Where has September gone?

Just a minute ago it was September 1st. What happened?

I actually have to thumb through my datebook to see where the damn month went.

Ah, yes. Well, there were the bi-weekly rehearsals leading up to last Sunday's Glide Ensemble concert. Those took up a lot of time. Then there were several hours of paperwork and orientations to begin my part-time job teaching hooping at the YMCA. Not to mention the hours of planning and teaching itself. There were my weekly guitar lessons and daily practice, my double-shifts at the belly dance studio, the SRO volunteer meeting to kick off the new marathon season, the last session of my writing group, and my dance classes. Oh - and my songwriting sessions with Vernon!

Those songwriting sessions have kicked into high gear now, because Vernon and I are having a show on October 18th at the Berkeley Jazz School. (Stay tuned for a fancy flier next week.) We're going to be performing mostly original songs that we've been collaborating on all summer. This will be the first time that anything I've written will be performed anywhere, so I'm very excited. Way to debut, right - with not just one original tune, but ten? Yikes!

Despite my nerves, I think it's going to be a great event. We're super pleased to have the esteemed Leah Tysse and Zoe Ellis on background vocals, as well as a stellar little band, and that makes this a show, folks. Like I said, stay tuned for a fancy flier next week, but until then, mark your calendars: Sunday, October 18th, 4:30 PM.

In other performance news, I'll be guest-singing (is that a phrase?) next Friday night at The Purple Onion. My good friend Danny Creed will be performing his stylistic sounds (as well as telling some hilarious stories), and he's graciously asked me to sing a couple of numbers. We'll be accompanied by the talented David Austin on piano, and there will also be a guest appearance by singer/songwriter Liz Clee. That's next Friday, September 25th at 8:00 PM. Call for reservations at (415) 217-8400. There is a $10 cover for this event.

Danny actually has a fancy flier for this gig, but as he is firmly of the old-school, I didn't even bother to ask if he could send me a digital copy. I'm not even going to tell you the lengths he goes to to read my blog on his Web-TV/computer-substitute-thingy. You'll just have to imagine him, leaning up against a piano, looking dapper in all black with a crisp white tie.

The Glide Ensemble's Wings of Song Concert/Live CD Recording was a big hit! We performed a slew of new tunes and the audience feedback was great. I was the only soloist who got to sing her song twice - an ambulance went wailing by during my first performance and ruined the recording, so we did it a second time! You can pre-order your copy of the new CD on Glide's website. The concert was also filmed, and I think they might be releasing a DVD as well.

If you missed this Glide event and you're anxious to catch the next one, you should join us on November 12th for Glide's annual holiday festival. This year is Cecil Williams' 45th anniversary at Glide, and we're hosting a special event at the San Francisco Opera House. From the 'Hood to the House, a benefit for Mo's Kitchen and Glide's programs, will feature Dr. Maya Angelou, the Alonzo King LINES Ballet, the San Francisco Opera Adler Fellows, the Glide Ensemble and Change Band, and various other special guests (I've heard some big names being bandied about). There will be a reception immediately following the event. Get your tickets early; this show is bound to sell out.

You can always keep an eye on my upcoming performances in the Latest News section of my website.

I hope to see you at one or more of these shows!