http://catcoward.com/news.html Cat Coward: News Jannis' PHPRss class - http://www.jannis.to/ Sat, 19 May 2012 01:05:05 -0700 http://catcoward.com/news.html#61
The trails are still great for running, though. In spite of the fact that I haven't been doing much music, I continue to have a hard time squeezing in my daily workouts... go figure. It does really do my spirit good to get outside if only for an hour or so... and yes, even if it's raining!

Got a gig in a couple of weeks, November 6th, with Peggy Monaghan's Arctic Siren's Cabaret. We'll do some of the originals, and another tune or two. Can't wait to get back with the band. I checked out Our Stage, the internet radio-song competition website I'm on.... hadn't looked at it in a while... the songs entered are actually doing quite well. Nice to know that even though I'm on pause, the music keeps speaking for itself.

Off to Hawaii on Saturday for 10 days. If THAT doesn't renew my spirits, I don't know what will! We're going back to our favorite place on the wet and jungly side of the Big Island - Kalani Retreat Center - a short distance south of Hilo. AHHHH!

Hawaii should provide me with a cleansing break from some of the politics I've been trying to activate. Pouring myself into the Health Care Reform Bill(s) of late... trying to keep informed, emailing and calling my representatives, marching, talking to folks. Stressful, yet important work at this important time. Blows my mind that anyone can be against such a change that we desperately need for so many desperate and deserving people.]]> http://catcoward.com/news.html#61 Thu, 15 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0700 steamy vocal jazz - Cat Coward - News http://catcoward.com/news.html#60
My life is completely full, rewarding and enriched. My attention has turned to my family, my recreation, and to matters more pressing to me than music... health care reform, global warming, and the like. Seriously, I look around trying to find where best to use my strengths and energy and am drawn both to our flailing medical system, and to the environment. It's time to focus my excess time and energy in that direction. If I can use music to do this, then so much the better, but it's not necessary.

On another note, jazzer Esperanza Spaulding is coming to Anchorage on September 25th. I've been asked by the Anchorage Concert Association to give a 30 minute talk about her prior to her performance. As a result of agreeing to do this, I've dug into Esperanza's life, music, and talents. Wow. Is she impressive! Clearly one of the brightest new jazz stars in music today. She's definitely worth checking out!]]> http://catcoward.com/news.html#60 Tue, 08 Sep 2009 00:00:00 -0700 steamy vocal jazz - Cat Coward - News http://catcoward.com/news.html#59
Summers up here are all a-go... everyone's outside as much as possible, everyone's on vacation as much as possible, everyone's up as late as possible. It's still light past 11PM, and all is vibrant and alive. I love Alaska!!

In lieu of music, I've been kayaking, hiking, running, backpacking, staying up late, sleeping in late, working as little as possible, trying to write songs, but finding that I don't have much to say.

I had a fabulous conversation today with an old, old friend who is an accomplished musician in his own right. He mentioned that he has had "writer's block" for the last couple of years which he attributed to no longer being clear about who his audience was. He said that, until recently, he had always had a fairly good connection and dialog with his fans and listeners, which had facilitated his song writing. Of late, he doesn't have that connection, and consequently is unsure of what to say in his music.

I understood what he was saying... though I have written only a scant few songs, when I was composing for my CD "On a Limb", I knew who I was writing to and for. Now that "On a Limb" is completed, and I'm considering merging my style of writing with something more pop/rock, I'm no longer sure who I'm writing to. It's been very difficult to put anything down.

At our last gig, a private party a couple weeks ago, we tried something new musically. We changed the rhythm section from background jazz, to a more driving and busy rock sound. We kept the vocals the same, and played the same jazz tunes. The result was something very wild and exciting. Jazz standards such as "Night and Day", "Girl from Ipanema", and of-course the originals, with a rock undertone. Very sexual, very danceable, very appealing.
We're going to try it again next week at Bernie's see how it goes. I'm hoping that if we take the music out of the background and into people's faces, we can expand our fan base, as well as our own interest. We're calling it "sultry vocals over a driving beat."

Stay tuned...]]> http://catcoward.com/news.html#59 Fri, 10 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700 steamy vocal jazz - Cat Coward - News http://catcoward.com/news.html#58
The show was a healing one for me. I've been in such a foul mood for the past several weeks.... I told my husband, Tim, that this is the worst he's ever seen me. (He agreed!) From the outside my life is, at the very least, charmed. I mean, I have everything I could dream of... love, a great family, health, friends, music. But my spirit has been very unsettled of late, and in the past weeks, most days I move through with tightness in my chest and noticeable stress. I believe it's from lack of grounding, little time for meditation, and a perceived need to juggle more activities than I am able.

But last night, in the middle of a gig that I hadn't even been looking forward too, I felt it all lift away. Like someone unlocked a door and all the negative and toxic energy I had been carrying for weeks just blew away.

What a relief. This is why i need music in my life.]]> http://catcoward.com/news.html#58 Fri, 12 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0700 steamy vocal jazz - Cat Coward - News http://catcoward.com/news.html#57
Sadly, due to other responsibilities, I wasn't able to attend much of it, but what I did see was very professional, creative, and inspiring. The music was well received by everyone there, a mix of fellow musicians and fans. It was a supportive environment to be sure, as well as well attended by the general public.

Our set was yesterday afternoon. We played all the tunes on "On a Limb", save "Turn Back the Time". Ron Kichura sat in for Kevin Barnett, who was out of town. He did a fantastic job - especially with "Walk Away" and "Roll Me". What spirit!! I thought all our tunes went very well. We're starting to gel with them in a live setting. Thank you Ron, Scott, Dirk, and Lee! Yahoo!

There was a table of very enthusiastic ladies front and center who were super engaging and responsive. Nothing better for the performers than audience members who react, participate and enjoy the music. Thank you, ladies! (You know who you are!)

Next up: Bernies on June 11th!]]> http://catcoward.com/news.html#57 Mon, 01 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0700 steamy vocal jazz - Cat Coward - News http://catcoward.com/news.html#56
During the first two weeks of May my husband, Tim, and I traveled to Northern California for 2 weeks of white water kayaking. The weather was cool and rainy for most of the time (while temps were unusually high under bright blue skies in Alaska!). The kayaking was fabulous. I'm a novice kayaker at best, and was surprised again at how much the sport depends upon one's mental/emotional state of mind. Kayaking parallels life in that manner... you do better during difficult and stressful moments by remaining cool, focused, and relaxed. Would that I could be so centered...

Up next, the Spendard Jazz Festival May 29th - 31st! Over 50 musicians performing throughout the weekend at Organic Oasis in Spenard. We're up Sunday the 31st at 3PM. Come on down for a weekend of all original, local Jazz!]]> http://catcoward.com/news.html#56 Sun, 17 May 2009 00:00:00 -0700 steamy vocal jazz - Cat Coward - News http://catcoward.com/news.html#55 No fooling, the CD has taken off. Rave reviews from friends regarding the music and the cover design. I'm really pleased with the cover design as well.... makes for a great story that I frost bit all my toes in the process - ha! I'm pleased to say that they are doing much better now, and I may even get to get out for some Spring skiing now that the temps are climbing up.

I just got back from some R & R in Florida with my husband Tim, and our son, Rohan. We got Rohan together with his cousins, which was a blast.

Amazingly, we were able to get in and out of Anchorage in spite of the heavy volcanic activity of Mt. Redoubt. We know of several people stuck for days at a time trying to get either in or out of Alaska due to canceled flights. On our way out of Anchorage, we were sitting on the tarmac and the pilot came on the radio to announce that Redoubt had just blown again. "We're gonna get out of hear right now", he says as he pulls away from the gate. No sooner had we got above the clouds when out on the horizon we could see this huge mushroom cloud of ash rising WAY up above the clouds. A 65,000 foot high explosion. That's over 9 miles high! Very hard for me to wrap my mind around that.]]> http://catcoward.com/news.html#55 Wed, 01 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0700 steamy vocal jazz - Cat Coward - News http://catcoward.com/news.html#54
Today we cleaned up from the party all day (whew). This week I'll start sending CDs off to various out-of-state locales, as well as getting them into the Anchorage area stores. Now the real work begins...]]> http://catcoward.com/news.html#54 Sun, 22 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0700 steamy vocal jazz - Cat Coward - News http://catcoward.com/news.html#53 http://catcoward.com/news.html#53 Sat, 07 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0800 steamy vocal jazz - Cat Coward - News http://catcoward.com/news.html#52
(Big) CD release party March 21st!!]]> http://catcoward.com/news.html#52 Wed, 25 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0800 steamy vocal jazz - Cat Coward - News