ch ch ch ch changes

greetings all,

it seems that life continues to throw curves at me even now.

coming off of a wonderful gig at the lily pad in cambridge, ma.  i LOVE this project.  i’m creating a repertoire that seems to really suit me, as opposed to my trying to step into a musical space that perhaps does not fit.   we missed ken field (flute) and ara sarkissian (piano) for this past outing, and were joined by rach azrak (flute), and josh rosen (piano).  with the expanded band (i finally have a ‘horn section’) new vistas open, and we are having TONS of fun with beautiful arrangements by russ gershon.

we introduced a new composition, music by phil neighbors (drums), and lyrics by yours truly, which was VERY well received.

i want to play and work this project for as long as i am here, and then hopefully be able to move it (conceptually) to europe with me.  i’ve not been able to grasp the ‘booking’ magic.  perhaps i’m too polite, not pushy enough, i don’t know, but i LONG for an agent/manager to help with this.

anyway, the show was videotaped, and i should be posting some of that footage shortly.  in other news…

i will be seen in a local film by Brian Neuls, entitled ‘Modern American Outlaws’ – http://filmman.wordpress.com/  it is a tiny, but VERY juicy scene, that i am very proud of.

i am in treatment for my ulcer (damnable thing), have gained some pounds back, and have been diligently looking for work.  and so, here at the end of my battle for freedom, it seems the ex-husband and the 4 year divorce have beaten me.

a number of events have combined to make it impossible for me to maintain my apartment, so i’ve given it up effective december 1st.  i am now a gypsy, flitting about and crashing on the sofa’s of my friends.  now most people do this in their 20’s.  i face it now, at 51, through a set of ridiculous circumstances.  i’ve been looking DILIGENTLY for a job, for the past 7 months.  in combination with the expenditure of cash to pay for 3 of the 5 diagnostic imaging sessions it took to simply LOCATE the ulcer (BCBS only covered 2), paying for my mothers funeral and post-mortem debts, and covering rent during my recovery, i’m completely broke.  wow.  hadn’t planned on that.  SO, i organized and sold almost all of my ‘worldly possessions’.  everything but some clothing.  my art prints and my piano are being stored by amazing friends.

currently i’m working on a number of different ideas.  now, we all know that even though i was the BEST office manager/executive assistant, to the right person; that i am ALIVE only onstage.  i’ve been trying to move to europe for quite some time now (since 2007), and am working on getting there as soon as possible.

i have been offered work there.  real work, MUSICAL work.  sometimes i feel that i should have stayed in Paris in 1981, but you know all about hindsight.

in the meantime, i’ve upgraded this page, so the ‘music’ page, is really there now, and my updates and posts will improve as well.

curious to see how this finishes for me.

bright blessings to you all.  stay warm, snug and cozy.  more soon:-)

Autumn

The heat waves and our annual 3 weeks of summer have left us, and the leaves are donning their flame coloured shades of autumn.  It is a season that I love for it’s sheer beauty, and one that I’ve had the pleasure of enjoying both outside in the woods, with the smell of coming winter and wood smoke on the air, and gazing into the red heat of the same fire that scented the air with it’s smoke.  i miss feeding it, and feeling it’s heat increase; smelling the smoke mixed with the scent of decaying leaves…. Autumn.

AGACHIKO had our September 11th gig at Bull McCabes in Somerville (the original venue of the Lily Pad lost in a booking snafu).  It was great fun, getting eight of us in there was quite a challenge!  I LOVE where the project is going.  Ken Field plays flute with us, instead of his usual saxophone, and as much as I love that, I’ve still missed the horns.  Adding Russ Gershon and Scott Getchell on sax and trumpet respectively, (when i can get them) has made a difference in the sound of the set.  With a 3 piece horn section, it’s great for improv AND arranged, it allows me to let go vocally… very freeing.

We are back at the Lily Pad – THIS TIME FOR SURE!, on Friday, December 4th @7PM sharp!

Managed to get a few days of extra work on the Tom Cruise/Carmen Diaz movie ‘Wichita’.  It opens some time next year.  If you see it, look for me.  I’m the only person who (if I make it past the proverbial cutting room floor) has loose dreadlocks on screen:-)

This autumn, finds me in an interesting place.  Like everyone else I am desperately seeking work (regular day job), but no one wants to hire me, and I’m not sure what the coming months will bring.  As always, I trust that I will find my feet upon the path that will take me where I need to go.

As always, I am grateful for the love, generosity, support and understanding of my friends… the family i chose for myself.

Bright Blessings,

Gabrielle

Approaching Equinox

After one of the more interesting seasonal turns I’ve lived through, we are all too soon feeling the return of Autumn. It rained through what seemed to be mid-spring right through July, and has only broken lately, and the sun is already shifting it’s position in the sky.

My health continues to improve, though I may have hit a semi-permanent wall on the weight gain. I’m accepting the fact that I may never regain those precious pounds again, so today I remain steady at 106.5. Now on to the fun stuff.

Great anticipation for the Lily Pad gig. As I mentioned in my previous post, we have added some new tunes, and the best part is I get to play with some of the most amazing musicians in town, who also happen to be my friends. In addition to the usual suspects; Ken Field – {flute/sax} – Revolutionary Snake Ensemble, that wild amalgamation of folks and Jazz a la New Orleans, whose latest release ‘Forked Tongue’ has received fantastic reviews. I happen to have had the pleasure of performing Ken’s arrangement of ‘Down by the Riverside’ on this release.
Ara Sarkissian – {piano} – Musaner, who have been blowing people away with a unique working of original compositions and arrangements of traditional folk music from Armenia and the Balkans.
Phil Neighbors – {drums} – Revolutionary Snake Ensemble. Phil is an amazingly intuitive drummer, steady, yet wonderfully spontaneous.
Chris Forkey – {acoustic bass} – Prestige, a laid back, almost suave lounge music experience AND Lars Vegas.

Special Guests: Russ Gershon {soprano/tenor sax} – Either Orchestra – Russ and his Orchestra have been performing original jazz compositions, innovative arrangements of classics, and exploring and interpreting the music of Ethiopian jazz. He is also the founder of the quintet ‘Mood Elevator’, where he explores everything from ‘Pharoah Sanders to the Meters to Alanis Morrisette’. We’ll be doing an ‘exploration’ of an old Sly and the Family Stone classic ‘Everybody is a Star’.
Scott Getchell – {fluglehorn/trumpet} – Lars Vegas AND Prestige – Gotta love Getchell. Super cool, awesome player, artist, cartoonist, satirist.
Joey Pesce – {guitar} – ex Til Tuesday. Joey is also a gifted fine artist. check out his work at the link below. Years ago when ‘the Lodge’ was formed (another story, another time) we started doing this song. Aguas de March – Jobim. We do it alone with an acoustic guitar, and I’m so happy that we get to do it one more time.

The date is September 11, 2009 @ The Lily Pad 1353 Cambridge Street, Cambridge, MA. 7-9PM – $10.00 suggested donation at the door.

This is going to be a very special performance for me, as it represents a return to my health and the beginnings of a new turn in my life. I do hope you can come and share the evening with us.

The Lily Pad – 1353 Cambridge Street – Cambridge, MA
7 – 9PM – Children Friendly Show
$10.00 Suggested Donation at Door

For more information visit:
The Lily Pad – www.lily-pad.net
www.artsboston.org
www.jazzboston.org

Ken Field – www.fieldk.home.att.net
Ara Sarkissian -www.lucentmusic.com/musaner/
Phil Neighbors – www.myspace.com/philneighbors
Chris Forkey – www.facebook.com/cforkey?_fb_noscript=1

Russ Gerson – www.either-orchestra.com
Scott Getchell – ever mysterious
Joey Pesce – www.pescesculpture.com

Summer

Well, all I can say is wow.  Despite my best efforts, I am still in the US, and am slowly recovering my health.   Basically I developed a duodinal ulcer, and managed to drop 30 pounds i could ill afford to lose:-)  I am DEEPLY grateful to my dear friends who have assisted me during this time.  I’m mending, and gaining, and am feeling very very well, and THAT’S AN END OF THAT!

I’m very excited and frightened at the same time.  I’m putting some new tunes into the Agachiko set, stretching a little from Ms. Simone, although i think her music will always be some part of my repetoire.  I’ve added “The Land of Make Believe” – Chuck Mangione.  I hear all you sidemen out there snickering, but singers LOVE this song.  Just because I’ve never won a grammy doesn’t mean I can’t have fun with this great tune too:-)  Next is a Maltby/Shire tune called “Autumn”, a beautiful ballad that i look forward to interpreting, AND…..(jazz singers LOVE show tunes!) from PIPPIN – “Simple Joys”.  A great up tune in the Calypso style.  Perhaps another original from me (if it’s ready).

Joey Pesce has agreed to join me in a reprise of our version of “Aguas de March” – Jobim, and the lovely and talented Carol Namkoong (piano) is threatening to do a standard with me.

The venue is the Lily Pad, and this is a very important gig for me.  Yes, I have a new demo, but it’s just a demo.  The performance is the important part for me.  For sooo many reasons.

Well it looks as if the sun is trying to appear here after two straight weeks of dark skies rain and 100% humidity.  I guess I’ll go cheer him on.

Solstice Greetings

Gabrielle

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