{"id":6413,"date":"2020-11-16T18:21:39","date_gmt":"2020-11-16T23:21:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tomsmithmusic.com\/?p=6413"},"modified":"2020-11-16T22:20:49","modified_gmt":"2020-11-17T03:20:49","slug":"the-kitchenmusician-november-2020","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tomsmithmusic.com\/?p=6413","title":{"rendered":"The KitchenMusician ~ November 2020"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Hello friends,<\/p>\n<p>It looks like we are entering a very dark winter. I am buoyed by a memory &#8211; a simple gift to remind me that there will come a spring. I have a new song to tell you about it. Meet me in the kitchen!<\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<p><HR><\/p>\n<p><H5>Index<\/H5><br \/>\n&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href=\"#news\">NEWS:<\/a> Announcing my new album: &#8220;Apples &#038; Cheese&#8221; coming December 1st!<br \/>\n&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href=\"#music\">THIS MONTH&#8217;S MUSIC<\/a>: &#8220;Bluebells&#8221;<br \/>\n&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.tomsmithmusic.com\/?page_id=56\">UPCOMING SHOWS<\/a><br \/>\n&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href=\"#nonprofit\">FEATURED NON-PROFIT<\/a>: Fair Fight<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tomsmithmusic.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Tom-at-cabin-porch-2020.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tomsmithmusic.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Tom-at-cabin-porch-2020.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-6418\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.tomsmithmusic.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Tom-at-cabin-porch-2020.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.tomsmithmusic.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Tom-at-cabin-porch-2020-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p align=center>Tom on the cabin porch, Jaffrey, NH<\/p>\n<p><a name=\"news\" title=\"News\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p><HR><\/p>\n<p><H5>News: A New Album Coming December 1st!<\/H5><\/p>\n<p>I am pumped to share that my new album <strong>Apples &#038; Cheese, New and used songs for kids and their grownups<\/strong> will be available on December 1st!<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.tomsmithmusic.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/ACCoverBack-small-1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tomsmithmusic.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/ACCoverBack-small-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1000\" height=\"503\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-6420\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.tomsmithmusic.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/ACCoverBack-small-1.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.tomsmithmusic.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/ACCoverBack-small-1-300x151.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.tomsmithmusic.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/ACCoverBack-small-1-768x386.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.tomsmithmusic.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/ACCoverBack-small-1-636x320.jpg 636w, https:\/\/www.tomsmithmusic.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/ACCoverBack-small-1-600x302.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p align=center>Album art by <a href=\"http:\/\/www.lisabastoni.com\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Lisa Bastoni<\/a>. Graphic design by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.leslieandsteve.com\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Leslie Lee<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>This uplifting album has seven original and five traditional folk songs, recorded at home with me singing and playing all of the instruments (guitar, banjo, harmonica, dulcimer, jaw harp, and magic twanger). Happily, my daughter <a href=\"http:\/\/mallysmith.com\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Mally Smith<\/a> contributed some vocal harmonies from her home studio in Scotland, and the fabulous young singer Clio Moock sang one of my original songs, recorded at her home in Melrose, MA by her father <a href=\"https:\/\/moockmusic.com\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Alastair Moock<\/a>. Sean Staples mixed the album and it was mastered by Dave Westner. <\/p>\n<p>What started out as a do-it-yourself private project for my grandchildren and their cousins has blossomed into a full-blown release that I am very proud of. I think it is the perfect antidote to current events, and I can&#8217;t wait to share it with you and the children in your life. You will be able to hear the full album, download it or order the CDs via my <a href=\"https:\/\/tom-smith-music.bandcamp.com\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Bandcamp Store<\/a>, starting December 1st!<\/p>\n<p><a name=\"music\" title=\"Community\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p><HR><\/p>\n<p><H5>This Month&#8217;s Music: &#8220;Bluebells&#8221;<\/H5><\/p>\n<p align=center><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube-nocookie.com\/embed\/DdRq6r7MGEo\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><br \/>\n<em>&#8220;Bluebells&#8221; \u00a9 2020 Tom Smith (ASCAP)<br \/>\nLyrics in the comments below.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Please, can we have even one day when we don&#8217;t hear the words <em>unprecedented<\/em>, <em>existential threat<\/em>, or <em>uncharted waters<\/em>. I am feeling more than a little beaten up by a national election that exposed wide divisions that seem insurmountable&#8230; by a deadly virus infecting millions of Americans&#8230; by an incomprehensible reaction by many who ignore the fact that the simple act of wearing a mask can help keep us and those with whom we come in contact safe&#8230; by the lack of recognition that we have a serious problem with systemic racism in our country. I could go on and on with other reasons to feel beaten up. <\/p>\n<p>As we enter what is expected to be a very dark winter, I find myself longing for simple gifts &#8211; sharing music in the same room with others, hugging my grandchildren, laughter with friends, an epic Thanksgiving dinner, a handshake with a stranger. <\/p>\n<p>Working on my new album for kids really helped to pick up my spirits over the last two months. It was so much fun to focus on writing and recording those uplifting songs for our grandchildren (and for you!). But as that project wound down, I found myself in a kind of malaise. From that malaise, a distant memory appeared &#8211; a memory of a spring-time afternoon with our oldest child, Heather. Heather always seemed to have a project to do. This song gives you a little window into that afternoon project, and how to this day it still brings hope in the knowledge that winter always gives way to spring.<\/p>\n<ol>&#8220;When faced with things I can\u2019t control<br \/>\nWhen light decays and days grow cold<br \/>\nWhen strength betrays my will to cope<br \/>\nA simple gift can kindle hope&#8221;<\/ol>\n<p>Hang on, my friends. Do whatever it takes to stay healthy. Be kind to each other. Stay the course. <\/p>\n<p>Tom<\/p>\n<p>Thanks to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.terrykitchen.com\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Terry Kitchen<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.judcaswell.com\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Jud Caswell<\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/mallysmith.com\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Mally Smith<\/a> for helpful feedback while I was writing this song.<\/p>\n<p><em>(If so inclined, I invite you to leave a comment by scrolling to the end of this page.)<\/em><\/p>\n<p><a name=\"nonprofit\" title=\"Featured Non-Profit\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p><HR><\/p>\n<p><H5>Featured Non-profit<\/H5><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/fairfight.com\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tomsmithmusic.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/FairFightLogo-300x80.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"80\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-6414\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.tomsmithmusic.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/FairFightLogo-300x80.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.tomsmithmusic.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/FairFightLogo.jpg 564w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/fairfight.com\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Fair Fight<\/a> promotes &#8220;fair elections in Georgia and around the country, encourage voter participation in elections, and educate voters about elections and their voting rights. Fair Fight brings awareness to the public on election reform, advocates for election reform at all levels, and engages in other voter education programs and communications.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Please join me in supporting Stacy Abrams&#8217; <a href=\"https:\/\/fairfight.com\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Fair Fight<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Hello friends, It looks like we are entering a very dark winter. I am buoyed by a memory &#8211; a simple gift to remind me&#8230;<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6418,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"location":[],"class_list":["post-6413","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-newsletter"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tomsmithmusic.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6413","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tomsmithmusic.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tomsmithmusic.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tomsmithmusic.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tomsmithmusic.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=6413"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.tomsmithmusic.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6413\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6445,"href":"https:\/\/www.tomsmithmusic.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6413\/revisions\/6445"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tomsmithmusic.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/6418"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tomsmithmusic.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6413"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tomsmithmusic.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6413"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tomsmithmusic.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6413"},{"taxonomy":"location","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tomsmithmusic.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Flocation&post=6413"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}