It was the most wonderful performing experience of my life. There I sat on a swing suspended some twenty feet in the air over my audience singing a song that I first sang as a teenager in a high school production of "Roar of the Greasepaint, Smell of the Crowd." "Feeling Good" is such a simple song but thanks to Nina Simone's arrangement, it has plenty of room for drama and dynamics. And then there was the Full Moon in the night's sky shining down on me, …
Prepared to Bleed.
Tonight I perform an encore performance of my Nina Simone Show and of course I am all nervous and panicked about: wardrobe, tickets sales and everything else! It's funny because I really do consider this show as one of the best things I've done in concert to date. So why all the nerves and insecurity? …
Doing the Happy Dance!
Mushiness alert: this post contains expressions of such happiness and gratitude that they may make you puke. But I'm just too happy to give a damn! …
Weddings
Weddings are very special because they involve families, and like individuals, every family has its own unique story and traditions that are present or should be present at every wedding celebration. It is important to include as many of these activities as possible during the reception because it involves all of the generations present. If the parents are involved early on during the booking process then I am usually made aware of certain songs or traditions to include as well as the things …
A Whole Lotta Snow.
(Beginning of the blizzard. The blowing snow looks like smoke!) Chicago just experienced a blizzard on Tuesday night. It was a big one. A bad one. It came with thunder and lightning. And so the weatherman called it "Thunder Snow." The wind howled, visibility was low, the snow came down heavily and was swept around like smoke, creating huge drifts in every nook and cranny, doorway and window sill all over the city. Lake Shore Drive was shut down but not before several hundred cars were …