FV at home and having a good time! Photo: Kyra Kverno
Dear Friends and Music lovers everywhere,
No matter who you are, these are tough and trying times. As a New Yorker based in Brooklyn, I’m effectively living in a city under ‘voluntary lockdown’. Empty streets and safe distances are the norm now. We all expect it rules of engagement to get more stringent until we flatten the curve, as they say. I’m concerned for friends and family around the world and for the past week, as the cascading sounds of ‘CANCEL’ and ‘Social Distance’ have reverberated throughout out the communities I’m part of, I too have been laying low. Going out when necessary and just hunkering down. I slightly mourn my lost freedom yet I’d prefer that to getting infected myself or what concerns me most of all – giving it to someone that may not survive it. I take consolation that so far, so good – my husband and I and our housemates are OK. Grateful to live in a house at this moment, little need to worry about who may or may not be coming here. With some space, isolation is easier to bear as well.
It feels like a time to go inside, think about what’s important. Who’s important? Who do we need to keep in contact with? Who and what do we value? How many records, books or movies can I finally catch up on because of the luxury of time – for a little while. What courses can I take? How can I go even deeper into my vocal, musical, compositional practice? What can I do to help others at this time? Here are some links below to helpful places to start if you’re an artist that’s lost work, need funds and more. I lost a bunch of work (as you can see from my GIGS page) but I should be OK if the shedding is short-lived. I do worry about my peers.
If you can though, and if this time is survivable for you – try to find solace in the quiet spaces and discover or revisit passions, desires and all the things that bring you joy. Provided I and those I’m close to stay healthy, that’s one of my goals at this time.
The BARN SONGS Tour, The ExPosure Series (Chicago) & The STONE are CANCELLED
Wishing everyone the best of health, sanity and safety in these very strange and turbulent times. Much love and wellness to you and yours. Until we meet again! Fay
FV Chamber Trio for BARN SONGS (Marika Hughes, FV, Darius Jones) by Jochem van Dijk
Here we are at the beginning of March 2020 already. It seems like just last week I was saying Happy New Year to many of you! Here’s hoping you’re well and adjusting to this vibrant, dynamic and crazy world we are living through at this time. The feeling of deep chaos is swirling around, there’s so much pain as well. Yet there is great hope and the desire to fight for a better world. All around the world people are trying the best way they know how to fight for themselves and the greater ‘we’. I’m not quite sure what to think of this moment but it keeps me on my toes. I’m also better focused on what I can do to help create the world I want to see. Connecting with many of you and others through music in this moment means so much more than it ever has. Life and sharing are precious things. I’m figuring out how to do more of the latter. Sending healing strength and love to you all.
This March I’m looking forward to sharing the music of BARN SONGS with many new faces and friends as we hot the road for shows in Newburgh, NY; Philadelphia, PA; Milwaukee, WI and Chicago, IL…with a big old CD release party at Joe’s Pub here in New York City. Thrilled to be able to take the great Darius Jones (alto sax) and Marika Hughes (cello) along for the ride. It just wouldn’t be the same without them! You can still purchase BARN SONGS via bandcamp and the Northern Spy website for starters. The BARN SONGS Tour ends in Chicago where I’ll stay on, honored to be a part of this year’s Exposure Series. In addition to the BARN SONGS Show, I’ll perform three more nights in different configurations. Excited. Just excited for it all.
Celebrating BARN SONGS! Fay Victor Chamber Trio Tour Fay Victor – voice, compositions Marika Hughes – cello Darius Jones -alto saxophone
WHEN/WHERE? SATURDAY, MARCH 14, 2020 8PM Celebrating BARN SONGS Jazz @ Atlas Studios 11 Spring Street Newburgh, NY Admission will be $20 in advance and $25 at the door advance tickets are on sale now at https://fayvictor.brownpapertickets.com.
SATURDAY, MARCH 21, 2020 Fay Victor Chamber Trio Celebrating BARN SONGS Community Educational Center (CEC) 3500 Lancaster Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19104 8PM Ticket Price: $20 –Please check www.fayvictor.com for more info
THURSDAY, MARCH 26 2020 FAY VICTOR Chamber Trio| Celebrating BARN SONGS Elastic Arts 3429 W Diversey Ave, 2nd Fl Chicago, IL 60647 USA Fay Victor – vocals & compositions Marika Hughes – cello Darius Jones – alto saxophone 9 PM : Performance; 10:30 PM : Discussion w/the artists https://elasticarts.org/event/exposure-series-2020-fay-victors-barn-songs/ This performance is part of the ExPosure Series, where Fay Victor has been one of 3 special guests and will stay on in Chicago after the end of the Barn Songs tour.
FV continuing on in Chicago as part of the ExPosure Series 2020: FRIDAY, March 27 2020 9PM VICTOR/REED DUO FV – voice, sounds Mike Reed – drums
SATURDAY March 28, 2020 11 PM : VICTOR/OTIS/WING/MCBRIDE/RA FV – voice, sounds Julian Otis – vocals Alex Wing – guitar/oud Nate McBride – bass Avreeayl Ra – percussion
Creative Improv Sessions start SUNDAY, March 15 2020
Sure hope to see you out there in these great spaces in the groovy places such as Upstate NY, Philadelphia (PA), Milwaukee (WI) and Chicago, IL! Kindly spread the word. Thank you! Thanks for reading and catching on the month’s performances. **John Pietaro at the New York Jazz Record had some nice words for BARN SONGS in his review: “Her uncanny ability to compose, shred and reconstruct haunting melodies is heard anew on this latest work, recorded by her Chamber Trio in a barn 160 miles north of the city. The outcome is arguably spiritual. With nary an effect standing between her voice, the cello of Marika Hughes and alto saxophone of Darius Jones, Victor begets an alluringly beautiful set of original improvisational works (composed in tandem with partner Jochem van Dijk) capturing equally the traditions of lieder, chamber jazz and African American art song.” Check this and more in the new issue of the NYC Jazz Record: http://www.nycjazzrecord.com/
On a final note – for all you budding improvisors out there, I’m starting a new initiative called the Creative Improv Sessions. Simple really. we’ll get together once a month for a couple hours just to improvise and deepen our practice. I’ll guide if you come. Need four vocalists to run a session as a minimum. First Session is Sunday, March 15, 2020, please email me at lessons@fayvictor.com to sign-up!
