The book of the Bible that me and the general public have read the absolute most is...GENESIS. Because you know how it is, you hit the big month number one again and it's time to start over (like Charlotte's Sex In The City book -- Starting Over Yet Again--don't you love how I just linked the Bible and Sex In The City in the same sentence?). Anyway, it is that kind of time for Kaleidoscope and all of its CreatiVEntures, so here my dears is the scoop, the skinny, the straight from the horse's mouth update:
BUSINESS:
In the last few months, we have been investigating a number of properties and still haven't settled on the one that is, in the words of the 3 bears, "just right." We have also been working on an overhaul and reinvention of the budget structure and management system that was at the foundation of our days at 2771 104th. Happily, along with our good-intentioned mistakes, we have been discovering the things we did well, that are now providing a kick-ass foundation upon which to build Kaleidoscope Phase 2. A reminder that we are still serving many musical needs including vocal coaching (coming soon--a vocal coaching jam!), songwriting and arranging, event consulting, etc. In short, even though we are temporarily out of the studio, the studio is definitely not out of us.
BAND:
Drum roll please...the name has been chosen! That's all you get here, but suffice it to say, it has been met with great response to the few who do know it, and we're excited to officially unveil it at the appointed time. The new repetoire will include the best of both the Groove Merchants and Lady Blue eras, plus some new and familiar covers--surprises galore are coming, and of course our babies--the original compositions. Meanwhile, Brandon has stepped up on a short-term basis to play with one heaven of a rhythm section, Ernie Terrell on bass and Reggie Upshur on drums, in the area's most soulful power trio, VooDoo3. So between that and our own gigs, here's where we hope to see your friendly faces soon--check links for gig details:
Deacon and The Lady:
Fri 1-30 Cory's Irish Pub/Bondurant
Mon 2-9 3rd Annual Deacon's Day Bash at Blues On Grand--the birthday blowout for Brandon!
Sun 2-22 Botanical Blues Series
Brandon with VooDoo3:
At The Main Gate--info link
Sun 2-1, Sat 2-7, Sun 2-8
(and every Sunday night they host the jam)
also w/VooDoo3:
Fri 2-6 Hessen Haus
another jam we want to promote:
Thu 2-5 at Corys in Bondurant led by our friend Kyle Dean Patten (last time we went was absolute magic--good vibrations galore, and we'll be there with bells on!)
There's more to be shared but this is enough for now, and we wish you all blessings as you "make your own kind of music, sing your own special song, make your own kind of music, even if nobody else sings along..."
Bye for now, friends--peace and prosperity in all your kaleidoscopic creatiVEntures!
27 January 2009
15 October 2008
Soundtrack to the metamorphosis...
Everything old is new again...what goes around comes around...there is nothing new under the sun.
The NEW current soundtrack to our in-progress business and personal metamorphosis is...OLD. Specifically, VINYL, baby, VINYL! For instance this morning, the soundtrack to our morning ritual was Jeff Beck's version of "Goin' Down" by Freddie King and others--on vinyl. Recently my husband, AKA lovable frankensteinian vinyl monster, has purchased for me some estrogen vinyl: Rita Coolidge, vintage Amy Grant--that I bopped along with in my childhood bedroom-- she and I have basically grown up together, and of course--Bella Donna by my she-ro Stevie Nicks. It's fun to see more and more limited edition vinyl as part of the marketing for musical products. What can we forecast from this? Maybe what I've been saying all along, that the music industry is poised for a major backlash against the shallow destructive status quo. Maybe the "wild dog on a leash" called the music industry is ready to be "yanked back into submission" by--you?--me?--passionate musicians fed-up with mediocrity force-fed into our psychic cultural veins without alternative or escape? If you resonate with this sentiment, connect with us. You will find kindred spirits on the move toward higher levels of musical truth and prosperity, fueled much more in some ways by the days of musical old than the "daze" of musical new.
BUSINESS UPDATE: 3 words: location, location, location! Still finalizing our search for the perfect spot to set up shop, and tying up loose ends for old business from the Urbandale office days. All the stuff with both the business and the band are integrated in this same new endeavor, as well as other key ingredients in the new multi-faceted project we're working on. Items have been steadily falling into place, as a "fuzzy picture coming into focus" slower and more difficult than we expected, but with a clearer vision of what is coming, and increased potential for even bigger and better results. Though it's been more than a little frustrating to keep the details under wraps all this time, this continues to be critical to the successful launch that is forthcoming. But be assured, Kaleidoscope is alive and well, and will be back in your face at the appropriate near-future time. Until then, we're still here creating, consulting, networking, and growing. Your info for connecting with us for all things Kaleidoscope is here:
Kaleidoscope CreatiVEntures
4110 12th Street
Des Moines, IA 50313
(use the comments section of this blog to reach out and touch us!--THANKS and take care!)
I hereby pass the baton of this discourse to you, cyber-friend...
The NEW current soundtrack to our in-progress business and personal metamorphosis is...OLD. Specifically, VINYL, baby, VINYL! For instance this morning, the soundtrack to our morning ritual was Jeff Beck's version of "Goin' Down" by Freddie King and others--on vinyl. Recently my husband, AKA lovable frankensteinian vinyl monster, has purchased for me some estrogen vinyl: Rita Coolidge, vintage Amy Grant--that I bopped along with in my childhood bedroom-- she and I have basically grown up together, and of course--Bella Donna by my she-ro Stevie Nicks. It's fun to see more and more limited edition vinyl as part of the marketing for musical products. What can we forecast from this? Maybe what I've been saying all along, that the music industry is poised for a major backlash against the shallow destructive status quo. Maybe the "wild dog on a leash" called the music industry is ready to be "yanked back into submission" by--you?--me?--passionate musicians fed-up with mediocrity force-fed into our psychic cultural veins without alternative or escape? If you resonate with this sentiment, connect with us. You will find kindred spirits on the move toward higher levels of musical truth and prosperity, fueled much more in some ways by the days of musical old than the "daze" of musical new.
BUSINESS UPDATE: 3 words: location, location, location! Still finalizing our search for the perfect spot to set up shop, and tying up loose ends for old business from the Urbandale office days. All the stuff with both the business and the band are integrated in this same new endeavor, as well as other key ingredients in the new multi-faceted project we're working on. Items have been steadily falling into place, as a "fuzzy picture coming into focus" slower and more difficult than we expected, but with a clearer vision of what is coming, and increased potential for even bigger and better results. Though it's been more than a little frustrating to keep the details under wraps all this time, this continues to be critical to the successful launch that is forthcoming. But be assured, Kaleidoscope is alive and well, and will be back in your face at the appropriate near-future time. Until then, we're still here creating, consulting, networking, and growing. Your info for connecting with us for all things Kaleidoscope is here:
Kaleidoscope CreatiVEntures
4110 12th Street
Des Moines, IA 50313
(use the comments section of this blog to reach out and touch us!--THANKS and take care!)
I hereby pass the baton of this discourse to you, cyber-friend...
14 August 2008
Rope 'em into the SCOPE while they're young...
Today I went to Monroe Elementary School to do a little people workshop about the Giants of Jazz subjects of my Jazz In July show, Billie H, Ella F, Fats W, and Irene M. How did I grab their attention immediately? Easily, by referencing the jazziness of one of their favorites, Hannah Montana!
We made stylistic and lyrical adjustments to the Hannah song, "Life's what you make it, so let's make it rock!" We also did little dances, had volunteer leader participants, had simple playacting moments, and kept it really high energy and high zany-ness factor (and by the way, that just summed up all my secrets of success while hanging with the young-uns, in addition to snackies and tangible stimulus).
Anyway, the frame of reference for these precious babes is frightfully small when it comes to music and the arts. In other words, it's nothing at all resembling the kaleidoscopic panoramic vista they deserve and need. So when I get the great chance to be with them, I strive to be an advocate for as many colors of the musical rainbow that I can fit into our time. And I strive to make it meaningful beyond all the cotton candy crap they are being fed every minute of the day by greedy corporate executives (which includes not just the record industry, but TV, magazines, all areas of culture--sorry, top dogs, that means you).
I am always a bit grieved after time spent with these tiny pure-hearted future societal gatekeepers, because the kaleidoscope of truthful creative diversity from which they could and should be nurtured, is held at bay in favor of dollar signs and lies.
The kids I shared some life with today were so open, fearless, ready for exploration and experimentation in what I called "the beautiful and exciting land of the jazz giants." If only we all could be that way, and bring childlike hearts of wonder, play, embracing, and adventure, into our musical life soundtracks, and in so doing, expand our comfort zones into the kaleidoscopic panoramic vistas they were meant to be.
peace, tina
We made stylistic and lyrical adjustments to the Hannah song, "Life's what you make it, so let's make it rock!" We also did little dances, had volunteer leader participants, had simple playacting moments, and kept it really high energy and high zany-ness factor (and by the way, that just summed up all my secrets of success while hanging with the young-uns, in addition to snackies and tangible stimulus).
Anyway, the frame of reference for these precious babes is frightfully small when it comes to music and the arts. In other words, it's nothing at all resembling the kaleidoscopic panoramic vista they deserve and need. So when I get the great chance to be with them, I strive to be an advocate for as many colors of the musical rainbow that I can fit into our time. And I strive to make it meaningful beyond all the cotton candy crap they are being fed every minute of the day by greedy corporate executives (which includes not just the record industry, but TV, magazines, all areas of culture--sorry, top dogs, that means you).
I am always a bit grieved after time spent with these tiny pure-hearted future societal gatekeepers, because the kaleidoscope of truthful creative diversity from which they could and should be nurtured, is held at bay in favor of dollar signs and lies.
The kids I shared some life with today were so open, fearless, ready for exploration and experimentation in what I called "the beautiful and exciting land of the jazz giants." If only we all could be that way, and bring childlike hearts of wonder, play, embracing, and adventure, into our musical life soundtracks, and in so doing, expand our comfort zones into the kaleidoscopic panoramic vistas they were meant to be.
peace, tina
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