This is my late summer update!
In the next week I will be appearing at the 55 Bar in the West Village twice; this Friday singing as a guest with Adam Klipple’s Sneak, at 6pm. This music is super rocked out jazz, you will love it.
Next Monday, the quartet returns for its first show after our CD release party in June!
Please join myself, Dominic Fallacaro on Rhodes, Aidan Carroll on bass, and Stuart Bidwell on drums as we perform original tunes off my newly released debut album, as well as some new jams and choice covers.
55 Bar is a friendly, laid back spot for enjoying live jazz; I hope to see you there. As always on the early set, no cover charge!
We play two sets; 7pm and 8:15pm.
Hello reader,
My postings on my website have this far been oriented towards keeping you updated on my performances and CD release; from now on I will strive to combine postings of such nature with postings on broader musical topics and recent observations I’ve made of the current music scene. Today I will share with you a bit of my experience as a jazz educator thus far (this is a very new and exciting endeavor for me!)
I wrote up these notes for a vocal jazz clinic I taught alongside Ingrid Jensen for some talented adolescents coming to NYC from rural British Columbia on a school music trip. My thoughts and musings are as follows; all are what I’ve learned from my own experiences trying to sit in on competitive sessions in NYC.
How to show up at a jam session and sing some jazz!
1. Get your list of tunes together.
-It’s good to have somewhere between 5 and 10 songs committed to memory that range from well known standards (Bye Bye Blackbird, Autumn Leaves) to more adventurous selections (You Don’t Know What Love Is, All of Nothing at All).
-Know what key you like to sing your songs in! The rhythm section (usually represented by the pianist or guitarist) will most likely ask your preference, so accept the invitation to sing in the key most comfortable for you.
-If you are playing with less experienced players who don’t transpose on the spot (or just don’t know the song you have your heart set on) bring a simple lead sheet with the song written in your key (see attached example).
2. Pick a program-appropriate tune to sing. When it’s your turn to get up (depending on how rigid the schedule is, you may not get a choice when you get to sing!) it’s a good idea to pick a tune from your prepared list that’s contrasting to the previous tune. This keeps the night varied, exciting and ensures your appearance keeps listeners engaged.
3. Stretch the limits of the tune. You don’t always have to play Body and Soul as a ballad. Call it as a medium blues shuffle if you feel like you (and the musician in the band) play strongly in that style, and as noted above, its appropriate for the given set list programming.
4. Counting a tune in should be strong. Hear the tempo you want in your head and feel the tempo by snapping your fingers before you start counting 1,2,3,4…
-My trick that always ensures that it’s the tempo that I want to sing in: Think of the hardest, fastest passage from the melody and hear it in your head. Take the tempo directly from there. Somehow this prevents a too-fast or too-slow count off.
5. Taking an improvised solo isn’t necessary if you don’t feel comfortable scatting in a new environment, but if you do, step up and take the first solo after you sing the melody or else a sax player may cut you off unknowingly before you get a chance to start!
6. Song endings at jam session are classic noodle-fests for horn players that get really tedious, especially when every tune ends the same way… Take the opportunity to direct an assertive ending with a tag (*to be discussed) and/or a directed slow down and fermata (*also another discussion). Everyone will thank you for it (if not silently) and you will have contributed an extra bit of class to the bandstand.
5. Sometimes there are jam sessions specifically for vocalists; sometimes you’re the only one in a sea of horn players. Either way, confidence and preparedness are key! With these two tools, you are immune to any vibes that anybody, vocalists or instrumentalists, will throw your way.
*other tips*
-Before the set, introduce yourself to the jam session leader as a willing participant, so they can plan you into the programming of the session.
-Come prepared with your own microphone when you’re not sure if the session will be properly equipped. Standard microphone is the Shure SM-58. Don’t forget a transformer/adapter (in case the club/room doesn’t have a PA and the guitarist/electric keyboardist has an available input into their amplifier).
-Keep your eyes and ears open! Yes, you’re singing the melody, but there’s a ton of interactive things happening on the bandstand that if you are conscious of them, you can too participate in shaping the on-the-spot song arrangement and bring the music to a higher level (often unexpected of the vocalist, and always impressive!)
-Always bring business cards and/or some sort of promotional flyer or demo to the session in case a spectator or fellow musician expresses interest in your voice and music. Don’t promote yourself ad nauseum when talking to musicians after your appearance, but with a friendly demeanor, make sure they know how to contact you in the future. I’ve met many musicians at open (and closed) sessions that I’ve kept in touch with, and sometimes paid gigs and other musical opportunities have resulted from these networking strategies.
Hello! Yesterday I was invited to launch my very own project on kickstarter.com! This is a great thing for many reasons:
a. I’ve been trying to figure out a way to fund my debut album, just recently titled Unveiled, and this website is just the platform to do it!
b. I needed some motivation to collect my thoughts and feelings about how to present my work in a cohesive package, and after poring over other artists’ projects, I think some ideas have been inspired and are starting to rise to the surface.
and c. The website, though relatively new, is really gaining popularity quickly for its facility in promoting the projects of new and independent artists. Anyone who helps the little guys side step the calamity that is major record labels is a fan of mine.
So, if you’ve never heard of this website, I can describe it in short for you. Basically, you (new-to-the-game jazz/pop/original music vocalist) have the opportunity to find backers to raise funds for your project (in my case, finishing my album!) However, the main point of this website is that you are not simply asking for money. You’re driving down a two way street: your backers are graciously rewarded for their support in many different ways of your choosing. Some bands essentially present this opportunity as a pre-pre-order of their album (you give them $15, they send you the album when it’s done). But it hardly ever stops there; you give them $500, they’ll give you a concert at your next big soiree, $1,000 they’ll write you a song. The creativity of these motivated and saavy artists really shines in the structure of the Kickstarter rewards tiers. Basically, the website facilitates win-win situations that are fun and innovative.
My posting today is really justs a heads up for anyone interested in what I’ve been up to lately. More information will be provided as soon as I officially launch my Kickstarter project. Of course, I’ll be keeping you posted in every which way (Facebook, Twitter, the gamut of social networking options).
Lastly, I’d like to welcome you to my WordPress powered website if this is your first time here. Thanks for stopping by!