Music for the children- a moving experience, + Philly this Friday!

Life is good!  Yesterday I played at St Christopher's Children's Hospital in Philadelphia. We were clapping, singing, and even the nurses were dancing in the groove with us.  Seeing the faces of children light up through music is one of the most fulfilling experiences I could embrace! There was an extremely talented 8 year old boy there who said he played the drums.  We quickly transitioned into making up beats together- drumming on the tables, stomping our feet, and having a grand old time!  A very sweet latin girl on the same floor was there with her mother and grandma, both who asked if I knew any spanish songs.  Being half Colombian blood, without even saying "absolutely" I went right into "La Bamba."  It literally turned into a jam sessions of claps, dances, and sing alongs!  Simultaneously "beat master" (his official nickname) was jamming drum grooves on a notebook.  When he asked me sing an original song I did "Daylight Comes," and will be totally honest to say that he came up with one of the most innovative beats I've ever heard on it.  What a treat!  Children are the future of this world and it's incredibly moving to see this type of pure talent.  Heartfelt expressions and blissful interactions truly enlivened the experience. "Musicians on call" is a volunteer program that brings live and recorded music to the bedsides of patients in healthcare facilities. If you'd like to learn more about this program, check out their website: http://www.musiciansoncall.org This Friday, July 20th I will be doing a "Welcome Home" show at Milkboy Philly (11th and Chestnut) after six weeks on the road.  This is a special night of music sharing the stage with international touring artist Rebecca Gates of the criticaly acclaimed group "The Spinanes" (sub pop), plus singer/songwriter Ben Smith with his full band of strings and horns.  I will be kicking off the night with acoustic adrenaline accompanied by the toe kicker stompbox- aka my right that serves as a traveling drummer.  Two new songs will be debuting as well, which I look forward to sharing with you! :) Doors will open at 8:30 and show starts at 9:30, $10 cover for all three acts.  Click below for more information and a link to get your tickets!   http://www.milkboyphilly.com/event/126601/

'Set it Free" Reunion!

WOW! My Ipod just shuffled to the song "Set it Free" from my first studio album. It had been a while since I heard it! Special thanks to all of the amazing singers and musicians who helped bring this vision alive! I spent almost three years on this album to compose choral parts, strings, guitar solos, and a variety of arrangements for saxophone, flute, percussion, and more! Very special thanks to the amazing Jennifer Real for accomplishing the gospel singing over the acapella section at the end of the title track "Set it Free." Wow, she really nailed it!!!! Thanks also to the incredibly long list of people who participated in executing these compositions.

I am thinking about having a Set it Free reunion show and performing all of these tunes live again. It would be an epic band! Crazy that after all of the passion that went into this album I then wrote a ton of new music and haven't played any of these songs in ages. I went from a CD release party with a 10 piece band and 15 piece choir to writing a bunch of solo guitar music! Of course, in addition to more band songs from the "Give and Take In" EP, "Acoustic Sessions" and upcoming album(s). It's amazing to continue this journey in art and music! Much love to all of the friends, fans, family and music supporters who help to keep it going! I love you guys!!http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/set-it-free/id352964048

House Concert Unplugged

Imagine this: acoustic concert in your living room and the power goes out. Virginia rain storms on an early Sunday evening and the crowd compensates with candle light. We continue the concert acoustic- some watching from the balcony, others comfortable on couches and soft pillows with wine glasses and hors d'oeuvres. This was the scene at a special house concert tonight with Crys Matthews in Reston, VA. 

This show was meant to be enjoyed in the natural light of sky windows and home sweet candles- rain rhythmic on sliding glass doors and sparks of energy in the room.  I was told that the motion of my hands expressed a burst of life that was felt with every touch on the guitar- every percussive element and tapping acoustic nuance.  There's nothing like expressing a feeling of magic and realizing that everyone else is feeling it too.  It's a connection.. integration of energy from the music to the listener.  Electricity went out after my first song, but surely we still felt power in the room.  

I played the rest of the show unplugged, followed by the passionate delivery of Crys Matthews with her vibrant acoustic energy and heartfelt songwriting.  We closed with a song together, where I was inspired to play my Golden Era Guitar like a Djembe. About 10 seconds after the last beat, electricity came back on. Now that is what I call meant to be... unplugged.  Nothing like it.