Kelly Sweet...is that you?

First off...has it really been a year since I've written anything? Apologies to those I gave my card to! Heck, even 2014 is almost over. I want my time back! Haha, anyways hope all of you have been doing well and everything is peachy keen! If not...then make it happen!! Peachy!

K, back to music. I just heard a cover of Phil Collins' "In the Air Tonight," and it wasn't Mike Tyson. The voice was very ethereal. Not to say Mike's isn't. Thank you, internet. Or Al Gore. Are we still going with that story? Anyways, Kelly Sweet pops up on my search and I know that I KNOW that name and voice (but not the hair!). Lo and behold... Raincoat. Kelly has really grown and moved on from her days since I saw her play Raincoat on a local show. Kelly's discography consisted of jazz-y, Norah Jones/Colbie Caillat, life is full of marshmallows and unicorns type of feel. I love marshmallows.

Raincoat



From Raincoat, to Why. This song is very heart wrenching. It's when you realize that no matter how many times you ask and however loud you make yourself heard, you might never find the answer to the question that changed everything. But remember that it isn't you. It's life. It's quite startling to hear how different Kelly's songs are 4-5 years after Raincoat came out. She's definitely grown. Life happened, I guess.

Why



And here's the song that brought me back. Thanks Kelly!

In the Air Tonight

Pianos 2013 Finale - Sing for Hope

I was lucky enough to make it to Lincoln Center this past Sunday for the Pianos Finale! I cheated this year. Instead of trying to go find all the pianos around the city...I waited for them to come to one place. Where better than Lincoln Center?

Below are some pictures of the many pianos that brought music across the city.

Every hour, on the 08, there was a mini concert. This event went on from 11am to 8pm. At 7:08 pm, all 88 pianos were played at the same time! The final piece that was played was Bach's prelude in C.

Now these pianos are being given new homes in schools, community centers and other places where they will be well needed.

Can't wait for this event to be back next year!

This is possbily my favorite.

But this one was a close one, too. People couidn't keep their hands off of it!

Here was a mini concert.

Another favorite.

Ever looked at the back?

I love how the kiddies are at the piano of Hope!

Sing for Hope - Find your pianos!!

Have you noticed a piano here and there? And, lately, just everywhere? Sing for Hope's yearly tradition of placing 88 (cute!) pianos all throughout the City was made possible by a sponsor, this year! Hopefully, this tradition can be maintained and continue on for generations to come.

During my last piano hunt, I've seen random strangers brought together by singing and playing one of these pianos and just enjoying every moment. It's a reminder of life...what we are capable of, how beautiful it really is and that no one is alone in this. Click here for the map and happy hunting!!

Blue Note Jazz Festival 2013

The sun is out, the birds are singing and barbeques are cookin'!! Well, at least they were this weekend and hopefully after this wet week ahead. Don't forget to to keep the music goin' either. The Blue Note Jazz Festival will be going on all throughout June!

There will be some free and some not-so-free but well worth your buck. Get out of your cubby and check it out!

Here's a blurb of some notables:

Buddy Guy. Need I say more?

When I was just a wee young professional at my first job, on my first work trip...I took full advantage of being in the Windy City. Searching for Chicago blues was my top priority.
Right after work, I strolled into Buddy Guy's Legends. And stayed for the rest of the night.

Buddy Guy will be playing @ B.B. King's on 6/26th and the 27th @ 8pm.



One of my other favorites (I say this with confetti and poms poms) will also be performing for this fest. The Hot Sardines!

These guys keep the 20s very much alive with their always impeccable sounds, energy and ensemble! You WILL have a great time with them. And if you don't, then there's something wrong with you. Juuust kidding...

They'll be playing at Lucille's on June 15th @ 8 pm. Free!



Hope to see you here and there!

Happy 2nd Birthday!

So I got an e-mail this past weekend that congratulated Catch This Note on its second birthday!! And then I sat back looking at that e-mail...remembering how much I've neglected this baby. Yes, it is in need of some TLC. So here's to a more vibrant and awesome year ahead! And I hope you will join us!

Goapele or Gwa-puh-LAY

I can't help myself but to stare in awe. The music, talent and beauty of Goapele are just insane. Girl crush. This native California girl, sings with the rarest type of confidence that's hard to resist and the rawest of emotions that makes your heart break in pieces for her.

Goapele Mohlabane is a soul and R & B singer songwriter who's name is starting to appear in places. Many places. She is not(unfortunately) an overnight sensation. Goapele debuted her first album, Closer, back in 2001. Ever since then, she's spent her time working, refining and growing her musical talents and career. She built her base not with radio play, but with her fantastic live performances. Goapele's the real deal.



Here's Goapele's discography, and some of my favs from them. Hope you enjoy them as much or even more than I do.

Closer (2001) - Closer
Even Closer (2002) - Closer (again), Too Much the Same
Change It All (2005) - First Love
Break of Dawn (2011) - Undertow, Play, Tears On My Pillow, Milk & Honey, Right Here

You can see how Goapele grows throughout her music. From her first album to her latest, she changed from a girl who is just realizing who she is, to a woman who already found herself. By Break of Dawn, she was full fledged adventurous in her music and lyrics. Break of Dawn is my favorite album of her discography...which will be a true statement until the next one.

SPIN-ning it

I've been greeted by many weird things on my way home before. Lost animals, people and things. This one found its way into my mailbox. And then it got ME lost.

I was wondering what happened to this month's SPIN magazine. SPIN has doled out its last PRINT publication last month! Settle down, now. It's not gone. They just moved the publication entirely online. Apparently, to fulfill my passion for music, in print, the parent company thoughtfully sent a magazine that would transfer that same passion for cars! In print.

"I know we can't replace the insight and passion that SPIN delivered to new-music lovers. But we can promise that Car and Driver will provide that same passion and insight for cars."

I definitely appreciate the effort but...I...I don't know.

Well, I guess don't knock it til you've tried it.

Friday nights at Rubin

It's not exactly "Night at the Museum"...but it's probably just as (or even more) fun!

Rubin Musuem of Art hosts K2 Lounge nights featuring live DJs. I'm mostly intrigued by the background experience the DJs have. The range includes jazz, Afro-beat, Brazilian, Arabic and classical music. And it's free cover for the Lounge and Museum at that time!

Rubin Museum of Art of the Himalayas
150 W. 17th Street
New York, NY 10011

Rubin Museum K2 Nights

Free Admission on Friday nights from 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Hurricane Sandy

Hi all,

I haven't written in AGES, I know. I kept saying, "Tomorrow, I'll have time. Tomorrow." A few months later, here we are. Today is not only Halloween, but it is also a day of recovery for us folks in the Northeast. There was flooding, downed trees, damaged homes, downed wires, lost power, cars that swept away, work that can't be done, but these things are nothing compared to the fact that my friends and family have escaped unscathed by the vicious and unforgiving Hurricane Sandy. Unfortunately, some of our neighbors weren't as lucky. Atlantic City is basically gone. Breezy Point, Queens have been burnt down. Houses have been blown away on Staten Island.  And at a time like this...LOOTING in Coney Island. Disgusting. The list goes on. In all my life, I've never seen NYC like this.

What if there isn't a tomorrow? Please recognize the happiness this world has to offer and how quickly it can be taken away. Don't waste it.

If you're in the area, please take your time to volunteer and or donate. If you need help, please reach out!

Here's a few contacts and information that might help. Please stay safe everyone!

American Red Cross -  Provides disaster relief
www.redcross.org

New York City Service - NYC Government collecting donations and volunteers. Email your name and which borough you can help in, to: nycservice@cityhall.nyc.gov.
https://www.facebook.com/nycservice

The Salvation Army - Provides disaster relief
http://blog.salvationarmyusa.org/category/eds/

New York Blood Center - donate blood and platelets
 http://www.nybc.org/index.jsp

New York Cares - New York's largest volunteer organization
http://newyorkcares.org/volunteer/disaster/

Food Bank for New York City - volunteer to help serve and distribute food or donate!

http://www.foodbanknyc.org/


New Jersey 211 - links to NJ Hurricane response information
http://nj211.org/hurricane.cfm

Federal Emergency Managing Agency
http://www.fema.gov/

Rainy Day

Hello old friends!! We've been apart for far too long.
Here's to a great Friday and a fun rain day!


Mint Royale - Singin' In The Rain

NLX ... is back! Catch her at Rockwood~

People come and go in our lives. It's not bad or good, just inevitable. And then they come back! I figured NLX was working on something big. That's why she's been m.i.a. for some time. Since then, we've had to overload on  "Find Love." Not that we're complaining.

NLX will be performing new songs at Rockwood Music Hall, this Friday! Don't miss it.

NLX
@
Rockwood Music Hall
196 Allen Street
New York, NY 10002
Friday, 6/29/2012 @ 7PM

Jackson Tyler Hunt in NYC!

How long have we waited for this moment? One of our favorites, Jackson Tyler Hunt, will be performing in NYC this weekend. Catch him while you can! This Missouri native has traveled far and wide to share his love of music and his piano. There's been many comparisons to Billy Joel and Ben Folds, but soon enough, Jackson will be able to make his own road that others will want to learn and be inspired from.

Jackson will be performing at The Shrine in Harlem on May 28th @ 8PM. Let's go!

HoneyHoney

Almost forgot that I had tickets to go watch James Morrison, a week ago. Who does that? Luckily, someone from my crew remembered it. Calendars are useful...if you use it. As always, James is an amazing performer and much better to watch in person. Brought the house down. But you all know who he is so I'm just going to do a skip and a hop to his opening act, HoneyHoney.

A banjo and a tambourine. Violins and guitars. I wasn't sure what to expect, considering that we were at a pop rock concert. The banjo threw most of my fellow concert goers off.

From the first song on, Honeyhoney gripped the crowd with their words and music whether it was a slow or fast tempo song. They're a modern pop(I use this word loosely) version of bluegrass, country and blues without sacrificing the heart of it. Please thank Suzanne Santo (vocals/banjo/violin) and Ben Jaffe (vocals/guitar) for your entertainment.

"Little Toy Gun" was released in November of 2008 on their first album, First Rodeo. And yes, that is Jack Baur...I mean Kiefer Sutherland, in the video.



This is another favorite. Honeyhoney's songs are very pure and unique from one another. Which is hard to say for many (MANY) musicians/bands. Honeyhoney released "Thin Line", on their second album, Billy Jack, in October 2011.

So, I've been slacking lately. But for good reasons. Like the fact that I was here (rainbow!):

And here:

Dropped by here for a while and was pleasantly surprised by this lovely sight:

And then passed by the Oslo Opera House before calling it a "day":

Now...back to work!

Song of the Day - Too Close

Song of the day? Thank you, IE9 commercial with Hunger Games being played to Alex Clare's Too Close.



Name: Alex Clare
Hometown: London
Genre: Soul and dubstep
Album: The Lateness of the Hour (2011)
Current Billboard Top 100 rank: 68