My Story

The roots of Democracy came as a reaction to 9/11. Feeling very patriotic at the time, I read voraciously on the roots of our culture. Emerson, Whitman, Jefferson and so many others preached passionately on the idea of individualism and self-reliance. The Quaker idea of the Inner Light seemed to pervade throughout. Since my own background features Quakerism so heavily, I latched onto this and sought out a wide variety of texts which explore that subject. The resulting story told how the idea of the inner light develops within each of us; from it's superficial idealism to it's overpowering, even suffocating obsession. For the full text and clips, please click here.

 I premiered the piece in 2010 to a stunning reaction (watch the whole thing on Youtube). There was a palpable connection with the audience (as one reviewer put it, "Reader, forgive me, but I did not expect a piece of serious post-classical music to resonate with me on this level; I love looking at clouds, I love stargazing, but when I start thinking about the vast reaches of nothingness on the other side of the sky, I panic."). Bob Lord, of the Boston based recording house PARMA, was among those who saw potential in the piece. Aside from being a world renowned recording house, PARMA is parent company to Navona, Big Round, Ravello, and Capstone records. They have recorded and released works by Donald Martino, David Del Tredici and even currently working with Pete Townsend. They regularly work with world class performers like Richard Stoltzmann and the Amerigo Trio. I am honored to be their first foray into the post-classical world. The record will be released in 2012, but we need your help NOW to make it happen.  

The Impact

The success of this campaign will facilitate the recording and release of the album on an international level. If the reaction from the premiere is any indication of the reaction from the world at large then there is a good chance that this work will be VERY successful. The company releasing is very high profile and well respected and connected, the zeitgeist is perfect, the stars are aligned to make the release of this work a huge event. If the money isn't raised, it's pretty simple... none of that happens. 

What We Need & What You Get

The first 5,000 goes to the recording; paying the engineer and the musicians for their time, and the editing process. 1,000 on top of that is the next goal; that pays for the record release in January (for which tickets are one of the perks). Another 1,000 pays for the production of a music video for 'The Mystic Trumpeter'. The perks range from digital downloads to signed scores to custom limited edition T-shirts by renowned designer and tattoo artist Lindsey Edwards (merch picks here, or watch the video!). Give 1,000 and I'll totally do whatever you want (in the name of COMEDY please, nothing that will get me arrested or killed). Pay the base 5,000 and you can get a custom work by Ms. Edwards. Give a fin, and you get a heartfelt thank you note and a magnet, because every dollar helps. 

Other Ways You Can Help

Share share share! Tell everybody you know, post it on facebook, twitter, stumbleupon, your abandoned website from the 90's, EVERYWHERE! Tell people on the street! Call relatives you hate! Sing from the rooftops! Myspace, even! The more people in the know, the more successful it becomes. And thank you all for reading this far, and your continued support. It means the world to me.