I wanted rest and relaxation… peace and quiet… a day of doing nothing.  I felt loved and honored.   My beautiful and talented daughter Ashley Marie sent me a dozen roses.  They are exquisite. Perfect.  Pink and White.  I have them front and center in my home.  I smile every time I look at them.  This was my Sunday.

Saturday was a different matter all together.   It was a day of possibilities.

I had the pleasure of meeting Luke Lucas.  He is the co-owner of the Icon Music Studio in Durham.  It is a small, fully-equipped operation.  Mr. Lucas says he designed it specifically for singers. Presently, his focus is on developing a local and younger pool of local talent.  I listened to some of the work produced by these young men and women.  They’re really good.

I learned that Mr. Lucas has visited this site and he’s heard my singing.  He shared his thoughts. He has a no holds barred approach in sizing up talent.  Among other things, he told me that I could sing, but that I had no style.  Yes, he did!

Believe me,  he did not hurt my feelings.  In fact. I concur.

For all these years, I have been singing other people’s music, and singing them in a way that pays tribute to THEIR style.  Sometimes I alter the style a ittle bit, but I essentially stay true to a song’s original intent.

I really liked the vibe I felt at Icon.  I am hoping that I’ll be invited back to actually begin some kind of project.

Then I was off to the next thing.  I am listening to a CD produced by Mr. Lucas.  Honestly I haven’t gone past the first cut.  It’s called Iconic . I have already downloaded it to my i-Pod.  You have to move when you listen to this song! I just love it!!

I also love the prospect of having a regular gig again. Yippee-Skippee!!   I will post details and dates just as soon as they are nailed down.   The club/restaurant is located in North Raleigh.  The lounge is cozy and intimate. There’s a lovely piano and there may be nights that I sing live, and not to backing tracks.

Over the moon?  You bet I am.  This musical journey just took another interesting turn.

"There is a place for you if you want to step out and leave "comfort city."

–Unknown

Yesterday I had a full out rehearsal with Moment’s Notice for the upcoming gig at the Irregardless Cafe in Raleigh on Saturday night.

It was a time to work out the beginning and endings of the songs– uber important.  It was also a time to get some things straight as to the number of songs I’d be singing and the start and end times for my part in the show.

Let me say first, that I am really looking forward to singing.  There’s a funny feeling in the pit of my stomach because this is the first time in a long time that I did not have full control over what was going on. There are times the musicians will be looking for guidance from me and there will be times when it will be the other way around.

Vocalists who are accustomed to working with musicians work all that out over time, I am sure.  I expect to do more of these little engagements with Moment’s Notice, so the good thing is the knowing, this uncomfortable/nervous energy won’t live there in my gut for long.

So, back to the rehearsal. Scratch that.  I need to go back a little farther.

I received an email from the leader of the band about my joining them— I’d been ask to show up a little later in the night– when the diners turn to dancers.  The tables and chairs are relocated in the small restaurant to allow for the shaking of feathers.

After the email, I begin to think of the songs I’d rehearsed with the band, and responded.  I submitted 3 songs I’d be comfortable singing with the group.  They were:  SMOOTH OPERATOR, BOOGIE OOGIE OOGIE, and DOES ANYBODY REALLY KNOW WHAT TIME IT IS .  I was fine with that– sit in, get in, get out- and call it a night.

Wrong, Wrong, Wrong.

The big thinking here was that I would close out the late show with the band… that I would sing all the songs I had rehearsed in the Fall when we were preparing to perform at a fund-raiser for an organization that works to stop domestic violence.

One of the musicians noticed a strange look on my face when this was all explained to me. He called it slight, but he read it.  I was willing, but not thrilled.

I told them I’d was alright with the rundown… but that I would not sing all night. I would do one set, and then let them finish out.  That comes about 13 songs for your girl… up from 3!  I’m cool. Everybody was good with that.

So, we rehearsed.  After nearly 3 hours we’d run through my songs, and talked them out. Everybody’s on the same page.

The guitar man did catch me, though. That every so subtle change in my eyes and lips. I was caught off balance.

I am still unsettled.  There was no mention of money…  the worth of my time and talent.  I said nothing that day.

It really amazes and disturbs me, that this is a way business is done, or not done in the music world.

Saying nothing yesterday, does not mean I’ll have nothing to say later.