I know it's been a hard year for a lot of people, but personally it's treated me fairly well even as I mourn for various people and events. I'd like to thank everyone who made this year so good for my music and travels; it's been a very full year for me, and I can't believe so much has happened in a mere twelve months ( Read more... )

It's official: my newest album, Dulce Melos, will be released 20 May! I named it for the Medieval Latin phrase for "sweet sound" that was later anglicized to "dulcimer ( Read more... )

I wrapped up recording three weeks ago, and I've been spending a lot of time thinking and researching on what I might like to do for the next one. I've spent a couple afternoons in university music libraries and reviewed what worked best and came naturally on the last album, and I've already got a pretty good idea of what will be on the next ( Read more... )

I can hardly believe it's been 10 years ( Read more... )

Alternately, using the same term, this is the part of my job that most feels like work ( Read more... )

Today I'm going to do my first street performing since the weekend. Normally I do a lot more of it in Minneapolis, but right now my time is better spent researching and rehearsing new music since I go into the studio in December. Happily, I've made wonderful progress, with a finalized track listing and only five or six pieces left to learn. It also ( Read more... )

I'm recording my next CD in December and I've been spending about two hours a day in rehearsal to prepare. I've noticed in the past that longer stretches only make me frustrated, so I set goals that can be met inside my time limit.

Monday was a day off, a welcome break after a weekend of performing. Tuesday saw me practicing the nine hardest tunes ( Read more... )

I just took custody of 1079 copies of L'Inverno Italiano!  It's too late in the day to do it now, but tomorrow morning I'll be sending a bunch off to my distributor CDBaby.com, where they'll be available for all and sundry to enjoy!  It will, unfortunately, take a few weeks from then until mp3s are available for sale at iTunes and other e-tailers ( Read more... )

I don't usually answer the phone when it's a number I don't know; it's often easier to just get the voice mail. I know, I know, it's terribly unprofessional and probably deeply discourteous. But today I decided to answer, mainly because I wasn't doing anything in particular, and it was my CD manufacturer, Oasis. With a little bit of dread I asked ( Read more... )