SingingMirror

SEEKING

Vocalist, Vocalist - Bass, Vocalist - Baritone, Vocalist - Tenor, Vocalist - Soprano, Acoustic Guitar, Drums, Other Percussion, Violin, Keyboard, Piano, Harmonica, Flute, Other, Banjo, Mandolin, Fiddle, Vocalist - Alto.

ABOUT

The short version: I want to work with other mature yet playful performers.

I am a skilled yet evolving singer-songwriter seeking to join or form a small group of singers/musicians to create and perform original songs as well as to play classic folk, rock, jazz, etcetera.

The long version:
I've mostly been a soloist, but am finding myself increasingly excited by the possibilities of singing with other voices and instruments.
My personal preferences lean towards intelligent, humorous, dramatic, and thought- and emotion provoking lyrics/stories. These can come from almost any artist or genre. I prefer to perform for audiences that truly listen and that want to participate in the musical experience.

In the last few years I've performed for children and family audiences at local libraries and other events. I am gradually writing simpler songs that encourage participation (singing, drumming, clapping, and so forth).

I stopped singing for ten or fifteen years, then began reviving my voice by attending retreats with Carolyn McDade, who writes about women, land, spirit, and social justice. All of these are important to me, yet I see the very act of singing for an audience to be potentially empowering for myself and my listeners. In other words, I will sing strongly for the sake of love, peace, dignity, and so forth, but it is not my intention to focus on any one theme as the end-all and be-all of my purpose in performing.

Screen name:: SingingMirror
Member since:: Nov 07 2007; Active over 1 month ago
Level of commitment:: Moderately Committed
Years playing music:: 30
Gigs played:: Over 100
Tend to practice:: 1 time per week
Available to gig:: 2-3 nights a week
Most available:: Nights

Influences

I started out learning to sing and play guitar on Hootenanny songs (Kingston Trio, Peter, Paul & Mary, John Denver...) and songs recorded by Judy Collins, Joan Baez, Carly Simon, Janis Ian, Linda Rondstadt, and Bonnie Raitt. At that time I also enjoyed singing along with pop music from the 50s, 60s and 70s.

I've been involved with community theater since 1975, so musicals have been a big part of my listening life, with some of my favorite musical composers being Jacques Brel, Stephen Sondheim, and Tim Rice. In recent years I played lead roles in "Company," "Once Upon a Mattress," "Gypsy," and "Mikado." I also sang an aria in Giancarlo Menotti's opera "The Medium." So, although my original songs tend to be mellow, folksy and low-voiced, I do have the capability for some higher, sweeter and more dramatic sounds.

In the late 1970s I became aware of jazz and torch songs and I listened to Cleo Laine, Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Ethel Merman, and others.

While in college I became interested briefly in women's music (notably Chris Williamson, Holly Near, Meg Christian and Margie Adam).