Crazy Crow Productions: Coming events

Nancy's  Cassidy's life experiences are evident in the lyrics and melodies of her original music. She captures and distills the moments and moods during all types of weather: spirited and feisty, reflective and romantic - catching the feeling of a person, place or situation and produced in a variety of styles - country, folk, torch, Caribbean, and gospel. Her melodic and soulful voice has been described as a blend of Tracy Chapman and Joan Baez.

In 1996 she created her first totally original CD,Pocketbook Romance. In the folk music vein, this collection of songs written and sung by Nancy describe growing up on the farm, life on the river, and in the city. This fully instrumented CD was recorded in Toronto and produced by Ken Whiteley.

DAYAN KAI - MULTI-INSTRUMENTALIST, VOCALIST, 

DAYAN KAI - MULTI-INSTRUMENTALIST, VOCALIST, SONGWRITER, COMPOSER

SONGWRITER, COMPOSER

Dayan Kai, born without sight but not without soul. Kai's powerful voice matches his talent on keys, strings, winds and skins. The diversity of his sound truly puts him in a league of his own. Dayan is a singer-songwriter & multi-instrumentalist with a lifelong commitment to music. Dayan's songs are personal and inspire emotions that translate to every tongue. Dayan's original music is rich but humble, complex yet accessible.

Dayan Kai has just released "Treat a Stranger Right" an American Gospel Retrospective. This CD is Contemporary, Jazz, Blues & Country Gospel with songs composed by Toots & The Maytals, Blind

Willie Johnson, Duke Ellington and Dayan Kai. "Treat a Stranger Right" was chosen by KPIG radio's "Fresh Pork Chops" CD for the week of June 18th. www.kpig.com

His diverse studies have included training with renowned World Music Composer Lou Harrison, Latin Percussionist Michael Strunk, Jazz Trumpeter/Arranger Ray Brown and Mandolin Master David

Grisman. Kai is also a stunning accompanist, working with numerous acclaimed Artists, such as Keith Greeninger, Chuck Brodsky and Martin Simpson. Dayan has played at many notable Festivals, such as Summerfest, Bumbershoot Festival and The High Sierra Festival.

Discography

Dayan has released five solo albums, "Treat A Stranger Right," "Livin' Like A Rat Again," "The First Twelve Years," "All Kai," "Songs of Sunday" and as well as two albums with his former band Water, "Scrape the Sun" and "Look out the Window."

Food for the Soul   

Bonnie Nichols, Suzanne Little, and Vickie Tinker began playing and singing together in 1991.  They were called "Not In Session" during the years that Suzanne was a State Senator (as they could only play when legislature was not in session) and later named themselves "Food for the Soul" - long before the chicken soup books came out.  They were very active in the Kenai Peninsula music scene until 1997 when Suzanne moved outside.  She has recently returned to the state and occasionally travels down from Anchorage to join Bonnie and Vickie for reunion gigs.  Their musical style involves lotsa harmonies, stringed instruments, thoughtful tunes... and sometimes they think they are very funny.  They are thrilled to come to Seldovia to share their music!

Terry Holder 

On her third studio CD “Ticket To The Moment,” Terry Holder continues to explore her passions through herheartfelt and gutsy songs. The CD delivers her emotionally driven songs around lyrics that take you on a journey with flashes of abandon, heartbreak, love, social and self-awareness. Recorded in Seattle Washington and Anchorage Alaska she was joined in the studio by veteran musicians Freebo, Gary Shelton, Joel Tepp, Ben Smith, Jerry Holder, John Nyman, Cynthia Morrow and John Morton.

She writes about basic human emotion with layers of meaning behind them.  In her live performances, she has the undeniable ability to captivate and connect with her listeners through her words and music.  Recognized for her talent as a songwriter Terry performed in 2008 at the Kerrville Folk Festival as a “New Folk Finalist.”

She does not believe in placing limits on herself and until 1999 her full time job was "stay at home mom." Her life changed when the youngest of her 3 daughters moved away, a transition that coincided with the passing of her mother. Depression settled in. Seeking solace she reached for her guitar and began shifting her pain into writing music. The first song she penned became the title track for her 2001 debut CD "Am I Here Is This Me,” which was originally intended only as a keepsake for her daughters. The album of introspective songs started garnering sales and critical acclaim and was followed by her 2nd CD "Colored Rooms."

Today she tours performing at House Concerts, festivals and other venues continuing to build a loyal following.  "It's very humbling and gratifying when people like your music. If I can touch one person with a song, then I feel that I've accomplished something great in my life.." Terry is accompanied by her husband Jerry Holder.     

 Raina Rose   August 15 

                                                             RAINA ROSE was born on the day the music died. She sings folk-borne americana songs of long travels, fictional characters, time that plays tricks and governments that play tricks. Starting her life in Los Angeles during the Regan era, her family soon emigrated to lovely Portland, OR where Raina cut her teeth on the notable music scene. One foot firmly planted in the NW city and the other ankle-deep in the Pacific Coast, Raina took off on tour in late 2005 and has been at it ever since. Thanks to the campfires of the Kerrville Folk Festival, Raina found the draw of the Austin music community too strong and now calls the Live Music Capital of the World her homebase. She let that southern flavor sink in and now serves a brave and heartbreaking brew of fingerpicking, flatpicking, and feather voiced stories. She was a 2007 Kerrville New Folk Finalist, received honorable mention in the 2006 Telluride Troubadour Compettion, and played at High Sierra Music Festival in '06 and '07.

Catch this bird in flight all over the country. 

Brooks Williams is an extraordinary guitarist and song writer and exceptional human being. His expertise includes a wide variety of style and genre. 

An excerpt from Brooks' website:

"From the very beginning, Brooks Williams' music has showed a strong connection to roots music, mixed in with a swinging improvisational feel reminiscent of jazz, and an almost classical sounding cinematic harmony. He reflects, "I taught myself to play guitar, for the most part, by listening to very diverse music, such as Debussy, the Beatles, Michael Bloomfield, John Renbourn, Jobim, Bach, Eric Clapton, Ry Cooder, Pat Metheny, Phil Keaggy, and Joseph Spence. Very different players and composers, but somehow, to my ears, they all come together. From Day One that’s what I have tried to emulate in my compositions and arrangements."

Rachel Sage   Sept 14  Pianist

update: GREAT CONCERT  see photos!!!

 "What if I woke up tomorrow and I couldn't love / the truth is that is something I am petrified of / but maybe I'd be relieved to find out / that grieving is what love's about" (Rachael Sage, from the song CHANDELIER)

Multi award-winning New York songwriter Rachael Sage has penned quirky, melodic pop songs since she was old enough to reach the piano keys. Over the course of her career, she has steadily built a loyal grassroots fanbase with a rigorous international tour schedule, performing in inventive configurations featuring Wurlitzer, drums, trumpet and string quartet. Like her musical idol Elvis Costello, she's endlessly fascinated with the crafts of songwriting and arrangement, and counts Buddy Holly, The Beatles, David Bowie and perhaps most surprisingly, John Lee Hooker among her biggest inspirations

Her latest self-produced disc, CHANDELIER, was recorded by longtime collaborator John Shyloski, mixed by Grammy® Winner Kevin Killen (Elvis Costello, U2), and contains 13 tracks of what Performing Songwriter calls "engaging pop arrangements and gripping melodies." A musically eclectic affair, the album covers a myriad of emotions, but always comes back to one central theme: fragility.

.

Sage, a former dancer who performed with The New York City Ballet in her teens, also designed the album artwork for CHANDELIER, which features a drawing by an intern at her label MPress Records. She was photographed in a dress designed by an East Village neighbor, where she’s lived for over a decade. “I really enjoy finding fellow artists in the City who are still in that place where the idea of reaching a new audience for their work – however large or small – is what gets them out of bed in the morning…basically, it’s the reason I still live here and probably always will.”

Eager to nurture aspiring musicians and make a positive impact through music, Sage launched her first philanthropic endeavor in 2006 with the NEW ARRIVALS compilation series. Each volume in the series gives a voice to up-andcoming independent songwriters as well as more established guest artists such as Melissa Ferrick and Jill Sobule, while supporting a humanitarian cause; proceeds from Volume 1 (2006) benefited Gulf Coast Relief, Volume 2 (2007) supports World Hunger Year and Volume 3 (due in September 2008 on MPress Records) will raise funds and create awareness for NEDA (National Eating Disorders Association).

CHANDELIER will be available nationwide June 10, 2008. For an updated tour schedule and Rachael's complete discography, visit www.rachaelsage.com

Jaime_Michaels-bioArtist's Website

In keeping with the fine performances that have graced the stage here  this summer at Crazy Crow, New Mexican artist, Jaime Michaels will be performing  August 22. The show beginning promptly at 7:30  (Scroll down below to review Jamie's biography) is debuting is new CD, "Fool" , this summer and stimulating  his first Alaskan tour. We are really lucky to get a chance to hear this wonderful musician!!

Dirty Linen magazine says about Jaime.."romance, longing, catchy tunes, lovely melodies, blues... and twists in perspectives, all wrapped in finely crafted stanzas. The lyrics stand alone as pure poetry.

Sing Out Magazine says... "Jaime Michaels' songs are as elusive as smoke and mirrors. His voice raspy with sadness and longing. Michaels  pens contemporary tunes where love sines from within like a falling star..."

This is going to be a delightful performance that you won't want to miss so reserve your seats early. The show will take  place at the Seldovia Rowing Club on the Old Boardwalk.  Seating is limited.  Don't forget that desserts are included.  $15.00 covers both... See you there!!! 

The long anticipated return of Peter Cooper and his wonderful musical companion Eric Brace was everything expected and more. The duo played to a capacity crowd at
Crazy Crow. The skies were just grey enough that an outside concert was not possible, but the little venue was stuffed, many people stopped to say afterward how much they appreciated the concert, loved the music, loved the desserts and in general had a great time with Peter and Eric.  The only thing that could have been better was the we missed Charlotte Cooper and the visit was short.  It was great to meet Maryanne Brace too.  Check out the pictures of the show.    I took a couple of pictures around town  and Savannah Lewis has done a great job on the photo album from the concert itself.
We hope Peter and Eric will come back again soon.

Photos from last night's concert with Meg Hutchinson are now available.