinto Pino in Chelsea. So charming!

No wine for me, but I had some tasty frozen horchata. The food there looked amazing as well!

Yay for reuniting with friends! 

                                          

Sweat, theater, & Erin Christine

Went to Bikram Yoga Lower East Side again today....but it was ROUGH.....I dunno if it was from the BBQ's last night (see pictures on previous blog entry) or I'm just feeling a little under the weather. But I made it through, and of course, sweat a ton.

I went and saw my friend Mike Crane in the play "Brack's Last Bachelor Party," at 59e59 theater. He is a brilliant actor, and I'm so proud to know him.

Was talking tonight on Facebook with Erin Christine, an amazing singer & artist who has been rocking it in NYC, doing live shows. She offered me a lot of encouragement, as I needed a little uplift. We are both working really hard, and though sometimes I feel a little crazy trying to do this whole artist thing, it is something I enjoy, and like she said, you just gotta keep working harder, and maintain a positive outlook. Thanks Erin! She has a show this coming Tuesday at the Bitter End.

Bikram & BBQ's

Today after a long morning/afternoon at my kid's music job, I went down to the Bikram studio in the Lower East Side. Something many of us do is try the intro rate (usually around $20) for a week of unlimited classes at various yoga studios around the city. It's a good deal, and you get to try out different studios. It was a nice class with a great teacher.

Later in the evening, I made up for all those calories burned by eating my face at BBQ's with my friend Todd. I had quarter chicken honey-glazed (white meat) which comes with fries and cornbread. Aaaah soo good!

We saw a woman eating this:

She was about to go in!! It looked delicious, but so, so wrong....

CD is almost here!!

I dropped off the final master CD at Play-It Productions today, so the printing is in progress! It will be in my apartment in about 2 weeks! YES!!!!!!!!!

Went to therapy today, and at the beginning of the session, I started to feel really grateful. I love my therapist, and it just felt really good to be there today.

This weather is AMAAAAAZING!!!! It's getting so warm here in NY!

Took a great tap class today with Germaine Salsberg, and then hip-hop with my boy Lajon! It was a really fun combo, and he pulled me out at the end with a couple other people, which always makes me feel good.

That's all for today. Still trying to book my CD release show and/or another show before or after, and figure out management. I hope it all comes together

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