Performing Live in "The Field of Stars"

Hello and happy summer!

A short note to say that this Sunday, June 28th, I'll be performing with Sherryl Marshall, Monica Passin, and Charlie Giordano at The Treehouse at 2-A as part of L'il Mo's "Field of Stars" series.

Sunday, June 28
The Treehouse at 2A
25 Avenue A @ 2nd Street
8:30pm-11:30pm
NO COVER

Join us for an stellar night of music!

More soon,

xx,

Deborah

"Distance Between Us" in the Top 20

Reporting from Nashville, TN, where I'm soaking up the sights and sounds, to proudly announce that "Distance Between Us" charted in the Top 20 Songs for March 2015 on Women of Substance Radio. Thanks to everyone who tuned in and voted for me. It's still in rotation, and you can listen to my song and the other top 20 at this link.

Thank you for listening and voting!

xxx,

Deborah

Listen to "Distance Between Us" on Women of Substance Radio

Taking a pause in a whirlwind musical week of teaching private singing lessons, singing with the Gospel Choir, and singing back-up with some amazing musicians to share some fun news.

The fine programmers over at Women of Substance Radio selected "Distance Between Us" as a featured show on their "What's on my iPod" New Music Show this week. WOSRadio features the best music by female artists in all genres.

Tune in at 5 p.m. ET (2 p.m. PT) to listen to my song and others from talented artists via streaming Internet radio at:
http://bit.ly/1MnqC5f
or
http://www.womenofsubstanceradio.com.

The link will give you the option of joining their mailing list, but you can click "No Thanks" if you'd prefer not to.

You can also tune in on Mobile Devices by downloading their free mobile app. Just search for "Women of Substance" in your App Store or use these links to download for free:
iTunes Store (Apple): http://bit.ly/1ELrcau
Google Play Store (Android): http://bit.ly/1E1mDot

"Distance Between Us" will be in heavy rotation for the next two weeks. If you would, please click the "thumbs up" icon on your desktop player while my song is playing:


You can also request the song as often as you'd like by clicking the lower-left menu button:


Then clicking on the "Song Request" button:


The more "likes" and requests my song receives, the more they'll air my song. The station makes a great background soundtrack to your day -- on the subway, at your desk, or chasing little ones around.

As always, I appreciate your support and enthusiasm!

xx
Deborah

The Festive Season, 2014

Greetings to all friends and family at this holiday time of year,

Nor’easter! That’s what is happening outside my window, here in New York today.

Not the greatest weather to shop the Union Square Holiday Market or hail a cab, but it is great weather for reflecting and settling the mind on more simple tasks: finishing work projects, practicing music, returning phone calls, clearing the desk, reading articles put aside, water proofing boots, maybe even baking cookies!

The year that once was new is now reaching its end. 365 days seems like a lot of time. But when you break it down, there is always a looming question:

Where Does All That Time Go?

I like to think much of my time goes into the fine art of writing, singing or practicing music. Even after all these years, I still feel humble about what I know and what I would like to learn about making music. My teachers remain very valuable to me but, at this stage of life, I must also count myself as one of my teachers. Patience. Persistence. Truth. Timing. These are my educational tools.  

But at this writing, the one that sticks out most is Truth.

The city has been on high alert, since the Ferguson grand jury decision was announced last week. Helicopters swarm the skies at all hours and NYPD cars, vans, SUV’s and buses are parked two blocks from here, just in case something erupts at Union Square. Cab drivers explain that Union Square is the easiest meeting point for the five boroughs and a logical place for a demonstration.  The neighborhood dogs feel the tension, as do the rest of us.

Not everyone likes to talk about it. Granted, it is a very volatile situation; a many-faceted problem in our country. Whichever way you spin it, the facts are there. A life was taken in an extreme and disordered manner. Two days after the verdict was released, the Lower East Side Girls Club of New York hosted a fundraiser at Middle Collegiate Church to support volunteer non-violent advocates for justice in Ferguson, MO. Members of the Gospel Choir were invited to sing with Joan Baez, renowned folk singer and civil rights advocate, that evening. What an event! She is a pilot light! She has a lineage and vision for advocacy that flows out of her like a basket bobbing down the Nile, or the Hudson, for that matter!

The experience was mighty! All ages, all colors, all styles of New Yorkers came together to sing, talk, testify, express and release what was heavy on our hearts. And the roof lifted! All our pent up energy morphed! The people came together to sing! Cameras were snapping, videos were purring. It was a Happening!

I have no easy conclusions about where we are as a city, as a country. It is a lot to hold at this usually festive time of year. I think of these words from Bob Beers' "The Peace Carol" (you might be familiar with the great John Denver and the Muppets' recording of this sweet song):

Add all the grief that people may bear, total the strife, the troubles and care.
Put them in columns and leave them right there. The peace of Christmas Day.

My heart is with everyone whose columns are overflowing with grief and strife, yet they still plan, organize, and find ways forward towards change that embraces peace and justice.

Life is ever changing, ever renewing. Whatever you celebrate at this time of year, I wish you a very loving and fulfilling holiday season filled with good food, good thoughts, good friends, good times!

Love and enlightened sugar plums,

Deborah

Autumn in New York, 2014

The lazy days of summer are behind us now.  The nights are getting longer and life is taking on a more structured time frame… or is that just me?

Deborah and Silka Playing on the Admiralty DreamWe had a wonderful time traveling to Alaska in July.  It was a leisure trip, so I packed my little Baby Taylor travel guitar just for fun! The sights of Denali were spectacular and the small boat cruise through the Southeast Passage was magical.  Grizzly bear sightings, fly fishing in Denali National Park, the Raptor Rehab Center in Sitka, and taking the Polar Bear Plunge off the back of the Admiralty Dream were all highlights of a unique and exciting two week journey. 

Fishing in Denali

My adventures continued when I attended the Puget Sound Guitar Workshop for a week in August and played and jammed 'til the wee hours in paradise, under the pine trees in Bremerton, Washington.  As a topper, a group of friends sang our camp mate, Rachael, down the aisle outdoors with a beautiful song by Nick Drake called "Northern Sky."  A fitting title, as they were married in Kitsap Memorial State Park, in the beautiful Pacific Northwest.

My teaching schedule resumes this week with the lovely members of the Singin’ Seniors at the Lenox Hill Senior Center in midtown Manhattan.  We always have a good time.  We have some fun songs to learn.  This semester we will start with "Manic Monday" by the Bangles (written by Prince).  We are also going to tackle the Beach Boys song "In My Room."  We will see how far we get with those luscious harmonies! Big thanks to Clare Cooper, our accompanist, for keeping the music flowing!

The Middle Church Jerriese Johnson Gospel Choir has also resumed their schedule.  We had a beautiful service on Sunday evening at Art & Soul.  One of our choir members had a new baby daughter who was being baptized and we sang as much for her as for the adults attending.

On a sad note, we had to say goodbye to our dear dog, Lincoln, on August 29^th.  He was a very brave fellow.  Cancer is a beast.  I think of him with love on a daily basis and I wish anyone who is going through a similar battle with cancer all the best and my best wishes for healing and peace.

I continue to write songs and practice guitar and mandolin.  I hope to make it back into the studio some time in the near future to start on CD number 6.  Maybe when the winter winds blow.  It is always great to get back to the recording studio.  I love it!

Last but not least, I'll be performing at Tin Angel in Philadelphia on Wednesday, October 22. Check out the Facebook event page for all the details!

https://www.facebook.com/events/359330087555881/

Deborah Berg, The Please Please Me, and Brian Flanagan - October 22 at Tin Angel, Philadelphia, PA

Thank you for listening!

With this update, I send you much love,

xxx
Deborah