Nina Simone says it all...

Hi Ladies,
It's been awhile since our last post, so I thought I'd make it worthy of viewing.
I'm still sad I didn't see Nina Simone at her last show in SF before she died.
She is truly a force to respect and love.

Nina Simone "Feelin' Good"


Nina Simone :I've Got No... I've got Life"

Variations on a song

Summertime with Ella Fitzgerald



Summertime with Billie Holiday



Dream A Little Dream Of Me with The Mamas and The Papas



Dream A Little Dream Of Me with Zooey Deschanel



Big Rock Candy Mountain with Harry McClintock



Shady Grove with David Holt and Doc Watson



Shady Grove with The Chieftains & Tim O'Brien



Pay Me My Money Down with Bruce Springsteen

Winter is Approaching!

Arlington with The Wailin' Jennys



The Parting Glass with The Wailin' Jennys



Beautiful Dawn with The Wailin' Jennys



This is Where with The Wailin' Jennys

New songs, new circle...

Hi Ladies,

Our next series at The Freight starts this Thursday night & I have some beautiful new songs to add. As you can tell, I was really enjoying all of the duets with Norah Jones. She has such a rich, warm voice.

We will also add Bring Me Lil' Water Silvy, which you can hear on the blog under The Wailin' Jennys entry.

Enjoy!

Tennessee Waltz Bonnie Raitt & Norah Jones



Wurlitzer Prize (I Don't Wanna Get Over You) Willie Nelson & Norah Jones



Are You Lonesome (Elvis Tribute) Norah Jones



Rock Island Line Odetta



Rock Island Line Johnny Cash



Goodnight Irene Leadbelly



Sloop John B The Beach Boys



Deep Blue Sea The Weavers

Lower Harmonies & Live Performances...

For the past couple of weeks we have worked on lower harmonies, which adds a lovely depth and weight to a song. Singing the lower harmonies on both of these songs is extremely grounding and it opens up the voice in wonderful ways. Watching these live performances with performers harmonizing so naturally is a great way to get a "feel" for creating a blend and a group sound.

Didn't Leave Nobody but the Baby with Alison Krauss, Gillian Welch, & Emmylou Harris



I'll Fly Away with David Rawlings and Gillian Welch at St Luke's in London



A simple & beautiful song: One Little Song by Gillian Welch

The Wailin' Jennys

Hi Ladies,

"One Song" is a lovely tune performed by The Wailin' Jennys.
We'll try it next week!
I also included two other performances of theirs, for your enjoyment...


One Voice by The Wailin' Jennys







Bring Me A Li'l' Water Sylvy

3 Part Harmony!!!

Hi ladies,

Pat yourselves on the back for a wonderful night of three-part harmony last week!!! Fantastic work. It was really fun figuring out how to switch parts, build on the existing harmony, and feel confident with the melody.

So, we are getting the 1 3 5 harmony concept!

Here is Shenandoah with some lovely harmonies:

Que Sera Sera!

Hi Ladies,

Thanks so much for a wonderful night last Thursday. Please let me know if there are specific things you want to spend more time on. I plan to focus on harmony, protecting our voices, 1 improv exercise a week, and lots of singing.

Here are some beautiful versions of some songs in our songbook:

Que Sera Sera/Pink Martini



We Are/Sweet Honey in the Rock



On Children/Sweet Honey in the Rock



Wade in the Water/Sweet Honey in the Rock



Lift Every Voice and Sing/Chicago Children's Choir

A Year of Singing in Community

Happy New Year, Ladies.

Last year my life was filled with loss and grief, and one of the things that helped me most was singing. So, as I set an intention for our next singing circle session, I'd like to offer as many ways as I can to give each of you the confidence and inspiration to bring music into your own community. We live in a world filled with media, with easy ways to listen passively to music, or to sing along to a recording, but we need more circles of singing. Even as a professional musician I question my place to step up with a song, and yet, each time I find the courage to share a song, it is always met with appreciation and thanks.
Here's the song I'm sharing today, and I'm asking each of us to share a song with someone. It might be a child, a friend, or a stranger. It doesn't need to be sung perfectly, it just needs to be shared with an open, joyful heart.
It was wonderful to hear about members of our singing circle leading songs in their own communities over the holidays. May we sing more & often!!!



Much Love,
Tamsen