SUE GILES - JAZZ VOCAL ARTIST: NEWS

Here are some of my random thoughts on this "tax" day, April 15, 2011:

Thought #1:  Drove to and from NJ to Martha's Vineyard, MA in one day and realized I am not as young or as energetic as I thought I was.

Thought #2:  Listened to Harry Nilsson on CD and went way way back in time.  Forgot how much I adored 60 and 70s pop music, and how it helped to shape how I view the world at large.  I MISS those melodies and the intimacy of thought contained in lyric.  Then I heard songs are on my daughter's iPhone and was appalled at the lack of any kind of...appreciation, beauty, love, wonder, yearning, compassion, melody line, music structure, musicianship - there really is no one word for it.  Ultimately, I decided to get to work.

Thought #3:  Exercise is hard.  Exercise with weights is harder.  Yoga kicked my sorry ass altogether but I'm fighting back.

Thought #4:  I have a love/hate relationship with my cars - a 2001 Dodge Intrepid (which broke down 3 times in March); and my 2004 Saturn Vue, which is an amazing workhorse and trooper even with a huge crack in her windshield.  I love them both but may need to trade one or both in at the dealer over the next month or so; as such, I need major income, which is not exactly being cooperative at this time (sigh).

Thought #4:  Human nature is what it is.  Some people just play games, some aren't nice, some may even betray your friendship if they perceive there is an advantage, and most are not listening.  Keep doing what you love regardless and don't give up.

Thought #5:  My husband Anthony is one of the most interesting people I've ever met.  In addition to being a sweetheart, he is an inspiration and I am grateful.  We watched UFO videos last night :); he brought a gluten-free cupcake home for me to try (from Whole Foods), and encourages me to drink almond milk in my coffee.  I've never had anything so incredible in my entire life.  Goodbye flour and dairy - hello health.

Thought #6:  If for any reason gigs are not plentiful, it is ALWAYS possible to rent a space and build your own, OR hire a trio and perform on the street.  Those who have ears will still hear.  DIG?

Thought #7: I am having the time of my life - rediscovering a creative relationship with my beloved sister Nancy; writing new music; working out; exploring options for creativity and business; rediscovering art; going to hear so many of my musician friends perform their works; embracing difficulty; juggling finances and being frugal (ouch); planning for my future, playing with future generations (Olivia the Grand) and watching her grow.  Amazing things are happening, some positive and negative, all challenging -  the ying and yang of life.  No matter what the state of the economy, the blues in the news, the cost of gas, whatever - all that matters is ART and the MUSIC.  People need the honesty in music now more than ever.

I flied my taxes back in February - though funds from my return are now long gone, it's still spring and the sun is shining somewhere (even if it is not here). :).

Hang in there people, music lovers, and the entire country of Japan - I am praying for all of you.  

It's going to be a bumpy ride!  :)

Much joy and jazz always - :)  Sue

Art Hirahara (p), Jason Fraticelli (b), Sue Giles (vocals)

THIS MONTH HAS BEEN HISTORIC FOR ME.  My days as a full time employee are officially over.

My last day of full-time work was January 16, but I am not as unhappy about it as I thought I would be.  I've been an employee since I was 16 years old; never been laid-off or lost a job.  For all the years I was a working mom and sole provider paying the mortgage, not working was just not an option.  Now, the kids are almost grown, but finances are what they are.  As such, I spent my first week of unemployment working for me, and doing a considerable amount of soul-searching and approaching my mentors for suggestions and advice regarding my next professional move.

The great news - with the full support of my wonderful husband, kids, sister Nancy and all of my family, friends, and  a good number of music colleagues; I am happy to say that my next professional move will be entirely creative and musical.  I have decided to use 2011 for myself, and God willing, I'm using this opportunity to do nothing but put my MUSIC and MYSELF OUT THERE.  Of course, none of this will be possible without the gift of severance pay and unemployment insurance.  

Pray for me.  I need your prayers and your support - this is a huge transition!!!

I am thankful to have the momentum of a one of a kind DVD product launch.  We had a wonderful performance at TRUMPET'S JAZZ on January 16.  I was joined by the one and only Mike Eckroth (Piano) and Morrie Louden (Bass).; we had a great crowd; a good number of folks came out for a Sunday.  Even the owner, Enrico, pulled me to the side after our performance and thanked me for making a huge effort to drive people there.  BETTER STILL - Enrico booked me for ANOTHER performance date for SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2011 - MARK YOUR CALENDARS!!

I've uploaded a new video clip from the DVD to my website, and I am excited.  There simply isn't anything else like this out there - it is DIFFERENT than any jazz vocal performance I've seen lately.  Black & White is a concept DVD developed in tribute to the kind of music performance that I fell in love with when I was a young child in NYC. It features Art Hirahara on piano, Jason Fraticelli on bass, and Justin Leigh on drums. Both Art and Jason are also featured on my 2008 CD release, Trav'Lin; these recordings have been previously been released on my own independent label, gilesJazz.  The last song on the DVD, Give Your Heart, is a song I wrote with trumpeter Joe Magnarelli in 2003.

I send it for replication MONDAY, 1/24 and may have to order rush processing in order to have copies in time for Valentine's Day - the first track from the DVD is My Funny Valentine, appropriately.

Speaking of Joe Magnarelli, I will be in New York the same day (Monday evening) to attend a memorial service for my friend and musical mentor, the brilliant and beloved Mr. Harry Whitaker.  If not for Joe, I would never have met Harry, and if not for Harry and Arturo's in NYC, I would not be singing today.  Harry took me under his wing from 2002 through 2004, as he has for so many singers, and helped me to shape myself within the music.  He told me point blank what life it's all about :); he helped me to keep my head together when things were just wrong; he gave me advice for dealing with challenging musical personalities:).  Best of all, he performed with me on my first CD, introduced me to countless musicians all over NYC, performed countless other gigs all over NYC, allowed me to write lyric to his music ballad, Love Goes Out the Window (and record the song), hired me to sing at The Blue Note with his band and gave me a duet with vocalist Marion Cowlings, and even traveled with me to Detroit twice to perform.  We shared the marquee twice at the legendary Baker's Keyboard.

I miss you Harry.  With you in spirit, I'm taking on a new journey.  Here's to 2011.

much joy always,

Sue

Happy New Year from Sue Giles and Welcome to 2011!

We kicked off New Year's Eve at THE BLUE COMET in Glenside, PA with a lot of jazz, soul and R&B classics.  The floor was packed to a slow dance of IN A SENTIMENTAL MOOD - I was able to sing AND dance at the same time with my husband - a beautiful sight :). I've been BAD at this in the past but mMy New Year's resolution will be to update my website far more often (!); to shake the old skool in me and explore Twitter; to record everything and post to YouTube; to have fun making more videos, and to put forth some sincere effort to expand my audience - this year I think we may hit to road for gigs across the US (in lieu of Europe).

Our 2010 musical journey was a BUMPY voyage in our current economy - ouch. 

Thankfully it was not without some awesome scenery (Arenal Volcano in La Fortuna, Costa Rica, the Paris, Amsterdam, Sitges and Barcelona); some great reunions (Ferial Karamt Ali, Carol Cirigliano, Susannah Hassenstein and Michael Ashanti), convincing my daughter Carmen on stage to sing some India.Aire at De Badkuyp in Amsterdam (YES!!) and a lot of getting by with the help of my friends via www.Kickstarter.com.

Here's a look at my Kickstarter Project "movie":

CHECK MY YOUTUBE for new songs and video clips from my upcoming DVD release - we will post them this weekend.  Our DVD launch event is scheduled to take place with our January 16 performance at TRUMPETS JAZZ CLUB in Montclair, NJ.

Our new DVD recording features performances by Mr. Art Hirahara on piano (www.arthirarhara.com), Philly's one and only Mr. Jason Fraticelli on bass (you'll have to catch him on MYSPACE, ya'll).; and Justin Leigh on drums.  Justin has an AWESOME band, ELLIPSIS - you need to check out their CD and any performance they do cause their music is incredible.  The DVD was recorded in Bordentown at Riverview studios on Saturday, December 11, 2010; brilliantly engineered by Robert Bullington; and our DVD producer is Scott Miller and the team at EXIT 7A productions in Trenton, NJ.

OK - gotta jet - stealing time at the ofc to update ma webpage.

Much love as always to son Julius, daughter Carmen, Anthony my husband and partner in crime, and granddaughter Olivia Marie.  My heart is extremely full and thanks to the good people of NY/NJ/PA, my gig book is slooooooowly filling up - ain't this is the essence of true jazz?  Creativity, survival, and soulful jazz - on the fly! Big ups to Alan and Dorothy Ginsberg, Lena, Brad, Elena and Zoe Kloza, Microjazz, Marcia Wood, Ali Miller, Jackeline Vargas, Diana Miranda, Tom Verdi and all the beautiful children, grownups, other faculty and staff at my beloved Trenton Community Music School.

Ciao - yours in classic jazz, and soul always.  Keep supporting emerging artists wherever you go.

Sue Giles