I’m so excited to introduce you to We’re All BORN SINGING, my new album of all original songs exploring the power of music, especially singing, to vibrate us body and soul, and to bring us together as community. Produced with one of my all-time musical heroines TERRY GARTHWAITE, this project is a huge stretch for me – musically, poetically, and personally. Downloading the music is certainly an option in this digital age, but I encourage you to buy the actual CD because it comes with a full color 16-page Book designed by Jessica Lily, with stories, poems, lyrics, and beautiful art!
GLASS HARP
Perhaps my favorite instrument on the CD is the Glass Harp. Brien Engel travels all over the world with 50 glasses sized from a giant brandy snifter to tiny shot glasses. The Glass Harp appears on Bees Make Honey and Amoeba, which also features jazz pianist extraordinaire Kevin Bales. By the way, Brien also plays Mbira (Zimbabwe thumb piano) which you can hear on I See You With My Heart one of several Musical Language Collages.
COLLABORATION
Collaboration has been the name of the game in recording these songs. Only Love Will Do and An Unlikely Love Affair were recorded in California at the legendary Studio E, with the original Joy of Cooking rhythm section, plus guitarist Nina Gerber and pianist Giovanna Imbesi. And we had 3 Garthwaites – David on bass, Oona on vocals, and Terry on guitar and vocals.
VOICES
Because the theme of the music is obviously centered around the human voice, there are some wonderful singers adding their voices to the mix. Gayanne Geurin, the Dean Brothers (Tommy, Britt & David), Sonia Osio, Sara Moylan, Ann Connor, Rebecca Keel, Sara Gregory, the Ooolation Singers (recorded live at Yosemite National Park!), and my wonderful students from the Global Village Project, a school for teenage refugee girls in Decatur GA, where I am the director of Music Programs.
UNEXPECTED SURPRISES
Sound designer Judy Munsen created wild and wonderful soundscapes for my songs Dust, Evolution of an Idea, and the poem A Singer. Chelsea Gregory speaks her poem “Headphone Hopes” on the anthem Peace with Harmony. And Beverly Botsford‘s global percussion adds evocative and dancing rhythms throughout the CD.
ATLANTA CD & BOOK RELEASE CONCERT
I hope you can join us for the Atlanta CD & BOOK RELEASE CONCERT on Thursday, October 1st at Oakhurst Baptist Church (222 East Lake Dr, Decatur GA). Admission is by donation: $10-85 sliding scale at the door – please be affordable & generous. All proceeds from the concert go to pay the fabulous musicians!
BUY ONLINE
If you’re not going to be in Georgia on Oct. 1st, you can order your copy of the CD & Book online.