Seventeen Years (demo version)

I experienced the emergence of the 17 year cicada in Ohio back in 1999 and finally got around to writing a song about it.  It was inspired, in part, by a true story but is also a consideration of human life cycles and struggles.  I recently recorded this rough song sketch, incorporating (through Simon’s techno-wizardry) a looped recording of  the 17 year cicada call - the bugs conveniently sing in the key of A.

Fate Line (demo version)

I had my palm read and was told that I possessed a remarkably long fate line.   Not sure what that meant but it got me thinking about the forces, illusory or real, that guide our lives. Fate Line is the result of that meditation.  Jonathan Marks laid down a beautiful violin part for the song, the recording of which I managed to capture on video.   Special thanks to Arlene Bishop for the use of her space and to Simon, who patiently recorded, mixed and added background vox to the tune.

After a Fall (demo version)

I went down to North Carolina in May to visit a good friend near Asheville and attend Merlefest, an amazing bluegrass festival put on by Doc Watson.  Moved by the mountains, music and sounds around me, including that of my friend’s rooster crowing at all hours of the day, I wrote this song - a reminder of the many wake up calls we can receive throughout our lives. Thanks to Simon again for the recording, mixing and blissed-out piano. And thanks to Blair Packham for the nice bass lines and for use of his gorgeous old Guild!

Gone (demo version)

This demo was recorded by Simon in June (and witnessed by Sadie).  Despite its upbeat rhythm, the underlying story is dark - a young girl’s rejection of her religious confines.  Here is a link to a recent article in the Toronto Star that touches upon the very phenomena that inspired this song - a phenomena experienced by the “yotzes” in Israel.  Originally I drew inspiration from Linda Grant’s book about contemporary Israeli life, The People on the Street.  At the very least I had to write a song about those “awkward squads.”

When Her Century Ends (A Song for Vera)

This is a recording I just made in June (2010) of a song I wrote for my recently departed and beloved Grandma Vera - she was so much more than just a Holocaust survivor, incredible baker and adoring grandmother and great grandmother - and I managed to write the homage I wanted for her in time for her unveiling. Vera almost made it to 100 and it is still hard to imagine and go through life without her living presence.  And thank you to SImon for his help and patience recording me and my 11 year old daughter Hannah on mandolin (beautiful beginner)!