I Have [More] Songs
Can you believe I have not written any songs entirely on my own, just because, since 2018? I had been so consumed with larger theatrical projects since then that I accumulated a long backlog of song ideas I never got around to realizing. It has been far too long.
In early pandemic days, mezzo-soprano Kate Tombaugh (of Companionship fame) and pianist Jennifer Quammen McGuire (of Staggerwing fame) worked hard on this socially distanced (several states apart, in fact) video playlist of my songs. Last year, I had the pleasure of seeing how Kate’s performance of those songs has grown live in person with Alan Johnson (also of Companionship fame, and a mentor of many years) at the piano.
Since then, two notable things happened:
First, I vowed to make professional, non-archival recordings of more of my work a priority for the coming year.
Shortly thereafter, following some soul-searching, I decided I wanted to throw out everything I had ever written.
You can see how these two notable things might be incompatible. And not much fun for Kate.
Eventually, I figured out that an EP of songs would be the best course of action. I did vote some of the older material off the island. After all, it is a very different world now than it was in 2018 (or earlier, when I wrote many of the others), my artistic and personal priorities have shifted a few times, and there is certainly much more to sing about that I could not have foreseen. I’m making my way through that list…except that it’s also growing…With no dictated restraints on content, form, or style, I’m returning to the music that lit me up when I was younger, seeking inspiration from my favorite fearless truth-seekers and truth-tellers. (If you have not seen the recent Janis Ian documentary, stop reading this page and do that!)
So, as the first baby step to grow this larger garden of new songs, Kate is flying in from Illinois next month to join Alan and me for two house concerts featuring a few older selections and some world premieres. Admission is Pay What You Wish at the door. Seating is limited, RSVP required. We hope to see you either in Jersey City or Brooklyn in a few weeks!
