This week had Kevin, Lindsay and I taking our trio to the stage of the YWCA Women of Distinction Gala on June 9th.  It was at the Northlands Expo Centre and the room, which typically looks like a big barn, was transformed into this gloriously beautiful space.     Pretty pink cystal bead chandeliers dangled from the ceiling and broad fushia ribbons adorned chairs and the silent auction tables.   "The Beth Portman Trio - House Concert" package we donated to the silent auction did very well.  I enjoyed putting together the brown gift bag with it's gold tissue and red ribbon (I love getting creatively crafty!).  Inside was my CD, Lovin', Kevin Smith's CD, Every Good Boy, and a gift certificate for a house concert. The trio looks forward to perfoming this intimate form of a concert sometime in the next year.  Thanks Lisa for giving us the opportunity to share our music.

Kevin and I also played a set at The Haven last night to open for Koreen Perry's CD release.  Still fresh to having had my own CD release a month ago, I was well aware that this was her special evening.  Koreen had hired a full band to support her lovely voice and her back up singer Amanda.   For Kevin and I this was an opportunity for some fresh ears to our sound and to also check out The Haven.  This was my second time, having caught Ann Vriend hosting the Bluebird Concert series (some fine music that night).  Kevin was new to this basement hub and pub of live music.   Thanks to everyone (super thanks to Bryce) at The Haven for making it a pleasure to play there.

IT'S OFFICIAL.  THE CD IS OUT!
Thanks to everyone that came out to the Yardbird Suite on May 15th to celebrate the official launch of LOVIN'.  We were close to sold out, so the place was packed.  The evening was comprised of songs from the album LOVIN' plus a whole lot more.    Kevin Smith, Lindsay Woolgar, Paul Woida and Aldo Aguirre, who play on the album, all brought their musical talents to the stage.  Ann Vriend, who's been busy on her cross Canada tour was anable to join us.  However, the lovely Erin Craig added her piano work and fine vocal harmonies.  It was a treat to have such a fantastic band on stage with me.  I look forward to the next opportunity.

I spent the Thursday before the concert baking 170 heart shaped cookies for the event only to be surprised at my backdoor by the arrival of my Mother from Ottawa.  Totally unexpected and apparently in the works for two months, her inclusion in the audience was the cherry on the cake in a perfect evening of magical musical moments.   The performance of Without You, a song I had written for her, took on a extra demension knowing she was in the audience.  Plenty of tissues were pulled from bags and pockets.  Thanks to Lousia for passing one to me on stage.

I'm extremely gratefull that Lark Clark, my co-producer was able to join the festivities.  It gave me a moment to publicly show my gratitude in her involvement in the recording project. She has been an important musical person in my life.  Her expertise and friendship has helped guide me to a new level in my artistry.  

There were so many people involved in makeing this event a success.  I'd like to send my additonal thank out to Curtis on sound and all the Yardbird Suite volunteers , to my JUBA friends Kelly Collins and Scott Rollans for adding their voices, along with Lark to my musical postcard song Zimbabwe,  to Claire, Loreena, Louisa and Scott for handling the front of house, CD sales and cookie prep,  to CKUA Radio for playing my music and Darklight Productions for being on the ball while filming the show and lastly, I'd like to thank everyone to the audience.  It would of been pretty lonely on stage without you.  Your support and encouragement just made all of us on stage want to make the best music possible.  

The music master is done and the CD artwork is being finalized.   Looking forward to it all coming together over the next month.   Goal is to have the CDs in hand by the end of April.  One of the songs on the album is "Without You" and song I wrote for my mother.  It will be the perfect mother's day gift!

The official CD release concert for LOVIN' will be at The Yardbird Suite in Edmonton on Sunday, May 15th in the evening.  I'm very excited since almost all the players from the album will be performing at the concert.  The exception is Ann Vriend who is spendng the next 4 months touring and promoting her own recently released CD.  We will miss her beautiful piano work  but I'm thrilled she's doing so well.   Tickets will be available for purchase in April.  Can't wait!!

Aldo Aquirre, my violinist for the album,  bused up last Friday so he could record on the Saturday.  Lark and I picked him up and spent an hour talking with him about his homeland of Cuba.    Lark and I had travelled to Cuba together  9 years ago so we had lots of questions.   As for the recording, it went beautifully.   Aldo weaved his violin lines through the recordings capturing just the right feel and tone we were hoping for and beyond.  His interpetation of Without You, a song I wrote for my mother was particulary touching.  

I just want send a big hug of thanks to all the fabulous musicians (Kevin Smith, Lindsay Woolgar, Paul Woida, Ann Vriend,) who gave so much of themselves to recording last week at Homestead Recorders.  It was an honour and pleasure to work with you all.

I was looking forward to Homestead tomorrow to lay down the vocal & harmony tracks to 4 songs.  Now I got a cold that went straight to my throat.  Uuuuuurgh!  However, the good news!  Aldo Aguirre, the amazing violinist from Bomba is coming back up to Edmonton from Calgary to add some more of his magic to my recordings.  Can't wait!!!

The week of January 11-14th brought me back to Homestead Recorders to record the 2nd half of my upcoming debut album.  We had congregated in this lovely studio at the beginning of Novemeber 2010 to record five songs.  Now we were back to do six more.  Co-producers Lark Clark and Barry Allen were at the helm viewing our musical bubble through a window of glass in front of the mixing board.  Outside, Edmonton was getting pelted by a snow system that just didn't want to stop.
 
So it was a wonderful to be tucked cozily into a series of mini soundproofed rooms looking and sharing music with talented musicians Kevin Smith (guitarist), Lindsay Woolgar (upright bassist) and Paul Woida (percussionist).   We viewed each other through adjoining windows decorated with glowing orange lights.  The overhead lights were dimmed, candles were lit, ear phones placed over ears and mikes adjusted.  Time disappeared over those four days as we enjoyed the process of recording and exploring new possibilities to songs I had written over the years.

On the Thursday we brought in the lovely singer songwriter/pianist, Ann Vriend to add some beautiful piano work to two of my songs.  The new exploration of one of those songs called Lovin' resulted in one of the highlight musical experiences of my life.  A song I had always performed fast and flirty got transformed into a slow jazzy intimate number that surprised all of us.  It was Lark's idea to do a complete turn around on this piece by slowing it down.  That way we could capture a more raw and emotionally revealing performance.  I went where I had never gone before as an artist.  It brought back the feelings of loneliness I hadn't  felt since I wrote the lyrics to this song.  My general upbeat mood transformed into a more subdued tone.  Throughout the recording session I would go through emotions that left me weeping.   I am thankful to Lark for guiding me to that place.   It was an amaziing experience! 

Ann Vriend is coming to Homestead today to add some lovely touches on the piano to two of my songs.  Really looking forward to meeting her!

The mood lighting is in place and Homestead Recorders is being set up for recording the next half of my debut CD this week.  Woohoo!!   We'll be recording upright bass, ukulele, guitar and drums to three songs hopefully.  I'll be doing the guide track for the vocals.

WOW!  Aldo Aguirre is an amazing violinist!  Added fabulous stuff to the tracks we put down yesterday.   There is such musicality, sensitivity and character in the way he plays.  Lark Clark, one of my producers was bang on about bringing Aldo in on this project.

First day at Homestead Recorders laying down tracks for two of my songs.  Had the whole crew there(Kevin Smith-guitar, Lindsay Woolgar-upright bass, Paul Woida-drums, me-ukulele) and it sounded great!  Looking forward to tomorrow when we add my vocals and violin with Aldo Aguirre from Bomba.