♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥"Alter Ego" here. Monday night I witnessed true mastery of song and entertainment at Kamal's solo nightclub performance "Here's To Life" at the Triad Theatre. Despite the torrential rains the club was packed with his fans and admirers and we were treated to a night of nostalgia and fun. Kamal's voice spans all genres of music from opera to jazz to no doubt hip-hop (can't you just hear him beat boxing...). "Here's To Life" offered romantic ballads interspersed with upbeat and whimsical numbers including a wonderfully wicked rendition of Porgy and Bess' "It Ain't Necessarily So." There wasn't a dry eye in the room as he dedicated the haunting ballad "I'm So Very Glad There's You" to his lovely wife Etta.

Backed by the Nori Ochiai Trio (I could listen to pianist Nori all day, he's that good), Kamal gave us all he had and left us begging for more.

Encore.

Seasonal Changes

We are now coming to the close of a most productive summer.
Like the different colors and temperatures of the seasons, so the voice continues its magical metamorphosis. I, as mentor/teacher have been privileged to witness the growth and maturity of so many of my students. Please accept my sincere congratulations to you all.


In particular I'm sure those of you who have been in attendance share in the absolute Joy concerning Ulises Fernandez who has begun to blossom into a rare and special vocal flower. I salute you for your patience, consistency, respect for the journey. Uli has been in my studio for many years, and has never doubted the possibilities of excellence that accompany this particular
approach.


So we begin a new season, with high expectations; My Garden Flourishes!!!!!

Schbert's "Ave Maria" Revisited

The first European Classical piece I learned was Schubert's "Ave Maria" taught to me by my Great Aunt Josephine when I was 10 years old.

It became a moment of reward sometime later on the Ted Mack Original Amateur Hour,where I won first place on national television singing this piece, and went on to perform it in front of 15,000 people at the Boston Gardens as part of the prize. The Boston Post reported "A small boy's perfect soprano; The hubbub and the din subsided as the clear notes sounded through the vast auditorium of the Garden"

Yesterday I was privileged to witness this kind of magic from a different perspective. The place, St Augustine's Cathedral Chapel in Brooklyn, the event, a Roman Catholic wedding, the soloist my wife, Etta Russell Scott.
Contracted by the bride and groom who had experienced the beauty of her pure and delicate Soprano voice earlier this year, along with "Ave Maria" she also rendered "Panis Angelicus" by Cesar Franck.

I don't know what my voice gave in those early days to generate such response, but I do know that Etta brought that same gentle peace and purity needed to help define this very special moment. Brava!!!!!

New Beginings

This month was full of personal joy for me.

First of all I received several testimonials from Artists who have shared wonderful moments, that are all a part of an incredible journey of Artistic and personal experience that must be told.

This month also was the beginning of my Cabaret/Classic, Master Class at Chelsea Studios. We got off to a great start and were able to clarify for these young singers, the beauty of self awareness, and the defining of one's God given gifts.

Moving forward, Etta, my wife and protege, went into the studio for the first time to record (pictured above). Those of you who know the the tremendous difference between performance, coaching, and, class certainly understand the focus and security it takes to be ready for this most unusual of artistic endeavors. Etta recorded some of the most difficult Oratorio literature, and was able to come away with a product capable of displaying real vocal freedom, and a source of pride and accomplishment for the many hours and years that it took to make the journey.

Etta, you serve to validate my knowledge as a teacher.

"La Voce"

I chose the road less traveled.

To develop a real functioning voice for the Bel Canto style of singing Opera, one must make a total commitment for life. Because I wanted to know the difference between having a beautiful voice and one capable of what seems impossible, I embarked on the most difficult journey of my life.

There is no perfect state, but we must continually aspire to such. This journey has produced vocal abilities that I have dreamed of possessing for years. This particular time in my life has shown me that the truth in all things is possible if we are willing to submit (be submissive)to an energy far greater than ourselves.

Though my time spent having a career has been long and fruitful, I feel I've only just begun. This vocal understanding is a gift; I wondered why singers from the past sang into their 80s and 90s, and those today are plagued with heartache and vocal deterioration. Longevity was no accident, but a knowing that somewhere along the way became polluted.

There are many roads to Rome, and today I confirmed having truly found one. A man is a success when he feels like one.

Lasting Friendships

Today, I feel most fortunate among men!!!

I have chronologically spent more than a few decades on this planet, and a gift most rare is to arrive at this place in time with real friends present just as they were at the beginning.

My good friend Bob DiPaolo called to say hello and to re-affirm what we mean to one another. With that he gave me license to tell his part in my life story. We grew up together in Roxbury, Massachusetts and have known each other from the first grade, through graduating from high school in the same class, to the present day. He is the genuine article--"My Friend."

On this same day I was able (because of my ghostwriter) to locate Jeremy Ives. Thank God for the Internet!!! I was a young Balletomane with a great gift for the discipline of dancing the Ballet and I was taking classes at American Ballet Theatre on 57th Street between Eighth and Ninth Avenues. Jeremy was dancing with ABT, later with New York City Ballet, and then in the Metropolitan Ballet for 15 yearrs. When I got him on the phone today, we were both speechless for a moment; not since we were in our twenties had we spoken. We were inseperable in our youth! Now, he with a 41 year old son and me with two sons aged 42 and 44 shared a conversation that confirmed what we were then and what we are now--"Still Friends" Jeremy, too, was adament about sharing our story.

The Great Ones

Earlier this spring we paid homage to two great artists who passed on--Lena Horne and Giuseppe Taddei. Once again, it is with an even greater sense of loss that I am compelled to comment on the passing of two more "Great Ones"--Giulietta Simionato and Benny Powell.

Simionato was the greatest Italian mezzo-soprano of her era. She passed at age 99. For more than seventy five years after her debut, Simionato still remained fresh and modern and natural
in every measure.

Benny was one of the Jazz industry's finest trombonists. He was 80 years old at passing.
We had the shared experience of being on faculty at The New School for Jazz & Contemporary Music. I witnessed his caring for and mentoring a young gifted trombonist with whom we both
shared a special friendship.

It is artists of the caliber of Benny Powell and Giulietta Simionato who inspire the best in us and, because I live in both worlds of opera and jazz, their contributions effected my judgement and artistic presentation.