The Kitchen Musician ~ August 2011

Hello Friends,

This month the kitchen moves to Jaffrey, NH where I am taking some time off to decompress from a busy work schedule. Pour yourself some iced tea and I’ll sing you a new song in praise of simple pleasures. I also have some exciting news to share about my forthcoming CD!

Index:
  Recent News
  This Month’s Music: “You Ain’t Got Nothin’ on Me”
  Upcoming Shows
  Featured Non-Profit: National Brain Tumor Society

Tom at Nourish Restaurant, Lexington, MA. Photo: Dan Tappan

Recent News:

I can finally fill you in on some details about my forthcoming CD.

SAVE THE DATE!
Tom Smith CD Release
Sunday, November 6th at 3:00 PM
Amazing Things Arts Center
Framingham, MA

I have had many great musical experiences at the Amazing Things Arts Center. I am thrilled to celebrate the completion of my CD at a place that has been important in my musical journey. I will be joined by Seth Connelly and a gaggle of other great musicians to help me launch my first studio recording since 1981! I hope you will be able to join us.

I am considering two different CD titles, and will wait a bit before I decide which one to use. This CD is full of songs that I have written over the last four years, beautifully recorded by Seth Connelly at Humming Lake Studios. It is definitely a folkie CD – me in my natural habitat singing and playing guitar and banjo. Joining me are Mally Smith and Alle Santiago (vocals), Oen Kennedy (vocals and whistling), Joyce Andersen (fiddle and viola), Sean Staples (mandolin), Eric Royer (banjo), Billy Novick (clarinet) and Seth Connelly (vocals, guitar, upright bass, mandolin, banjo and bouzouki).

More details will be coming soon, including a way to support this project by making a pre-order.

This Month’s Music “You Ain’t Got Nothin’ on Me”
Lyrics: © 2011 Tom Smith, Music: Bo Carter

Click the image above to play the video.

Margo and I had a wonderful time in March on Anna Maria Island, Florida. This was a quiet week for us – soaking up sun, walking the beach and enjoying grouper sandwiches. On one beach sojourn, I walked past a pier where I saw a man fishing with his kids. They had very simple gear, and by their appearance I took them to be locals. I imagined that the father worked as a laborer. He did not sport the latest beach fashionwear and had a tan that was over an inch thick – a tan that comes from a decade or more of working under the Florida sun. Behind him was a large umbrella well frayed around the edges, under which his wife was breast feeding an infant next to a beat up cooler. An old plywood guitar leaned against the umbrella pole.

A little farther along I came across a party taking place on the deck of a rather large yacht. Shiny pale northerners lathered with SPF 50 passed around large carafes of mojitoes. The cost of their sun glasses could probably pay the monthly rent for that fisherman’s family. The timbre of this party was rather formal, and if I were offered the choice I would have joined the fisherman’s family for a drumstick rather than a cucumber sandwich on the deck of that boat.

Reflecting back on that scene, I found myself putting words in the mouth of the fisherman while plucking away on an old Bo Carter tune.

Wishing you all a “guitar and a gaggle of friends”!

Peace and music,

– Tom

(If so inclined, I invite you to leave a comment by scrolling to the end of this page.)

Upcoming Shows

August 6, Saturday, 8:00 – 10:00 pm, Jaffrey, NH Mindful Books and Ephemera is a funky little book shop (plus ephemera) in my “home town away from home”. I am sharing the evening with Lydia Fortune with Phil Nigro. Seating is limited.

Sept. 20, Tuesday, 8:00 – 10:00 pm, Warwick, RI On the Dock Grill. I will do the feature set at this open mike.

Sept. 25, Sunday, 2:00 – 4:00 pm, Concord, MA The Olde Manse. I will be joined by my friends Kate Chadbourne, Pat Kenneally, Bill Kehoe, Linda Abrams, and Robert Phillips.

Sept. 30 – Oct 2, Charlton, MA Folk Song Society of Greater Boston. I am honored to join Kate Chadbourne on the musical staff at this long standing getaway weekend for lovers of traditional music.

…and save the following dates (tickets for both events on sale soon):

October 16 for my big show at the venerable Club Passim with Randall Kromm and our daughters. Perhaps a new group is forming? “The Daughters and the Pappas”

November 6th for my CD release celebration at the Amazing Things Arts Center in Framingham, MA,

Click to view all upcoming shows.

Featured Non-Profit: eatured Non-Profit: National Brain Tumor Society

Recently, a friend lost his struggle with brain cancer. I am asking my friends to join me in supporting causes that are working to find better tools. “National Brain Tumor Society is a nonprofit organization inspiring hope and providing leadership within the brain tumor community. We exist to find a cure and improve the quality of life for those affected by brain tumors. We fund strategic research, deliver support services, and promote collaboration.” Please join me in supporting this worthy cause.