“Hello Again,” and Creativity

Hello again, enjoythescenery.  I’ve missed you.

I have also missed being more creative. I am hoping to take a Typography Level 2 class at a local art school. Had to send some samples. Flipping through my portfolio, I found Vivienne, my second-ever project using Adobe Illustrator. I like her. And for someone who has had a very small number of drawing lessons (I think 3), I can sort of draw!

 You can see a few more things here.

I have also been researching digital pianos for months. Bought one, had second thoughts, researched further, and I think it is going to be the Yamaha P-155. Oh, Yamaha. How I love your pianos.

After that, I really must find the right expression for singing, playing, just making music!

Canvas on The Simpsons

10 years ago I was in a singing group in Seattle called Canvas. We did an arrangement of the theme song to The Simpsons, and it was one of our fans' favorites.

I found out recently that they featured a video of this in the closing credits of Season 20 Episode 18 aired in April of this year (our bit begins at 20:45).

I am not in this video, unfortunately, because I'd left Seattle at that point to be with my dad before he died. This was a video of Canvas' final concert. The girl 2nd from the left was my replacement for that time.

Go to the Canvas/Simpsons site to see Simpsonesque caricatures of everyone, and to hear/purchase our CD (which DOES feature my voice!).

Very fun stuff!

My supercool and hilarious brother

OK, so he's not mad that I posted this, and I thought it worth sharing. He teaches and plays piano, so this was a "musical christmas card" he did. Be sure to stay tuned for the outtakes!

Canvas on YouTube

My friend Dave has posted a performance of our old singing group, Canvas, singing "The Simpsons." Unfortunately, I am not in the video as that particular performance took place right after I left Seattle, but I did sing this many times with the group!

Alas, in Thailand YouTube is still blocked because the incident I describe in my entry The Good King, but I've heard it has received many good comments, so check it out: CANVAS singing "The Simpsons."

More on my Choir Concert

Read about our concert and see photos in this article in Chiang Mai's English Newspaper!

Sing Sing Sing

Imagine a group of westerners, Thais and Japanese singing Showtunes under a Thai conductor and an American senior citizen pianist in Chiang Mai, Thailand. It might seem wild, but that's exactly what happened last Saturday! Here's the poster from our very fun concert:

Besides that, a fellow choir member introduced me to a really great jazz place. The musicians are outstanding, and last night was "open jam," so we tried singing a few tunes there! I don't really know many jazz songs, but we made the best of it and our accompanying musicians were great sports. Maybe I should study up on vocal jazz repertoire and try it again!

It's been good to sing again.