every year is more and more of a blur, so instead of dwelling on what i didn't do last year, i decided to make a list of exactly what i did do.
let's see now...2012 was the year that i
sang harmonies with joseph arthur on the david letterman show
was featured as a jazz dancer -- doing the black bottom, of all things -- on boardwalk empire. (that's my second time on that show, folks. jazz dancing is a fun gig, but i won't quit until i'm a gangster's moll...)
had two stellar sold out performances at the apollo theater's music cafe of the billie holiday project, a show i performed in and wrote.
opened for and sang with the legendary jazz vocalist jon hendricks at the 35th annual harlem stage gala
got accepted to the nyu/tisch school of the arts mfa program
wrote a bunch of rock and roll songs with my bennett guitar
wrote a bunch of rock and roll songs with my bennett guitar
got a banjo (on permanent loan, sort of -- thanks michael!) and started learning how to play it (fingerpicking is hell on earth.)
started to get really good at boxing -- and LOVE it
(hitting men strategically, with power and velocity, and outmaneuvering them, is sublime.)
was selected as a semi-finalist in the performance category of the unsigned only music competition
(hitting men strategically, with power and velocity, and outmaneuvering them, is sublime.)
was selected as a semi-finalist in the performance category of the unsigned only music competition
won a blue ribbon at the jazz age lawn party's pie contest -- twice! (fyi: the first one in june, best savory, was a tomato pie and the second one in august, most unusual, was a vinegar pie. dee-lish!)
threw myself a birthday party with plenty of cool friends and low country fare
danced again (something i was always told i was lousy at, by the way) for a new idea i'm growing with the francesca harper project at the first annual harlem arts festival in marcus garvey park -- on my birthday!
toured europe singing in guitarist james "blood" ulmer's black rock experience that included g. calvin weston on drums and mark petersen on bass
accompanied myself on guitar (for the very first time ever!) and premiered a few of my original country tunes at a sold out gig deep in the heart of brooklyn
recorded ruler of my heart, an allen toussaint song made famous by irma thomas, for a tribute album dedicated to him -- with the little big band swingadelic
sat in with the hot sardines and sang sweet sue at the vintage subway swing party/train ride
got a beautiful soprano martin ukulele as a christmas present from mpb
performed with my quintet the hot five in the salon's fifth annual new year's eve eve fete
sang in the new year at the astor room
yeesh. i guess 2012 was kinda dope...
