Piano Repertoire: 2k10

New:

Etude in B minor , Op. 100, No. 6 – Alexander Dorn*
Little Leopard on the Swing (from Children’s Album, Book II) – Aram Khachaturian*+
La cathédrale engloutie – Claude Debussy
Evening in the Meadow, Op. 31, No. 5 – Vladimir Rebikov*
La fille aux cheveux de lin – Claude Debussy
Andantino (from Pictures of Childhood) – Aram Khachaturian*
Rêverie – Claude Debussy

Old:

La plus que Lente – Claude Debussy
Etude in C Major, Op. 47, No. 19 – Stephen Heller*
To a Wild Rose, Op. 51, no. 1 – Edward MacDowell*
Sonatina in A Minor, Op. 88, No. 3 (III) – Friedrich Kuhlau
Trois Gymnopédies – Erik Satie*
La Velocité, Op. 109, No. 10 – Johann Freidrich Burgmüller*+
Tarantelle, Op. 100, No. 20 – Johann Freidrich Burgmüller*
Valse in C Major – Anton Diabelli*
Clair de lune (from Suite Bergamasque) – Claude Debussy*
Notturno, Op. 54, No. 4 – Edvard Grieg*+

* = completed
+ = memorized

Happy Holidays!

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

Seems like recording a X-mas song is a rite of passage nowadays so, I thought I’d get in on the fun.  I literally just put this together this evening so it’s pretty bare bones.  Regardless, I hope you enjoy.

“Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas”

written by  R. Blane, H. Martin

xx

Af

Goodbye, dear Gungi

Saying goodbye to friend, Gungi Paterson today.  He fought a long battle with cancer.  He has impacted my life and so many others greatly and will be missed tremendously.

Rest in peace, dear Gungi.

www.friendsofgungi.com

It all comes down to this

The title of this post sounds a lot more serious than the content actually is….

You know the whole scenario, “if you were stranded on a deserted island for the rest of your life, what 20 albums would you take with you…”?  Well, the significant other and I sat down the other night and really, really thought about it.  We spent a few good hours talking about our top 20 albums and came up with our own lists.

I must explain the reason I post this because it’s kind of reminiscent of those Facebook quiz/list things and that would be redundant and silly.  These particular albums have great influence on the music I’ve been writing and recording.  Plus, I put a LOT of thought into this and I think I have excellent taste in music…ha!

May I preface; this is the music I would want to listen to for the rest of my life judged through the eyes of where I’m at now in my life.  Not the albums I think are the best ever written or recorded.  That’s a whole different list.

and with that….

1. The Seeds Of Love – Tears For Fears (1989)
2. Marry Me – St. Vincent (2007)
3. Thriller – Michael Jackson (1982)
4. Let’s Dance – David Bowie (1983)
5. Homogenic – Björk (1997)
6. Fleet Foxes – Fleet Foxes (2008)
7. In Ear Park – Department Of Eagles (2008)
8. Chelsea Girl – Nico (1967)
9. Tomcats Screaming Outside – Roland Orzabal (2001)
10. My Life In The Bush Of Ghosts – David Byrne & Brian Eno (1981)
11. Le Fil – Camille (2005)
12. Felt Mountain – Goldfrapp (2000)
13. All Is Well – Sam Amidon (2007)
14. OK Computer – Radiohead (1997)
15. Bitte Orca – Dirty Projectors (2009)
16. Black Sea – XTC (1980)
17. Devotion – Beach House (2008)
18. Actor – St. Vincent (2009)
19. Another Setting – The Durutti Column (1983)
20. Original Pirate Material – The Streets (2002)

St. Kevin and the Blackbird

And then there was St. Kevin and the blackbird.

The saint is kneeling, arms stretched out, inside

His cell, but the cell is narrow, so

One turned-up palm is out the window, stiff

As a crossbeam, when a blackbird lands

And lays in it and settles down to nest.

Kevin feels the warm eggs, the small breast, the tucked

Neat head and claws and, finding himself linked

Into the network of eternal life,

Is moved to pity: Now he must hold his hand

Like a branch out in the sun and rain for weeks

Until the young are hatched and fledged and flown.

*

And since the whole thing’s imagined anyhow,

Imagine being Kevin. Which is he?

self-forgetful or in agony all the time

From the neck on out down through his hurting forearms?

Are his fingers sleeping? Does he still feel his knees?

Or has the shut-eyed blank of underearth

Crept up through him? Is there distance in his head?

Alone and mirrored clear in love’s deep river,

‘To labour and not to seek reward,’ he prays,

A prayer his body makes entirely

For he has forgotten self, forgotten bird,

And on the riverbank forgotten the river’s name.

-Seamus Heaney

duetting with Wainwright

As I had mentioned before, I had the honor of singing with Michael Wainwright at the Oregon Zoo Amphitheatre show on his song “Someone Like You”. Wainwright has been holding a contest for a different female vocalist for each stop of the tour. Unfortunately, he had no one for Portland so, I became the “back-up back-up”.
This is TOTALLY unrehearsed (little flubs here and there to prove it). We played it quietly backstage once through just to go over lyrics and harmonies and that was it. Thanks to NDV for taping it!

It has begun

Reporting from Santa Rosa, CA.  2 shows down and 6 to go.  The Tears For Fears 2009 tour has officially begun!  yay.

Seattle – beautiful venue and huge crowd….great start for the tour…got all the first show jitters out of the way and the boys delivered a brilliant show (as always).  Really digging Curt’s Duesenberg bass.  SO pleased that ‘Memories Fade’ has made it’s way into the setlist…the new live version rocks oh so good.  winery…lot’s of inebriation…in a good way that is.  a bat (no lie) almost crashed into my face…peacocks for security guards.  great great night.

Portland – ummm….the zoo….hello!  SO cool.  Nothing better than waking up to elephants outside your tour bus window.  Met a turkey vulture and bald eagle…..starting to think we should call this “The Feathered Friends Tour”…only time will tell.  Had the great honor of singing with Michael Wainwright (TFF’s opener and back-up singer) for a song.  Wasn’t too nervous which was nice…and I quite enjoyed the “heckling” from the band backstage.  Nice to know I have supporters.  NDV got video of it so, keep your eyes peeled here for it soon.  (He’s also been keeping a video blog)  The show opens with ‘Listen’ (from Songs From The Big Chair) which I have always thought would be a genius idea  The zoo naturally was a LIVELY crowd and everything felt much more smooth and fun.

THANKS to everyone who has come out so far!

Must say that I am absolutely loving our crew and have finally gotten past the “sea legs” from sleeping on the tour bus.  Have a feeling there will only ever be one Chaz Martin in the world and must cherish this.  ”riiiiiiight.”  Oh, and has anyone else noticed Doug Petty’s fancy ties for this tour?  very classy.

Two days off in Santa Rosa and then it’s our 3rd show at the Wells Fargo Center (14th).  Hoping to see YOU out on the road.  Merchandise is killing and I urge you to come check out what we have while it’s still here.  Seriously serious merch!  As I say…be there or be a quadrilateral parallelogram!

See ya Tuesdeee

X

Af

New Video Up

One of these days I’ll stop covering other people’s stuff and get the balls to put up my own.  But, in the meantime….enjoy.

(oh, It’s over on the video page…..)

Peace.

Af

Spring is upon us

It’s been a while.  But, many many things have been goin’ down.  

Taxes, anniversaries, more Curt Smith shows, learning to play tennis (so fun!), piano repairs, enrollment, other shows at the Standard, etc.  I’ve been busy.  The bad part of that is that I have not had the desired amount of time to devote to my music.  The cool part is, I’m staying busy which is important nowadays.  

So, yes, the Curt Smith/Standard shows are over and I’m sad.  The last show was wonderful and the boys really went out with a bang (they even pulled “Advice For the Young at Heart” out which sent me in to major fanaticism).  It was weird this last Wednesday not driving into Hollywood.  I miss it.  But, we have a Tears For Fears tour coming up in the summer to look forward to so, I shouldn’t complain.  

Plus, I did get to go to the Standard for one more show last week.  I was asked by DJ Valida if I’d be interested in running sound for one more week for another artist.  I said, “sure” and she continued “for Emiliana Torrini…”.  My jaw hit the floor.  I had bought tickets to see her this last Mon. at the Troubadour and now I’m being asked to do the next show?  It was awesome.  Thanks to Curt, Charlton, and NDV for loaning the gear and major help from Gruno!  

Fast forward to the show- it went really well and the band was pleased with the sound (hoorah!).  It was a short set (about 8 songs) and spanned all 3 of her last albums.  I also had my first run in with a harmonium and naturally got lustful.  The band sounded fantastic and Emiliana was so magical.  I would have been there regardless if I was doing sound or not.  Emiliana was so gracious and signed all my CD booklets and LP I brought (one signed, “Thanks for brilliand sound womanizing”).  I definitely fulfilled a dream that night.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In other news, I enrolled in an online jazz guitar class with Berklee Music and I start my 3 month course tomorrow!  Reason I do so is so I can become a more well-rounded guitarist.  At this point, I’m just really good at rhythm guitar and just using the instrument as an accompaniment for the voice.  I want to become more comfortable with the guitar and broaden my knowledge since I’ve probably only had about 4 guitar lessons EVER and am mainly self-taught.  I want to learn technique and just be schnazzy.

In other, OTHER news, I had my piano tuned and repaired and the bf had a piano bench custom made for the beast.  It’s all spiffified now and has been getting LOTS of action.  (get yer mind out of the gutter!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So, that’s all for now.  I’m workin’ my little fingers to the bone and hoping to have some material up by early summer.  Thanks for staying tuned!

Pax!

Af

Together at last

Mornin’

I last left you with news of two shows. I’ll start at the beginning.

Wednesday night was (one of) the Curt Smith show at the Standard Hollywood. The energy was high that night and many friends came from all over. In attendance were friends, Kathy and Vince from Dallas with local Amber in tow wincing at me, Stan Ausmus, Mr. Nick D’Virgilio himself, Stephanie (from Nashville), Peter (another CRAS grad), and new friend Jason.

The show went great as usual (barring an iPod flub on my part) and from what I heard was the best so far. I think it was halfway into the show that we decided to drag Charlton’s vocal mic across me to Nick (drummer for TFF) sitting on my other side since he had been singing the harmonies all night. I think it was the song Aeroplane that he couldn’t remember the lyrics to and I tried to pull them up on my phone as fast as possible. The end result was somethings like “All I wnnnt zaeroplaaane, mmmmmrubber???paaaaper waaaaa??eeeengs” The harmonies were right at least! Overall, it was more amusing and fun than anything.

In between the sets, I was moseying back and forth between tables of friends who all gave me different drinks. I think I had about 4 different kinds of chardonnay/sauvignon blanc in total which always helps the clarity…..
Keep in mind I’m still getting over this sinus infection and my right ear was plugged up for the first half of the show. It popped right before they launched into Fake Plastic Trees. I swore I heard angels sing.

After the show, my other half hopped a ride with Nicky-D and myself and Stephanie went back to her hotel for the night as the next day was the Joan Baez show.

On to Thursday.

We head to the venue (UCLA’s Royce Hall) and I meet all the band and crew who were all very warm and talkative. It’s all a bit of a blur as I was uber tired and there was a lot of hurry up and waiting. Ah, the joys of touring…..

It was really surreal and also great to watch Finny at work. She is Joan’s personal assistant and guitar tech and really does an amazing job.
I spent most of the day just chatting with most of the band and crew, helping Finny with her “treasure hunts” and such. (She has to make sure Joan doesn’t leave anything at the hotels and venues and she calls it “treasure hunts”).
Here are some pics I snapped on my phone throughout the day:

Finny restringing the Joan Baez signature Martin

Solo Reunion Tour - Together At Last

Dressing room reading material

Before the band all went on stage they did one of those group huddles and I got to huddle too….it was special.
The show was amazing and Joan’s voice is heavenly. She really was so nice and warm to this little stranger (me) hanging around all day.
All in all, it was a very laid back day and such a joy to hear a wonderful show from backstage.

I may just have to make a trip to Nashville this year for some help with the album. I got a couple of offers for session work so we’ll just have to see what the year has in store.

They had an overnight bus ride to Phoenix-Mine and Stephanie’s old stomping grounds. Now that would’ve been surreal.

I said my goodbyes and made sure to thank everyone for a great day.

I miss Finny.

my seat