Tag: Joni Mitchell

Can Debra Mann & Joni Mitchell make the sun shine?

 Tribute to Joni by the Debra Mann Trio – Barrington, RI – Oct 2

Barrington Library :October 2, 2011 @ 2 PM / 281 County Road, Barrington, RI 02806 (401)247-1920The Debra Mann Trio blends Joni Mitchell’s incomparable words and music with a sparkling jazz touch. Enjoy “The Circle Game,” “Big Yellow Taxi,” “Woodstock,” “Both Sides Now,” “Blue,” and more. The Trio features Debra Mann on piano and vocals, Dave Zinno on acoustic bass, and Steve Langone on drums.The Debra Mann Trio is a featured act at clubs and festivals throughout New England. Their annual tribute to Brazilian composer Antonio Carlos Jobim sells out every year. Debra Mann has been a guest vocalist with the Boston Pops Orchestra and The National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences placed Debra Mann on the Official Ballot for the 2010 Grammy Awards in the following categories: Record of the Year (‘Autumn’), Album of the Year (‘Home’), Song of the Year (‘Heart of Love’), Best Pop Vocal Album (‘Home’), and Best Improvised Jazz Solo (‘Autumn’).-http://jonimitchell.com/

Well, all I can say is it was grey and rainy when I walked in and sunny an hour later when I left! So apparently, YES, the duo do indeed make the sun shine! Debras Tribute to Joni was AWESOME. Songs I had forgotten all about, songs I had never heard and that amazing voice of Debra Mann. My life, this blog, and all the stuff we all do keeps me pretty busy, so when I venture out and give up a whole afternoon you can be sure I have to be clear that will be worth it. When Debra plays- it is!  The extra bonus was that Barrington RI Library was also a very pleasant surprise. I knew Barrington was a charming town on the waters of RI but I didn’t know that the library auditorium was FAB. Topping it all off, the crowd was great as well as plentiful, and I found out later that she is actually thinking of making a CD of this body of work, i.e the Joni Mitchell Tribute!
If you missed this – you have another shot at hearing a similar afternoon in November.
If you can make it I would highly recommend it.
When: Sunday, November 6, 2011
Where: Warwick Public Library —600 Sandy Lane, Warwick, RI (401) 739-54401
At 2 PM.
This song Autumn is not a Joni song but it gives a quick sound sample  of Debra
D.Mann- Autumn sound sample  (click to hear) and her music.

The Joy of Music

I was feeling a little down this past week. First, it was raining, make that pouring, in the beginning of the week, I would not make it in the Pacific NW, I really DO need to see the sun! Not only is pouring/pelting rain a pain in the butt, crummy for dog walking, it also stinks for driving! Second, when the rain was over the 9/11 news, reminders, events all came into full swing, and that too was depressing. Important but depressing. Third, I knew I had a weekend of basement cleaning ahead of me. Not fun. Overall, I was just in a grumpy mood all week. The carrot at the end of the stick was on Saturday night we were going out to eat and hear some music from Debra Mann. She is turning into a friend as well as a favorite female jazz singer and pianist. I was just reading her website and found out…”The National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences placed Debra Mann on the Official Ballot for the 2010 Grammy Awards in the following categories: Record of the Year (‘Autumn’), Album of the Year (‘Home’), Song of the Year (‘Heart of Love’), Best Pop Vocal Album (‘Home’), and Best Improvised Jazz Solo (‘Autumn’).” Wow! Congratulations Debra!

Last night at Chan’s in R.I she sang/performed many of her own original songs. I asked Debra about how she felt about last night and she said “I just loved the intimacy of the smallish crowd, and how the sound was so great. We were able to play with a wide dynamic range because of the conditions. The band sounded so great, too. I feel so blessed.” One of the motifs Debra played with last night was humor and songs by Dave Frishburg.  I had never heard of him so I “goggled.” The first part of his Bio reads-” It’s difficult to find a category for Dave Frishberg’s songs.  The New York Times described him as “the Stephen Sondheim of jazz songwriting”, and The London Daily Telegraph called him “a Woody Allen of song”. In his song “My Attorney Bernie” the first line is 
“I’m impressed with my attorney Bernie…. and further into the song …
I admire my attorney Bernie
I. I admire any guy who knows his stuff”
 Well, I have to say – “I’m impressed with my musical friend Debra – I admire my jazz friend Debra.. I admire any gal who knows her stuff!” …  I walked in grumpy and left happy! The power and joy of music, with The Debra Mann Quartet, who made it all happen… Thanks!

‘A voice that wraps itself around a microphone like a soft feather boa’ – Rebecca Parris, Eight-time Boston Globe winner, ‘Outstanding Jazz Vocalist’

Have I enticed you? I hope so!
 Want to hear Debra Mann play for yourself? I hope so. Here is her upcoming schedule.

Saturday, September 17, 2011 
Greenvale Vineyards 
582 Wapping Rd.
Portsmouth, RI
1-4 PM
(401) 521-3333
 Debra/keys and vocals
 Joe Esposito/sax
Dave Zinno/bass

The Debra Mann Trio interprets the music of
 Joni Mitchell: A Retrospective Concert
 Sunday, October 2, 2011, 2 PM :
Barrington Public Library Theatre
 Sunday, November 6, 2011, 2 PM :
Warwick Public Library Theatre.

If you go to the Library shows, I hope to be there too! Unfortunately we will miss the vineyard one next weekend, but, we went in the beginning of the season and it was a lovely afternoon. Highly recommend it if you can make it. Wine, scenery, and great music-hard to go wrong!

Debra Mann Website : http://www.debramann.com

Tilly + Deb Jazzing on a Piano
Tilly + Deb Jazzing on a Piano (image from a May blog post -http://botanicalbeautiesbeasties.com/2011/05/19/grove-and-kicks-the-art-of-music-with-debra-mann/ )