Good. News.

Fifteen years of good news to be exact. At the hands of Eric Byrd. Because he knows that God is good. All the time. So, when he took the job at McDaniel College fifteen years ago, and began receiving his $52. bi- monthly check, well, he held onto that God-sized vision. If you haven’t heard the McDaniel College Gospel Choir, you are missing out. For this special performance, they teamed up with the Columbia Orchestra directed by Jason Love and special guest, recording artist, Kevin LeVar. The best part of the evening was seeing a stage full of McDaniel students, faculty and alumni singing praises to God. It was a beauty to behold. Watching the interaction between Eric, his assistant director Carl Taylor, the choir and the musicians from the wings of the stage was a special treat.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I read on the back of the program that Eric offers a boot camp from July 20-24, and I, evidently,can learn to play jazz in a week. Hmm. Tempting.

 

Oh, and to view the entire gallery, go to the kathyfreundel.clients link on my website.

Jim. Cabral.

 

 

I’ve known Jim, his wife Stacey and their three little ones for less than a year, but it doesn’t feel that way. Their posse (several rows of family and friends) became part of our church family at NCF, and we won on that deal. Jim is a gifted musician/ singer/ songwriter and his energy and passion for life is an inspiration. Jim and Stacey . . . they are the real deal.  Jim’s The Mirror is now my website music, and you can see where he’s playing by accessing his MySpace page.        How would you describe your music? My music is probably best defined as adult contemporary.   My writing is most often a product of some great joy or pain in my life, although I’ve written some stuff that was just plain fun or something God was teaching me that I thought people would relate to. Who are your major influences? Bruce Hornsby, Michael W. Smith, Wayne Kirkpatrick, Keith Green, Steven Curtis Chapman are my top five, but there are undertones of dozens of others in there. What’s on your ipod right now? Wayne Kirkpatrick’s 2001 album “The Maple Room.”  Get that album.  I command you!  Also S.C.Chapman’s “Miracle of the Moment” and Don Henley’s “End of the Innocence”. Top three on your bucket list . . .  Take my wife on a trip to Paris, a trip that she deserves a hundred times over, have a cup of coffee and talk shop with Michael W. Smith (it could happen!), and finish my album (they all seem equally out of reach right now, but I gotta have faith-a, faith-a, faith-aaaah. What are your top five desert island must haves? My wife, my kids (it’s a big island, right?), my very special NIV Bible I inherited, a stack of books (various authors), notebook computer with wifi (and a very strong router?) What do you want your kids to know about you? That Daddy is flawed and even a little bent, but couldn’t ever imagine a life without each of them.  I would support them in whatever they did, whether it’s front man in a rock band, doctor, police officer… whatever!  I would want them to draw from all my strengths and talents while somehow managing to avoid all the weaknesses and frailties I have.     Tree of Life.

 

Pablo. Grabiel. Jazz.

 

Pablo Grabielismo is one of those musicians that demands to be heard. Monday’s  NACE Baltimore chapter  meeting at Sheraton Center City was the venue and I had gone to shoot the event.  The mix was a combination of straight ahead jazz, Latin jazz, and swing. Pablo brought a combo . . . two guitars, an upright bass, a tenor sax. Natural ease with a sense of fun. And that only happens because Pablo and his combo are  at the top of their game, musically, playing a mixture of classic jazz, laced with a well placed “cooker.” The interplay among the musicians was the highlight for me. At one point it was the bass player’s turn to take a solo; it didn’t even sound like he was playing music . . . it sounded like  stream of consciousness  conversation. Seriously. That’s when my jaw hit the floor. And then Pablo answered back with his guitar . . . a serious of wistful lines punctuated by a well placed pop. Musical ambrosia. I knew I wanted to share Pablo with you. And the best part?  His company Grabielismo Productions hosts a cadre  of DC’s best musicians. So, you call Pablo . . . tell him what you want . . . and he arranges everything. In the testimonial section of his website, the one thing I read again and again, is that Pablo listens, Pablo delivers, and Pablo makes whole experience devoid of stress. How’s that for a LOVEMARKS COMPANY?

I thought it would be fun for you to meet Pablo. So here goes.

1.  What is the Grabielismo mission?

 To help clients turn their events into everything they envision with minimal stress.

2.  How has your personal journey brought you to this point?

 I guess the most significant event was when I was 19 and going through a rough patch in my life.  Down and out, I turned to the guitar for peace and to getaway to a “healthy place,” taught myself, and the rest of the journey is a long story.  

3. What is the best part of your job?

 When a bride tells me that the music was perfect, exactly what they were looking for and that it made the event!

4.  What is on your ipod right now?

 Fania Allstars (Salsa), Charlie parker with strings, and Duke Ellington with Charles Mingus and a bunch of Wes Montgomery.

5.  Best read last year.

 ”Effortless Mastery” by Kenny Werner 

6.  Five top desert island must- haves.

1) My Wife & Daughter

2) Guitar

3) An upright Bass player with upright bass

4) Real books (jazz music) volumes  1, 2 & 3

5) a case of extra guitar strings

Bucket List:

1) Record a few albums with my original material

2) See my daughter’s 40th birthday

3) Head into the Alaskan wilderness, again, for a whole summer; it was the time of my life!

 

 

 

In addition to being a business owner and working musician in DC, Pablo is a devoted husband and father to sweet daughter,  Estela. He has worked as a behavior analyst and  music therapist for dementia patients. That rough patch produced some great fruit.

WHAT’S A SNORKELKAT?

I don’t know.  But, what I do know is that I had a blast taking their band shots in Federal Hill.  Band photo shoots are the best because there are no real rules to follow. 

 

We went to artist, Lania D’Agostino’s mannequin factory and art studio, and it was one of the BEST spaces I’ve ever shot in! 

 

 

 

We had so much fun getting shots in the mannequins, in the studio, and then out on the streets of Federal Hill at rush hour.

 

 

 

Snorkelkat is a band with PERSONALITY!! If you haven’t heard them, look for one of their upcoming shows.  They are clever, really good, and they play about ten different intruments. It’s off the hook!

 

Check out their site at www.snorkelkat.com