Phoenix Rising in Hollywood

Phoenix Rising (aka flutist Monica Williams and me) attended the Hollywood Music in Media Awards in November where 2 songs from the 'Ascension' CD were nominated for 'best new age/ambient' and 'best classical' songs. Although we didn't win, we were thrilled to be in the short list of 5 out of thousands! Great show, ambience, networking, and - of course - the thrill of the red carpet where we hustled filmmaker friend Victoria Giordana in as a press member to take lots of extra shots of us.



The next day we were able to have a bit of time to be tourists so we spent the afternoon visiting the LA Museum of Art and the amazing La Brea pits next door. La Brea is Spanish for 'tar' - the museum and adjoining grounds were fascinating to explore and learn about the many species of animals who were trapped in the tar up to 60,000 years ago. The excavations are still going on and 'Pit 91' is one of the largest in the world. Here I am taming the savage beast ...



The following day was spent in an intensive all-day conference where we heard talks by and met one-on-one with publishers, music supervisors, and the decision-makers in the music and film business. It was a great networking event! That evening we performed at the Sudan Hope fundraiser for the film 'Without A Voice' - check out their site at www.sudanhope.org. It is a worthy endeavor and some very warm people who run the show.

Massachusetts Mini-Tour

Thanks to the generous donation by an anonymous donor/arts lover COPUS was able to travel to Massachusetts in August for 3 performances, a bit of networking, and a lot of fun! Along with poet Royal Kent, flutist Monica Williams, and bass player Patrick Mahon, we flew from San Francisco to Boston. Led by Wendy's wandering internal compass, the group spent a few hours walking through downtown, along Boston Harbour, and then having lunch at Faneuil Hall. Check out Patrick and Royal, the original revolutionaries!

After a light dinner at Bukowski's (appropriate for poet Royal Kent - also thought of you, Julianne, and the early COPUS days on Hayes Street!), we played a gig at Outpost 186/aka the Zeitgeist Gallery, a very cool, independently-run theatre in Cambridge. Although there were not a lot of a people there, they were a rapt audience and we all hung out together afterwards for discussions about music and life (I had a wonderful chat with a man who has spent considerable time with the mystic Sai Baba in India).

The next morning we got on the Mass Pike and headed across the State to Pittsfield for the 1st annual WordxWord Festival. We were booked for 2 nights at the Heart of the Berkshires Motel on Housatonic Street where brother Michael was going to join us (driving from Fredonia). There was a 40th anniversary of Woodstock festival going on so downtown Pittsfield was thriving - here I am at the Mexican restaurant where we gathered for dinner with COPUS, guest artist Craig Harris from Chicopee (playing percussion), and Michael.

The Festival was outstanding! There were 3 performing spaces: a theatre for the written word (plays), a Spanish club for the sung word (singer/songwriters), and an art gallery for the spoken word (poetry - and COPUS poetry with music). Both nights we had great performances and the feedback from the attentive listeners was outstanding. Jim Benson did an amazing job of promotion and organization. After our performances, we went to the club to hear the singers and were awed by the diversity and excellence of all the artists. Can't wait to go back next year!

We had some time for local sightseeing with Mike at the wheel. For me, it was a great pleasure and deep family connection to be in the Berkshires again ... seeing the houses we had lived in, visiting Pa's favorite Balance Rock, driving through Lenox and Stockbridge, taking photos in front of the building with the rickety almost vertical stairs where we took our first piano lessons with Mrs. McSweeney. And then there was walking through the mist around Tanglewood ... glorious, magical, memorable Tanglewood with memories of the summers as a counselor for the Days in the Arts program, volunteering, picnics under 'our tree' with Ma's amazing gourmet delights and silver candleholder. When we came to the small theatre shed, there were 2 pianos unlocked and Monica suggested I go play - and Royal jumped in with a poem. Now I can say 'I played Tanglewood!'