shannon butcher sings

Musical Mamas - Kellylee Evans

As mentioned in my previous post I've been talking with my female musician friends who have already been down the mommy path; asking them for advice about double duty - growing a baby and your fan base.

For many years now I have held Kellylee Evans as my shining beacon of musical motherhood.   I hope by now that you have heard of Kellylee.  She's a fantastic singer and songwriter who just happened to win this year's Juno for Vocal Jazz Album of the Year with her third release, Nina.  Her take on the repertoire of Ms. Simone is spellbinding - highlightling both her incredible vocal talent and her soulful sincerity. 

Although most jazz singers start their careers with albums covering songs made famous by singers who came before, Kellylee came to the jazz forefront with her first album Fight or Flight which garnered her first Juno nomination.   Her next album Good Girl is also outstanding.  

Kellylee is probably the most positive person I've ever met.  I mean, I like to think of myself as an upbeat soul (I didn't get the nickname Sunshine Skittle for nothin') but Kellylee takes positivity to a whole new level.   Just being in her presence is enough to make you think you can take on the world and win.  I'm sure it is this attitude that has helped her balance a life of international live performance, songwriting and raising three beautiful children.  So, who better for me to turn to for some baby-mama songtress tips?  

1) How did you maintain the quality of your sound when your core started to fill up with the baby?  Does it start to feel like the baby is invading the space usually reserved for your lungs?

I definitely found it much harder to breathe and to take deep breaths when I was pregnant. For each pregnancy, I have felt the baby sooner and sooner.  So for my third and last baby, I needed to start becoming accustomed to the reduced lung capacity pretty early on.  I found that if I didn't fight it and just accepted that I was not going to be able to hold notes for as long, I would be alright.  I played around with melody lines more and changed my phrasing, but just instinctively.

I am generally quite uncomfortable throughout most of my pregnancy, so I dreaded the idea of performing when feeling so horrible.  But the funny thing was, once I hit the stage, all my excitement and adrenaline resulted in helping me forget all my ailments.  Nausea, sore back, heartburn, vertigo - they all disappeared once I got into the show.

2) How did the baby's movements effect your singing/performing?

The baby's movements didn't bother me a bit during performance.  For me, it was more getting used to how I was going to move once I was on stage.  Once that was adjusted for, we were like a perfectly synchronized machine.

3) Did you find that your audience reacted differently to you when you performed while you were pregnant?  If so, what changed?

The baby I was carrying during my last pregnancy, during the time when I really started performing more, definitely became OUR baby, as in the audience's baby, the band's baby, the venue's baby, the media's baby.  Even to this day, people ask about him.  They watched him grow, were nervous he would arrive while they were watching me on stage and then saw him soon after he was born (I was back performing when he was five weeks old).  People really showed their love for me and the baby during my pregnancy and afterwards.  A great feeling.

4) Was there a particular song that came to have new meaning once you started performing it while pregnant?

I think every song became a bit more emotional, because I was being inundated with higher levels of hormones.  I cried at the tiniest little thing.  So, all the songs developed new meaning.

5) Did you compose while you were pregnant?  If so, how did that effect your song writing?

I don't think I did compose anything during pregnancy.  I was an absolute wreck off stage and spent most of my time sleeping or nauseous.  I was lucky to have enough energy to take a shower, much less create anything.  Once the baby was out, it was like I was flying again.

My thanks to Kellylee for her candid and thoughtful responses.

Alongside her upcoming dates in France, Kellylee has some exciting live Canadian performances on the calendar. Trust me, she is someone you want to see in person!

April 30th in Ottawa at D'arcy McGees.

May 6th in Ottawa at Mercury Lounge.

June 1st in Toronto at Koerner Hall.

Visit www.kellyleeevans.com for details and tickets!

Preggers In the Public Eye

You know how they say that if you break your leg it seems like everyone second person you see is also trotting around on a fractured limb?  Well, the same goes for pregnancy.  Suddenly babies and bellies are everywhere!  (And never have I paid such detailed attention to the brand of stroller strolling by.)

Although here in my fair city of Toronto I get to see plenty of pregnant ladies live on the street, I still find myself searching for images of artists who are with child.

There's the standard red carpet shot:

And the handing out awards after the red carpet photo op:

But it's a bit harder to find these gals preggers and doing what they do best.  This is why I hold dear my memory of M.I.A. rocking the stage at the Grammys, ready to give birth at any minute! You can watch a clip of the performance on YouTube!

(Her outfit shall be dealt with in another post where I address the serious lack of maternity attire available in T.O.)

I had heard there was a clip of Dee Dee Bridgewater performing avec bébé.  I couldn't find it but I did stumble upon this inspiring image from Ms. Bridgewater.  Talk about melding your life and your art.

I doubt that I'll be posing for a similar photo shoot but I'll be sure to post some pics from my next concert with belly.  In the meantime if you know of any beautiful photos or youtube clips with musical mamas please let me know!

 

When a Solo Act Becomes a Duo

About four and a half months ago I discovered that this summer I would be taking on a new career - Motherhood!  Yes, I, Shannon Butcher, am going to be bringing a new person into this world somewhere around the third week of July.

Although I felt almost an immediate physical change once I became mom-to-be, I was able to go about for the first three months or so keeping my little secret, well, a secret.   It wasn't until mid-February when all of my cute stage dresses stopped zipping up that I decided that the secret (along with my belly button) was obviously coming out.  That night was my first show where I publicly announced that Michael Shand and I were in fact performing as a trio.  And the audience responded with such an excited and supportive round of applause.   It was truly a lovely moment.  I think my biggest surprise so far is how much hope and joy I see on people's faces when I tell them about my little one.  I really didn't expect that.

For me personally this exciting news has brought up intense feelings of joy coupled with plenty of questions.  Although women have been becoming mothers since beginning of the human race it still feels like such a wonderous mystery.  I mean, I've never done this before!  And truth be told for most of my life there haven't been that many female musicians out there parading around their baby bellies on stage.  How would my singing self adjust to being a mommy self?

Upon further reflection I realized there are a number of fantastic women in our Canadian music community to whom I could pose this very question.   Time to reach out to the ladies for stories and advice!  Let me tell you, they have such fascinating insights that I can't help but share them with you.  (And don't worry guys,  I'll be sure to call upon some of my favourite musical dads to ask how fatherhood influences their music careers too.)

So stay tuned for some tales from the singing mamas.

The jazz musicians’ jazz musicians

This week I was asked by the Toronto Star's Ashante Infantry to recommend my favourite pick for the festival mainstage shows. 

I was torn between two lovers - The Roots and Bettye LaVette.  They both are performing on June 29th. In the end I bought tickets for Ms. LaVette.  Not only to check out her legendary styles but my good friend Ben Riley is opening the show with his band Planet Earth.  Will I see you there?

Here's the article that appeared in yesterday's paper:

Who better than musicians to rate the hottest acts at the 24th edition of the TD Toronto Jazz Festival? We asked 10 local artists — all of them participating in the festival — which one headliner would they buy tickets for.

BRANDI DISTERHEFT

Good thing this young bassist’s opening act slot for Herbie Hancock guarantees her a spot at the famed pianist’s Saturday show at Nathan Phillips Square. “Herbie has always paid homage to the tradition of jazz while capturing the attention of the younger audience and incorporating new sounds of today’s music. He has had an impact on my musical journey since I was a little girl.”

DAVE YOUNG

Bassist Young would most like to see The Harry Connick Jr. Orchestra at the Canon Theatre Sunday. “I like his energy and presentation of a song. He comes across as more genuine than a lot of singers these days. Maybe his acting ability helps in delivering the song. And he is one of the few guys who keeps a larger group working.” Young’s quartet opens for Stanley Clarke at NPS June 28.

TERRY CLARKE

Drummer Clarke will be performing in Saskatchewan and unable to checkout The Roots at NPS Tuesday, including Questlove, his “latest favorite drummer. All the players in that band, as evidenced nightly on Jimmy Fallon’s show, are excellent, dedicated players who are growing and stretching their own boundaries. . . While they are not stone-cold beboppers, their music still swings ferociously and with integrity.” Clarke will be back in town to swing with his trio at Trane Studio July 2.

SHANNON BUTCHER

Singer Butcher has bought tickets for Bettye LaVette’s Phoenix show Tuesday. “Her voice is outstanding, but I’m really drawn to her ability to truly ‘interpret’ the music. I find listening to her sing the music of Elton John, The Moody Blues, Pink Floyd, etc. (on newly released Interpretations: The British Rock Songbook), I understand their lyrics as I never have before. She’s able to light up every word with honest emotion and raw power.” Butcher turns in a free 12:30 p.m. quartet show at the Shops at Don Mills on June 30.

BARRY ROMBERG

He’s got a 16-month-old at home and his own gig helming Random Access Unplugged at the Music Gallery on Monday, but drummer Romberg hopes to squeeze in trumpeter Dave Douglas & Keystone at Enwave Theatre June 29. “Douglas is one of the great composers in modern jazz. His quintet with the Rhodes and his Keystone band, which is a bit more funky, fuse the elements of great writing with great improvisation . . . and there’s always a real group dynamic. He’s my inspiration for my own spearheading of different projects.”

SUNDAR VISWANATHAN

The saxist/vocalist is miffed to be out of town when Keith Jarrett’s piano trio plays the Four Seasons Centre next Wednesday. “He has the ability to draw the listener into his experience. Also, this is one of the longest-working trios in jazz; imagine the level of creative communication possible when you’ve been playing together with the same guys for almost 30 years.” Viswanathan performs a free 5 p.m. show with Jaffa Road this Sunday at NPS.

BILL MCBIRNIE

You’d think this flautist would be jockeying to hear some of the horn greats playing the fest, but he’s also keen on Jarrett. “Any concert by Keith Jarrett is guaranteed to be a source of genuine beauty and real inspiration, to any listener, whether a musician or not!” said McBirnie, who will miss the show, which coincides with one of his eight jazz fest gigs — this one at Hot House Café with Brenda Carol & ClaireVoyance.

JACKIE RICHARDSON

The vocalist’s pick is singer Mavis Staples’ NPS show June 30. “She is the most soulful, most spiritual of my personal favorite artists,” said Richardson, who performs with the Russ Little Quintet at Old Mill Inn on Monday. “Nobody can hum and moan like Mavis Staples. She is the real deal.”

JIM GALLOWAY

The saxman and former TDJ artistic director, who performs a free noon show at NPS this Sunday, plans to catch trumpeter Roy Hargrove’s big band at Koerner Hall July 1. “He’s truly a jazz player — fiery and full of musical surprises. And he has tremendous knowledge of the roots of the music: he’s as contemporary as can be, but can pick an obscure ballad and knock you out with it. He’s also a great singer.”

ELIANA CUEVAS

“I don’t know enough about her music, but when I listen to Angelique Kidjo I hear strength and passion; I’d like to hear more,” said vocalist Cuevas, who heads to the Montreal Jazz Festival after her Lula Lounge septet show this Sunday and hopes to be back in town for Kidjo’s July 1 NPS concert.

The TD Toronto Jazz Festival runs June 25-July 4. Visit www.torontojazz.com for tickets and information.


 

 

Cross Training - Lesson #5

It's not the length, but the intensity of the journey that counts.

Running in the National Post

In the hectic days surrounding my CD launch I was able to sneak in a run with National Post reporter Ben Kaplan on what turned out to be the hottest day in the history of May.  We hit the Queens Quay Waterfront path to chat about my two passions: music and running.  (Running during an interview - talk about a cardio challenge!)

Ben Kaplan, National Post · Thursday, Jun. 10, 2010

In black tights and an aqua running shirt, Shannon Butcher strikes an unusual portrait of a jazz chanteuse. The 33-year-old may sing like Edith Piaf or Billie Holiday, but trotting around the waterfront and through the Toronto Music Garden, the singer-composer says her biggest vices are brunch in Bloor West Village and organic food.

“My aunt was a police officer and she’s super fit,” Butcher says on a jog after rehearsal, days before the release of Little Hearts, her second solo jazz album. “In a way, running is like being a performer -- you have to set goals and be comfortable doing what you can, but the most important part is taking that first step.”

Jogging across Bathurst Street on this cloudless morning, as she’s done three times a week for the past six years, the High Park resident says the city’s running paths have been incubators for many of her best musical ideas.

“The times when you feel like you don’t want to go running are exactly the times when you ought to get out there,” she explains, mentioning that she ticks off kilometres to the beat of Madonna, Radiohead and jazz trumpeter Clifford Brown on her iPod. “Sometimes lyrics or arrangements come to me when I’m running and there’s this spark of imagination -- what’s that saying? Free your body, free your mind.”

Butcher has laced up her Saucony sneakers in the last six Sporting Life 10K races and also calls herself a “Lululemon girl.” Bobbing along the path behind Ontario Place, she says it’s just as natural to find a jazz singer at the Running Room as it is to find one at a nightclub, and that it’s perfectly normal for a musician to listen to both Irving Berlin and Duran Duran.

“Good music is my only genre,” says Butcher, whose first record made a jazz hit of No Doubt’s Just a Girl. Her new album features sax and piano arrangements of Smile by Lilly Allen and Bryan Adams’ Run To You. “Some people don’t like Coldplay -- I happen to like them a lot -- but if you see them in concert, they’re always playing new arrangements of their songs. A good song can be done any number of ways.”

Butcher’s spending her summer at jazz festivals across the city, including a homecoming show during next month’s Beaches Jazz Festival at the Rex, where she had a year-long residency last year. Of course, all the late nights, tours and performances are probably going to interfere with her running, but Butcher says it’s when things get craziest that she turns to running the most.

“When you’re running you set your own schedule,” she says. “Less so when there’s a record to promote.”

--Little Hearts is in stores now. For tour dates, see shannonbutcher.com.   

bkaplan@nationalpost.com


Read more: http://www.nationalpost.com/arts/This jazz singer loves Madonna Radiohead Bryan Adams Coldplay/3138123/story.html#ixzz0rAUEuxUX
The National Post is now on Facebook. Join our fan community today.

Going on GO!

June 5th, just days after the CD launch, I woke up bright and early to appear on CBC's GO!  This was GO's final live show and they decided to go out with style, dedicating the hour the craft of the jazz singer.  Well, the craft of the Crooner to be exact.  I think we can all agree there is a distinction.  Frank was definitely a crooner extraordinaire but I wouldn't place Jon Hendricks in the category.  Yet, they both deserve a place in the jazz singer hall of fame.

The pashmina-voiced Matt Dusk was brought on board that morning to choose Canada's Next Top Crooner.  Although I wouldn't normally call myself a crooner, I was honoured to be asked to be part of the show.  I was the representing the estrogen faction as I joined Ori Dagan and Raoul Bhaneja in the friendly competition.  We all had wonderful fun singing for the live audience with the kick ass house band and answering crazy quizzes. (Who knew The Godfather was so integral to the world of jazz?)

If you missed the show click on over to CBC.ca/GO where you can hear the whole program!

 

Or if you are like Harry and like to read the last page of the novel first, watch the clip below to see who won the title of Canada's Next Top Crooner!

 

Hearts at Hugh's

Thank you to all of you amazing lovely hearts who came out to the CD launch party on Wednesday. What an amazing night!

I was having so much fun on stage with the band that it felt like each set was only 10 minutes long.  I was seriously wishing Louisa Labarbera had provided with me a bejeweled watch along with my gorgeous necklace, earrings and bracelet as the minutes seemed to pass like milliseconds. 

There was such a beautiful energy in the room that night.  How wonderful to have so many friendly faces alongside new listeners.  I hope everyone enjoyed the night as much as I did.

Thanks also to those of you who sent emails telling me you tried to get tickets to the show after we hit the sold out status.  It is so thoughtful of you to send along your good wishes.

What's next?  Festival season is just around the corner - want to meet me at the Rex on June 27th to kick off the Toronto Jazz Fest?  I'll be there with the quartet from 7:00-9:00!  Or come by during your lunch hour for a free concert up at the Shops at Don Mills stage on June 30th at 12:30!

Stars in My Eyes

My first review in Eye Weekly gets me 4 stars!  Thanks to Hilary Canton for the review.

Shannon Butcher: Little Hearts
Independent
  
BY HILARY CATON   May 26, 2010 21:05

EDITORIAL RATING:
After the success of her first album, Words We Both Could Say, catapulted her into iTunes’ top 10 for Best Vocal Jazz Album, Shannon Butcher returns with her sophomore disc, Little Hearts. As on her debut, the local singer covers pop songs like Lily Allen’s “Smile,” and Bryan Adams’ “Run to You” and modifies the arrangements into pieces that are as cheeky as the lyrics. On the six original compositions on the album, Butcher delivers the perfect mixture of uptempo jazz-pop and sultry vocals. The ballads “I Ain’t in the Mood for no DJ” and “Hush” flow smoothly and seductively, their combination of piano and tenor sax recreating the atmosphere of a half moon booth in a cozy club. With tracks like these, Little Hearts will be melting a few hearts of its own.

Shannon Butcher plays Hugh’s Room (2261 Dundas W) June 2.

First Little Hearts Review!

Check out Cathy Riches review of my new CD for last week's The Examiner

Jazz singer Shannon Butcher has come out with another great album following on her well-received debut Words We Both Could Say (reviewed here). Like its predecessor, the main strength of Little Hearts is in the material she's chosen to cover. Butcher has done what I think all modern jazz singers should be doing, i.e., quit covering the done-to-death standards and look to a more modern songbook for fodder.

Sure there's a place for the Gershwin and Porter re-hashings now and then - especially in live performance - but when greats like Ella and Sarah have recorded them before, a singer had better be bringing something pretty interesting to the party, or why should we buy it? 

So when I see 70s and 80s tunes on a CD cover, as is the case with “Little Hearts,” it's a sign that an artist is thinking outside the box, and that's what jazz is all about. The Bacharach-David beauty Walk on By gets a moody, heartfelt treatment that reflects the sentiment of the lyrics better than the peppy Warwick original (sorry Dionne!) and Bryan Adams' Run to You goes Latin American with Daniel Stone on cajon and Rob Piltch doing his customary gorgeous nylon string guitar work.
Butcher has also done some very fine songwriting on this album. Joy in My Heart kicks off the disc with a soulful ode to staying positive and the duet with the enormously talented Michael Kaeshammer - The Last Word - is a cute nod to 60s romantic comedies. The one older standard covered here - Irving Berlin's What'll I Do - has been given an inventive alt-country facelift courtesy of Piltch's twangy, plaintive guitar work. 
Shannon Butcher's CD release event is at Hugh's Room on June 2. Upcoming tour dates can be found at  www.shannonbutcher.com.