I always look forward to rambling on about our musical adventures and I've missed the consistency of weekly musings.
George and I have been flying back and forth between LA and Austin routinely. As exciting as change can be it is also somewhat exhausting; but that being said we have some really great things in the works in LA that I'll fill you in on when I know they're confirmed!
The political climate in the country is also exhausting so to save some psychic energy I've been intentionally staying away from media as much as is humanly possible...the news pops up on my phone which I can't seem to ignore but I've been staying away from constantly checking email,TV, FB,Twitter and Instagram...thus my absence as of late!
I find that I'm so much more productive and creative on days that I'm media free. I write more music...read more...walk more...practice more...paint...interact with real live human beings!
I just read an article in Jazz Ed Magazine and it suggested that self employed artists like myself, should be plugging into social media a lot...like all the time...to solicit their art more overtly. That's the best way to gather an audience in todays music world. Target that specific audience that loves jazz, where ever they are in the world and hit those target spots. Really? Ughhh. OK.
I guess I'm so spoiled that I simply want to make music...I don't want to do all that other crap to promote myself. I can understand the virtues of social media for vast outreach, but it's just not my thing...and apparently being a musician in 2017 requires that I make it my thing.
Well this much media is fun for me so here goes my Suzi sales woman side: I have some lovely music to purchase on these sites if you're in the market for vocal jazz: www.Viewpointrecords.com www.cdbaby.com and www.amazon.com www.aardvarkrecords.com or you can contact me directly and I will send you recordings at www.suzistern.com which I love the best because that way I can at least meet you virtually.
On the Suzi News Front: I am in the middle of recording a new CD which I'm totally thrilled about. It should be out early in 2018, and will be a collection of some of my original material and some of my arrangements to tunes by Bill Evans, Joe Henderson, and Benny Golson. Some of Austin's best musicians will be featured on the project including Peggy Stern piano, Javier Chaparo violin, Paul Unger (Fort Worth) bass, Jimmy Shortell trumpet, Wayne Salzmann drums, & Gabriel Santiago guitar.
I'm looking forward to singing with GATO6 the day after Thanksgiving at Austin's premier Jazz room, The Elephant Room at 315 Congress Ave. 9:30 to 1:30, so if you're in the Austin area stop by!
Coming up: January 3, 4 & 5th I will be speaking on a panel and performing at the JEN conference in Dallas and I'll be back at the Elephant Room with my Quintet on Jan.18th
Of course I'm deep in the planning stages of our next big Lulufest in Austin for an exciting weekend of music in April! Watch my web site for more details. We have Sara Caswell, Sue Terry, Pam York and a host of other extraordinary women already lined up to showcase.
And just in case I disappear from computer world for several weeks again, have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday.
Thank you for supporting live music and for subscribing to my blog and for coming to the shows. People likeYOU make the creative process possible for artists and musicians, and we know it just cannot happen without that support, so thank you very much.
