For Booking:  moonlake@hiwaay.net


What's Happening

Tom Kimmel's August 2008 News
Wed, Aug. 6 2008

Contents

1. Greetings!
2. News: New album, one writing retreat to go, new blog post...
3. Special Bulletin: Investor project update
4. Drawing Board: Songbook progress
5. Recommended: Fine documentary
6. Perspective: Schopenhauer on vision
7. Food for Thought: Marjane Satrapi on humor
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1. Greetings!

It's damned hot in Nashville in August, that's all there is to it. But you know what? I don't care. When I was a boy living with Bubba in Monroeville, Alabama, we had no AC, and it just got hot in the summertime. No big deal. The pine sap bubbled up out of Bubba's back stairs like hot jelly, and the big window fan in the dining room ran on high full time. You drank iced tea, moved slow, talked to each other, slept on top of the sheets. Maybe that's why I don't mind the heat. It feels like home. (Just don't leave chocolate in the truck.)

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2. News

A. Music News

i. Never Saw Blue, the new album, mastered
   
That means it's ready to go to the manufacturer. Artwork is looking exceptionally cool, and we  hope to have it completed and all turned in to the manufacturer by the first of next week. Don't know if we'll make our Sept 1 goal for release, but we'll be close. I'll send an update if there's news before September newsletter. I'm excited. Talk about YEARS in the making! (Thanks to Jim DeMain at Yes Master for getting a pack of mutts to parade in single file.)

ii. BC writing retreat, jump in at the last minute..

Speaking of exotic locales, from August 10-15 I'll be teaching at a small writing retreat set by a wild and scenic river in spectacular British Columbia. The 2nd annual "How Songwriting Really Works Retreat" will also allow for lots of intensive small group and one-on-one instruction. I'm really looking forward to this one. See info in Tour Sched below...

iii. New Blog Post: "When One Door Closes..."

The times, they are a-changing, sang Mr. Dylan, and that's especially true of the music biz these days. I ruminate and pontificate in a new blog post on myspace. Actually, it's more that I'm musing and questioning, and to my delight a number of readers have responded with spirited comments. Check it out and add your two bits:

www.myspace.com/tomkimmelmusic  (and click on the "view more" link by the blog entry)

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3. Special Bulletin: INVESTOR UPDATE

i. In my July newsletter I appealed to investors to help finance the 4 projects on my table, and I am happy to report that I'm now only $1500 short of the total needed to complete them all.

ii. To my sweet surprise dear friend Laurie Kelley has offered to MATCH other investors' contributions, with the stipulation that I "repay" her investment by dividing the money among several charities, including Habitat for Humanity, the Nature Conservancy, Oxfam and the Climate Project.

iii. If you would consider investing $500 or more to help me raise the final sum, or if you would like to receive details on my proposal (with no obligation), email me asap at ptclear@yahoo.com and I'll reply with a copy of the proposal. BTW, all investments will be repaid with interest.

iv. And if you are one of the brave souls who've committed their hard earned capital to my venture, THANK YOU! I've never done anything like this before; it's hard for me to stick my neck out and ask for support, but it feels great to receive it.

v. A VERY SPECIAL THANKS to Laurie for her kindness, inspiration and thoughtful generosity.

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4. Drawing Board: Songbook

Burt Myers (a fine singer/writer and first rate graphic designer) is working on the cover of the songbook (which features a new photo taken by Texan Rodney Bursiel), and the sheet music's in the hands of friends Jim Moran and Elizabeth Eckert. I've hoped for a Sept 15 publication, but I can't say at this point if we'll hit that mark. It's in the works, however, and I will include a progress report next newsletter.

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5. Recommended: "Encounters at the End of the World"--a wonderful documentary on human and creature life in Antarctica by the great filmmaker Werner Herzog. You'll love it.

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6. Perspective

"Every man takes the limits of his own field of vision for the limits of the world."
--Arthur Schopenhauer, German philosopher (1788-1860)

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7. Food for Thought

"Humor is subversive and against all hating. The highest level of understanding is laughter. We laugh at something when we understand it culturally."
--Marjane Satrapi, author of Persepolis and Chicken With Plums

Tom Kimmel's July 2008 News
Thu, Jul. 3 2008
Tom Kimmel's July 2008 News

Contents

1. Greetings from Nashville!
2. News: summer writing retreats, Dianne Reeves album update
3. Special Bulletin: looking for investor(s) to fund current projects
4. Drawing Board: songbook votes all in!
5. Recommended: summer reading
6. Food for Thought: George Washington on modern times
---

1. Greetings!

I was at home for most of the month of June, and while my spring travel was wonderful in many ways, it's been great to have quality time with family and friends in Nashville. After being here for 30 years I've determined that Music City's a fine place to live. If I get too close for too long to the mainstream music world here I can break out in hives(!) but I've come alive here; I enjoy swimming in this sea of talent, offering what I have to give... and I appreciate the support given in return.

---

2. News

A. Music News

i. Dianne Reeves album on the Billboard Jazz chart:

"When You Know" has charted as high as #4 on the Billboard Top Jazz Albums chart of late and is currently riding at #11. My co-writer Jeff Franzel and I are of course happy as can be about it. Plus I've never written a song covered by a jazz artist before, so it's nice to reach a new audience. Ms. Reeves' version of "When You Know"---it's the title song on the album---is, BTW, over 6 minutes long and features a children's choir! (The version on my upcoming "Never Saw Blue" album, by contrast, clocks in at a mere 3 minutes.)

ii. This summer I'll be teaching at 2 great songwriting retreats:

a. Coming up right around the corner---July 6-11---I'll again be teaching at the Cedar Run Song Workshops retreat near Madison, Virginia. This is a special retreat both for the quality of the work---only 8 students per class---and the setting and community: nice people, great staff, lovely place, great food...

Classes I'm teaching are titled "Writing Through the Dry Season" and "Essential Songwriting 2: Going With the FLOW!"

Other instructors include Kate Campbell, Johnsmith, Brooks Williams, Joe Jencks, Eric Garrison and Kathy Hussey.

For more on Cedar Run, including course descriptions and practical info, visit:

www.cedarrunworkshops.com

b. Speaking of exotic locales, from August 10-15 I'll be teaching for the 1st time at a writing retreat set by a wild and scenic river near Vancouver, British Columbia. The 2nd annual How Songwriting Really Works Retreat will also allow for lots of intensive small group and one-on-one instruction. I'm really looking forward to this one.

Also teaching will be  Wayne Chase, author of the book How Music Really Works --- www.howmusicreallyworks.com) --- and Nancy Bos, one of Seattle’s premier vocal and performance coaches.

For prices, lodging and camping info etc, visit:

www.reorafting.com/site/retreats/how_music_really_works-_lyrics_-_music.html

or call or email Bryan Fogelman:

1-800-736-7238 (9-5 PM PST)
bryan@reorafting.com

---It's my experience that a time of intensive focus on writing---in the context of a supportive community---can yield lasting, measurable, rewarding results. And if you write---or aspire to write---and have considered a workshop/retreat, here are a couple of excellent opportunities.


B. Book & Poetry News

i. No new publications this month, but I'm happy to report I've been steadily writing poems and other pieces that I look forward to sharing in shows and in print as opportunities arise.

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3. Special Bulletin: Looking for support via investor(s) or patron(s)

I've self-financed all 5 of my solo independent projects (4 CDs and a book). It's not always been easy to fund them, but part of the joy of being an independent artist these past 15 years has been the freedom to follow my heart and imagination.

At present, however, several projects coming due more or less at once requires greater funding than I'm able to provide. On the table at present:

i.  Short Stories and Shallow Water CDs have sold out, and I've had art work converted from jewel case format to the more environmentally friendly digipak. Both CDs are ready to press, pending funding.

ii. My new album Never Saw Blue is almost ready to go. Artwork is in process and a mastering session is booked for July 22. (I'm still targeting Sept 1 as release date, and I am also planning limited folk-and-community radio and press promotion.)

iii. My songbook is in the works, and target publication date is now Sept 15. It will include lyrics, melody notation, chords and tablature for 20 songs (see below).

In the past, completion of projects have usually come together perhaps once per year, or every other year, which has of course been more manageable financially.

I've spoken to some of my peers who've successfully used creative financing to complete and promote albums, and they've encouraged me to cast a net and see what's available.

Finally, I have put together a proposal for potential investors, which includes a plan for repayment along with interest earnings. If you are interested in learning more about it---or even curious---please email me at ptclear@yahoo.com. All of my CDs and the book have been profitable, and I'm sure these re-pressings, new album and songbook will be profitable as well.

I'll consider any inquiry I receive to be just that: an inquiry, not a pledge to participate. So if you're curious, don't be shy. I'll be happy to show you what I have in mind.

BTW it doesn't matter to me if the necessary funds come from one individual or from several, but for accounting's sake I do have a minimum commitment in mind.

Thanks!!


4. Drawing Board: Final songbook selections(!)

i. I'm amazed at how many of you emailed to vote for final songs for the songbook. I wish I could include every single song everyone voted for, but time and money require a cut-off point, and it seems that 20 songs is a good number to include.

Perhaps at a later time I can find a way to make lyric-and-chord charts available as pdf files for the other requested songs. A surprising number of songs received multiple votes along with earnest requests for their inclusion, so once the book is out I'll see what can be done to share other songs.

At any rate, highest vote totals for the final 5 slots in the book were for these songs:

1. Can't Get You Out of My System
2. Nobody's Business
3. Pages
4. Ships
5. Walk the Walk

The other 15 songs that will be in the book are:

 1. Angels
 2. Bigger Than the Both of Us (Bones version)
 3. The Blue Train
 4. The Crying Ground
 5. If I Fell From Grace With You
 6. *Never Saw Blue Like That
 7. **No One Gets to Heaven (if Anybody Else Is Left Behind)
 8. One Heart
 9. Poetic Justice
10. See Myself In You
11. Shallow Water
12. *Silver Lining
13. That's What I Love About Rain
14. Trip On Love
15. *When You Know

*song to be included on upcoming "Never Saw Blue" album
**unreleased new song

THANKS SO MUCH TO EVERYONE WHO TOOK THE TIME TO VOTE! I'm knocked out by your responses. Friends Jim Moran (tab and chords) and Elizabeth Eckert (notation) are on the case now... and I'm aiming steady for a Sept 15 release.

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5. Recommended: Summer reading

A. For a refreshing change of pace in genre fiction, check out Swedish crime writer Henning Mankell's series featuring police detective Kurt Wallinger. Firewall and Sidetracked are a couple of my favorite titles, but the whole Wallinger series is worthwhile. The Wallinger character is a dedicated, overworked, neurotic-but-gifted detective in a small town in southern Sweden who struggles to adapt in a changing world. I love Mankell. BTW some of the English translations can get a little goofy, but it's part of the charm.

(Thanks to Tom Dews for introducing me to the books.)

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6. Food for Thought

"Few men have virtue to withstand the highest bidder."
--George Washington

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Tom Kimmel June 2008 News
Wed, Jun. 11 2008

Contents

1. Greetings! (What's your name anyway?)
2. News: Posi Award nomination + summer writing retreats
3. Drawing Board: What songs should round out the songbook?
4. Recommended: 2 artists & 1 film
5. Food for Thought: Einstein on the mystery
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1. Greetings!

Dear Dave, Ellen, Ralph, Joyce, Friend or Subscriber. I don't know about you, but I'm not so thrilled with being addressed as "Subscriber." "Friend" bothers me a bit less, but it still lets me know I'm anonymous. Heck, even Amazon can greet me "Welcome Thomas!"

So here's why some of you are addressed in my newsletters as "Subscriber" or "Friend." A while back I uploaded my newsletter address book to a service that efficiently handles such mailings... but in the process all info was lost except for the actual email addresses... which means that if you signed up for this mail list SINCE that time you're addressed by your name... but if you're an old friend you're probably addressed generically as "Friend" or (worse) "Subscriber."

SO, if this bugs you--as it would me--just reply to this newsletter and somewhere around the top write:

MY NAME IS... (fill in the blank)! We'll fix it.

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2. News

a. Music News

i. Posi Award Song Nomination: I just learned that one of my songs has been nominated for a New Thought Music Award for the 3rd straight year! Now called the POSI AWARDS ("posi" being short for "positive"), the awards show is held each September at Unity Village near Kansas City, MO.

This year my nominated song is "Shallow Water," and of course I'm very honored. More next month on the awards, how to vote etc. For now, however, if you'd like more info check out...

www.itoiministries.org


ii. Calling all songwriters! I'll be teaching at not one, but two first-rate songwriting retreats this summer.

July 6-11  I'll again be teaching 2 courses at the Cedar Run Song Workshops retreat (near Madison, Virginia). Held at Seven Oaks Pathworks Center in the foothills of the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains, this writing retreat is a great opportunity to work and play in a quiet, natural setting amidst fellow writers and artists. (Plus the food is excellent!)

One of the things I like best about Cedar Run is that classes are limited to just 8 students. I'll be teaching two of my favorite subjects: "Writing Through the Dry Season" and "Essential Songwriting 2: Going With the FLOW!"

For more on Cedar Run, including course descriptions and practical info, visit:

www.cedarrunworkshops.com

And just added... August 10-15 I'll be teaching at the 2nd annual How Songwriting Really Works Retreat on the wild and scenic Nahatlatch River in British Columbia (near Vancouver).

According to director Bryan Fogelman:

"The retreat is for songwriters committed to writing songs that will stand the test of time. Retreat leaders include Wayne Chase, author of How Music Really Works (www.howmusicreallyworks.com), Tom Kimmel (cuts with major artists including Linda Ronstadt, Johnny Cash and Joe Cocker), and Nancy Bos, one of Seattle's premier vocal and performance coaches and creator of the Singing 101 CD series.

Sounds good to me!

For prices, lodging and camping info etc, visit:

www.reorafting.com/site/retreats/how_music_really_works-_lyrics_-_music.html

...or to call or email:

Reservations: 800-736-7238 (9-5 PM PST)
Organizer: Bryan Fogelman bryan@reorafting.com


iii. New Agrarians MySpace page! Though we've all been busy with solo work of late, the new trio has a MySpace page. (Thanks, Shauna!) There's even a song featuring the group ("Ride Across the River") on the jukebox... and a link to a cool video of the trio courtesy of Blue Rock Artist Ranch & Studio. (Thanks again to Billy & Dodee Crockett.)

Check it out and join our community of friends:

www.myspace.com/thenewagrarians

(The New Agrarians is Pierce Pettis, Kate Campbell & yours truly.) BTW, that's Danny Flowers on guitar. He and I wrote and recorded the song, which is featured on the Vanderbilt University-sponsored album "God In Music City."


b. Book & Poetry News

i. Another literary magazine featuring my poetry this month:

"Tanja" in Studio One (literary journal of College of St. Benedict/St. Johns University)

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3. Drawing Board: Vote on final songbook selections(!)

i. When I first conceived of putting together a book of my songs-for-guitar, I asked in this newsletter for suggestions and requests for favorite songs to be included. To my surprise, most of you who responded asked for the same 8 or 10 songs---all of which will be included!

Well the songbook is on track again, and again I welcome your input in choosing the final few songs.

As it stands, the following 15 songs will definitely be in the book:

 1. Angels
 2. Bigger Than the Both of Us (Bones version)
 3. The Blue Train
 4. The Crying Ground
 5. If I Fell From Grace With You
 6. *Never Saw Blue Like That
 7. **No One Gets to Heaven (if Anybody Else Is Left Behind)
 8. One Heart
 9. Poetic Justice
10. See Myself In You
11. Shallow Water
12. *Silver Lining
13. That's What I Love About Rain
14. Trip On Love
15. *When You Know

*song to be included on upcoming "Never Saw Blue" album

**unreleased new song that's getting a strong response in my shows

Altogether there'll be 20 songs the book, so there are 5 more to choose, and they'll likely be ones from this list:

 1. A Small Song
 2. Can't Get You Out of My System
 3. Heroes
 4. I Love Falling in Love
 5. Lefty's Boys
 6. Nobody's Business
 7. Pages
 8. Ships
 9. That's Freedom
10. Violet Eyes
11. Walk the Walk

If there are any of these songs (or ones I've left off this list) that you'd like to see included in the book, you are most welcome to email me at ptclear@yahoo.com  I appreciate your input.

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4. Recommended: 2 artists, 1 film

i. Music: I recently had the privilege of sharing stages with two terrific artists, each of whom knocked me out with their songs, their musicianship and their soul. You may already be big fans of one or both, but in
case you don't know them, here's how to check them out.

a. SONiA and disappear fear:

www.soniadf.com
www.myspace.com/soniaanddisappearfear

SONiA's latest album is "Tango." Big heart, great grooves (courtesy of percussionist Laura Cerulli) and sweet melodies. Plus the songs are sung in English, Spanish, Hebrew and Arabic. No kidding! SONiA's all about peace.

b.  Peter Mulvey:

www.petermulvey.com
www.myspace.com/petermulvey

Peter's latest is the excellent "Notes From Elsewhere." Can't quit listening. Don't want to.

Peter's an old pro, but somehow we hadn't crossed paths till we shared a recent show at the Bluebird Cafe. He's good it's scary. (In a good way!)


ii. Film: "Young at Heart" is an extraordinary documentary about a unique choral group from Massachusetts. Take my word for it, this film is simply not to be missed.

If it's showing nearby, go see it immediately! And if you have to wait for the DVD, put it on your list. You'll thank me.

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5. Food for Thought

"Nature conceals her mystery by means of her essential grandeur, not by her
cunning."
-Albert Einstein
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Tom Kimmel May 2008 News
Tue, May. 6 2008


Tom Kimmel May 2008 News

Contents

1. Greetings!
2. News: Dianne Reeves released + cool writing workshop + New Agrarians video + audio book now at iTunes & more...
3. Drawing Board: more excuses!
4. Recommended: Mae Robertson album
5. Perspective: The Story of Stuff (Don't miss this!)
6. Food for Thought: Will Rogers on Dog Heaven
---

1. Greetings!

Hey y'all, you'll never guess where I'm writing from this time: home! And it's a perfect spring day here on the hillside in Nashvegas. Home's become a fairly unfamiliar place of late, and I'm savoring my 3 days here this week.

---

2. News

a. Music News

i. Jazz great Dianne Reeves' new album "When You Know" is finally out and getting great reviews. My song "When You Know" is the title song, and co-writer Jeff Franzel and I are happy as the big woodpecker pecking a hole in the side of my house this very minute. Ms. Reeves has won 4 Grammys, and this is is her first solo release in 5 years. To look and listen:

www.diannereeves.com
www.amazon.com (search Dianne Reeves)


ii. Calling all songwriters! On July 6-11 I'll again be teaching 2 courses at the Cedar Run Song Workshops retreat near Madison, Virginia. Held at the beautiful Seven Oaks Pathworks Center in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, this writing retreat is a terrific opportunity to work, play and learn in a lovely natural setting amidst fellow writers and artists. (Plus the food is excellent!)

One of the things I like best about Cedar Run is the fact that classes are limited to just 8 students. I'm teaching "Writing Through the Dry Season" and "Essential Songwriting 2: Going With the FLOW!"--2 of my favorite subjects.

For more on Cedar Run, including course descriptions and practical info, visit:

www.cedarrunworkshops.com


iii. If you haven't visited my website of late, it's been thoroughly overhauled. Check out the new, easier-to-navigate, leaner and meaner TK site:

www.tomkimmel.com


And while you're at it, Point Clear Creative Director Shauna Jamison keeps up a very cool myspace page for me:

www.myspace.com/tomkimmelmusic


Speaking of TK web sites, long-time supporter Bob Carter maintains a mind-blowing TK fan page. It features several videos and even a digital TK jigsaw puzzle you can put together onscreen. Check it out:

www.myspace.com/vipire1

Thanks Bob!


v. Last month I played a very special Texas show with the New Agrarians (Kate Campbell, Pierce Pettis & myself) at the wonder-full Blue Rock Artist Ranch & Studio near Austin. Hosts Billy & Dodee Crockett have posted a terrific short video of highlights from the show, spiced with excerpts from interviews with Pierce and Kate. To view, go to...

www.bluerocktexas.com

...and click on Concerts & Events. A dark screen will pop up. Click on it. (At some point the video will be moved to an archive at the Blue Rock site, but it should be easy to find.)


BTW the Blue Rock residential studio is the nicest of its kind I've ever seen. For an amazing video tour of the place, go to...

www.bluerocktexas.com

...and click on The Facility, then click on Video Tour.


b. Book & Poetry News

i. My audio book of poems (Selections from the Sweetest & the Meanest) is now for sale at iTunes. Hallelujah!


ii. More literary magazines featuring my poetry this month:

    "Eulogy" appears in both California Quarterly and Sanskrit Literary Arts Magazine.

Thank you to the editors of these fine publications.


iii. I'm thrilled to tell you that I've been invited to read and sing at the annual Southern Writers Reading in Fairhope, Alabama in November. Thank you, Sonny Brewer (author extraordinaire, iconic book store proprietor, tireless supporter of southern writers). I grew up just up the road from Fairhope, and I'm delighted to be going "home" for this.

www.sonnybrewer.com


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3. Drawing Board

i. There seems to be some steady momentum building toward releasing my movie/tv album. My goal now is to have it out by summer's end. No kidding.


ii. Song book: My pal Jim Moran is on the case. (He just finished a "Randy Newman for Guitar" book, so I'm in good company.)

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4. Recommended

i. Mae Robertson's 8th album, "Meet the Sun Halfway," is living in the CD player in my Buick. It sounds and feels so good, so right. To check it out and listen:

www.maerobertson.com

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5. Perspective: The Story of Stuff

My new hero--heroine, actually--is a woman named Annie Leonard. Ms. Leonard is an expert in sustainability and environmental health issues, and she is coordinator of an awesome organization working for a sustainable and just world. To serve that purpose, she's put together an excellent short film that's entertaining, informative and inspiring. It only lasts 20 minutes, and you can watch it online.

www.storyofstuff.com

If, like me, you can't seem to find 20 minutes to watch anything online, you can view it in increments of 6 short "chapters" lasting 3-4 minutes each. (Just click on the icons or menu items above Ms. Leonard's image.)

My hat's off to Annie Leonard and to all the people working with her and following her example. I need all the inspiration I can get, and here it is, in spades!

---

6. Food for Thought

"If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went."
-Will Rogers


Peace,
Tom

Tom Kimmel April News
Tue, Apr. 8 2008

Contents

1. Greetings! (from Denmark)
2. News: New web site! + new TK track for sale at iTunes + poetry news, freebies & much more...
3. Drawing Board: What's in the works...
4. Recommended: Music, film
5. Food for Thought: Pithy quotes
6. Perspective: A complaint free world?

---

1. Greetings! Greetings from Denmark, where I'm nearing the end of a five week Scandinavian tour filled with teaching, writing and performing. The Danes are a most hospitable people, glad to stop and give directions (thankfully) or help decipher a menu. And a happy people they are, too; according to an abcnews.com story I read recently, studies show that Denmark's the happiest place in the world! If you're interested in a closer look, here's the article...

http://abcnews.go.com/2020/story?id=4086092&page=1

...and if you'd like to get my personal take, I've written a new blog entry called "Observing the Danes" at: www.myspace.com/tomkimmelmusic Highlights of the tour include songwriting workshops I've led with Brett Perkins, shows at old theaters and dark clubs, my first concert in Berlin (and an inspiring walking tour of East Berlin)... and making friends with wonderful Danes, Germans, Swedes and homesick American ex-patriates. Special thanks to Brett for his good work in getting me back to Europe (and for setting up our workshops and shows), to Michael Boesen for giving me a great home away from home in Copenhagen, to Rudiger, Miriam and Emilie Kebe for the TLC (and wonderful food) in Berlin, and to Annika Fehling for the sweet shows in Sweden.

www.brettperkinspresents.com
www.michaelboesen.com
www.kebe.de
www.annikafehling.com

---

2. News a. Music News i. The NEW WEB SITE is up and running! Check it out at www.tomkimmel.com (Big thanks to Shauna Jamison for pushing that rock on up the hill.) The new site is much more user friendly, with all pages and info just a click away. Plus there are some new features: a greatly expanded photo gallery, a Cool Links page, and more. Hope you like it. If you have comments or suggestions please email us at info@tomkimmel.com


ii. Brand new TK recording: "Ride Across the River" is for sale at the iTunes store. Danny Flowers and I wrote and recorded this rhythmic, spare Gospel flavored ballad, and you can download it at iTunes for 99 cents. (When we first wrote the song I had planned to save it for my next collection of spirituals...but heck, here it is!) By the way, "Ride Across the River" is featured on a anthology of spirituals called "God in Music City," a 2 album Vanderbilt University-sponsored package that sells on iTunes for $9.99. I play and sing on "Ride Across the River," Danny plays electric guitars and Pierce Pettis and Kate Campbell (my partners in the new trio "The New Agrarians") add backing vocals. For more on the God in Music City album and study program (for which I'm serving as artist-in-residence) visit:

www.godinmusiccity.org


iii. Check out a terrific Jimmy Rankin live performance of "When I Rise" on youtube. Featured on "Edge of Day," Jimmy's latest album, "When I Rise" is one of my favorite collaborations, and I hope to record it myself at some point. Here's the video:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=ZYSbRfJhCP4
www.jimmyrankin.com


iv. "Never Saw Blue Like That" (written with Jeff Franzel & Mark Luna) is featured in the just-released Norwegian comedy "Long Flat Balls 2," the sequel to Norway's top grossing film of 2006. (It's about a group of soccer loving auto mechanics.) v. The upcoming album by great jazz vocalist Dianne Reeves will feature "When You Know" (another Jeff Franzel co-write) as its title track. Ms. Reeves has won 3 Grammys, plus a shared Grammy for her featured spot on the soundtrack of George Clooney's recent film "Good Night & Good Luck." This will be her first solo release in 6 years, so Jeff and I are excited. Release date is April 15. (You can pre-order from Amazon now.) More in next month's newsletter...


vi. Coming up before you know it (July 6-11): the 2nd Annual Cedar Run Song Workshops. Set at the beautiful Seven Oaks Pathworks Center near Madison, VA, this writing retreat is special in several ways: 1) I'm teaching! 2) The Seven Oaks center is a wonderful setting for a writing retreat--and the wholesome food served at the Center is excellent; 3) Some of my favorite artists are also teaching, including Johnsmith and Kate Campbell; and perhaps best of all, 4) classes are limited in size to 8 students, which means students get much more personal attention than at most retreats. Check it out and come on down. I loved being a part of last year's Cedar Run retreat:

www.cedarrunworkshops.com


vii. Blog: 2 new postings! 1) Part 3 of "Am I Really a Folk Artist?" 2) "Observing the Danes" This one's a travelogue entry written from Denmark, my home base during my long stay in Scandinavia. Both are posted at: www.myspace.com/tomkimmelmusic (Just look for the Blog link.) b. Book & Poetry News i. I had a sensational time a few weeks ago at the 2008 South Carolina Book Festival. Got much more than I'd hoped for or imagined, thanks to Paula Watkins (Director), Mary Harris (Hospitality Director), and Program Coordinator Susanna Brailsford. These women run a big, tight ship with style and grace.

ii. Speaking of poems, several of mine are being featured in current issues of poetry and literary journals:

"Eulogy" in the Oxford So & So
"The Real Thing" in the Wisconsin Review
"Eulogy" in the Schuylkill Valley Journal Of The Arts
"Room With a View" in Slant
"Tanja" in the Distillery

Thank you to the editors of these publications for including my work. I am honored.


iii. Streaming audio of my poem "Cannibals" is now up at www.mypace.com/tomkimmelmusic (Free!)


iv. Search youtube.com (for my name) to find video recordings of "Cannibals" and "The Man on the Phone." (Big thank you to Steve and Chris Sealy.) (Free!)

www.denverfilmdigital.com


iv. Visit iTunes, search for me and you'll find Cannibals available as free podcast and The Sweetest & Meanest as free vidcast.

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3. Drawing Board

i. Consulting/coaching I've been teaching songwriting at retreats and workshops with increasing frequency, and now I'm offering individual song coaching sessions--in person in Nashville as well as on the road. In addition to "face to face" sessions, I've now begun offering long distance sessions. Feedback on initial consultations has been very positive. For more info please email Shauna Jamison at shauna@tomkimmel.com


ii. Movie/TV songs album I set this aside for a bit longer than I'd planned, but it's back on the front burner. We're now playing with art work etc. now.... I'll keep you posted and will post a target release date soon.


iii. Songbook Looking forward to getting back to work on this. (It's definitely going to happen!) ---

4. Recommended

i. Eva Hillered is one of my favorite Scandiavian artists (and co-writers), and her new album "Hill Songs" features 2 of our collaborations, "Living In Between" and "Alchemy." The English language album was recorded using traditional Swedish instruments. I've always loved Eva's singing, and I don't think she's ever sounded better than she does in this setting. Listen to samples and buy the record at http://cdbaby.com/cd/evahillered2

 


ii. Melody Guy is another favorite co-writer. Her newest album "Real Freedom" is a gem. Check Mel out at: www.myspace.com/melodyguy "Real Freedom" features two MG/TK collaborations, the seriously rockin' "Things You Can't Take Back" and "Mistakes Like Me," winner of the 2007 Just Plain Folks Award for female country song of the year. Both songs are featured on Melody's MySpace jukebox. To buy the album:

www.cdbaby.com/cd/melodyguy3


iii. "The Diving Bell and the Butterly" is a must-see film. If it comes your way, don't miss this great work of art.

www.thedivingbellandthebutterfly-themovie.com

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5. Perspective This past November I was invited to sing for a church service at Unity of Ft. Collins, Colorado--one of my favorite churches, by the way--and on that particular Sunday the minister passed out purple wristbands and spoke about an organization called A Complaint Free World. Begun by a Unity minister named Will Bowen who had the idea that complaining's simply a bad habit, A Complaint Free World promotes a simple system based on intention and self awareness... and I have to tell you, it's a good one! When you begin wearing the bracelet, the goal is to go 21 consecutive days without complaining, gossiping or criticizing. I've not come close yet, but I'm not giving up! Just making the effort (and starting over as needed) is having a strong effect. Check it out:

www.acomplaintfreeworld.org

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6. Food for Thought (or Perspective) "The inevitable never happens and the unexpected constantly occurs." --Rev. Sir John Pentland Mahaffy "Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep. "

--Scott Adams

Peace & Love,
Tom

February 2008
Sat, Feb. 2 2008

Contents


1. Greetings!
2. News: Vandy update, blog entries, Europe trip looms
3. Recommended: music by Tommy Womack, Shelby Lynne
4. Perspective: Musicians on Call

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1. Greetings!



Greetings Earthlings! I come in peace and mean no harm to you people! I always wanted to start a newsletter like that. But seriously, do you ever feel like you've just arrived on a strange planet, a place very foreign to your own home world, where the inhabitants behave in ways that make absolutely no sense, and its rules and customs seem to have little to do with reality as you've come to experience it? No?? Well, in that case, me neither!

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2. News



a. Music News

i. Working with Vanderbilt U.

I'm greatly enjoying my stint as Artist in Residence for Vanderbilt University's God in Music City program. Recent VU sponsored shows by the New Agrarians (Kate Campbell, Pierce Pettis and yours truly) were a big success, and I'm currently putting together a Vanderbilt event for April 17 that'll feature Marshall Chapman, Danny Flowers, Beth Nielsen Chapman and others.


ii. Blog

Last month I posted the 1st of a 3 part blog entries titled, "Am I Really a Folk Artist?" If you enjoyed Part One, well, Part Two's up now. Check it out at www.myspace.com/tomkimmelmusic

Note, to view blog and/or post comments... or send me mail, here's what to do:

1) go to www.myspace.com/tomkimmelmusic

2) sign in

Note If you don't have a MySpace membership, it's free (and easy) to sign up, and you don't get spammed as a result. Nor do you have to put up a MySpace page.

3) at lower left you'll see a box labeled "My Controls." In the box, click on "View Blog."

4) Voila!


iii. Return to Europe

Come March 3 I'll be heading across the pond again. (See Tour Sched below.) I'm looking forward to reconnecting with fans, friends and students in Denmark... and making new friends in Germany and Spain. Thanks to Brett Perkins for setting it all up... and to Michael Boesen for the key to his Copenhagen crib.


b. Book News

i. I'm very much looking forward to participating in the 2008 South Carolina Book Festival Feb 22-24. Big thanks to Paula Watkins and Mary Harris for the invitation.

I was remarking to a friend yesterday (OK, it was my therapist) how fascinating it is to me that the written (and spoken) word has so quickly become an integral part of my work. In terms of the "juice" in it, I have to say that it feels as significant to me as songwriting and performing does. Sometimes I feel like a leaf on a river, not sure where the current is taking me. Of course I'm trying to be more purposeful than that, but the water does seem to have a mind of its own...

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3. Recommended



i. Tommy Womack's new album, "There, I Said It!"

Tommy's a truly unique writer and performer. When I hear him live I find myself slapping the table, shaking my head and shouting involuntarily. Don't miss this record. "Alpha Dog and the Mystery Canine Blood" and "Nice Day" alone are worth the price of admission. Tommy's also published a wonderful, quirky account of his years on the road with his band Government Cheese, titled (of course) "The Cheese Chronicles."

www.tommywomack.com


ii. Shelby Lynne's new album,, "Just a Little Lovin'"

I heard an advance copy of this a couple of months ago and have been anxiously awaiting its release. It's advertised as being "inspired by Dusty Springfield," and boy howdy, I'd say Shelby channels Dusty. Or rather, she channels Dusty's soul; Shelby's voice and singing style are all her own. I have to say, this is more than a cover album. Phil Ramone's exquisite stark production perfectly showcases Shelby on these great songs.

www.shelbylynne.com


iii. And if you don't know Dusty Springfield, start with the classic "Dusty in Memphis." Released in 1969, it sounds as fresh today as it did then.

(Found just about everywhere music is sold.)

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4. Perspective



Tom Glavine, Cy Young award winning pitcher, was scorned in New York after he used the word "disappointed" to describe how he felt about his first inning meltdown in the final game of the '07 Mets' disappointing late season collapse. Many fans, I read, were angry that he'd not used the word "devastated" (or something akin to it) to describe his emotions after that game.

Glavine recently responded: "Devastated is a word used for greater things in life than a game.... My parents always taught me to have perspective, to recognize where parts of your life really fit in the overall picture.... My son is 11, he has a friend who's going to lose his leg to cancer. That is devastation. That was an awful game, a terrible outcome for us. But it wasn't life and death."

Speaking of life and death, last week I made my rounds in the surgery ward of a Nashville hospital here, accompanied by an angel named Wendy, a volunteer guide for Musicians on Call, an agency that brings musicians to hospitals to play for patients.

My first visit was with an elderly man who wanted me to wait outside till he could sit up by himself. With great difficulty he'd gotten himself upright without disturbing his tubes and monitors. His wife said, "He likes Gospel." So Gospel's what I played. He closed his eyes while I sang, and, as he could not speak, smiled and reached for my hand when I'd finished.

Around the floor and into the next wing we went, playing for all those who wanted a song. Many of the patients I played for were, in poet Ted Kooser's words, "tethered only gently to this world." Some were surrounded by concerned or frightened family, some alone. Some wanted to talk, some could only nod or say thank you. The weight of lives in the balance was evident, but so was the light and lightness of spirit, and it buoyed me as I searched for the right songs... and later, on my way back home.


www.musiciansoncall.org

View the News Archive here