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News
As the saying goes, necessity is the mother of invention and unforeseen obstacles have called for some creative re-thinking to adapt. It's not always what you expect but it's all good. January flew by and now half of February, too. I have six songs in various stages of progress for the new record and one new vocal in the can to show. Keepin' the faith!
Had a couple of really special gigs in the last month and a half. After what seemed like a long hiatus, The Other Shoe’s appearance in the 2nd Annual Folk-2-Funk Music Festival at the Long Beach Public Library was a special treat. Really nice venue, wonderful crowd, we were all feeling the magic!
I also felt honored and thoroughly enjoyed being a featured artist with Tom Bowes, Wendy Lanter and Dave Diamond for the “Music from the Hive” singer-songwriter concert series, hosted by Mark Newman and Naomi Margolin, which recently re-located to The Homestead in Oyster Bay. This wonderful monthly concert series not only gives singer-songwriters a great forum for performing their songs, it also collects food for Island Harvest, an organization that helps feed hungry people on Long Island. www.islandharvest.org. If you’d like to be on the “Music from the Hive” mailing list you can use the Contact form (click CONTACT button) to send me your email and tell me so and I'll forward it to Naomi.
Wishing everyone a happy Valentine’s Day, happy President’s Day and a good winter break!
Till we meet again . . . thanks for listening!!! -Cecilia
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About Cecilia Kirtland
The musical odyssey begins in early childhood with the sounds of Mozart, and Bach that filled the family home, along with Latin American folk music, a few popular Broadway shows and a smattering of other things. It finds itself at maturity in music with a much more obvious connection to blues, soul and pop music, but owes something to everything that came before, including an adolescent interest in the traditional music of the Appalachians, Bessie Smith, Billie Holiday, Mississippi John Hurt, all the folk singers and singer-songwriters of the day, British Invasion, classic blues and r & b, and the influences will probably never end. The result is music that is unique and personal, and comes first from the heart and personal experience, and secondarily from all the musical heroes.
Born in Manhattan, and raised on Long Island, Cecilia expressed an interest in playing music at the tender age of four. She started with piano lessons at five, but succumbed to the lure of the guitar at age ten. A Chilean friend of her mother's, (her Mom being also from Chile), first showed her a few chords on the guitar and taught her a couple of Hispanic songs. Left to her own devices, the repertoire expanded to include Baez, Beatles, etc. She eventually got formal training at The Guitar Workshop in Roslyn, NY, and studied with its founder, the late Kent Sidon, who taught her classical guitar technique and its application to other kinds of music. A decade or so later, she had the great good fortune to find Jim Carson, who helped her develop her vocal gifts.
While in high school, she appeared on CBS-TV's "Camera 3" with folk legend Jean Ritchie, later contributing background vocals to Ritchie's "None But One" (Sire Records), which was awarded "Best Folk Album of the Year" by Rolling Stone Magazine. She played at NYC's bicentennial celebrations in '76 at South Street Seaport, and opened shows for Buzzy Linhart, Dr. John, Kenny Rankin, and Tom Paxton among others. She contributed original music to a NYC production of Tennessee Williams' "Tiger Tail", starring Shae D'Lynn, ("Dharma and Greg"), directed by Harry Mastrogeorge ("Mary Tyler Moore Show", "Miami Vice".)
"Small Comfort", the first solo record, (released Dec, '99) received airplay on WFUV-NY. A duo release with Robin Greenstein, "Songs of the Season", (Nov, '10), is an eclectic collection for Yule, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and the New Year, spanning a variety of languages and styles. Cecilia is currently in the studio working on a new CD to be released "when its ready". Good things are worth waiting for.
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CD's
For information, to hear sound clips and make purchases, please click on the link(s) below.
Small Comfort
For more info, to hear sound clips and make purchases Click Here
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Calendar
Friday, Feb 3rd, 9:30 pm, @ Canterbury Ales, 46 Audrey Ave, Oyster Bay, NY 11771-1548, (516) 922-3614, www.canterburyalesrestaurant.com/
*Saturday, Feb 11th, 8:15 pm, The Other Shoe (see COLLABORATIONS page), in the
2nd Annual Folk-2-Funk Music Festival presented byArtists in Partnership, Inc
at the Long Beach Public Library,111 West Park Ave, Long Beach, NY 11561, (516) 432-7201
www.longbeachlibrary.org/.
Saturday, Feb 18, 9 - 12 pm, Mirabelle Tavern at The 3 Village Inn, 150 Main St, Stony Brook, NY 11790, 631.751.0555, www.threevillageinn.com/ , www.lessings.com/restaurant_home.aspx?uniid=22
Monday, Feb 20, (President's Day), 8 pm, the Metropolitan Bistro, (formerly Tupelo Honey), 39 Roslyn Avenue Sea Cliff, NY 11579
(516) 801-4500 www.themetropolitanbistro.com/
Wednesday, Mar 21, 8 - 11 pm, the Metropolitan Bistro, (formerly Tupelo Honey), 39 Roslyn Avenue Sea Cliff, NY 11579
(516) 801-4500 www.themetropolitanbistro.com/
Saturday, Mar 31, 9 - 12 pm, Mirabelle Tavern at The 3 Village Inn, 150 Main St, Stony Brook, NY 11790, 631.751.0555, www.threevillageinn.com/ , www.lessings.com/restaurant_home.aspx?uniid=22 -
Reviews
“. . .she approaches each song as if it were a precious jewel capable of yielding previously
unrecognized shades of meaning and color. . .
Singing in a voice of considerable range and varied texture, she manages to communicate the
lyrical essence of a song in a way that is rare even among today’s best-known performers.
. . . a sure-handed guitarist who brings crisp technique and a sophisticated ear to her stark,
imaginative arrangements.
Miss Kirtland seemed able to obliterate all previous renditions from the listeners mind, at least for
the duration of her personalized treatment. People appeared to be listening, not for any particular
song, but for the interpretation she brought to it.
Many were clearly moved.”
THE NEW YORK TIMES
“. . .music that is at once rich with rhythm and funk, yet soothing to the ears and soul . . . bending
and coaxing notes to suit herself, and, of course, her delighted audience . . . she succeeds in such
a diversity of selections because of a truly personal style.”
SUNSTORM
“. . . [a] distinctive and full-bodied voice . . . that’s a refreshing change of pace from the rock diva
angst queens and over-dramatic pop icons . . . Cecilia Kirtland may be Long Island’s Bonnie Raitt.”
LIE (LONG ISLAND ENTERTAINMENT)
“. . .a solid singer, songwriter and soloist who obviously loves her craft. . .a true and honest
performer.”
GOOD TIMES
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Gallery
July 18, 2011, Eisenhower Park
Annual Benefit for Long Island Cares, an organization that fights hunger on Long Island, founded by Harry Chapin. Benefit organized & hosted by Stuart Markus. Photos by Bob Berkowitz. Group shots in left column: Frank Walker, Cecilia Kirtland, Janet Leto, Joanne Amante, Debra Lynne & Martha Trachtenberg. Right column, first and third pics: Dianne Garristo, Martha Ttrachtenberg, Joanne Amante, CK, Debra Lynne, Janet Leto and Ellen Dumlao. Second shot: Frank Walker.
November 29, 2010, "Songs of the Season"
Duo with Robin Greenstein, CD Release Show at Mirelle's, Westbury, NY. Photos by Howard Marks. Left column, first pic: RG, Lora Kendall, CK, second: Steve Finklenstein, RG, Mike Nugent, third: RG, Mike Nugent, CK, fourth: Sue Klied. right column, first: Rob Stein, second: RG & CK, third: Sue Klied, Steve Finkelstein, RG, Lora Kendall, Mike Nugent, Ken "the Rocket" Korb, CK, (last, stage after show).
August 9, 2010, Eisenhower Park
Benefit for Long Island Cares, Cecilia with Eric Udel on bass. Pics 1, 2 & 4 by Bob Berkowitz, 3 & 5 by John Aalto.
Collaborations & Friends
Left column, top to bottom, first: Maag Stanley, Lesley Zimei & CK, the trio that laid the groundwork for Cemaara. Second: Ramona Spooney. When Lesley left the trio to pursue other things, Ramona filled the vacancy & Cemaara was born. Third: Soul Twist. Tom Derenzo, Larry Ketchell, Pat Ambrosio, and Tommy Santoriello, with friends ("Soul Chicks") Anna Corona & CK. Right column, top to bottom: The Other Shoe, "Musicians for Haiti", benefit at Mirelle's, The Other Shoe at the Songbox.
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Collaborations
Songs of the Season, a musical celebration of Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and the New Year featuring Robin Greenstein & Cecilia Kirtland
" . . .stunningly clear and beautiful voices. Simply outstanding on the guitars. Young and old enjoyed your program and personally thanked [us] for it." George Bussberg, Brklyn Public Library
" . . . truly remarkable and respectful of the multi-cultural society we live in. Your program is unique and inspiring." Melissa Andruski, Southold Historical Society
" . . . beautiful to listen to and extremely informative to all. I was impressed with the excitement and joy they generated in our youngest students. We immediately decided to make them a holiday tradition at our school." Diane Druckman, Principal, Islip K-2 Center
"Songs of the Season" CD featuring music from this show, is now available for purchase. (Click on CD's)
BOOKINGS Cecilia: contact@ceciliakirtland.com, Robin: robinpg@aol.com
LINKS www.songsoftheseason.info , www.robingreenstein.com
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The Other Shoe, a blending of NY talent brought together by lead singer and songwriter Joseph Perricone, with Mike Leuci, drums, Joseph Loveheart, bass, Dave Filloramo, slide guitar, Al Speed, keyboards, Jim Treutlein, guitar/vocals, Maag Stanley, vocals, Cecilia Kirtland vocals and guest artist, Russ Seeger on fiddle, encompassing elements of rock, folk, reggae and R & B. However, Joe explains, "The focus of this project is SOUL music. No matter which genre the song is in, it's got soul."
Joseph's prior musical life has been focused on reggae and ska. His travels and performances have included national and international tours both backing and opening for prominent artists such as The Wailers, Jimmy Cliff, Toots and the Maytals, Third World, Chuck Berry, Phoebe Snow, Orleans, and Curtis Mayfield. The Other Shoe is currently in the studio completing its debut CD and has been well received at live shows around the NY club scene. www.reverbnation.com/theothershoe http://www.myspace.com/josephperricone
