the year of compilations

Since the subtitle of this blog relates to me as a musician as well as a mommy, I figure I'm due for some thoughts in on Mo and music of late.

Musically, I think I will remember this year as "the year of compilations".

I spent the beginning of the year laying the groundwork for a compilation album of music for those in a season of suffering, which I hope to return to again before the year comes to a close. This recording project went on hold around the time Eliana was due, and I have been waiting on God for the right timing to return to it, since I find that working on songs that enter 'the valleys of life' really requires a divine passion and conviction when you're not currently in a valley yourself. In the last few weeks, a few things have happened that are drawing me back to this project which I feel so compelled to complete... and complete well. One of the most encouraging of these was a great conversation I was able to have last week with Steve Bell, whose 'Solace' album has some similarities to what I am drawn to create. More on that in 2009....

Since I had really only planned for one compilation album this year (which ironically is the only one unfinished), you might be as surprised as I am to see all of these other albums pictured here. With Christmas on the way, I thought some of you might be interested in giving one or more of these as gifts. So here are the details for those of you who are interested.

Many of you have heard me rave about my experience with the lovely Noted ladies. This group of 17 women from around Huron County were selected to be part of a weekend of workshops in January, and to record either an original song or a number written by another Canadian songstress. I wrote a song for the album about some of the extraordinary women in my life called "Legacy of Love", on which we all sang together. What a treat.

The Noted women range in age from late teens to mid-60s, with a wide variety of experience. Some are part of bands, others are trained professional singers, while a few had never even performed before. This compilation includes a wide range of genres -- folk, religious, jazz, instrumental, country, opera and more -- and the result is apparently "a stunning collection of local talent." (Aw, how kind.) I have come to love these women and am looking forward to giving a couple of Christmas concerts with them in the next few weeks.

If you're interested in purchasing the Noted album for one of the extraordinary women in your life, I've got some of these at home that I can sell to you directly. Or if you live in Huron County and don't want to have to deal with me directly (!), the CD is also selling at these locations.

The Thing With Feathers was my friend (and co-producer of my first album) Michael Bannerman's way of responding to his mom's diagnosis with a little-known disease called PSP -- Progressive Supranuclear Palsy. Over time, this illness has robbed her of her ability to walk, speak, eat, think clearly and, soon it will take her life. Michael's aim for this project is, above all, that it will give hope to families dealing with PSP, a disease with no treatment and no cure.

This album features 21 contemporary artists, including some you may know such as Carolyn Arends and Downhere, as well as some good friends of mine -- Michael Bannerman, Scott Beckman, Ali Matthews, Glen Teeple and Penny Brown. We've all donated our work free of profit so that all proceeds from the sale of this project will be sent to the Society for Progressive Supranuclear Palsy, specifically for PSP research. You can learn more about PSP at www.curepsp.org. And you can contribute to the Bannerman family's fight against PSP while enjoying some great tunes by purchasing a copy of the CD at www.thethingwithfeathers.com.

I should also mention that Michael also put together a worship album called In His Hands a couple of years ago. It included 18 creative new worship songs from all Canada, US, Australia, UK, Malaysia, New Zealand and Germany, including two of the songs I recorded with Michael: "Overseer of my Soul" and "Peace".

Last week I travelled to Sarnia to play "Peace" for International Peace Week, where a local woman was being awarded a Peace Medallion for her contributions of peace locally and globally... all because someone in Sarnia had heard the song on this album. Cool.

If you'd like me to hook you up with one of these, I have a couple left at the house, or you can buy them online here.

Sea to Sea: The Voice of Creation

The Sea to Sea series brings together a rich diversity of worship music from across Canada. Each volume features 30 songs from Canadian writers and artists from coast to coast. This 2 CD set is the fourth edition in the Sea To Sea series. The Voice Of Creation features 30 songs by Canadian Worship leaders and writers including Brian Doerksen, Carolyn Arends, Starfield and many more.

I was given the opportunity to record the title track (Voice of Creation) in a trio including the lovely Tara Dettman and Deanna Chapman. (Unfortunately, there's a misprint on the website that was never fixed, but if you buy the album, you'll see it really is I.) I happen to be the first voice you'll hear on the album. Too bad the first shall be last!

The Gospel Music Assocation Canada also chose to include "The Voice of Creation" on a special GMA 30th Anniversary CD released earlier this year. This album celebrates the history of Canadian Christian music with a limited edition 3 CD set featuring over 45 tracks from both today’s top artists and the biggest names in Christian music from the past including Starfield, Brian Doerksen, Connie Scott, Rhythm and News, Relient K, Hawk Nelson, Hokus Pick, Carolyn Arends, Steve Bell, downhere, Daniel Band, Paul Brandt, The Suspenders, George Beverly Shea and many more. You can have a listen to "The Voice of Creation" and other tracks from the album here if you like.

If you're interested in either the Sea to Sea or the GMA 30th anniversary CD, you should be able to find them at your local Christian bookstore.

And of course, I always have the recording of just me, myself and I with 13 original tracks, called "If Everything is Lost". I'm told it is particularly enjoyed by those in a difficult season of life. They sell for $15 each and I'd love to hook you up with one if you or your friends don't already have one.

And THAT, my dears, is my plug for the year! I'm terrible at promoting myself so you have to know this was no easy blog for me. But now you have no excuse if you're looking for a great album for a Christmas gift (or even for thyself) that just happens to include the voice of someone you know.