Yesterday I had the fun of debuting two songs from my recently released solo songwriter album "Harvest Town." Thanks to Jon Moody, bassist and writer extrodinare, I was invited to play at The Unity Church of Kalamazoo. The congregation there is super nice and introduce themselves with hugs instead of handshakes. Thanks to the three ladies who bought CD's!

I love performing in churches because they usually have awesome pianos, a good sound system, and it's silent during the special music. It was also cool to have bass and drums on one of my tunes (you can get the sheet music by clicking on "store") and hear how that sounded. Here is, "Come" on You Tube.

Hey y'all. Welcome to my new website! After five years with my other site provider, Dynamod (which I highly recommend), I realized I needed some more flexibility and thus, Voila! This comes at some great timing, because after a year and a half of getting resituated in Kalamazoo, MI after the big move from NYC, and having a baby, I'm ready to focus on performing with my group again. So please stay tuned, I hope to see you out soon!

Jesus says in Matthew 16, "For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?" What comforting words when you've struggled in the past to create a career for yourself, only to find that peace, comfort, and happiness are fleeting or elusive at every pinnacle experience.

Leaving New York, and letting go of what I "should" be doing as a performing artist, has been a great relief for me. I was trying too hard to be what I thought I was, and consequently, that did not allow room for me to become the fullness who I am. It was innocent enough I suppose (I wanted to serve God with my gifts), but there was no surrender in it. In a few days, I'm due to have a baby. It humbles me that friends cannot have even one child, and now I will have two. I will lose the life that I currently have in order to experience the future life. You cannot have both, at least not at the same time.

These past four months, I showed my artwork for the first time through the Kalamazoo Art Hop, recorded my first album, "Harvest Town," for release this fall, have joined a new worship band collaboration called Bezalel, and have continued to work with great students. I got to spend the summer home with my daughter for the first time, which I really enjoyed, and the Lord has given us our own house to move into and a new baby. I'm enjoying the life that he has allowed for me at this moment. His plans for us are so completely, holistically, (not without struggle) above our plans - if we just let go.

I've just arrived a couple days ago in Kalamazoo, Michigan, where I'll be making my home. I've enjoyed the suburban life that is so similar to how I grew up, although I didn't miss it much of the 10 years that I spent in big cities on the East Coast. Grilling out last night and washing cars in the driveway today almost seemed romantic. Of course, the challenging economy in Michigan is a reality, but I have faith that there is a place for me here. When I told people I was leaving New York City for Michigan, they asked what I would do here, as if there is nothing else to do in life except make music in a career-oriented way if you are a musician. Well, it makes me think of Jill Scott's response to the media when they said it took her, "so long" to make her second album. She simply said, "I had to live to have something to write about!" So, here goes livin'...

Dear friends and fans,

In just a little over two weeks, I'll be heading to Alberta, Canada to the Banff Centre for the Arts. It's an incredible place full of artists of all disciplines in the mountains, where apparently it is still winter!

I'll be taking part in the three-week long residency for jazz and creative music there and missing my family very much while I'm gone. Thanks so much to the supportive family and friends of mine who gave over $2000 for me to be able to have this opportunity. I hope to enjoy life there, meet with God, write some music that is meaningful to people, and meet new friends/colleagues.

Right when I get back to NYC, I'm moving to Kalamazoo, Michigan to be near my extended family. I'm looking to teach at the collegiate level and be involved in music ministry. After a brief sabbatical from performing, I will pick up again later this year in the Midwest.

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Well, I’ve been in Canada at the Banff Centre for the Arts for almost a week and have just now gotten a moment to share some photos. The pace of the Jazz & Creative Music program is rigorous to say the least. There is a morning two hour rehearsal followed by 2 back-to-back masterclasses in the afternoon every day. In the evenings, you might be having a session, or playing in “The Club” on campus. Otherwise you are running to eat, writing out charts, asking people their names and where they are from, or getting a quick nap so you don’t fall over. Nevermind practicing! The best you can hope for is a quick warm up.