Category: Concerts

Seems like I just dusted off the rosin on my violin from the Acoustic Christmas series and here it is almost May!  In February we welcomed a new addition to our family- a baby girl- and so the home front is buzzing with two little ones, a retired racing greyhound and one solitary remaining houseplant.  (The houseplant really doesn’t buzz, I just thought I’d mention that to include the flora as well as the fauna.)

This weekend you’ll find me in Eastern Oregon—playing two sacred concerts with guitarist Nate Macy. Every winter we look forward to the Acoustic Christmas concert series not only because of the fun of creating the music but also because we’ve seen how the events help foster community and sacred space.  We’re excited to begin offering music with this purpose not just during the holiday season. 

The music will feature selections from two recent albums:  Nate’s newest release Making Space and my first solo record: Place of Refuge. 

Saturday, April 27th, 2013
First United Methodist Church
Hermiston, OR
7:00 p.m.

Sunday, April 28th, 2013
The Dalles First United Methodist Church
The Dalles, OR
5:00 p.m.

Both concerts are free and families are welcome.  Oh, and if you are interested in hosting a sacred concert at your church or other gathering space, please be in touch.  We’re excited about taking this music outside of our normal venues.  For more information, you can visit the website we’ve setup:  www.sacredacoustic.wordpress.com

I had a conversation with a friend once where we showed our true cards about what music meant to us.  For him, it mattered not if there was an audience as long as he had his instrument and uninterrupted time to create.  For me, the hours spent in preparation would not be worth it if I didn’t see an opportunity to uplift or encourage a listener on the other end.

Why Acoustic Christmas?

Acoustic Christmas is the embodiment of what I strive for—the chance to gather with an ensemble of like minded musicians and use our gifts and time to help people experience joy and community during the busy holiday season.  To be honest, I struggle with Christmas. I love it so much and yet I battle the nostalgia and the sense that the years are passing by much to quickly.  Rather than being some sort of anti-holiday Grinch, each year I run in the opposite direction, hoping that I can just do something good with all the blessings I’ve been given.

And so for the 9^th consecutive season, a wonderful group of musical merry makers will gather together to present a series of concerts in local venues throughout Oregon and Southwest Washington.  The concerts are free and meant to be enjoyed by families—come as you are.  Don’t worry if your kids are wiggly.  Mine will probably be dancing in the aisles.  The concerts are free not because they are "cheap" or poorly done, but because in this present age of mass consumerism where everything has a price, we wanted to create a space where you could just be free from that stuff for a while.

What People Are Saying:

"Just wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed the concert that you and your ensemble provided for all of us in the Pearl.  I found your concert to be the perfect Holiday gift…it was absolutely beautiful and what so many need…community."—Sarah

"Your concert was the highlight of our Christmas season."–Deb & Tim

"A soothing antidote to the holiday hubbub."–Nancy

Our Nine-Piece Ensemble:

Wendy Goodwin, Noelle Sisk & Alex Kazmierowicz:  Violin & Fiddle
Owen Hoffman-Smith:  Cello
Nate Macy:  Guitar & Banjo
Aaron Pruitt:  Piano & Vocals
Nolan Staples:  Bass
James “Jimmy” Watson:  Percussion
Bethany Cibolski:  Soprano

Concert Schedule:

(For addresses & map links please click here)

Tuesday, December 18^th 7:00 p.m.  West Hills Friends Church
Wednesday, December 19^th 7:00 p.m. Newberg Friends Church
Thursday, December 20^th 7:00 p.m.  Cherry Grove Friends Church
Friday, December 21^st 7:00 p.m.  St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church
Saturday, December 22^nd 7:00 p.m.  Tigard Grange

The Coffee:

As many of you know, I’m on a life quest to find the consummate coffee shop.  I believe this endeavor to be as elusive as the quest for Camelot but boy is the journey delightful!  While my hometown offers at least 10 mochas worth drinking within a mile of my home, I find it even more satisfying to discover the cafes in the towns that I visit on travel~ and this month has seen a lot of car time. 

In Ashland a few weeks ago that coffee shop was found in all it’s unpretentious glory:  Rogue Valley Roasting Company!    Maybe it was the wonderful group of retirees trading gossip before the 7 a.m. hour had even struck or perhaps it was the extremely friendly baristas, but the latte I enjoyed stood on its own.  It’s definitely not coffee for the faint of heart—that cup was strong but it was balanced with the perfect amount of foam and served in a fantastic glass mug. (the mug is of course part of the experience.)

The August 29th Jazz Show:

I’m back in Portland now for a while and finalizing the set list for next week’s show at Wilfs at Union Station.  I’m excited to be back at Wilfs.  It’s wonderful to be able to perform with stellar jazz musicians Ron Steen (Drums) and Joe Millward (Piano).  The conundrum for an artist like me is always narrowing down the songs to perform.  For sure I’ll be doing some selections from the new album.  I’ll be rounding that out with some classic jazz standards that I love to sing and rip up on my violin and finally, I’ve got a few folk tunes that I am “unfolking.”  I may even have a special guest or two. 

Looking ahead, believe it or not I’m working on Acoustic Christmas plans as well as pursuing opportunities to share the music from the new album beyond my local venues.  I will keep you posted. 

As always, thanks so much for stopping by… and if you haven’t had a chance to check out the new album, you can listen to the songs right here by clicking below. 

Looking for a family outing the week of Christmas that is affordable, relaxing and fun for children and grown ups alike?  Look no further than the 2011 Acoustic Christmas series with Wendy Goodwin & Friends!

The concerts are free admission and feature a 9-piece acoustic band of professional musicians including violins, fiddle, mandolin, guitar, bass, percussion, piano and vocals.  The material is a collection of beloved holiday songs known to elicit toe tapping and the occasional boogie move from the toddler set (which is of course more than welcomed by the band.)  In it’s 8th consecutive season, Acoustic Christmas with Wendy Goodwin and Friends has become a cherished holiday tradition for many families since 2004!

Two concerts take place in Portland cafes offering a relaxing atmosphere for sipping a warm beverage and enjoying the season in community.  For a full listing of Acoustic Christmas concerts as well as Wendy’s complete holiday performance calendar, visit Wendy’s production company website: effesenden music.

CLOUD SEVEN CAFE CONCERT
WHEN:  Wednesday, December 21st at 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: NW 10th & Johnson—on Jamison Square park in the Pearl
Street parking free after 7 p.m. or hop on the streetcar with a stop just steps away from the cafe!
DETAILS:  Doors open at 7 p.m.  The concert lasts about 1 hour and 15 minutes.  Beverages, local wines and pastries will be available for purchase.
www.cloudsevencafe.com

TABORSPACE COMMUNITY COFFEE HOUSE CONCERT
WHEN:  Thursday, December 22nd, at 7:30 p.m.
WHERE:  SE 55th & Belmont—SE Portland
DETAILS:  Doors open at 7 p.m.  The concert lasts about 1 hour and 15 minutes.  Coffee drinks and pastries will be available for purchase.  Free, easy parking in the adjacent parking lot.
www.taborspace.org

Last month I played at Wilfs with the incomparable drummer Ron Steen and pianist Joe Millward.  It was my first time playing with Joe and definitely an experience I hope to repeat!  I was able to record several of the songs we did and have posted them on Youtube.  What a fun and musically fulfilling night this was!

K Bay—working title—is a song I wrote about Honaunau Bay in Kona.  Two of my greatest loves are music and being outdoors.  Honaunau Bay is an incredible place to snorkel.  I found the area to be very mystical—partly because the way the light would beam down through the deep waters below me and partly because it is adjacent to a Hawaiian historical site called Pu’uhonua o Honaunau which is loosely translated “Place of Refuge.”  It is a place where Hawaiians accused of a crime could basically exile themselves and escape punishment—which in ancient Hawaiian culture seemed to have typically been one of a few different brutal executions! 

Parlor Music- a piece I wrote back in the spring of 2009 for my daughter.  It begins with a short classical piece called Ständchen by Franz Schubert.

The CD is done!  The promotional material is out and we head to Germany in late October for a series of concerts.  I cannot wait to play with these wonderful musicians again soon!  We’ll also be appearing together at Christmas time in the Pacific Northwest.

The album will be released on September 13th but you can preview it here.

I’m looking forward to Wednesday, July 13th when I’ll be playing and singing with Ron Steen at the Jazz Club Wilfs at Union Station!  Last time I played at Wilfs was for Tasha Miller’s CD release party and it will be good to be back enshrouded in the vintage, red velvet look and feel of this classic Portland club.   It always makes me think of… yup, you guessed it, White Christmas with Rosemary Clooney and Vera Ellen…. which is a good thing!!!  Here’s a short video from last summer when I so enjoyed playing with Ron Steen, Kevin Deitz and George Mitchell. 

In this society, if we can’t label it neatly, we don’t know what to do with it… and yet when it comes to art and music the very thing that can make a work so special is its ability to move, to stir, to teach in a way that is all at once personal and startling.

Recently I’ve had the privilege to be creative with an outstanding group of artists for an upcoming CD that has been loosely called Coram Deo (translated: in the presence of God.)  Jeff Johnson, Brian Dunning, Janet Chvetal and Marc Gremm are the core musicians with an excellent supporting studio cast.  We’ll be doing some touring in the Fall and Winter 2011 with a scattering of individual dates this Spring.

When I’ve tried to explain what the music sounds like to friends and family, I find myself at a bit of a loss.  It’s not Classical, it’s not Celtic, it’s not…it’s not… but what I can say is that I love it!  As I worked on my parts, I have to admit that the occasional dimly lit cathedral with a hobbit wandering through flashed through my mind. 

I tell you what?  Come to one of our upcoming concerts and let me know how you would describe the music.  I can’t tell you how to package it but I do believe that it will stir your soul.  For my local friends, the concert at the Grotto on April 16th is going to be really special!  I know that some of you might find the idea of such a formal setting daunting for a spring afternoon, but if you have never been to the St. Mary chapel, it’s like being transported into an old European cathedral (less the nasty airline food and 13 hour flight!)  And it’s right here in NE Portland! 

One more thing:  If you’ve been reading this blog, you know that I am now frequently playing with the wonderful Jeff Johnson… but you may not have had the privilege of having heard Janet & Marc….considering they live in Germany. But “Chant?” you say… “sounds boring…”  Trust me… these vocalists are in a league unto themselves.  Janet actually played Christine in the Viennese production of Phantom of the Opera and Marc has performed in Les Miserables!  Don’t be afraid of the formality—The music is intelligent but very accessible.  

It was a wonderful, furiously busy month.  Thanks to everyone who came out to the concerts—Celtic & Acoustic!  I could not have been more pleased with how it all went—right down to our wonderfully dry weather that never created so much as a hiccup in our plans unlike past years.

I am really excited about the projects that I have in the works for 2011 but right now is one of those rare chances to exhale just a tiny bit…to pause and reflect, to appreciate the things that have happened… and to do some laundry!

Happy Holidays to you!

I’m the type that likes to be busy so this December’s wild and wooly pace really suits me just fine.  We are 2/3 of the way through the Celtic Trio’s Christmas tour.  This is my second year participating in this ensemble with longtime American/Irish Contemporary Celtic duo Jeff Johnson & Brian Dunning.  So far we’ve been to the San Juan Islands, Seattle, Eugene, Corvallis, Albany and Portland playing to a lot of full houses.  Check the schedule at Ark Music for remaining dates!

Our new CD Under the Wonder Sky was recently chosen by John Diliberto, host of NPR’s Echoes program as the CD of the month for December.  Our interview airs December 14th.  You can listen online and read the online review by clicking here.

When I return from tour, I’ll be presenting two concerts of my own—the 7th annual Acoustic Christmas Concerts with Wendy Goodwin & Friends.  Joining me this year is a wonderful and eclectic cast of musicians including Violinist Alexandra Kazmierowicz, Cellist Ashley Peck, Bassist Nolan Staples, Mandolin Virtuoso Jacob Jolliff (home on Christmas break from a national tour with Joy Kills Sorrow), Guitarist Nate Macy, Pianist Bryan Clark, Percussionist Bill Nippoldt and vocalist Bethany Cibolski.  That’s a total of nine people including myself:  woooooo—hooooo! 

Tuesday, December 21st
7:30 PM
Cloud Seven Cafe (NW 10th & Johnson—Pearl District, Portland) 
Concert is Free. Desserts, espresso drinks and local wines available for purchase.

Wednesday, December 22nd
7:30 PM
West Chehalem Friends Church (16700 NE North Valley Road, Newberg) MAP
Concert is Free—family friendly and all are welcome.

I’m still teaching my private students too whenever I land for a moment back in town.  I have a few little ones who are on the verge of completing Suzuki Book 1… I keep telling them “before the sun sets on December 31st you WILL complete Gavotte!”  It’s fun having concrete goals to shoot for.  I am so proud of my kiddos.

Last night I was able to join vocalist Tasha Miller for a private party as a part of her “Educated Band.”  It was a real privilege to share the stage—er the fireside room—with pianist Kerry McCoy, Bassist Kevin Dietz and Guitarist Dan Balmer.  Tasha knows how to entertain… decked in a red taffeta party dress and standing in 5 inch heels the lady had the room captivated with sassy renditions of Santa Baby, gospel infused Silent Night and some folk and jazz standards.

It would be easy to get a little crazy with all of this coming and going, different music to prepare and all, but I just keep reminding myself to just enjoy every new experience and not to take myself too seriously!

How is your Holiday season shaping up?