Mornin'!

Last night I was absolutely honored to be a part of Matt Turk's rockin' CD Release party band at The Living Room in NYC.  Matt's new CD "American Preservation" is a collection of rock, country and pop covers familiar to millions of Americans.  It's really got a little bit of everything:  from the Beatles, Stones & Pink Floyd, to T. Rex, Jim Croce, and Steve Goodman, this is a CD you can listen to with your entire family.  It showcases the best songs that American and British performers have had to offer over the past 60 or so years.  In other words, it's a CD where no one has to compromise over what different folks in the same room want to listen to.  In addition to song selection, Matt's delivery is also impressive.  Is he a country boy?  A city-slicker?  A suburbanite?  If you didn't know him you couldn't tell since his voice sounds believable whether he's belting "Thank God I'm a country boy!" or "Uptown got its Hustlers, Bowery got its bums..."  What I like most about Matt's new CD is that it celebrates covers, which is what us local working musicians make most of our tips playing.  Sometimes we get down on ourselves and the covers, becoming frustrated when it seems people want to hear the Stones rather than our original music.  But the thing is, the Stones kick-ass!  Their music makes us feel alive.  It needs to be out there.  And people like Matt bring it to us when we can't have the Stones themselves.  "American Preservation" is our reminder that music has always been created to make us feel good.  We are lucky to have folks in our lives who care so much about preserving good music and sharing it with all people.  

See for yourself: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/mattturk4  

Jules

http://www.refresheverything.com/killianmansfieldfoundation

My former student, Killian Mansfield, passed away from cancer last year.  He was 16 years old.  The Killian Mansfield Foundation is competing for $50,000 from the Pepsi Refresh Project.  If they win they will use the money for aromatherapy kits for 10,000 kids.  Please vote every day in the month of May so this awesome idea can become a reality!  Thank you!

Greetings!  Gearing up for a Spring and Summer full of shows.  Two highlights for May are Dylan's Birthday Jam at the Towne Crier on May 23, and Meaghan Farrell's CD Release Party on the 27th.  These are 2 shows I am honored to be a part of, and I hope to see you out there!

Sincerely,

Jules

I'll keep you posted, Jules

Happy Birthday Abraham Lincoln!  Many of you know that in addition to being a singer/songwriter, I'm also a middle school history teacher (or is that the other way around?)...We study Old Abe every year, and each time around I learn so much more about this complex human being who worked tirelessly to keep our Union together, when many argued (quite articulately, actually) that perhaps we'd be better off as 2 separate nations.  Abe was human, through and through.  Hated by both Northern abolitionists and Southern secessionists alike, his moderate politics didn't please either extremes.  It's kind of crazy that he was elected at all, both times.  I guess I love studying Abe because I continue learning how nobody is perfect, even our heroes, and most people, no matter whether we like them or not, just get up every morning and do the best they can to make another pleasant day a reality.  Life is hard, but we all live it, and we do the best we can.  Abe didn't free the slaves (the 13th Amendment did), and many times he put himself above the Constitution (as all Presidents have done), but he did fight to save a Union that was worth saving.  His actions saved a country that would surely have permanently divided, over issues (states' rights and slavery) that were fixable, if we could just confront them head on, as Lincoln did.  Often times, facing problems makes one unpopular.  Ultimately, however, people grow once problems are faced and dealt with.  The country, made up of people, works the same way.   

Happy Birthday Abe,

Sincerely,

Jules

I have some great things to share with you, like the fact that I bought a guitar and amp earlier this week and even tried it out at Daly's Pub last night and was quite pleased with it.  But these material things matter little in the face of the unimaginable destruction we have witnessed as the aftermath of the earthquake in Haiti has unfolded.  Our good friend Jay Gisser has put together a Haiti Relief Benefit concert at Southside in Mahopac on Feb. 6, 2010.  I'll hope you'll join us there.

More soon, Jules

Hope this message finds you well.

Happy Holidays!  When did December and the freezing temperatures here in NYC show up?!?  Scully and I have been keeping warm by heading out to see as much live music as possible.  In addition to seeing awesome local artists at Daly's in Astoria, we saw the Brian Setzer Orchestra TWICE in November, and The Gaslight Anthem last week in Jersey.  I hope you've been getting out there and supporting local music too!

Thanks guys, see ya soon.

Jules

Hope this message finds you well.
 
I have been working on some super cool things I would like to share:  First, I've been jamming with the lovely Meaghan Farrell for the past couple of months.  Meaghan has been working with my good friend, Marc Osborn, for the past year, and they have co-written quite a few fantastic tunes.  Imagine a performer who has Janis Joplin's soul, Linda Perry's (4 Non Blondes) singing chops, and Pink's balls.  Only then will you start to get the picture of the likes of Meaghan Farrell.  Plus, she's funny as hell.  Meaghan and I will be dueting here and there in the next few months.  I will certainly keep you posted.  Tonight she'll be joining me at Daly's in Astoria for a short set. 

Second, last night I got together with 3 incredible singers - Johanna Kodlick, Tiffany Feo, and Lindsey Sanchez, to rehearse the entire "Wish You Were Here" album by Pink Floyd.  My talented friend, Johanna, invited us to join her and a fantastic band led by Stanley Maxwell and Jeffrey Howard, a 15 year old guitar virtuoso, to rock some Pink Floyd.  I was never a serious Floyd fan until last night.  I am thrilled to be in such esteemed company and cannot wait to be up on stage in January singing harmonies on this gorgeous album.  More details will follow in the calendar in the coming weeks.

Thanks guys, have an incredible Thanksgiving and Holiday Season.  I'm so thankful for my awesome friends and family!

Sincerely,
Jules

Well, my Tacoma Chief acoustic guitar was stolen at 4:30pm, Sunday, Oct. 18, from my truck in the Guitar Center Parking lot on Northern Blvd and 48th street in Astoria, Queens. The serial number is E2195040. A total of $5,000 worth of gear was stolen. It's a long shot to post this, but it's all I got...

See you next Saturday night, October 3, at the 5th Annual Marsh Sanctuary Oktoberfest in Mt Kisco, NY.  We had a ball at last year's Oktoberfest - though you may remember it as my CD release party for Old Flames & New Names!  Though not a CD release, this year's festival is filled with the Hudson Valley's best music from bands including yours truly, Phineas and the Lonely Leaves, Blue Mozart, and Blue Water.  Bring the kids and stay all night!  Click through the PICS page to see last year's CD release party/Oktoberfest at the wonderful Marsh Sanctuary.  Send me a message for more details!

Hi there.  I've been having some trouble lately uploading pics to juliecorbalis.com, so if you want to see some more recent gig pics jump over to myspace.com/juliecorbalismusic or friend me on Facebook.  Hostbaby is working on the problems in the meantime.  I'll be on Catskill Radio all this week doing an interview with Terry Doyle (it runs twice daily)...surf over and check it out:

http://www.catskillradio.org/listennow.php

Well I am back to school and getting back into my regular teaching and music routine.  I am happy to invite you to the Ossining Eagles Club for Friday Happy Hour BBQ's throughout the months of September/October to hear some of the Hudson Valley's best performers.  I'm proud to say I helped book these artists myself and will be getting down to a bunch of the shows.  Check my calendar for directions to the Eagles Club.  Here's the line up:

Sep. 18 Jay Gisser

Sep. 25 Patrick Duffy of "The Cause"

Oct. 2 Julie Corbalis

Oct. 9  Fred Gillen, Jr.

*Recently added Saturday Oct. 10 metal show:  SH*TBOX!*

Oct. 16 Scott Urgola

Oct. 23 Bryan Gordon

These artists are some of my best friends in the biz, and I hope you will come down and support our vibrant local, live music scene.

See ya soon, Jules