Since my last entry I have been to NYC several times, San Francisco, western NY and Canada!
But settling back into Austin Texas news I'm happy to say that our house concert series has really taken off and has become a very important contribution to the Austin jazz and world music scene. We always have an incredible crowd for these monthly performances. Starting off our 2014 series was the remarkable NYC based vocalist Rosanna Vitro and her quartet. In February George Oldziey's latin jazz group Gato 6 was featured bringing the audience to their feet to dance and cheer! Jazz pianist Peggy Stern's artistic and sensitive trio was featured in March, and in April we had a joyous reunion gig with my old S.S.Q. group. (I had such a blast!) May was Carmen Bradford of Count Basie fame singing her heart out with a stellar quartet and our most recent feature was the Brazilian super star Rogé with his quintet! Not only did they fill the house with magical music played brilliantly they are 5 of the nicest guys I've ever met. They plan to head back to the states in the fall and we hope to have them back.
On the horizon…September 6th is guitarist extraordinaire Mitch Watkins fresh off the road from a 2 year world tour with Leonard Cohen. Joining Mitch is guitar wiz Carter Arrington and David Sierra on drums, & Pat Harris bass. It will be a special night of music. (even if we don't get to hear our 9 foot grand piano played that evening!) details www.casakaren.org
In October George and I will be in Europe recording the Bratislava Symphony Orchestra performing his Wing Commander Suite. We'll spend time in Slovakia, Prague, Vienna and Amsterdam while there. I'm THRILLED!
November 15th mark your calendars! I'll be singing with Gato 6 at the Saint James Jazz Festival in Austin, Texas. jazz
December 6th Casa Karen welcomes Sandya Sanjana from The Netherlands performing a fantastic mix of east Indian vocalizing and American jazz with her quintet. check the site for details www.casakaren.org
On December 21st a special holiday treat! Make note of what has become a yearly Austin Tradition. A musical rendition of the Dylan Thomas Classic "A Child's Christmas in Wales" I will be singing and also reciting the entire work with Alex Coke on woodwinds whistles, drums, noise makers, shakers and toys of all sorts…Evan Arredondo on Bass and Rich Harney on piano and key board. Alex will be coming in from Amsterdam just for this so don't miss it!
If you'd like to be notified about my other local club gigs check out my web site www.suzistern.com
or email me to get added to my info. emailing at suzistern@gmail.com
In other news: My first born…my son Rene got married in April to the lovely Selena and they now reside in the SF / Oakland area. My daughter is getting all A's in Grad school at North Texas and I'm so proud of her!
My last release "Romancing the Dark" got GREAT reviews…I was so happy about the kind words from reviews at Jazz Times, Yahoo, Amazon and many many online jazz journals. RTD is a featured CD on the listening tree at Waterloo Records on Lamar and it's on sale all month so pick up a copy if you're in the hood!
I had a big BD in June…60!!!
George had his 60th in Feb.
We had a stellar show at the McNay Art Museum in San Antonio last month celebrating their 60th as well! (I loved playing in SA…great audiences there!)
Thanks for reading all of this!
Here's to music, art, education, health…peace….not necessarily in that order!
Suzi
