Two new videos posted from my gig in Cairo, Egypt last month: Fly Me to the Moon and Summertime. What a thrill to perform in a foreign land and jam with local talents, Roberto Rashad and Shrief Galal at the Cairo Jazz Club. We did some Eve originals and threw a few jazz standards into the mix. It really was a hot show! Hello out there to all my new Egyptian friends!
Camel Ride to Paris
Eve's new friend
Speaking of new friends, I managed to NOT get bit or thrown from my first-ever camel ride at the Pyramids.
Street busking in Paris
And speaking of bucket list events, I managed to NOT get thrown from the bridge as I performed in front of Notre Dame on a cool rainy Parisian day. An old Frenchman did toss me a couple of coins and sang along to La Vie En Rose.
So many priceless memories on a frenetic trip that took me from Egypt to Switzerland to Tour de France to Paris. Whew. Wait a minute…..I forgot to sing “the hills are alive” in the Swiss Alps! Guess I’ll just have to go back.
Enjoy what’s left of your summer and may your adventures abound. What’s next for me? The Moon!
Did you know I moved to San Francisco? Why, yes – little cable cars and such. A whole new landscape to explore. New music is percolating, too. In the meantime, I’ll be flying back to Nashville soon to teach a Song Meditations workshop at the downtown public library. This combines my two passions: yoga and song.
It’s geared toward songwriters and performers, but the tools are valuable for anyone who wants to free up the mind and get those creative juices flowing. So come by and see me if you’re in Nashville (details below).
I’m also scheduling private yoga sessions with former (and new) students. Get your Viniyoga fix people! Just email me if you’d like to set something up.
By the way, I have to tell you how excited I was to perform with a big band for the Jazz Fest in New Mexico. I followed all my pre-show warm ups and yoga techniques and they worked! What an amazing experience to be on that stage. Here’s a little taste of what was “going on.”
You can catch the highlights of that incredible night here or watch full songs on my YouTube channel.
Finally, there’s a chance I might be performing in Cairo, Egypt this summer. Who knows? I WILL be getting on a camel – that is certain. I’d better meditate on that a little….
My great-grandmother in Cairo, 1914
So many ways to connect with the world, so little time! I hope to connect with you soon, wherever you may be. Drop me a line or come visit a workshop, class or show. Or just say hello!
Oh yes, the link for my Music City peeps: Song Meditations with Eve Fleishman at the Nashville Public Library on Saturday, May 19th. “Imagine you’re on a camel, sauntering through the desert….now sing!”
It’s been over a month since the grand finale concert with the art, but vivid images from that night keep swirling in my head: The crisp, cool evening in Boston. The warmth of the audience. The amazing sound and lighting at David Friend Recital Hall on the Berklee College of Music campus. My view from the stage – knowing it would be the last time I would see those 13 paintings together in the same room.
The memories are all so rich. The life of an artist can often seem the opposite of “rich,” but I can tell you that the rewards of this music/art collaboration go far beyond monetary. That said, I’m thrilled to report that all the paintings sold at Berklee and we were able to raise nearly $6,000 for the charity, PeaceTones.
Luckily, the Berklee show was captured on video. For the first (and only) time, I have all 13 songs and images of the paintings represented on film in brilliant, vivid color. If you missed the show – or want to relive it – you can catch the highlights of that amazing night here or watch full songs on my YouTube channel.
In addition to all the traveling shows, Peace or Drama, A Journey Through Music and Artreceived national attention through several radio interviews and magazine articles. I’m excited to share the latest: featured guest on Art of the Song radio program and a full-page article called “The Art of the Road” written by yours truly in Berklee Today magazine.
I am so grateful to have done 28 shows with the art – those paintings are now like old friends and I’m glad they all found happy homes. I learned so much from each artist, as well as from all the supporters I encountered along this journey. Thank you for making my life richer!
Eve sings “Not A Day Goes By” – photo by Keith Harrelson
If you haven’t heard, the big hurrah with the 13 paintings is finally happening this December! After a year of performances with this amazing art, a very special art auction fundraiser for PeaceTones takes place on 12/16/11 at Berklee College of Music in Boston. Returning to my alma mater makes this all the more special – pianist Joseph S. Smith (former Berklee classmate and touring partner) joins me once more, and we’re honored to share the stage with Jimmy Cobb (Miles Davis’ drummer).
After almost 30 shows in 12 different states, this project has reached far more people than I ever thought possible. Thank you for your encouragement, for buying the books/CDs and for bidding on the art.
You can still nab your favorite painting, even if you can’t make it up to Boston! Online bidding continues through December 16 and highest bidders will be kept apprised of the live auction in real time that night.
And more exciting news: my book is now on Amazon! As always, you can get the best price through my website, which means more donation dollars for PeaceTones.
The Peace or Dramabook/CD sets and postcards make perfect holiday gifts, and for this end-of-the-year blowout I’m extending the 2 for $50 deal.
Ok, now that I sound like a car dealership, I’m going to wish you the best this season and hope that I meet you somewhere down the road. To all the artists, musicians and fans who have supported me in this project, I give my sincerest thanks. It’s been a wild ride!
Peace or Drama,
Eve
East Coast Tour Dates 2011:
December 11 @ 7 pm – Bistro 150 – Oak Ridge, NC
December 13 & 14 @ 7 pm – Studio Luloo – Oaklyn, NJ
December 16 @ 7 pm – PeaceTones Art Auction – Boston, MA
December 17 @ 7 pm – The Overlook Mansion B & B – Reading, PA
December 18 @ 7:30 pm – The Salon Series – Philadelphia, PA
December 19 @ 12:30 pm – School Workshop – Reading, PA
Today a bird of brilliant blue chirped hello to me in the back garden.
Western Bluebird
A new bird to me, one that I look forward to getting to know. It reminded me it’s time to share a song that’s been flitting around in my head lately. It’s called “Leavin’ Tennessee.”
So it’s true, I’ve recently moved away from Music City – a move that caught me by surprise. My husband Mark got offered a job in San Francisco, and within a couple of weeks he was already gone. Even though I stayed behind another month, everything seemed to happen at lightning speed – we sold our house, found an apartment in the city and said our goodbyes.
In my heart, I haven’t quite left yet. Sometimes I still feel disoriented in this new place and wonder when I’ll be going back home. When I first found out we were moving, I was immensely sad to leave Nashville – a city where I’ve been able to stretch my wings as a musician and cultivate an identity for myself and my work.
I’m past the sad phase now. Too busy with unpacking and the never-ending chores of settling in. I’m also excited about the mystery of what lies ahead – opportunities for work, the people I’ll meet.
But I do remember those first pangs of letting go, when I sat down at the piano and meandered my way through a new song. Here’s a live recording of Leavin’ Tennessee from that moment in time. It’s unpolished and tentative; some of the words are hard to hear, but the emotion and sentiment are definitely clear.
No doubt I’ll be flying back and forth, continuing to share my music. Just like these fine feathered friends that comfort me, wherever I may be.
Leavin’ Tennessee by Eve Fleishman 2011 (read lyrics below; click link above to hear song)
No more fireflies and chickadees
What’s the new bird, blue bird talk to me
Will you come by my window
and say hello
I’m leavin’ Tennessee
and I’m not sure what that means for me
I know it’s time to go
Forgive me if I’m slow
in leavin’ Tennessee
I’m leavin’ Tennessee
with seven years of memories
From summer sun to snow
the cadence and the flow
will stay inside of me
One more night at the Ryman
and I’ll close my eyes and
be on that stage
Take a walk through the park
See the Parthenon at dark
a ghostly haze
And leavin’ Tennessee,
I wonder what’s ahead of me
To friends I leave behind
you’re in my heart and mind
you’ll always be with me
Should I write a haiku
to the Pretty Moon
to follow me once more
down this lonesome corridor
yes, I’ve been here before
And I’m sure tomorrow brings
a beautiful surprise for me
I know I’ll be alright
just give me this night
to mourn
As a kid, I remember mistakenly singing: “This Land is your Land, This Land is my Land, from California to the New York Highlands…” (channeling my Scottish roots, perhaps?)
Growing up in Florida, I had no real sense of what I was singing about. That was until my father led us on several cross-country sojourns in the Big Blue Van. This was no minivan, mind you, but a no-frills rattly Ford with a gear shift like a semi truck and a bed in the back (built by Dad) with storage below. The van was huge – probably the size of one of those New York “Highland” apartments.
Exactly 30 years ago this summer, we made the trek from the Redwood Forest to the Gulf Stream waters, only in reverse. I don’t remember being road weary (all of 10 years old); I just remember marvels such as tumbling down the Great Sand Dunes in Colorado, hopping stones in the creek bed at Yellowstone, and scaring Mom with a life-like coiled clay rattler that my brother and I picked up in some western tourist trap.
This July I had a chance to revive my cross-country adventures (this time in the driver’s seat), by setting out on a 23-day music/art tour. My friend, pianist Joe Smith, left his home near Philly and joined me in Nashville. We loaded up the car – 13 paintings, keyboard, bench, amp, mics, boxes of merch to sell (books, CDs) – and hit the road!
The Great Salt Lake
Joe kept us going over 6,550 miles with theme songs for each location (listening to the fabulous Book of Mormon musical while driving through Utah was definitely a highlight).
23 days and no bed in the back of my Ford Escape Hybrid SUV. Joe and I were grateful and surprised by the kindness of friends and strangers who offered a place to stay along the way. Give me a patch of floor for my Aerobed, and I will sing you a song! We were welcomed with open arms as well as prancing paws of numerous pets (dogs, cats and even a parrot named Mumbles).
It is fitting that we started our tour around the 4th of July. We were out to celebrate this great land!
How many miles to Elko?
Joe had never been out west and I was determined to show him the sights, even at turbo speed. Our concert schedule meant that we often had limited time between stops. We breezed through the Grand Canyon in about an hour, cruised past the Great Salt Lake, and hit the slots in Las Vegas for 12 minutes.
Yes, in only 12 minutes we lost $35!
Vegas, baby!
Perhaps we would’ve hit the jackpot had we stayed one minute more. You see, my Lucky 13 streak continued: we left Tennessee and traveled through 13 states (AL, MS, LA, TX, NM, CO, WY, UT, NV, CA, AZ, OK, AR) to play 13 gigs with 13 songs and 13 paintings. How weird is that? If this number keeps randomly appearing, I might have to take up Blackjack!
I have been lucky enough to live all over the United States in my adult years, and I relished the opportunity to perform in my old haunts (Houston, San Francisco) as well as some new ones (Boulder, Los Angeles, Taos, Santa Fe). The vistas were incredible, but it’s the people we encountered that made the biggest impact. Thank you for listening to the stories and the songs, thank you for exploring this art, and thank you for following me on this journey!
Check out this video for scenes from the summer tour:
Joe made sure we savored each moment on our 6,550 mile trek across the US. Here are the theme songs he played (via iPhone) while we were on the road.
Alabama/Mississippi/Louisiana/Texas
Sweet Home Alabama
Oprah youtube clip about MS being the fattest state (ouch!)
Callin’ Baton Rouge by Garth Brooks
On the Road Again by Willie Nelson
Colorado/Wyoming/Utah
Rocky Mountain High by John Denver
I’d Give it All For You by Jason Robert Brown from Songs from A New World (“… I drove across the county and stopped at lots of diners…”)
Sal Tlay Ka Siti from the musical – The Book of Mormon
Nothing Left to Lose by Mat Kearney (song about driving)
California
Are You Going to San Francisco by Scott McKenzie
Hooray For Hollywood from the classic film
All I Wanna Do by Sheryl Crow
Rockabye by Shawn Mullins
Under the Bridge by Red Hot Chili Peppers
I Will Buy You A New Life by Everclear
Nevada/Arizona/New Mexico
Leaving Las Vegas by Sheryl Crow
Route 66 by Nat King Cole
Santa Fe from the Musical: Rent
Oklahoma/Arkansas/Tennessee
Oklahoma from the musical Oklahoma
Arkansas from the musical Big River
I Miss the Mountains from the musical Next to Normal
Memphis Lives in Me from the musical Memphis
Home by Daughtry
It’s 25 days and counting to the launch of my summer west coast tour. I’m excited to announce 12 dates so far, the first in Birmingham (due south on the way to TX). Other dates to follow near Houston, Dallas, Boulder, Taos, Albuquerque and many stops in southern and northern CA, including a sunset concert on a yacht in the Bay Area – music, art and a beautiful boat! Who could ask for more?
Please spread the word to all your peeps out west. I am so grateful to each and every one of you – this is a dream come true to champion such a wonderful group of artists and to be able to help the charity PeaceTones in the process (see video below). I got a nice boost with a recent radio interview on WBHM (NPR affiliate in Birmingham).
A big BIG thank you to those who have already stepped up for the 50-in-50 challenge. We’re halfway there! If you’ve been meaning to buy a book to support the project, it’s not too late. The “2 for 50” deal is still available, with proceeds going to PeaceTones. Buy a special gift for someone and put a big smile on my face!
June 30 @ 7:30 pm – Moonlight on The Mountain Concert Series – Birmingham, AL
July 2 @ 6 pm – First Saturday Arts Market in Houston Heights – Houston, TX
July 3 @ 3 pm – In The Music Room radio interview – Waxahachie, TX
July 5 @ 8 pm – Mojo’s Music Academy – Longmont, CO
July 7 @ 7 pm – The Tin House Studio – Grass Valley, CA
July 9 @ 7:30 pm – ArtSpace 4500 – San Francisco, CA
July 10 @ 4:30 pm – Yacht Barkissimo, the floating oasis – Emeryville, CA
July 15 @ 7 pm – The Mint – Los Angeles, CA
July 16 @ 7 pm – A Work of Heart Gallery – Frazier Park, CA
July 17 @ 2 pm – Academy at Artist Lofts – Lancaster, CA
July 19 @ 7:30 pm – Metta Theatre – Taos, NM
July 20 @ 6 pm – Berks House Concert – Santa Fe, NM
July 21 @ 9 am – Art of the Song radio interview – Albuquerque, NM
13 has been my lucky number lately. Since last fall I have been peddling Peace Or Drama, A Journey Through Music and Art: 13 songs, 13 paintings. The shows have been fabulous so far, and many more are on the horizon. Which brings me to my new lucky number….
Today begins my 50-in-50 Challenge! In July I embark on my first west coast tour, and I’m calling on you for support. My goal is to sell 50 books in 50 days to kick off this grand adventure. With your contribution, you’ll be helping me spread the word about PeaceTones, a charity that helps artists in developing nations to build stronger communities. And you’ll be helping me bring my one-of-a-kind music and art project to a whole slew of new fans!
Contribute $28 and you will receive the beautiful exhibition book (with full-color images and accompanying CD). Treat yourself to this unique gift, or buy it for the music/art lovers in your life. Spread the love and know that you are helping to inspire creativity all over the world!
As an added incentive, for the next 50 days, you’ll get 2 for $50!
Every amount counts: $12, $28, $40, $50 – you choose.
And remember, you can still bid on the paintings throughout the year. Proceeds from paintings/books/postcards go to PeaceTones.
Thanks for your support and stay tuned for news about the west coast tour!
I’m a yoga teacher. I learn a lot from watching how people hold their bodies. I say “hold” because we often get stuck in fixed positions, reflecting fixed patterns in our lives.
I have a graphic designer friend who spends so much time on the computer – sometimes even getting up at 4 am to work on freelance projects before going into the office. This takes its toll. How many of us are getting quality sleep out there? Or quality rest time when we’re awake? Do we even know how to rest without being plugged in? Can we slow down without feeling guilty?
It is quiet in my house this morning. There’s a bird chirping outside. I hear the ticking of the clock as the cats fix their gaze out the window. May we find moments of sweet solitude every day. And may we value each other’s company without being in a rush, without thinking of what comes next. Let’s remember that balance makes us stronger, redeems us, makes us whole.
“Maybe I could be with you awhile
Without all the effort of a smile
There’s nothing we must do
But share what’s pure and true
And simply be, simply be”
(verse from Simply Be)
Song by Eve Fleishman. Image by Carla Gauthier(Houston TX). Read more about Simply Be in the exhibition book. You can also bid on the painting, with proceeds to benefit PeaceTones.
