Happy Holidays! and more about Brazil...

I hope you have had a nice holiday so far. It's incredible to think that the year is almost over. It is also incredible for me to believe that it has now been a little over a year since I left Cisco Systems and I am still standing tall and proud to be away from corporate America!! That's not to say I am not thankful for having had the opportunity to work for such a large company and all that it taught me, but living my dream is certainly preferable to sitting in a cubicle all day. :) And if I had remained with those golden handcuffs around my wrists, I probably would not have been able to go to Brazil and have such an amazing experience. So I will continue--and finish--my account of my trip here, today.

After leaving Porto Alegre, we arrived on Dec. 3 in Sao Paolo, Brazil. As we were flying in to the city, both Murray and I were struck by the immensity of its existence. I had read it was the largest city in South America but nothing could prepare me for the overwhelming miles upon miles of high rises that lay before us. We had also heard stories of crimes, brutal and daring even during the daylight hours. Needless to say we were both a bit wary and nervous about spending three days here.

We took a cab into the city, not wanting to worry about where we were going and how we were going to get there. As we entered the city we could see a thick dark haze that enveloped the city--SMOG, terrible, terrible smog. This wasn't adding anything positive to our introduction to this city. We arrived to our hotel and were relieved to find it in a very nice part of the city and a definite upgrade from the other hotels in which we had stayed. We decided to take a walk up to Avenida Paulista--the main thoroughfare of the city--and get acquainted with our new digs. Once we were out and about the fear subsided greatly and we realized that this was just a big city--really not so bad as we had originally heard and thought. As the days wore on I think Sao Paolo started to charm its way into at least my heart. Would I want to live there? No, probably not, but I would be happy to return there--especially if I were to perform there.

We had no gigs booked in Sao Paolo which we later learned was due to some serious miscommunications from the promoter in Porto Alegre's side. The promoters in Sao Paolo--Maira and Mona--never received my CD nor my press kit. For this reason they were not able to "sell" us to any of the venues that book acts such as ours. Big bummer, but after getting over the frustration of realizing this had happened, I was able to move forward. We had dinner with both Maira and Mona--lovely people--and I think we made a very good connection with the two of them. My hope is that there will be future projects in which we will be able to work with them. They mentioned some festivals and I made it clear that I am more than willing to return to Brazil to perform.

While in Sao Paolo we also had the good fortune of meeting Carlos Suarez and his wife Katia. They became fantastic hosts to us and helped us maneuver our way through the chaos. We ended up meeting them for lunch one day and hanging out with them all afternoon. We then spent our last night with them at the Brahma Bar listening to live samba that was incredible to see and hear. The music was lively and fantastic and the audience was equally entertaining to watch as they rose in their drunken reveries to dance and sing along with the musicians! So much fun.

All in all, the trip to Brazil was incredibly rewarding and fun. I feel that we were given a more "brazilian" experience as opposed to the general tourist experience that we would have normally had. We were very fortunate in meeting great people, hosted by wonderful people like Celmer and his friends, performing with talented musicians and connecting with some great contacts that I hope will last a lifetime.

LONG blog this time, but I wanted to finish my trip to Brazil as I am headed now to Mexico for some R&R with my mom and sister for a week. I feel so spoiled!! :)
Happy New Year to everyone. 2008 is going to prove to be a most fortunate year!

JC Celmer and Brazil, continued...

I have been remiss in not mentioning JC Celmer's name and for that I am sorry. If it weren't for JC receiving my CD, Birds in Flight, from Kate Smith (my radio promoter) I would have not gone to Brazil to perform. JC has a radio show in la cidade de Rio Grande that supports jazz music. Jazz isn't the most popular music in Rio Grande, but JC has taken it upon himself to keep the music alive in hopes of gaining a stronger following for people like me. For the past three years he has single-handedly brought musicians from all over the world to his part of the world in order to expose more people to the different sounds that jazz encompasses. He is doing a great service to not only the people of Rio Grande, but also to independent musicians such as myself. So, thank you JC, for understanding the beauty jazz music has to offer in its many forms.

I also want to record here what a fantastic host JC was along with his friends, in particular, Clara and Dr. Laura Ayres. They were all incredibly warm-hearted during our stay in Rio Grande that allowed us to experience a truly Brazilian experience.

So, on to Porto Alegre!! We awoke the day after our concert in Rio Grande and drove for 5 hours northward to the city of Porto Alegre. We arrived by 3pm, in time to get set up and do a sound check before the 6pm concert. It turns out we were to perform in the vault of Santander Bank!! This is a Spanish bank that is a strong supporter of the arts and have converted a part of their vault into a performance space. It is a beautiful space and we later found out a prestigious concert, but the sound was very difficult to control as we were surrounded by glass and high ceilings. No matter, we were able to find a happy medium and had another fantastic concert in Porto Alegre. One woman even approached me and told me I made her cry--the ultimate compliment for me. It's nice to know that I have touched at least one person in the audience. :)

After the concert we went out to dinner with the drummer, Eduardo, and his girlfriend, Amanda. Everyone else loaded up in the car and drove the 5 hours back to Rio Grande! Eduardo, Amanda, Murray and I all had a wonderful dinner at the cultural center in Porto Alegre. This is a beautiful city and I hope to return there someday soon in order to explore it a little more. We only had the next morning before we were to fly to Sao Paolo to continue in our journey. We had no gigs booked in Sao Paolo and so were going to have to be there for 3 full days on our own. We were a little nervous about going there since so many people were warning us of how dangerous and crime-ridden it is, but we came to find out that it is just another large city. I think both Murray an I are seasoned enough travelers to know how to behave in a large city in order to assure we don't get attacked.

The next blog will talk more about our adventures in Sao Paolo -- the largest city in South America and by far the largest city I have ever seen,

Brazil, Brasil

We did it!! Murray Low and I made it to Brazil and had an amazing time both performing and learning more about the culture and the wonderful people of this incredibly diverse country. After 36 hours of traveling to get to la cidade de Rio Grande do Sul, we rested for the night and then commenced on an all day media tour starting with a television interview, then after lunch, a radio interview and then an interview with the local paper, Agora. Rio Grande is a somewhat small port town of 180,000 people. It is very quaint and mellow in comparison to Sao Paolo! We were able to do a little sight-seeing while there and get a sense of the city. It is a wonderful combination of old and new with horse-drawn carts riding alongside new cars. It reminded me a lot of Ovalle, where I lived in Chile.

That same evening we met and rehearsed for 4 hours with the musicians who would be performing with us. Murray had done a great job practicing his portuguese in order to communicate with the musicians. The rehearsal went well. We learned a lot about how to approach my music with musicians unfamiliar with the afro-cuban style. Under the circumstances of only rehearsing one time before the two concerts we were to give, they did a fantastic job. Marco Porfirio: flute and sax, Gilberto Oliveira: bass and Eduardo Escalier: drums/percussion all rose to the challenge of playing my difficult arrangements! They were all very easy to work with and fun to perform music with.



The next evening, after having experienced the famous Churrascaria (barbeque) and la Praia Cassino (the local beach on the Atlantic Ocean), we arrived to a beautiful old theater--el Teatro Municipal de Rio Grande. After doing a relatively easy soundcheck, the concert began with two instrumental songs and then I came onstage. The concert went very well. The music was very well received and we had a fantastic time performing in front of this very receptive audience. After the concert--and an encore of Murray and I performing a duo version of "Imagine", we went and signed many, many CDs. It was so nice to get to meet the people who had come to see us. Everyone was exuberant in their praises and my cheeks were cramped from smiling so much!! It was a very good feeling to know that my music is appreciated in other countries besides my own. I was definitely on cloud nine all evening and well into the next day as we drove to Porto Alegre to perform our next concert the next evening. I will report on that concert in the next blog. Until then, just know that we had a fantastic trip and I am thrilled to have had the opportunity to have gone and performed in Brazil!

May the Adventure Begin!

I left my house at 7am this morning so I could make sure I would get to the Brazilian Embassy by no later than 9am. By arriving at 9am I was eligible to forego waiting in line and picking up mine and Murray's visas right away. It took me 1 1/2 hours to get up to San Francisco (I truly feel sorry for those people that do this commute every working day--it is hell!!) When I arrived on the 9th floor of 300 Montgomery Street I was greeted by a very large number of people already camped out in the hallways waiting for the embassy to open. "Get in line" they all told me very clearly! By the time the embassy finally opened at 9:10 the entire elevator lobby as well as an entire hallway were jam packed with people wanting to go to Brazil. Wow! I'm sure the tourist industry there will be very pleased about this.

As soon as the doors opened I was allowed to go and stand in the line to pick up visas. It took less than 5 minutes to get all the papers we need for the trip. What a relief. I was praying that nothing had gone wrong or that they had lost one of our passports. So now it is completely real and we will be boarding our flight to Brazil tomorrow. It will be a hellacious long two days of traveling, but the end result will be arriving in Rio Grande at around 11pm Nov. 29 and preparing for our two confirmed concerts. We will do a television interview on Friday morning and then rehearse in the afternoon with the brazilian musicians. I am really looking forward to the opportunity of working with musicians from a different country. We will definitely see how the universal language of music fares in this new environment. :)

It is so exciting to get this opportunity to travel to a different country to perform, meet new people, perform in front of a new audience and experience the brazilian lifestyle, if only for a few days. I will make notes along the way and take lots of pictures that I will post upon my return. I'm sure there will be many stories to tell and maybe even some new songs that are inspired by this adventure. Ciao.

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you!!

Today is not only Thanksgiving day but also my mom's birthday, which makes it doubly special. It's already her favorite holiday, but when her birthday falls on the same day it makes it that much more special for everyone involved. There will be around 16 people gathered around her table today to share in good food, good people and lots of love. It's a good holiday where everyone contributes to the meal and there are no presents involved! We can just appreciate and enjoy each other's company. I'm looking forward to being with everyone. I am particularly happy because Danilo flew in from New York yesterday. Although his flight in Dallas was cancelled, he was able to jump on another flight headed for San Francisco that got him in only one hour later than his original flight. I was so relieved that he didn't have to sit in the Dallas airport for hours wondering if and when he would get onto another flight. I hope his trip home goes a bit smoother than this one did. And I hope that Murray and I don't have any difficulties with the airlines during our long, long trip down to Brazil.

I had to put one of my cats to sleep yesterday. All three of us--Pat, Danilo and I--went down to the vet's office and held her while they euthanized her. it was quick and seemingly painless for her but nevertheless it was really sad and she will be greatly missed. Her name was Tigra and we had had her for almost 14 years. She was such a great and cuddly cat but then she developed cancer that added to an already arthritic body. She was getting worse and I knew her quality of life had diminished so much that it was time to say goodbye. Danilo asked for me to wait until he returned home so he could be present. It was sad and Pat and I both cried, but she had a good and loving life and I know she is in a better place now.

I'm hoping while Danilo is here all three of us can record a song together. Both of my boys are such creative and talented songwriters and I love the idea of collaborating with the two of them. I'm just hoping we can come up with something that we can all agree on. It's like too many cooks in the kitchen; you might create a hodgepodge of chaos or a beautiful masterpiece, depending on the willingness of everyone to open up and allow the magic to happen.

Under the Wire

I spent a good portion of my day yesterday in San Francisco at the Brazilian Embassy. I really (stupidly) didn't expect there to be as many people as there were. But it turned out it was good it was so crowded because I sat down in a chair next to a man who had been there the day before. He became my angel, along with another woman who was returning from the previous day. It became clear very quickly from talking to this man, Roy, that I didn't have everything I needed to get the application processed. I needed a money order for the visas (mine and Murray Low's) as they don't accept checks or credit cards. Since the numbers being called were inching up ever so slowly, Roy convinced me to go to the post office a few blocks away in order to get the money orders and not delay the visas. So off I went and quickly rushed to the post office and rushed back so as not to lose my place in line. When I returned to the embassy only a few more numbers had been called and I was at least 15 numbers away from having my papers reviewed. I asked Roy if he would show me the paper with the list of things needed to process the visa. The woman sitting next to him asked me if I had printed out my itinerary and the receipt of the flights. YIKES!!! I'd missed getting that together, too. So, still having plenty of time before my number would be called, off I went again to find a Kinko's that was supposedly close by. Unfortunately I turned the wrong way on the street and ended up walking up a big hill to Chinatown. THAT was my exercise for the day!!

I finally found the Kinko's, got my itinerary printed out and again rushed back to the embassy. Because of my two angels I finally had everything in order to be able to process the visas. (I had also found out that our visas wouldn't be ready until Nov. 27th--the day before we leave for Brazil) So finally, after 3 hours of waiting, my number is called. I get up there feeling good that I have everything in order and that this will all be a breeze from here on out. NOPE!! The person checking my papers determines that Murray's photo is unacceptable since it was just a copy of his passport photo and that he needed an original photo. Well, Murray lives in Santa Cruz--an hour and a half from San Francisco. It's 11:30 and the office closes at 1. If Murray couldn't process his papers that same day, then his visa wouldn't be ready until after our flight was airborn on the 28th. I panicked. I called Murray while sitting at the desk with this woman and luckily was able to finally get through to him. He hauled it up to San Francisco (luckily he was in the south bay which is only one hour away). I met him at 10 minutes to 1 to get his passport photo taken. By 1:05 we were heading back to the embassy, praying it would still be open.

The woman who had helped me had made a concession and told me I could just come back to the window instead of waiting in line again for another 3 hours. We got there just in time before they closed the doors on any newcomers. The woman processed Murray's papers and now we will be able to pick up our visas on Nov. 27th so we will still be able to make our flight on the 28th.

Moral of the story? Don't wait so long to apply for the visa!!

Poster for Brazil!

Insomnia

My head is swirling with all of the things that are currently going on in my crazy life right now. It's all good and exciting stuff but my mind just won't shut off and so I awake in the middle of the night and think about all the things I have to do and then I can't go back to sleep! My upcoming trip to Brazil is definitely looming over me. JC Celmer, the DJ and promoter that has invited Murray Low and me to perform there, just sent me the poster that is being used to promote the concert in Rio Grande. I've posted it on my www.myspace.com/katparra site since I can't figure out how to post it here! :) It is REAL!! and I'm now thinking about all the things I have to accomplish before I can get on the plane on Nov. 28. We will be there for a week only--I wish I could stay longer--but during that week we have 3 confirmed gigs with another possibility of performing in Sao Paolo. We're waiting to hear about that one. It's going to be so amazing and exciting getting to perform in front of an entirely new audience--AND a little frightening, I must admit. But I'm SO up for the challenge and the adventure. I'm confident it will be a great tour and a wonderful introduction to performance on an international level.

I'm also madly trying to get the design for the new CD completed before I leave for Brazil. The first go-round with the designers didn't overwhelm me with excitement and so now they are working on a newer, better concept. I want the packaging to be just as stellar as the music. I've raised the bar really high on this one and I'm sure I'm driving the designers loco, loco, loco, BUT it's important to me to present an entire product--both music and design--in the best light possible. I'm sure they all hate the fact that I am a graphic designer as well and that I art direct too much on this project. It's so hard to let go of the control of this when it's my baby--my second baby! I'm trying, though, to be open and appreciative of all the hard work they are putting in to helping me on this. I wish I could dsign the CD for myself, but I'd never be satisfied and would tweak it until I become so old I wouldn't care anymore. LOL

These next couple of weeks are going ot be a whirlwind--teaching, getting everything together for the trip, gigs, Thanksgiving, my mom's birthday, my friend Tiziana flying in from Austin next weekend, my son Danilo flying in from NYC for the Thanksgiving weekend, and on and on. I can't wait for Danilo to come home so I can spend some good quality time with both of my boys together. I'm really looking forward to that. Relationships are so important and just telephone and e-mail gets old after awhile. It will be good to be able to put my arms around my children and be able to look in their eyes when we have our conversations. I'm so proud of who they are as people. :)

Live Music

Last night I went to see John Worley and WorlView 4.0 perform at Senzala Restaurant in Sunnyvale. They were really spectacular--tight and in sync with each other's playing. It is obvious they have played together for quite some time and they undertand each other well enough to try out new and different ideas. John even presented a song they had never performed before--an original he wrote called Tantrum Therapy. It is a GREAT song--full of humor and freedom to express oneself. The band stepped up and really took the song on as their own and it sounded as though they had been playing it for years. Senzala Restaurant, run by Wagner and Lydia Bueno from Sao Paolo, Brazil, is a great space for music. The biggest problem is that it is not in an area where a lot of people tend to go at night unless they already know about it. I know they have a big lunch crowd due to all of the companies surrounding them. It would be great if they featured live music during the lunchtime crowd. It might be a nice change from everyone's daily routine.

The other fun and exciting thing about last night was meeting Juan Flores "Jazz Latino" from KTSU in Houston, TX. Juan has been a huge supporter of Birds in Flight. He came out to the Bay Area to see Eddie Palmieri and had been hoping to see me live as well. The woman he was visiting found that John was performing and since he plays with both Murray Low and Paul van Wageningen (as do I) she thought it would be a good compromise for him. So there they were at Senzala and I showed up. It was so sweet how excited he was to meet me. And what a very nice man he is. It's always fun to meet the DJs who have been playing my music. That way I can thank them personally for all the support they have given me and my music. We had our picture taken together and if I could just figure out how to post pictures to the main portion of my blog, I'd post it!! I'm such a techno-phobe. :)

Beautiful, Strong Women

I spent the weekend at a workshop in Santa Cruz run by Cynthis Tsai. The workshop was about empowering women to find their inner core and to go out into the world and live authentically. Okay, so maybe this sounds a bit woo, woo, but it turned out to be quite an inspiring and powerful weekend. Cynthia did a great job of presenting her material--she was engaging, real and interesting to listen to. And it was a great group of strong, intelligent, yet sensitive women. It is always interesting for me to go into a new environment not knowing anyone only to discover that I have so much in common with so many of them. I met some amazing women this weekend who showed me I am not alone in my quest for love, understanding and respect. I thrive off of interactions such as these--they inspire me to stay on my path and continue the growth I have been experiencing over these past few years.

Maybe taking these workshops is a form of mid-life crisis!! I find there are a lot of women my age who are in seek mode, trying to make sense of who they are in a creative world and how to express that authentically. It is definitely pushing me into the idea of running some Expressive Arts workshops to help these women tap into their deepest creativity. I need to stop talking about it and DO it. I have a strong sense that these workshops would be very well received--especially after what I experienced this weekend.

Azucar de Amor, my next CD, is being shipped off to Disc Makers today to start the manufacturing process. The photos are beautiful, the music, I must say, is exciting and vibrant, and it is time to release this project to the world! By the time I am back from Brazil in early December, the CDs should be ready. I can't wait!!

Patois Artist Showcase

Last night Wayne Wallace, Alexa Weber Morales and I all performed in the Patois Artist Showcase. This was kind of a coming out party for Wayne's new record label in which all three of us are signed and a part of. We all used the same core group of musicians: Murray Low: piano, Masaru Koga: flute/soprano sax, David Belove: bass, Michael Spiro: percussion and Paul van Wageningen: drums. Okay, so just that is smokin' in and of itself. But then to have this group of musicians all playing on one stage and then to be a part of that line-up is pretty phenomenal and thrilling. Alexa went first and did a great job presenting her material. She has a beautiful and clarion voice that is both captivating and sensual. And then I did my set and it felt good!! The band was smoking hot and I felt in really good voice. I had so much fun performing the songs off of both Birds in Flight and my upcoming CD, Azucar de Amor. And if that wasn't enough, Wayne did his set and it was of course stellar. He's got such a raw and powerful command of his trombone that one can't help but be drawn deep into the soul of the music he presents. And Masaru played a solo on his soprano sax that had the audience going completely wild. It was as if he gathered all the spirits into his body and then let them all speak their mind!! It was truly amazing and had me on the edge of my seat! What a fun and inspiring night. I always feel so honored to have the opportunity to perform with these guys. They definitely lift me to higher levels each time I get on stage with them. It's so nice to be able to trust the musicians so much that you can feel comfortable trying new things, knowing that they will be there to support you every step of the way.

So not only are the tickets booked for the trip to Brazil, but I just found out that I am booked for a gig in Chicago in February. I'm so excited to get to go to Chicago. I've never been before and to get to perform in such an amazing jazz hub is truly a thrill. Murray will be traveling with me on both of these trips. Now I've got to find a bass player and a drummer for the Chicago gig(s). This is the kind of "problem" I don't mind having!! The other cool thing is that Kate Smith, my radio promoter, is in Chicago and so we'll have a place to stay when we go there.

Life is good. I think I'm still on a high from last night--and I hope it continues throughout the day!

Moving Forward

The gig on Saturday at the Peninsula Jewish Community Center in Foster City was a really nice event. We performed in the lobby of the center, which created a bit of a challenge for sound due to high ceilings and lots of glass. Nevertheless, the audience really seemed to enjoy the music and some responded in spontaneous bursts of dancing. It was a predominantly older crowd with a smattering of young people. I like the fact that my music can appeal to a wide range of people of all ages and ethnic backgrounds. I had worried that some folks would feel ostracized by the fact they might not be able to understand the different languages in which I sing. But the message thankfully comes through, despite the lack of language comprehension. For this I am grateful and feel my goal is being met in this instance. And besides, I try my best to tell the stories the songs are attempting to convey. I'm sure this helps....

I received the nicest e-mail from Gary Mankin this morning about my new CD, Azucar de Amor. I hope he doesn't mind my quoting some of it here, but I was so touched by his words I am compelled to share them with everyone:
"kat, i am REALLY PROUD of this cd. i think it is great on LOTS of levels. i hope you appreciate how good it is, and that you are as proud as i am. it's a great record. now all you have to do is release it to the world and let them beat a breathless path to your door. thanks for letting me be a part of it." Gary Mankin

It is I who am truly thankful and honored to be able to work with such talents as Gary and Wayne Wallace and Murray Low and all of the other amazing musicians in the SF Bay Area. They inspire me to reach for new levels all the time. I am encouraged and motivated to constantly grow as both a musician and as a person by being able to work with such amazing talents.

Back to Reality

Wow! I'm just back from doing the Leukemia Society Team-in-Training hike in Kauai and what an amazing weekend!! The hike was awesome, breathtaking, transcendental, etc. There really are no words to describe the kind of beauty Kauai holds--and rightfully so. It is the kind of experience that just needs to be appreciated with a deep sense of calm and quiet in order to "hear" the essence of the beauty the island holds. I am always amazed and in awe of how the locals live, breathe and respect their land and sea. We had a fantastic guide--Tano--who was very knowledgable about the flora and fauna and had many wonderfully entertaining stories to tell during the 10 mile hike along the Na Pail coast. We had a fantastic group (11 in all) and the hike was just at the level I was hoping it would be--not too difficult but challenging enough. I even tattooed my butt with a fall in the mud of the famous red dirt of Kauai!!

It is always such a treat to me to travel far distances and encounter people with whom I can deeply connect. It goes to show that this world really is not so big after all. I love engaging new people in conversation and finding out about their lives only to realize we share a common thread of hope and passion and enthusiasm for life. When I meet people that spark me like that I am infused with a kind of energy that is equal to nothing else. The only problem is when I meet people like that I want to remain and enjoy the kindred connection longer.

But alas!! There is the responsibilty of life and work and paying the bills!! Damn. Sometimes I just want to be reckless and irresponsible and say to hell with everything. But not this time. I considered extending my stay for a bit longer, but knew that my students are waiting for me and I have a gig tomorrow night. But one of these days, I just want to pack up my things and go off for at least a month and just be impulsive and carefree. :)

Photo Shoot

Yesterday we went out to a beautiful, yet very windy, spot to shoot the photos that will go on the CD. Michelle Longosz (www.michellelongosz.com) is the woman I chose to take my photos and I think she did a great job. She made me feel really comfortable and got me laughing and relaxed with little effort. The location was perfect and the day bright and sunny. I think/hope/pray the photos will be perfect for the CD cover and other promo materials I need. I think they will be pretty wild since my hair was blowing all over the place along with my dress (which actually blew up over my head a couple of times!!)

I have much more respect for what models--and photographers--need to go through to get good images. First I went to the Mac Cosmetics store to have my makeup done. That took more than an hour to achieve, but Jesús (my saviour!!) did a fantastic job and made me look amazing. Then it was quickly changing into my new fabulous dress and driving over to the photo location. Then, after getting into my high heels, Michelle had me standing on a hill overlooking the landscape. Now this all sounds nice except that I am in heels standing on a pretty steep incline of soft soil where my heels are sinking in and I am on the brink of falling everytime the wind blows!! She had me standing on this hill for so long that my feet started getting numb. And then the wind turned cold and my hair is blowing all over my face and goosebumps are forming on my arms and Michelle's arms are getting tired from so much shooting. Whew! But it was fun and I'm pretty confident she got some amazing shots. I'm crossing my fingers now. :)

On Thursday I leave for Kauai, Hawaii to go and do the endurance hike I've been training for for 3 months. I'm definitely ready. We did a nine hour hike a couple of weeks ago and I survived just fine. Tonight I'll find out if I get to hike the Na Pail Coast or not. I'll be really disappointed if I don't get to hike it. That's a big reason why I got involved in this hike to begin with. Of course then it evolved into how much I was helping people in need through the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. I'm really proud of myself for having reached my goal of raising $4800. I really questioned whether I would be able to achieve that, but I did. Yeah!! I only get to be in Hawaii for 4 days because of my crazy schedule, but 4 days is better than no days at all. It will be fun and hopefully somewhat relaxing. I'll do a post with pictures after I return.

De Anza Hotel Tonight

It feels like it's been so long since I performed live and I am really looking forward to tonight. I also haven't played at the De Anza Hotel for awhile and it will be very nice to return to such a wonderful spot. The ambience is plush and cozy and the audience tends to be very receptive and warm. I also am looking forward to playing with Murray, Peter and David Flores. It should be an electrifying evening with lots of explorations of sound and rhythm.

I've been stressing all week about the photo shoot I'll be doing this coming Sunday for the CD cover. I get so uncomfortable in front of the camera and I can't seem to figure out how to relax and just act natural. My firend Gea and I went shopping the other night for the perfect dress for the shoot and I think we found it! It's sexy, elegant and screams, "Look at me!" :) I also finally found someone to do my makeup that day and so feel a bit more relieved about some of the aspects of this shoot. I found the perfect location setting for the cover of Azucar de Amor. But the photographer will only do one location so I have to create a more intimate setting at this spot by bringing a chair and lots of fresh flowers in order to create the right kind of feel for the rest of the CD. I'm sure it will go just fine, but honestly, I'll be glad when it's done.

I went up to Ken Lee's house on Wednesday (full moon) to master the CD. It's almost complete. I think there needs to be a couple of tweaks to the mastering but I'm going to wait until Wayne and Gary Mankin listen to it before I contact Ken with changes. All in all, though, I think the CD is really good! The more I listen the more proud I become of what was accomplished by everyone involved. There are some spectacular arrangements by both Wayne and Murray Low that give the CD that special something I was hoping for.

Lots of stuff going on right now but it's all really good stuff and I am feeling very excited about all the concerts coming up and especially BRAZIL!!

Mixing Complete!

Yesterday marked the final tweaks to my new CD, Azucar de Amor. I honestly don't want to listen to it again until I go and get it mastered next week (But I know I will!). I want to let it go now and let it be the body of work it is. I could be tweaking until kingdom come and never be completely satisfied, so I will leave it the way it is. And honestly, I feel it's a really good CD; I chose an interesting and engaging/exciting repertoire of pieces and I am proud of the way each song is presented. I think my insecurities lie in the fact that this is the second CD and I get concerned about how it will be received. If I could just separate myself enough from what everyone else might think and consider how I feel about the CD, then I know I have produced a CD of which I can be truly proud. Does that mean to hell with everyone else? No, not necessarily, but I do need to stay strong and stand up for the music that was created. There is always the possibility that it won't be well received, but then again, it might be a huge hit. One just never knows and can never predict how people will react to new art. So, I will state here with truth and complete conviction that Azucar de Amor encompasses another piece of my soul, just as Birds in Flight does, and I am proud exposing this aspect of myself to the world!

Now I have to come up woth the artwork for the CD. This is proving to be a bit more of a challenge. I have a strong idea of how I want to present myself and now I need to convince the photographer to go in that same direction. We do our photo shoot a week from next Sunday and I'm looking forward to how those images can be used for the CD, and other promo materials.

Okay, time to get ready to go and teach. Week 2 of teaching and I am excited and thrilled at this new challenge of working with these very intelligent and creative children.

Happy Jewish New Year!

Things have become extremely busy, but all good stuff so I dare not complain!! The fundraising for the Leukemia Society is going much better than I expected and I only need a couple more hundred dollars to reach my goal of $4800. This has been quite a challenge for me to raise this kind of money. Thanks to the guys and their generous donation of playing for free, we played a house concert/fundraising event that brought in a bunch of money for LLS. I am so touched that my musicians would donate their time like that. Such good guys, as well as incredibly talented musicians.

I'm also in the middle of the mixdown of Azucar de Amor and I think it's going pretty well. It's hard to get enough distance from the music to know if its really good or not. But then there are those moments where I hear one of the songs on the CD and I think to myself, "yes, that's exactly how I wanted this song to sound!" I am proud of the efforts put forth with this next CD. I had to finally realize that making a CD is like raising a child; at some point you just have to let it go and allow it to find its own way. That's how I have to think of these songs -- I think they are ready to go out into the world and stand on their own at this point!

The other exciting thing is that I started teaching at a new school yesterday. The children are very creative and full of energy. I'm definitely going to have to lay down some laws in order to keep them from walking all over me, but I feel that I will have a lot of opportunities to explore teaching methods that I wasn't able to do last year. I am encouraged--encouraged!!!--to be creative and experimental with the students. Yipppeee!! I'm really excited about teaching music this year and I really hope it goes well.

So, now I need to go and work out before going back up to San Francisco to continue the mixing of the CD. I've got to get/stay in shape for the 9 hour hike that will be happening at the end of this month.

Levi's Plaza This Wednesday

This Wednesday my latin/world jazz group will be performing at Levi's Plaza in San Francisco from 12-1:30pm. This will be a fun lunchtime concert that will feature Murray Low on piano, Masaru Koga on flute/sax, Peter Barshay on bass and Paul van Wageningen on drums--and of course me on vocals and some hand percussion. This is part of the SJJazz Summerfest series and it's quite an honor to have been chosen as part of this lineup. I'm really looking forward to performing and continuing to hone the new songs that have been added to our repertoire. The guys did a great job presenting the new songs at the San Jose Jazz Fest and I can only imagine it will just get better and better. I am so blessed to get to play with these amazingly talented musicians. We all work really well together and have a good time playing together. There are always nice surprises that add even more depth and vitality to the music.

This week I will also be in the studio beginning the mixdown of the songs that will go on the next CD. I am glad to finally get to put the finishing touches on the music. I feel really good about the songs and how they have turned out and I can't wait to see what kind of magic will occur during the mixing. Wayne always comes up with fantastic ideas on how to really bring out the sounds that have been recorded.

Life, from here on out, is going to get insanely busy for me. I have taken on two teaching jobs that will require a good amount of my time. I am really looking forward to both jobs and think I can bring a lot of new and creative ideas to the classroom. I am so happy I will finally be in an environment where I can experiment with some of my ideas. The elementary school where I will be teaching music to 3-5 grades encourages creativity both from the teachers as well as the children. This is so exciting to me and has opened up the floodgates of possibilities. The other teaching gig will be working with preschoolers and their parents, teaching them music in Spanish. It will be fun to introduce these little ones to music and games in Spanish.

Although life will be crazy busy, I am happy I will be working again. I think it will help me focus more on my music and be more disciplined with composing and practicing. At least that is my hope!!

Many Different Hats

As I dig deeper into this world of a full-time musician I realize that I must wear many hats in order to survive--and thrive--in this business. It's not enough to be a performer anymore and apparently you aren't as respected if that is all you do! Honestly, if I meet people who can survive solely on their performance money, I'm incredibly impressed! But the general consensus--or so I've been told--is that you need to be more than just a performer. Teaching, lecturing, composing are all avenues that need to be covered in order to be truly accepted and respected. I'm not really sure if I believe this 100%, but I do know there is some truth to it. AND, it is important to find other means of income when and if performance dates become lean and the bills still need to be paid. :) But not only is this important to latch onto, but you also need to be a good business person, know marketing, have a good vision towards the future to make sure you remain a viable force in the music business. It's a lot of things to have to think about, but also just as essential if you are to remain in this business.

We, as in the Patois Record label and I, are in the process of creating a good business plan to prepare for the launch of my next CD. There have been some good ideas thrown around so far and I'm pretty excited about the prospect of having a label backing me up while this next CD is "born". There is so much to think about and so much preparation before the CD actually hits the stores--it's amazing to me how much actually goes into the creation of the music. Not only does it have to be recorded, mixed, mastered and designed, but then a whole marketing plan must be put into place if it is to be successful. Although it sounds daunting at times, it is also very exciting and I look forward to the coming months as the gestation process continues and the whole package takes shape and grows into what I hope will be a truly spectacular event!

Surviving in this World

How can one survive in this world doing what they love to do? It appears there are plenty of people who are capable of such a feat and I SO want to be one of them. Am I surviving as a full-time musician? Yes and no. If it weren't for my savings I would have never made it this far. So I am scrambling to find other avenues of an income source. I know I will make it because of my tenacity and perseverance, but it gets scary sometimes. I don't/won't end up back in a cubicle, but I'm also not yet ready to go and work at Starbucks to make ends meet!

I love to teach and am currently looking for a new teaching gig that will supplement my income and also allow me to give back to children what was given to me. I have a strong sense of "duty" to contribute to society. But I want my contribution to be a creative one, one that will open new doors for children and help guide them on a more positive path.

I went to see a Gymnastics competition the other night with my mom. There were a ton of kids there who obviously were aspiring gymnasts. It was great to see so many families out with their children. But there were two young girls behind me, neither more than 10 years old who were looking for all of the mistakes of the gymnasts instead of appreciating the hard work and dedication each was giving to their sport. It occurred to me that even at a very young age, our children are learning to view things in a negative light rather than a positive one. How did it happen that we have become such a cynical society? I am just as guilty--everyone is--but I am making it a point to change my way of thinking by approaching things in a more positive light, trying to see the good in things rather than gravitating straight to the negative. This is part of what I want to give to the children I will be teaching.

Fantastic Weekend!

What a fantastic weekend! I had so much fun performing three days in a row and with such amazing talents with me on stage and all around me at the San Jose Jazz Festival. I am blessed and honored to have been a part of such an inspiring weekend. Yesterday's performance definitely topped all the others for me. Mainly because I was able to work with a fuller band and we were able to better represent the new music with a horn section (Wayne Wallace and Masaru Koga). The crowd was energetic and attentive and seemed to really enjoy what we were presenting to them. My voice was in great form and my energy level fed off of the audience's energy. In other words: it was FUN, FUN, FUN!! And what a great turnout of people! There were some folks that came who I haven't seen in years. What a treat that was. I even got to meet the inspiration behind "Quitate La Queta"--a new song I wrote that will be going on the next CD. Queta was in the audience when we presented the song's world premiere! I think she was pleased. :)

Another highlight for me this weekend was doing some serious hanging with Ray Vega. Although we never really got a chance to perform together on stage (he did, however, come and sit in with us during Wayne's big band show), we had some good quality time to talk about life and music. He is becoming a good frined to me and a great source of inspiration and encouragement. He brings a lot of positive energy to the table and won't tolerate bullshit; I think that's what I appreciate most about him--he cuts right through the crap in order to get to the heart of things. He motivates me to stay on my path and not look back.

Another thing that was a great message to me this weekend was how the Sephardic music was received by the audiences. People seem to really love what we are doing with the music and that makes me feel really good. I know what we are developing is special and I am glad that people are responding so positively to it. It's also good to know that the path I have chosen for my music is the right path for me. I realize that, although long in arriving, I have been given this vision and I need to see it through. It doesn't hurt, however, that I am having a blast in the process! I am so happy I had the guts to leave Cisco in order to follow this dream. I don't remember a time when I have felt so centered and happy.

San Jose Jazz Festival Weekend

The weekend was officially launched last night for me at the Agenda Restaurant and Lounge. I had such a fun gig with the guys. Wayne Wallace also came and sat in on a few songs which added a whole new dimension to the music. We had a fantastic turnout of people--thank you to all of you who came to hear the band! We even tried out some of the new songs that will be on the next CD and I'm really pleased with how they are translating into a live performance situation. I was a little worried that we wouldn't really be able to pull off the most intricately complicated arrangements without a full band with horn section, but it actually works out just fine and I'm thrilled that I will be able to perform them on stage. People seemed to really respond to the new material--and it feels really good to be able to add more exciting and vibrant music to my repertoire. I'm now even more excited to play with a fuller group on Sunday (4pm, Silicon Valley Stage).

The only bummer last night was that Ray Vega wasn't able to make it to the gig. He was going to come and sit in but his luggage was lost on his flight and he had to go back to the airport to pick it up once it was found. Needless to say, that took most of the evening for him so he couldn't make it down to the club. Bummer for me, but even more a bummer for him. What a drag to be on a plane for hours and hours only to finally arrive to find your luggage is nowhere to be found. I'm sure he wasn't a happy camper last night. I'll go to his masters class today at 1pm at the Improv to say hello and see what he's got going on for the weekend. Hopefully he can drop by the silicon Valley Stage before he heads over to finish out the jazz fest on the Main Stage on Sunday.

This is going to be a really fun weekend. I'm looking forward to exploring all the different stages at the festival and then performing with Wayne Wallace's big band tonight on the latin stage. I will definitely have to pace myself in order to maintain some semblance of energy for all I've got going on!

Music Education

I've spent the entire summer without much of an income and so am/was looking forward to returning to my music teaching duties at the elementary school in Redwood City where I taught last year. But then I come to find that the school district has knocked the arts down to an even lower peg than it was before--and believe me we were on a pretty low peg last year. Their thought is that if the children receive their music lessons twice a week for 9 weeks then that will be sufficient music education for them for the entire year!! 9 weeks, as opposed to the 28 weeks we were contracted for last year!! How is it possible that the administration of these school districts are still SO in the dark that they can't recognize the essential value of the arts in a child's life, as well as, education? There have been scientific studies proving the validity and strength of the arts, not only in helping to develop an appreciation for the arts, but in helping to develop cognitive thinking, discipline, mathematical skills, etc., etc. But it's because teachers are having to teach their students solely on the goal of good test scores that the arts are being relegated to the back burner. What is this saying about our society and the value we put on education? Will these children really get a well-rounded education that will inspire them to continue to develop their skills in college? And where will the new artists come from if we are not allowing our children to get a taste of the beauty of creativity in the schools? Will it just be the wealthy that are exposed to the arts since the poorer schools do not have the funds to support them? Yes, I am passionate about this and it boils my blood to think that test scores have become more important than the actual learning experience for our children. Even the teacher's creativity is being sucked out of them because of the pressure of delivering better test scores.

Taken from Making the Case for Music Education (http://www.education-world.com/a_curr/curr123.shtml)
"Early this decade, Gordon Shaw (University of California-Irvine) and Frances Rauscher (University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh) incited discussion of the connection between music and learning when they revealed the results of their work with college students. The researchers found that listening to 10 minutes of a Mozart piano sonata improved students' abilities to perform some spatial-reasoning tasks (for example, to see patterns in objects or numbers). While the benefits faded quickly after the music was stopped, that research opened the door to a follow-up study with preschool children.

In the follow-up study, 78 preschoolers were given tests designed to measure spatial abilities. Then a fourth of those students then were given a 12-15 minute private piano lesson each week for six months. At the end of that period, the tests were administered again. The results confirmed the impact of music instruction on students' spatial-reasoning skills. On one test that required students to assemble a puzzle of a camel, the students who received piano instruction show significantly more improvement than the other children did.

In another study, published by Martin Gardiner (currently at Brown University's Center for the Study of Human Development) in the May 1996 issue of the journal Nature, groups of first graders were given music instruction that emphasized sequential skill development and musical games involving rhythm and pitch. After six months, the students scored significantly better in math than students in groups that received traditional music instruction. (Reading scores for the two groups didn't show marked differences.) Follow-up studies with different groups of students showed similar results."

Techno-Phobe

I am trying really hard to be a better part of this technology craze. I'm impressed at how easily some people find it to maneuver their way around cyberspace. Case in point is the blog thing. I've seen some really cool, hip, and happenin' blogs, filled with images and clickable items. I try, really I do!! but I can't seem to get any pictures loaded or find a way to hyperlink those images. I feel like a complete dweeb. And this is from a woman who worked in hi-tech for so many years. Now I realize just how much I was resisting it!! :) But no matter, isn't the whole idea of a blog to relay information through words? I can do that!!

The recording part of the CD is complete! And I can safely and thankfully say that I am VERY proud of the outcome. There were some great surprises with my voice in the studio and I think I will have a very nice product on my hands when it is finally released. Now comes the mixing portion of the CD which won't be until the first week of September. It's probably just as well since there is a lot of stuff happening this month and it will be good to get some aural distance from the music before going back into the studio. I'm excited, though, and hope the music is well-received once its released.

Tomorrow at 12:30pm I will perform at the Stanford Hospital atrium. I actually like doing this gig. It is in the lower level of the hospital right next to a beautiful garden and I have the opportunity to perform in front of a lot of people who wouldn't normally have the chance--or take the chance--to hear my music. I'll get to try out some of the new material from the new CD and I'll get to perform with Murray Low, Tom Bockhold and Paul VW. What more could I ask for? :) I'm also looking forward to performing live since it's been a few weeks since my last gig and I've got a lot more coming up this month. This will be the warm-up for the San Jose Jazz Festival.

In the Studio Again

I'm back in the studio all week this week. I've got a ton of work that needs to get done but I'm confident, determined and motivated to accomplish everything I want to accomplish--and hopefully with the high quality I'm shooting for. Yesterday Orlando Torriente and David Chaidez, both great singers in their own rights, came in to record the coros. They did a fantastic job and added a new layer of richness to the music. I'm sure it will inspire me immensely when I record the lead vocals on those songs. Now the rest of the week will be devoted to my vocals. I am trying really hard to get my ego out of the way and open up my voice to the spirits. I know it sounds hokey, but when I am able to do this I achieve levels with my voice I didn't know were possible. I know I've got all of the tools, now I just need to stop thinking so much and let the music flow through me.

I'm feeling really good about this CD and I'll be even more excited when it is released early next year. It's a long time to wait, but I still have so much to do to get it ready to ship. I haven't even come up with a design concept yet. It's not like me to not have gotten all of that figured out by now. Probably because I know I've got time to play with ideas. This Friday I am going to teach a jazz vocal workshop with Doug Goodkin's Orff Training. I'm really excited and honored to be a part of this training. I think what I'm going to be teaching will be fun and educational all at the same time. I'm also hoping this leads to more vocal workshops since I love to teach in that kind of environment.

In Search of Perfection

There's nothing like a good voice lesson to get my creative juices flowing again. I took a lesson with a very accomplished opera singer, Sharon Kaye, on Monday and she opened up my voice in new ways. I already feel stronger in my ranges and am excited and ready to go back into the studio on Monday to record. I might even re-record a few parts that have already been recorded since I realize I wasn't opening up in the way I had wanted. More time, more money, but the product I want! Do I want this recording to be perfect? NO. I want this recording to be REAL and a true representation of my voice and my soul. If it were perfect then the vulnerability wouldn't be there, the truth, the bare, honest truth, wouldn't exist. Yes, the technology is there to fix every tiny little mistake, and I can certainly appreciate that, but I want enough rawness to shine through in order to truly give the listener a sense of who I really am. I like the fact that my music retains an organic feel throughout. It makes it feel more authentic to me.

So the fundraising continues. I've raised almost $1000 of the $4800 necessary. I SO want to make this work but it is such a huge amount of money to raise. I'm thinking of putting on a house concert with all proceeds to go to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. I am going to see if one of my mom's friends will be kind enough to let me use their large house--as opposed to my tiny one--and hopefully get a lot of people to come. It will also depend upon whether my musicians would be willing to play for free for a couple of hours. I'm hoping they'll support me in this. We'll see.

Oh! and it looks like I'll be going and performing in Chicago in or around October!! That will be exciting!!! Stay tuned.

Onward and Upward!

Last week was a good recording week. I was able to record some good stuff that I am very pleased about. There are still some struggles that I am contending with and have decided to put my ego aside long enough to go and take a voice lesson on Monday in order to find different ways to express my voice when I return to the studio on July 23rd. I've just found some challenges with my upper register that I want to correct and improve upon. I'm glad I have so many resources in this area I can tap into to help me out. I don't think there's any shame in taking lessons and trying to improve your instrument. I, for one, hope to learn and grow to my dying day. Of course as I get older my voice changes and I have to learn to adjust to its nuances and find ways to express myself on deeper levels. I'm actually looking forward to the lesson. It's always good to see how other singers approach their instrument.

It's been confirmed!! I am going to Brazil to perform in December. I am SO excited. This is definitely fulfilling one of my dreams of performing in South America. There are already two concerts that are guaranteed and possibly more in Rio and in Sao Paolo. I will be performing in Rio Grande do Sul and in Porto Alegre for sure. My pianist and musical director, Murray Low, will be traveling with me and we will use local musicians to complete the quartet. What a thrill this will be! I'm hoping we can go and see the Iguacu Falls while we're there as well. I am excited to have the opportunity to perform my music in front of a new audience. It will be interesting to see the response we get with my "style" of latin/world jazz. I'm pretty confident it will be well-received.

Day Two Complete

Yesterday was a very successful day in the studio. My voice was finally working the way I was hoping it would and my ego stepped aside long enough to let the music have its own voice. I am really happy with how the two songs that were recorded yesterday came out. 3 songs down, 7 more to go! Today will be the last day for a week and a half so anything that doesn't get done will have to wait. I'm alright with that since it will give me more time to caress ideas out of the music. Since the CD won't be officially released until March of next year, I have some time to make sure everything is just how I want it. I also have to start working on the design of the packaging. I'm really at a loss this time on how I want the artwork to be presented. Of course I have some thoughts, but nothing that has really grabbed me yet. But again, I've got time to develop and explore ideas.

Last night was the first official training for the Hike for Discovery team. it was at a track and we just did a lot of walking and stretching--easy enough. This weekend we'll be hiking for 3-4 hours. It's fun to go out and explore new hiking trails that I've never been on before. And the group of people are truly good and fun to be around. Joan got up and spoke about her disease last night and then talked about what her brother is going through with what the doctors are thinking is Multiple Myeloma. She started crying while talking and it completely broke my heart. It also made me feel even more dedicated to trying to raise the funds for this hike. Now I'm more determined than ever to make my goal of $4800. If you're reading this and you would like to help me reach my goal, please make a donation to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (http://www.active.com/donate/hfdsvmb/hfdkparra) This link will take you to my website where I will get credit for your donation. Thanks so much!

Back in the Studio

I have now completed another day in the studio, but this time it's all about the vocals. Yesterday wasn't an entirely easy day. There are the struggles of wanting to perform at the top of my game and also being concerned with phrasing and intonation. Of course I want the performances to be perfect, but more importantly I want them to be real and honest in their presentation. I put a lot of pressure on myself because I really want this to be a quality recording and also a good representation of who I am both as a singer and as a human being. I think I am definitely on the right track. We recorded some nice stuff yesterday, despite all of the psychological games I play with myself!

So today I go back and do it again. Hopefully I can put myself into a more centered space and really deliver the music the way I hear it in my heart. I know these songs really well now and just need to relax and let them speak through me at this point. I know I can do this and I actually look forward to getting back into the studio today to continue this journey.

Fundraising

I hate asking for money. Honestly, I hate asking for anything. I prefer to do things myself and it is always hard for me to depend on others. Do I need therapy? :) Maybe!! But having to ask everyone I know to help me by donating money to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society is really difficult for me. What makes it easier is twofold: it is for a very good cause and it might someday help save my friend Joan's life--and many others for that matter. The idea that a cure could be found for these blood cancers/diseases is motivating enough for me to ask for donations. So I sent out more than 400 e-mails yesterday asking for donations. Now time will tell how many people are actaully willing to respond. I did get one response so far from one of the DJs that plays my music pretty regularly--Nick Marrero. He's going to make a donation, bless his heart. Thanks Nick!!

I have also thought about different ways to raise the money I need and have thought about going back to the restuarant I worked at all those years ago and ask them if they'll let me work a shift for free. All of the tips I would earn would go towards the money I need to amass--$4800!! Personally I think it's a brilliant idea! I could wear a button or a sign on my apron letting people know what I'm doing and why I"m there for the day. Will my old boss go for it? Possibly. Someone might want a day off!! I've also committed to donating $5 of every CD sold at my live gigs. But since I'm not performing until August 1, I need to find other creative ways to raise money.

On Monday I return to the studio to begin recording my vocal tracks. I have been exercising my voice all week and have tried hard not to over-practice the songs. I'm worried about getting burnt out on the songs and not being able to bring freshness and complete honesty to the music if I sing them too much. So I'm practicing vocalese and other new songs I want to add to my repertoire. Tomorrow I'll go up to Wayne's and go through the songs with him. He wants to hear how I'll be approaching the music so we can hopefully save time in the studio. I think my ideas are pretty well locked in and now the spontaneity of just singing with my heart will hopefully take over when I get in front of that microphone. I'm sure Wayne will have some ideas for me and I'll see how--and if--I can work them into how I want to approach the music. He always has good ideas, it's just matter of whether they resonate with me or not. I respect him above most others, but I still do have my own opinions and my own creativity that needs to be asserted when necessary!!

4th of July

I could go on and on about the state of our political affairs in the US right now, but really what good would it do? Actions always speak louder than words and so I'm not going to sit here and complain about how frustrated I am as an american and how embarrassed I am about my government. What I need is to be part of a solution. I saw the movie Sicko last night and it depressed the hell out of me. How is it possible that we as a country have allowed our people to go so long without healthcare while other developed democracies offer universal healthcare? It's really shameful that we as a nation have not been able to come up with some kind of plan to aid all of our citizens. Honestly my first impulse after watching the movie was to leave the country. It's actually something I've toyed with for many years, but now it almost feels important to live outside of this country if I'm to live a healthy life! We deserve a quality of life that, unless you're wealthy or "gainfully" employed, is unavailable to the majority of folk. As a musician, a self-employed citizen of this country, I have no insurance unless I pay for it out of my own pocket. And even then, what I can afford is for catastrophic insurance, which means I pay a lot out of pocket in the hopes nothing terrible happens to me. It's frightening and causes undue stress that shouldn't have to be there. How can this be changed? What can I do to help change this?

Today I'm going on a walk with my friend Joan. She is the reason I am doing the hike with the Laukemia and Lymphoma Society. She told me yesterday that her brother was diagnosed two weeks ago with a blood cancer and that his prognosis is not good. I feel so sad for her and her family. She is now going to hike for her brother, while I hike for her. Now it feels more important than ever to raise the funds necessary to do this hike (http://www.active.com/donate/hfdsvmb/hfdkparra). The more money that can be raised the more research can be done to find cures for all of these diseases and cancers. Despite all of this sadness and frustration with the world, I continue to have hope. I refuse to let go of the hope that our world can improve, that we can improve as human beings. Underneath all of the terror, violence and greed we still have humanity--somewhere underneath it all. I guess I better start digging...

Last Gig Until August

I had a really nice gig last night. We had a fantastic turn out of friends and family and even some new folks who saw the article in the Metro and decided to come down. I LOVE press!! :) One woman in particular--Stephanie--saw the article in the Metro and was intrigued by the fact that I perform Sephardic music in my repertoire. She came after our first set where the one Sephardic song of the night had already been played. Since she came down specifically to hear that part of my repertoire, I moved a few things around in the second set and included Esta Montanya d'Enfrente. It actually felt really good singing that song and since it will be going on the next CD it was great practice on how I will approach it when it comes time to record. I really love the way Murray Low has arranged this style of music. He has a really good feel for how to represent this music and he has a way of bringing out its true beauty with a few well-placed chords here and there.

Playing in a restaurant is always a challenge. People come to hear you perform--at least some people do--but they also come to share a meal together. It's hard to not want to talk to your group while the music is playing. It is a bit of a challenge to me to have half of the room completely ignoring me and the band while we perform. But then there are those magical moments when there's something we do with the music that makes everyone quiet down and stop to really listen to what we're doing. That happened a few times last night but most noticably while we were performing Esta Montanya. I know the people that came last night were "listening" to the music while they were in conversation with friends, but it is a definitely different vibe when playing in a concert situation where people are listening more carefully. I suppose all these instances are good for me to experience. The fact of the matter is I get to sing and share my music with the public. That is a gift in any form it might take and I appreciate the opportunities I have been getting and continue to get. The fact of the matter is: I LOVE to perform!!

The Agenda Lounge and Restaurant

Tonight I'll be performing two sets at the Agenda Lounge and Restaurant from 7:30 to 9:45. I haven't played in a few weeks due to the recording and needing to concentrate on that, so it will be nice to be able to sing in public. I'm looking forward to playing with Murray Low,Tom Bockhold and Curt Moore. We're even going to try out a couple of the songs that will be on the new CD. We haven't had a chance to rehearse them, however, so it will be a true adventure to see how they go. Knowing these guys, I'm pretty confident that it will be just fine. The more difficult arrangements will have to wait until I can put together a rehearsal. I actually love the challenge of putting something in front of the musicians I play with and seeing how things turn out. They always sound great. Do I fall on my face sometimes? Of course!! But that is part of the risk I like to take. My philosophy is if you don't dare yourself to take chances--especially on stage--you will never grow as a musician and as a human being. Music is a constant series of adventures. I try and sing each song differently every time I perform it. That way it stays fresh for me and for my audience.

The month of July is completely free of gigs. Yuck!! That's probably due to the fact that I will be recording the vocals two weeks out of the month and Murray will be in Europe with the Stanford Jazz Orchestra for a couple of weeks. Of course I can do gigs without Murray, but I prefer it when he is on the gig. We just understand each other so well, he understands the music better than anyone and he's SO talented. Everytime we play together I learn something new. August, however, is shaping up to be one of my busiest gig months ever! I'm hoping this is the beginning of a steadier work schedule where I am playing at least 4 times a month. I know I need to learn patience when it comes to developing my career, but I really have none and am getting nervous about my financial situation. I want to be able to give this music career a good strong chance at fruition.

Today I go to the kick-off meeting for the Hike for Discovery program I have committed to. I'm looking forward to starting the training. I will be going on hikes every Saturday morning for the next three months--when I can--and preparing to be able to hike for up to 9 hours! This is going to be a great challenge for me and my somewhat out of shape body!

Quiet Solitude

This week so far has been very calm and quiet. My older son went back to San Francisco after spending the week here helping to photograph the studio experience. And my younger son is living it up in New York City. I knew he would love it there. The energy of that city is infectious and for a twenty-two year old I'm sure it's completely irresistible. I'm so proud of how he has adapted himself to the environment so quickly. He's settled in well to his internship at vicetv.com and has also gotten an actual paying job at American Apparel. As he states, he's involved with all of the "hip" things going on right now! I would love to be able to go out and visit him and hope to do so--with a few gigs booked--soon.

I sent off three press kits to Porto Alegre, Brazil a couple of days ago and now I'm crossing my fingers, toes, legs, eyes and anything else that can be crossed in hopes that the gigs come through. What a thrill it would be to play in Brazil and get a sense of how my music is recieved in other parts of the world. Of course cost is always an issue but it's a problem I WANT to have.

Last night I attended an open house meeting for two grants that will be given out through both the San Francisco Arts Foundation and CCI. The SF grant, although I do not qualify for it due to the fact I don't actually live in SF, is a wonderful grant that attempts to blend community and social issues with the arts. It's what I most believe in when it comes to sharing the arts with children who need it the most. I'm going ot try and find someone in SF to partner with so I can develop a program that will take music and art out to the neighborhoods. It would be so awesome to get funding for this so I don't have to take the money out of my own pocket. I truly believe that the power of music could be an amazing healing tool in areas where family life is fragmented. We need to save our children and give them a sense of hope. Hope is what is diminishing so rapidly in our world. Without hope the world breeds terror, fear and violence. There's got to be a way to return to a world where we can look forward and not be frightened.

4 Days of Creativity

The instrumental portions of the recording of Azucar de Amor are now complete. Whew!! I am amazed, relieved and thrilled that we were able to record 10 full songs in 4 days. Granted they were LONG days, but we did it and the result is overwhelmingly positive. Wayne himself said that he feels the CD was raised to a higher level musically than the last one--and I agree. There was some really amazing stuff/magic that happened this week in the studio.

Ray Vega was such a pleasure to work with. He is hilarious, full of entertaining stories, and most of all, a dedicated musician. Despite his clowning around, when it came time to get down to business he gave 150% of himself. His solos were inspired and beautiful and his session playing was also fantastic. We worlked him hard in the studio but he always remained calm and positive. I hope we get more chances to work together. I feel as though I made a new friend this week.

Jovino Santos Neto also was a true pleasure to work with. I picked him up from the airport on Thursday and, after having a nice breakfast together, we went to the studio and laid down the tracks he recorded on. He played on one of my originals and one jazz standard/bolero. What a beautiful sound he gets from the piano. He's lyrical and pensive and exciting all at the same time. I feel that the songs we recorded together will be very beautiful.

Now it's up to me to record the vocals. My job, should I choose to accept--and I do!--is to maintain the same level achieved by the instrumentals OR raise it even higher. My goal is to raise it even higher. I need to really center myself to allow the spirits to speak through me. I am hoping to get my ego out of the way so the true voice of each song can be honestly revealed. I'm going to have to do some serious meditating before going back into the studio in two weeks!!

Magic in the Air!

Can you feel the magic? I can! It's happening all around me this week. Day two is completed in the studio and half of the CD is now recorded (if you don't count the vocals). Magic is what is happening in the studio this week. The musicians are rising to levels that I only dreamt could happen. They are all such dedicated people and so appreciative and supportive of the music. Chills keep running down my spine as I hear the music being played back to me.

Yesterday the Sephardic songs were recorded and I think they are going to be very special. The afro-peruvian song as well turned out spectacular, under the strict direction of David Pinto. It is impressive how seriously dedicated he is to the music and its sound. He came in all business yesterday and left with a big smile on his face. I think he is very pleased--as am I--with how the song came out. Now it's up to me to sing my heart out and deliver the message with as much soul as I can.

The other truly amazing thing that happened yesterday was an offer to go to play in Brazil. WOW!! I'm crossing my fingers it works out. What an amazing experience that would be. I would perform in Rio Grande do Sur and in Porto Alegre, with the possibilty of performing in Rio and Sao Paolo as well. What a dream come true that would be. I hope I haven't jinxed it by writing about it here!

Day One Complete!

Yesterday was the first day of recording and it was a huge success. We recorded three songs, two of which are complete--except for the vocals. Everyone played fantastic and created some really cool sounds for the songs. The charts are challenging and somewhat difficult to play but these guys are all pros on the highest level and made it seem relatively smooth and easy. Were there any glitches and hiccups along the way? Of course!! We're human after all. But the dedication to the music and making it sound the best possible is what ultimately wins out. I am really pleased and excited with how things are progressing and I'm feeling like we have the beginnings of something really special here.

Today is day two of the studio recording. We will be recording the two sephardic songs that will be on the CD as well as the afro-peruvian landó. I can't even begin to tell you how touched I am at how David Pinto has taken my song and dedicated himself to making sure it is as authentic as it can be. He even went as far as recording it in a home studio to make sure that it would work fine when we recorded it today with Gary Mankin. For someone at his musical level to be so committed to helping me with my song makes me feel so blessed and lucky to be alive. The song has a strong message of following your heart even though you might not have a clue where it will lead you. Maybe it somehow touched David in its message. No matter, I think this song is going to be powerful in a very organic way. I can't wait to get to the studio today to see what kind of magic we can create!!

Countdown to Studio Time

Two more days and the recording fun begins! I am actually really looking forward to getting back into the studio and working with the man with the golden ears, Gary Mankin. He is such an incredible sound engineer who takes his job very seriously and assures that the sound will be stellar on all the projects on which he works. I am truly blessed by all of the talent that surrounds me. They all inspire me to perform at a higher level--and hopefully I have a hand in inspiring them as well with my music.

An article came out the other day in the SJ Mercury News about how Ray Vega will be performing this coming Tuesday at Santana Row (http://www.mercurynews.com/search/ci_6137422?nclick_check=1). I was also quoted in the article because Ray will be here due to the fact that he will be recording with me next week. I was keeping it under wraps in order for it to be a surprise but now it's out in the open. I am thrilled beyond belief to be able to have Ray Vega playing on my new CD. Jovino Santos Neto will also be coming down to record and I am really excited about working with him as well. How cool is it to have two stellar recording artists performing on my CD? I am honored that they both agreed to attach their names to mine! And then in the midst of all of this, while trying to get everything and everyone organized another really exciting and lucky thing happened. Raul Ramirez, the percussionist who will be playing on an afro-peruvian landó song I wrote, just so happens to have David Pinto, Susana Baca's bassist and musical director, staying at his house for the month of June. So, David will be recording with me as well! How cool is that? It just can't get any cooler.

So now you can see why I am excited to get into the studio next week. It will be a week filled with amazing talents, sounds and innovations. These are the moments that reinforce my decision to leave corporate america and dedicate myself to my first love--music, music, music.

Closer and Closer

Things are really coming together nicely for the recording. We did a rehearsal both Monday night and all afternoon yesterday. It is quite a feat to get all of these guys (15 people) in one room for a rehearsal. And the opinions!! Everyone has an opinion on how the music should be played. But they all have such knowledge and experience that it is hard not to take what they say into consideration. Ultimately, however, Wayne is the producer and this is my CD! I have to do what feels right for me and what works best for the music. I think the songs are going to sound amazing, given what I heard yesterday. And it is good to find that I am more than ready to go in and sing my heart out on these songs. I am very comfortable with the arrangements and how things are going to lay out in each of the songs. We weren't able to get to every song yesterday, but I don't think it will pose too much of a problem in the studio. We covered the most challenging tunes in the rehearsal and now it is up to the players to practice on their own. I am so incredibly blessed to be able to play with these guys. Not only are they phenomenal musicians, but good people as well. That makes the music so much more enjoyable.

I have been asked to be a part of a top-40 cover band!! They want me to cover the latin tunes when they do their shows. I'm in a bit of a quandary over this. It feels like I'm stepping back in time by signing on to this. But at the same time, it would allow me to make more money--and I'd be singing! So I'm thinking maybe I should try it out and see how it feels. It's just frustrating when all I really want to be doing is performing regularly with my own band, playing my repertoire. I guess I'm more spoiled than I originally thought! :)

Hike For Discovery

I have a friend with a blood disease that borders on Leukemia. Without the treatment she has been getting and all of the test drugs being tried on her, she might not still be around. This woman is brilliant, strong, vibrant and determined to live a long and productive life. She has a thirteen year old daughter and a husband who completely adores her. So why do things like this happen to the best people? Something I will probably never be able to comprehend. But her tenacity and desire to make a difference in this world has inspired me to sign up for Hike for Discovery. It is a fundraising event (Team-In-Training) that is supported by the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS). I will be training for the next three months to ultimately hike on the Nepali Coast in Kuaui in October. It is a 10 mile rigorous hike. I will need to raise $4800 dollars in order to participate in this event, 75% of which will go to LLS for research. My thought is that I will donate $5 of each CD sale towards this event. So every CD sold at live shows will be contributing to helping to find a cure for these nasty diseases. I'm excited about tackling this challenge--after all, this is nothing compared to what my friend is experiencing. I've asked her to do the hike with me and she is waiting to see if her doctor will allow her to do so. Either way, however, I will do this hike and do it with her as my inspiration.

So Much Going On

Well, my son Danilo will fly out next Tuesday to start a new life in NYC. I'm so excited for him and at the same time saddened at the fact that he will be so far away. This will undoubtedly give me more motivation to book some gigs on the east coast now! He will be doing an internship with vicetv.com and it sounds as though it will be a fantastic experience for him. I will be taking him to the San Francisco airport on Tuesday and then heading to Berkeley to do the first and only rehearsal before we start recording in the studio. I was thinking today that despite all of the mascara that will be running down my face from too many tears, having the opportunity to rehearse the songs for the recording will be fantastic therapy for me. It reminds me of when my ex and I split up and how much singing helped me get through such a difficult time. Music, singing, drumming are all such powerful tools in aiding us all to work through our "issues". I'm in the process of developing a music/expressive arts workshop that I want to take into juvenile hall or at-risk programs. I think that something like this could have a profound and positive impact on these lost children. They need love and support and a way to express their emotions without doing harm to either themselves or other people. I really want to find a way to reach these kids. But I'm also afraid they might eat me alive!! I've got to figure out how to do this and still feel safe.

Letting Go

My son, Danilo, flew off to NYC yesterday. He is going there for an interview for an internship spot at an alternative news station. It is an awesome opportunity for him and I am excited that people on the east coast are going to get a chance to see how talented he is. The hard part for me is letting go. The idea of him moving so far away is definitely something I need to get my head around. Granted, since he moved up to San Francisco I really haven't seen a lot of him, but now I won't be able to just jump in my car to go and have dinner with him when I want. Nevertheless, I am impressed at his fearlessness and ability to constantly grow and experience new things. He is an inspiration to me, as is my other son. They both teach me so much about life and creativity. I am blessed to have two such wonderful people in my life--and they're my sons!!

I now have almost all of the charts ready for the studio gig. I just need one more for the book to be complete. It is becoming a reality. I can't believe that I am going back into the studio so soon after my last CD. I'm excited and feel really good about the songs that will be on this disc. It will be a higher energy experience than the last one, which will be good for the dancers out there. And having "names" on the CD will also help considerably. Not only will it help in getting me attention, but the inspiration with getting to perform with these guys raises the music to a whole new level. One more week and we're thrown into it--rehearsals, last minute changes, last minute coordinations, etc. I even got my mom and sister-in-law involved by helping to cater food on the studio days--NICE!! :)

Touring Poll and Career Day

A touring poll has been set up on my myspace.com/katparra page to see where people would like to see me perform throughout the country. It will be fun to see the results. We're currently targeting Chicago and Seattle to start with and I hope to perform in both of those regions in the fall of this year. If I start to worry about how I will be able to manage all of this I drive myself crazy. So I am practicing trust in the Universe. I am trying to believe that if it is meant to happen--and I truly believe it is--then the opportunities will present themselves at the right time.

Tomorrow I go back to my old high school, Willow Glen High, and sit on a panel for career day. I am excited to have been asked to participate in their career day. I'm sure some of the kids' parents will hate me, but I am going to urge those kids to follow their dreams, because no matter what path it takes them down, they will be pursuing something that truly makes them passionate and happy and creative. Will it make them a lot of money? Who knows? But how would you ever know if you weren't willing to take the chance to find out! I am a true believer that if you hear a calling you should follow it. That's not to say that the calling might change over time but at least you are listening to your gut, your heart, whatever you want to call it. It took me so long to be able to have this chance of listening to my heart and I am so happy I was able to finally HEAR it--and heed it.

Sonoma wine and Jazz Festival

Yesterday I performed at the Sonoma Wine and Jazz Festival. I had my regular guys back playing with me again--Murray Low on piano, Peter Barshay on bass, Melecio Magdaluyo on wind instruments and Paul van Wageningen on drums. The band, as always, played phenomenally well and made the day a complete blast for me. And my voice was in good form, which always makes me very happy! The crowd, and I mean CROWD, was very attentive and appreciative of what we were playing. I always wonder if my singing in foreign languages will be a deterrant to the average american crowd, but that hasn't seemed to be the case. People really seem to respond to the music--and my voice--without necessarily understanding what I'm saying. I'm not sure how the rest of the country will react to my styles of music--and languages--but people in the Bay Area seem to be open to different musics of the world and I totally appreciate that. I sold a bunch of CDs which will greatly help in the costs of studio time.

I also met Larry Vucovich yesterday. What a sweet man--and an amazingly talented pianist. He really seems to love what he's doing. The fact that he has been a full-time musician for over forty years and still obviously has a good time perfoming is quite an inspiration to me. I want to be singing and performing until the day I die. I can't imagine a better way to spend the rest of my days. I know that when I am performing I am at my happiest. And when I have an audience that is responding to my music I think I've reached some level of nirvana! Yesterday was one of those days.

Preparation

I'm a few weeks away from going back into the studio to record my next CD, Azucar de Amor. There is so much that has to be organized and prepared for that at times it can become overwhelming. But the support that I have from the musicians that will be performing on this CD is incredible. I am so very blessed to be able to record with the creme de la creme of the Bay Area as well as some very well known latin jazz musicians that will be flying in from different parts of the country. I am confident this CD is going to be just as good, if not better, than Birds in Flight. I have been listening to the songs that I chose and hearing them in the order that I think will work best for the CD and it feels good, sounds good and I am getting excited. Wayne Wallace has been such a great source of inspiration and guidance through both of these projects. We work so well together and have created some really nice songs. It's always fun to have an idea, create lyrics and a melody and then take the song to a master like Wayne who will help shape it and mold it into a work of art. This is how three of my original songs were developed for this project.

Today I go down to the school where I teach 2-4 grades and say goodbye to the students for the summer. We did our end of year concert last night and they were fantastic. I am so proud of all of them. I am actually going to miss them! But it will be fun to return next year to see how they have all grown. It feels good to be able to contribute something to the community, helping to enrich the lives of children who would otherwise not be exposed to these sorts of things.

Staying Productive

Working from home can be quite a challenge for me. It's hard at times to stay focussed and assure that I stay productive. I'm so used to having someone else telling me what needs to get done where my job is concerned. Now it's up to me to determine what takes priority each day and how to assure that those things get accomplished. I've started making lists for myself at the beginning of each day to help me determine what I need to do to feel as though I'm not wasting time. Sometimes that works and other days I wonder where all the time went. I also get worried that I'm not moving forward in a way that will earn me a decent living. The last thing I want is to have to go back into corporate america and sit in a cube, listening to people complain about how much they hate their jobs. That should be motivation enough to stay focussed on the goals I have set for myself!!

Last night I was interviewed by Frankye Kelly on her TV show, Jazz with Frankye. It will air in a couple of weeks on the Comcast channel--Sunday 12:30-1pm. It was fun meeting Frankye. She is a really nice and beautiful woman who features local artists on her show. Herman Bosset was kind enough to set up the interview for me. He is such a sweet man! So we talked about the CD and the music. Some of my live performances will be shown on the show as well. This was the first time I've been interviewed on TV. I've done a lot of radio interviews now and feel very comfortable with that. This was a bit of a different beast, being in front of 3 cameras and lots of light. I think it went well, though, and I'm looking forward to seeing the end result. Life is good. :)