Yup, I'm changing my mind about some songs…
More precisely, the key in which I sing them.

I've had a feeling, for a while, that this might be a good idea. Yet, taking the time to sift through my repertoire to figure out which ones needed adjusting seemed like a huge task which was always the least pressing of the projects at hand.

Enter, the unexpected invitation to perform at Jazz Salon.
The universe must have thought I needed a push. LOL! 
I've attended a few of these evenings. And as I enjoyed the show, I would imagine myself at the mic playing with Dave Ross and the other great musicians in his band.
So now it's going to happen.
And as I revisit the songs from the Great American Songbook which I often sang in my first shows, for some, I'm venturing into new key signatures.

While I could wonder why no-one ever suggested I explore a lower key for these songs, the experience of my journey offers some wisdom… only I can know what's best suited for me.
And while others can offer guidance, it's the voice inside that must be my ultimate compass.

Being willing to change my mind, to revisit what I thought was a good fit, is possible now that I've become more willing to trust myself.
I can better hear my inner voice and I have the courage to follow through on its promptings… 
it's often right!

I sang these songs in a certain way in another time not so long ago.
Today, I'm venturing outside of the boundaries I created and finding that these new playgrounds offer a place where I can express the stories these songs tell in a much more authentic way. 
It feels so good!

And as nothing happens in a bubble, I have a feeling that I'll find other places in my life where I can step beyond the boundaries which were created by a younger me.

Thus is my creative journey…

My artistic journey is full of ups and downs. Just like anybody else, I imagine. And the farther along my path I go, the more often the doldrums come with some insight. The most recent one offered the following thoughts on how to navigate my setbacks. I did play around with it a tiny bit so that the acronym spells PLEASURE ;-). I wanted to remind myself to always have fun! LOL!  

Live This Journey One Moment at a Time…  

1. Practice presence.  
2. Live one moment at a time.  
3. Experience and express my emotions.  
4. Acknowledge my sovereignty.  
5. Stay connected to my desired result.  
6. Up, up, and away... Let go of figuring it out.  
7. Reveal... the next step rises to my consciousness.  
8. Execute.  

XOXO,  

Claude

A few months ago, I felt the desire to wake up in the middle of nature on my birthday… 

So, I decided I'd go glamping.  Yes, I love Mother Nature. But this sassy jazz diva needs a few creature comforts!  With pink champagne and a few slices of Torta de la Nonna packed away in a cooler, I set out for Pioneertown! 

Destination… Cultus Camp, a secluded AirBnB nestled in the midst of joshua trees with rolling hills and blue sky as it’s border.  No cell phone coverage, no internet, just Mother Nature and… 

Lots of music at Pappy & Harriet’s.  I can’t be cut off from music…that’s my happy place! 

And, the cherry on top was catching Jonathan Karrant’s show at the Purple Room inPalm Springs.  Masterful, touching, and humorous, his style sends me back to the hey day of lounge acts. 

Now back to glamping… 

It was daunting, going on my own.  That first night, coming back to camp and finding it engulfed in a black night punctuated only by a blanket of stars floating in the sky, scenes from all those psychological thrillers I’ve seen flashed across my mind! 

The next morning, opening the tent and being greeted by a deep blue sky, the desert landscape, and a welcome breeze, a smile landed on my lips.  I breathed in the dry air and knew that being there on my own was the perfect scenario. 

It’s funny...  when I listen to my gut, regardless of nay-saying voices in my head or from friends, the experiences I create fit like a glove and offer unexpected gifts… 

The gift my birthday weekend held for me was the experience of zero obligation.  With nobody to meet, no appointments to keep, I tasted a slice of life I was unfamiliar with. 

Initiated by compassion, obligation slips quietly into my life.  And without warning, it morphs and becomes more a function of another person’s needs while I disregard my own. 

Thanks to my intuition I now have a template of how it feels to follow my own path.  And on the other side of my bday, I’m choosing to find more balance in my life by listening to my inner voice… a wise ally I’m learning to trust blindly. 

And since nothing happens in a bubble, my journey to creating my EP is offering many an opportunity fo follow my inner voice.  It’s piping up and I’m practicing listening more because I understand this… 

My artistic choices will only ring true to me, and you, if I have the guts to do what sometimes feel uncomfortable. 

Oh boy!!! This is going to be interesting!