Relax with a snow day

Winter MoodsImagine relaxing by the window with a cup of hot chocolate or a latte, gazing out on a winter landscape. The smell of wood smoke as white wisps curl skyward in the still air. A magenta-lavendar sky and the hush of twilight. A little over a week ago I released a new CD, Winter Moods. My goal was to create an album of nocturne-like tunes where beauty emerges from simplicity and subtly shifting moods. I was inspired by the soft tranquility of falling snow and the intimacy of nightfall in winter. Each song is a simple gem that collectively create a deep sense of serenity. Watch the video “Snow Day” below for a taste of what the album offers: Continue reading →

Tales from the Underground Bazaar

Bazaar album coverAfter so many albums of instrumental music, I wanted to return to working with the voice. The result is Tales from the Underground Bazaar: thirteen unusual but true songs that reveal the strangeness of the world. I call them my “talking songs”—inspired by Laurie Anderson, they’re quirky but incisive. Sometimes comical, sometimes a bit darker, but always with the undercurrent of the absurd. With titles like “Parallel Universe,” “Shopping for God,” “Blah Blah Blog,” “The Year I Became a Martian,” and “The Sound of One Hand Clapping,” you can get the picture. Continue reading →

How to build a snowman

snowmanIt’s winter—let’s build a snowman! There are two basic methods: the rolled snowman and the packed snowman. The rolled snowman produces nicely rounded balls for a classic look. The packed snowman requires more sculpting to ensure an even shape. Snow must pack well and stick together—not icy and not powdery. If the temperature stays sufficiently cold, the snowman should last several days. Below are step-by-step instructions, along with a video to provide the energy and motivation to get you going. Continue reading →

Holiday Music Reimagined: 10 Shades of Christmas

10 Shades of ChristmasI just released a holiday album, 10 Shades of Christmas, that offers new interpretations (“compelling” is the words used in the press release) of some of the world’s favorite Christmas carols. I thought it would be fun to reinvent carols by experimenting with their musical structure, harmony and rhythm. I was inspired by Tori Amos’ inventive holiday album Midwinter Graces, in which she intertwines traditional melodies with new material; by Vince Guaraldi’s classic A Charlie Brown Christmas; and by my collaborative effort with Andre Akinyele back in 2005, Gemini Soul’s A Cyber-Jazz Holiday. On that album, we gave a jazz twist to some standards, and the jazz influence is evident on 10 Shades of Christmas. Continue reading →