Raison D'Etre: What's up

Somehow, I totally missed posting a Raison D'Etre news item in July. I'll blame it on the fact that the period from July 1-20 was possibly one of the busiest stretches of days in my life.

July started out looking like a leisurely month for Raison D'Etre. We played back-to-back Swing Canaries gigs the first weekend, one of them at the Cincinnati Museum Center for a Heritage Tour luncheon and the other for Downtown Frankfort's outdoor concert series on the Old Capitol lawn. I remember saying at rehearsal the night before the Heritage Tour, "well, July will be easy since we only have five dates booked." I had forgotten that my own schedule was stepping up for the month.

Immediately after the 4th of July weekend, I realized my mistake. Not only had I signed up for the summer session of Practice of Poetry at Grailville on every Thursday afternoon with Pauletta Hansel, but I had also signed up for poet, Cathy Smith Bowers' "Abiding Image Workshop" on July 10. Cathy had come to Grailville during our worst snow storm of the year, so those of us who couldn't make the winter date were promised a summer session. All of those poetry sessions were wonderful, of course, but most of the writing I did during that time was my own.

My HealthRhythms schedule also picked up during July with two sessions at Walton Senior Center and one at Active Day in Blue Ash. I kept thinking, "I'll get around to posting something about Raison D'Etre's wonderful midsummer adventures soon." But again, I didn't.



So, you missed learning how much fun we had dressing up in period costume and debuting "Bie Mir Bist Du Schoen" for the Heritage Tour. Probably the most fun we're having with that tune is that Violet Rae is breaking out her bari uke and doing a little lead on the song. Vickie and I are also being our braver selves and trying our hand at a little klezmer-sounding riff each. We did the tune the next day at Frankfort's Downtown Concert Series and almost nailed the parts. However, it wasn't tight until we played at the Cincinnati Art Museum's celebration of American Song on July 11! I wanted to high-five Violet and Vickie after our lead sequence, but we still had to finish the song. Thanks to our friends who came out to those three concerts, bringing love, support and even pie. Gil Thurman captured the Frankfort party ambience in his photos of their event.




So after the Art Museum, I took a deep breath and realized that my personal calendar was taking over. Kate Larken--singer/songwriter/publisher extraordinare-- e-mailed me to say that the Motes Books Gathering scheduled for Grailville July 16-18 was pretty much filled up and that my songwriting workshop might have as many as 21 participants. So I spent a couple of days getting my handouts together for this wonderful new adventure. In the meantime, my yearly Arts in Education Roster training was scheduled in Frankfort on the 13th, and I picked up a last minute solo booking from Creative Aging for my "Story Behind the Song" program. I gave up all hope of a website update for July when Gary scheduled a few vacation days for July 22 and 23. Then the gals of the Raison clan celebrated our sister, Rosanne's birthday with a lunch at the Greyhound Tavern.

Let me tell you that all of this activity might have kept me from updating our news page, but it sure was invigorating. The Grailville Gathering turned out to be filled with really great writers of all genres--including a few songwriters--who styled our swarps into something special. We sang hymns, original songs, and the Rolling Stones, played avocado percussion, took turns holding the youngest member of the Gathering(five days), and shared writing. It was magical! Those of us who had work published in Motes Books' latest themed anthology, MOTIFv2: COME WHAT MAY, AN ANTHOLOGY OF WRITINGS ABOUT CHANCE were thrilled to receive our contributor copies at the Gathering.


Following the Gathering I took a few days to get back to my exercise routine before Raison D'Etre finished out our month playing Acoustic Thursday on Fountain Square, following a talented singer/pianist/songwriter from Denmark, Tommy Hansen. The next day, we headed up the road to Wilmington, OH to close our performance month with two Swing Canaries shows and two more chances for "Bie Mir Bist Du Schoen." I love a complete cycle.

Hope you are having a thrilling summer.
Still missing the wonderful John Benjamin who left us on July 13.


(Photo of John Benjamin sent to Kentucky Artist listserve by David Marshall.) Thanks, Carrie Nath!

Raise on!
And in John's honor...
Never defer those midsummer night dreams.

http://java5concertseries.com/tv.php (you might end up on tv in Alabama!)

Just Because It's June

I'm in denial, of course, but where did May go? Since I wrote you last, the garden is in, Raison D'Etre played Frankfort, Lexington, and Newport, KY, the theme show on Women of Substance Radio switched from mothers to fathers, and the class of 2010 is graduating. Time to show down and notice.

We'll be noticing some wonders in our home area this June as we play at the gorgeous art fair, Summerfair, on June 6. We're up on the Vocal Arts Gazebo Stage at 2:30 pm that day, but the fair begins on Friday at 2 pm. If you live in the Greater Cincinnati Area, you owe it to yourself to take in the artistic wonders at this breathtaking fair during its weekend run at Old Coney Island Park off Kellogg. Hope to see you as we take our celebratory tour right after our set.


June is also a time to notice some of the great music venues we get to play. Like College Hill Coffee Company & Casual Gourmet on June 12 as we present "Java, Jive, June," our two set concert at this unique coffee, dining, and relaxing establishment in College Hill.


And if you live far away from us, you can always notice the great music on Women of Substance Radio which features one of our songs this month on "Honoring Fathers," a show that airs every Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday from 3:00-5:30 pm, EDT. Just go to

http://www.womenofsubstanceradio.com
and listen via their player.

Of course, you can always find Raison D'Etre music and videos to download for your very own playlists at CD Baby, iTunes, and Mudbrick Media.

Just check out our page for links to browse and buy:

http://www.raison3.com/products.html
Raise on , June bugs,
And don't defer those wondrous dreams.

Lots going on in Kentucky in May. Some of it not so good. The heavy rains over the first weekend all but washed out the Governor's Derby Day Celebration in Frankfort. When we arrived at 8:30 am, some hardy families were taking advantage of the the Capitol tours and enjoying a Kentucky Proud breakfast, but the crafters and artisans scheduled for the day had all packed up for home. Our would-be Governor's Stage was cordoned off with caution tape like a crime scene. We did what any harmony-singing group would do at that point, sighed a collective, "oh,well." and went off to find breakfast.

The sun did manage to shine bright for the few minutes of the Derby itself which I watched from the comfort of my Wilder Elks Hall/basement. It's not really an Elks Hall, but would do in a pinch if the Elks ever needed it. My horse--which I choose solely from the name--did not come in, but I was really happy for that Dream Bet guy. Can you imagine how many friends he has now?

The continued rain caused some major flooding in south Kentucky. I saw facebook reports from friends near Berea mentioning that some of them had to leave their homes. This morning's paper confirms that the flooding there was deadly. Kind of puts a few soggy public events in perspective. Today, with the sun shining bright, I am grateful that the heavy rain has subsided and hope this finds you safe and again looking forward to some spring celebrations.

Raison D'Etre has a mini-tour of our old Kentucky home lined up for May. Friday May 7th will be our debut at Frankfort's Kentucky Coffeetree Cafe. This unique listening room features national touring acts on most weekends like Ann Rabson, New Found Road, Claire Lynch, and Sam Bush. There's a bluegrass bent to most of the touring acts, but many blues, jazz and other roots styles are scheduled as well. We are playing for Coffeetree's monthly event, First Friday, a poetry reading with music organized by some Kentucky poet laureates. We are really excited to be part of the event which will feature the poetry of Alex Taylor and Emilia Phiips. See the Kentucky Coffeetree website for details.

http://www.kentuckycoffeetree.com
Then on May 8th at 5 pm, we're headed over to Lexington for Downtown Lexington's Mayfest. This 16-year-old arts festival in Gratz Park runs from 10-6 on Saturday. Check calendar links for directions.

http://www.raison3.com/calendar.html
And speaking of Kentucky arts and crafts, Newport has its own little haven for Kentucky food, music, and crafts at Kentucky Haus/ 411 E. 10th Street. We'll be there playing two sets on May 22 from noon-2. Plus, we'll probably sneak upstairs to check out the latest shipment of Bybee Pottery.

Hope this finds you on the sunny side.

Raise on, and don't defer those dreams!
Roberta of the Raison

http://www.raison3.com
Check out all of our video clips at Mudbrick's YouTube channel:

http://www.youtube.com/user/MudbrickMusicVideos#grid/user/B7C76827F5738568

Spring unfolded slowly this year. The snow did not want to let go. The chill would not leave the air. But today the forecast is for 76 degrees, and I’ve spent the last couple of weeks booking summer concerts for Raison D'Etre. The cycle resumes.

Just wanted to report some of the adventures this folk trio enjoyed during the changes in season. To start March with a “lion” of an event, we performed on the Blue Moon Stage at Kentucky Crafted: the Market. Kentucky Arts Council produces this stage of Performing Arts Directory music acts each year including classical, traditional, jug band, bluegrass, singer songwriters, and choral music. Plus they offer our recordings to retail shops on the trade days and patrons of the Market during the retail days. The Market is such a feast for the eyes with all the crafts and visual art and for the ears with all the music, but probably the most popular aisle is the Kentucky Proud corridor where visitors can sample some of Kentucky’s finest foods. I personally came home with some great barbeque sauce and some wicked hot mustard.

Mark Brown sent us a few photos from our performance. Just so you can get the feel of the beautiful performance space…





On March 10, we headed up to Mason, Ohio to play our Swing Canaries set for Mason Christian Village. As usual, this lovely audience sang along with the standards they knew and danced to in their youth. It’s always a pleasure to share these great songs with an audience who knows them well.

March became a “lamb” of a month when we headed up to College Hill Coffee Company for our “Beware the Jive of March” set. CHCC is our absolute favorite public gig because the patrons and management are such wonderful people. Imagine our surprise when we arrived to set up and found a gift bag of Raison D'Etre beer next to our tip jar. Tina, the owner, had been browsing Marty’s Hops and Vines, the newest neighborhood establishment to open on her block in College Hill, when she saw the beer and thought of us. It is so great to feel welcomed. And the night just got better from there. Lots of friends stopped out to hear our sets including Erin and Mary Ann with two of Erin’s school buddies, George and Nancy, Jim, Cathy and Bob Price with grandson, Henry and a whole table-full of moms-night-out led by our friend and my former SK student, Angie Gillespie. Some young women I hadn’t seen since their high school days have blossomed into wonderful adults. Angie took this photo of us...


Also in March, Violet Rae’s song “Alien” was featured on Women of Substance’s theme show for the month entitled, “Conscience.” Thanks to Bree Noble and her panel for selecting us to be heard on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays. My song, “The Hard Truth,” was also featured each Thursday on the Folk Show. If you’d like to listen in to the great music on Women of Substance while you work or surf the web, just go to the widget we have posted on our front page:
http://www.raison3.com
Several of our songs are in regular rotation, including “Broken Radio” and “Another Train.” The really cool thing about Women of Substance is that our song might just get played after someone like Stevie Nicks or Carrie Newcomer. We hope you’ll give them a listen.

On March 29th we made our last appearance on Northern Kentucky Magazine with Nancy James. Insight is cancelling all local programming effective today, April 1st. I wish I could tell you that it’s an April Fool’s joke, but I can’t. Yet another avenue for Northern Kentucky artists, teams, musicians, businesses, and community organizations has been slammed shut. We are so grateful for all that Nancy, Sandy and Pat did to connect our community. We’ll miss them!

For April, we are working on adding some songs and arrangements to our Old West and Swing Canaries sets while our schedule is light. Only two shows this month for Bridgeway Pointe and Springdale Community Center. Hope to see you in May when the outdoor festival season gets underway. We’ll be in Frankfort for a couple of shows and in Lexington for their MayFest Arts Fair.

Check the calendar for specifics:

http://www.raison3.com/calendar.html
Raise on, dear friends!
And don’t defer those budding dreams.

Roberta of the Raison

Snow Falling on Cedars(and Roofs, and Roads, and...)


While not as socked in as the East Coast, our little corner of the world spent at least half of February in cancellation and rescheduling mode. We received 6 inches of snow near the beginning of the month(overnight on the 5th,) then another 6 inches before we could dig out from the first. And just after our neighbor came by with the huge construction implement to plow our long gravel drive mostly clear, we were treated to another 9 inches of fluffy white over the week of Valentine's Day. As I look out the office window onto the valley below our house, large swaths of 3-4 inch mini-glaciers still dot the hillside. Even a day of rain and a few days of sun were not enough to completely reveal the grass underneath.

Since Violet was out of town for a travel convention, Raison D'Etre was on February hiatus. For once, I was really grateful that we hadn't scheduled the usual 4-5 February dates, as they would have most likely needed re-scheduling. Even with the snow, I was able to make most of my HealthRHYTHMS drumming sessions for February and review a couple of books for WVXU's "Around Cincinnati."

(Photo by Janet Arno, Campbell County Library.)

You can read about my adventures in my blog, "Braverself." if you're interested:

http://braverself.blogspot.com
Feel free to leave some comments.

February meant a new theme show for Women of Substance Radio. We were proud to be included in their "Valentine's Show" which aired every Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday from 3-7 pm. If you'd like to listen to their online programming while you work, we keep a widget on our homepage:

http://www.raison3.com
Coming up in March for Raison D'Etre...

We're excited to be included in the Blue Moon Stage line-up, produced by the Kentucky Arts Council, at Kentucky Crafted: the Market on March 6 at 1 pm and we're real happy to return to Cincinnati's best coffee venue, College Hill Coffee Company on March 12 from 7:30-9:30 pm. Hope to see you at one of these shows. Please come on by to talk and we can compare icicle stories.

Hope you are staying warm, reading some, and listening to some good music!

Raise on, dear friends!
And don't defer those dreams...

Roberta of the Raison
http://www.raison3.com

January is usually a quiet month for Raison D'Etre. In most years, we play maybe one fund raiser or possibly a concert near the Greater Cincinnati area. It's a time for me(Roberta) to tally up the past year and prepare for the new. Traditionally, we meet around Vickie's table and set some goals for the coming year of trio activities. The women of our family gather for Violet Rae's birthday. And that is pretty much the way January transpired until mid-month...

Then Mudbrick Media put up a myspace site to promote our music videos. We're very happy with the design, photos, and videos. Please take a look when you get the chance, and let us know what you think.

http://www.myspace.com/raisondetremusicvideos
(photo by Brad Puckett)

On January 15 and 16, Raison D'Etre took part in Rivertown Music Club's fund raiser for Susan G. Komen Foundation, "One More Girl on a Stage" at York Street Cafe in Newport, KY. On Friday we were delighted to share the Gallery Acoustic Stage with such acts as Shiny & the Spoon and Carole Walker while Lauren Houston and Tupelo Honey rocked the house in the Lounge. Saturday night, I helped out as the volunteer coordinator, working with some great rollergirl volunteers and other helpful members of the Rivertown Music Club community. Event mastermind, Kelly Thomas, performed tunes from her new CD with Ryan Malott in the Lounge on Saturday while the Acoustic Stage featured a diverse line-up of groups playing both standards and originals. I was especially impressed with a group called the Honneycombs. York Street Cafe was a wonderful venue for this fund raiser, offering three floors of fun.


Raison D'Etre at "One More Girl" show(Kelly Thomas)

Rollergirls and Teachers Volunteer(Jan Thomas)

The end of the month was jam-packed with two Swing Canaries shows in Loveland and Sharonville and three HealthRHYTHMS drum sessions for me in Ohio.

Suzie Timmer shot from New Year's Eve

Coming up...Fine Arts Fund Sampler Weekend February 20 and 21. I will be leading HealthRHYTHMS drum sessions at Media Bridges in Downtown Cincinnati and at Campbell County Public Library in Cold Spring. No prior skill necessary, so I hope you'll drop in to have some fun with drums. It's free. Check our calendar page for details.

http://www.raison3.com/calendar.html
It's hard to avoid hearing about and seeing the suffering in Haiti. There are so many ways to help. If you are thinking about buying CDs(like ours or anybody's) at CDBaby, for one more week, they are contributing a dollar from every sale to Haitian relief. Their offer started on January 25 and runs through this coming Friday February 5. If you buy one of our CDs from CDBaby this week, we will sweeten the deal by sending you a copy of our 2007 concert DVD, "Live @ Java 5." Just be sure you give CDBaby your name and address when you purchase our CD, and we will send you a DVD for free. Thanks for helping in any way you choose. Here's a link to get your shopping started:

http://www.raison3.com/products.html
Hope to see you somewhere in the next month.

Raise on!
And don't defer those dreams.

Well, here we are in a brand new decade! I’ve wanted to keep you up on Raison D’Etre happenings for December, but since I was so involved in making those things happen, the best I can do is bring you up to date on our whirlwind holiday experiences.

Noel in November?

Every year Raison D’Etre ends up doing some caroling since we have our little caroling books stocked with at least three hours worth of our favorite holiday songs and our capes and bonnets at the ready. We add a few more favorites each Christmas based on whatever goals we set for ourselves in January. In most years, we might end up doing 4-5 holiday gigs, primarily in December. In 2008, our caroling crept into the pre-Thanksgiving window by a few days when we sang at Balluminaria and for the O’Bryonville Holiday Walk. But in 2009, we actually sang our first holiday songs on November 12 for Kentucky Historical Society and didn’t put those books down until December 19! I think I counted 21 holiday gigs total, including three New Year’s Eve events. So, I hope you’ll forgive me for just now getting back to the Raison D’Etre desk.

Three New Videos on iTunes

Mudbrick Media invited us back to Mobile, AL in December to shoot three music videos from our Tales from the Tall Side recording. We did videos for “Don’t Worry About Me,” by Violet Rae, “Another Train” by Vickie and “This Kind of Rain” by yours truly. It was really fun performing in front of a “green screen” like the pros do while Mudbrick’s team decided how to present our songs to the world.The music videos are available on iTunes now for $1.99 each. Hope you’ll go take a look and tell us what you think.

http://www.mudbrickmusicvideos.com/videos_list.php
From Brad Puckett's photo shoot at the Bragg-Mitchell Mansion in Mobile:

How can we be three places at once?

My friend, Dixie, reported to me that she saw Raison D’Etre performing on INC6 on Christmas Day while the Schultz Family listened to us on WVXU’s Around Cincinnati Christmas show. How could we be on cable TV, Cincinnati Public Radio and enjoying the holiday all at once? Through the miracle of digital footage and pre-recorded radio, of course. We also managed to be featured on CDBaby’s “Festive Folk” podcast during December on the 10th and the 22nd. So, we seemed even busier than we were in real life!

http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=340257811

Coming Up...

We are so pleased to help Rivertown Music Club, led by that dynamo, Kelly Thomas, with the “One More Girl on a Stage” extravaganza which is two nights this year at the York Street Cafe. Hope to see some of you there.



Happy 2010, dear friends!
Raise on, and don’t defer those dreams...

Raison D'Etre spent a few days in the Ozarks this October as SERFA(South East Region Folk Alliance) held its 2nd Annual Conference at the Ozark Folk Center, a lovely mountaintop destination in Mountain View, Arkansas. While at the Folk Center, we showcased one song in the Fast Pitch showcase where each performer/act gets five minutes on stage to perform a song and “make the audience love you.” All twelve acts managed to get on stage, set mics, intro songs, and get them performed in under the five-minute deadline. I was a little nervous about the whole deal since we chose my song, “This Kind of Rain,” which—on a good day—can run 4:30. Violet said she found the experience, “exhilarating.” I was very relieved that we brought it in under 5:00.

Here’s a photo taken by Lauren LaPointe,(a fabulous singer songwriter from Savannah) of the Fast Pitch Showcase. We don’t look too nervous.



The evenings of SERFA were filled with official showcases from 7-10:30 pm and then guerrilla showcases back in the cabins until 2 am. Those hearty souls who did not get enough music by 2 am were invited to attend the “late night jams” in the rec room. On Friday Folk Alliance sponsored an unofficial slot for us in their cabin. So, we were happy to perform a full showcase along with Emily Dowden(of the Dowden Sisters,) Happenstance, C. Daniel Boling, Marissa of Folk Alliance and John Stoecker.

Raison D'Etre decided to bring a little Kentucky hospitality with us and host an in-room showcase on Saturday night. Due to a scheduling mix-up, our in-room was moved to the spacious rec room, so not only did we have snacks and snazzy talent, but also some pretty tasteful décor. All performers were asked to do at least one Kentucky-themed song. So, we were wowed with “Somewhere in Kentucky,” (Laurie McClain did this earlier in her formal showcase, so we gave her a pass) “My Old Kentucky Home,” (Chico Schwall played a masterful instrumental version,) “Paradise,” (played by our Arkansas buddies, Brooks and Doug of Happenstance) and “Shady Grove,” done by C.Daniel Boling who is a distant cousin of Jean Ritchie. And last, but certainly not least, Lauren LaPointe anchored that 1:30 am slot with a “Blue Kentucky Girl” sing along. She rocks! Here’s the poster we put together for the ”Old Kentucky Home” experience.


(photo by Gary Schultz of Wilder Ranch Road.)

We truly love the Ozarks, the Folk Center and their wonderful staff, and SERFA’s board for putting together such a great conference. Can’t wait to return to the Ozarks next October. Here’s a little glimpse of the view from the lodge steps.


(Photo by Vickie Ellis)

Back home now enjoying what’s left of the Ohio Valley foliage. We arrived home just in time for the peak color. Hope to see you at some of our upcoming shows.

For photos of our showcase performers, see our PHOTOS page.

Raise on!
And don’t defer those dreams!

I spent the last week of September and the first few days of October on one of the highest mountains in North Carolina at a magical place called Wild Acres. There a circle of song writers--who are really starting to feel like family--gathers to experience each other’s creative energy, a workshop and concert by a prominent song writer, lots of good food and conversation, a prompt-a-day, and informal jamming. This year we again shared the mountain with the Duke Writer’s Workshop--a happy marriage of words and music. Turns out that lots of the Duke Writers sing and play as well. Marshall Chapman rocked the auditorium with her songs and stories. And the marvelous Zelda taught me the proper way to eat scuppernongs.

Coming back with three new songs renewed my faith in my own ability to create, yet left me with an overwhelming “homesickness” for that particular sacred space. Thanks to Georgann Eubanks and Donna Campbell for leading us to Wild Acres each year, and to Mike House for his stewardship of place, and to all the other writers who have taken me in as family. Hope to see you next year.

Pinnacle shot from Joe Pfister, 2008.



Raison D’Etre will travel to Arkansas’ mountains this month to take part in the South East Region Folk Alliance’s second annual conference at the Ozark Folk Center. We have a “Fast Pitch” Showcase, a late night Folk Alliance Showcase, and are hosting our own “Old Kentucky Home” showcase in our room where the participants must contribute either a Kentucky-themed song or snack. We look forward to meeting folkies from all over the country at SERFA while we take in the beauty of the Ozarks.

The Old West Festival winds up for 2009 on the weekend of October 10-11. It’s enjoying some real growth in patronage this year, so here’s hoping you get out to Brown County, OH before you have to wait a whole year to play cowboy/cowgirl. We’re up on the Dodge House Stage one more time this season--October 10 from 1:30-3:30 pm. C’mon out Route 32 to see us before we sing “Happy Trails.” Medicine shows, lassos, gunfights, and saloon dancers. Lots of crafts, food, and interesting characters.


Raise on, Pardners!
And don’t defer those “Happy Trails” dreams

Roberta of the Raison

--Paul Simon

August brought us a few Dog Days, but certainly not as many as we’ve had the past few years. In fact, my dog, Maggie May, is lounging away in the side yard on this pleasant end-of-summer day enjoying the sights, sounds and smells that go along with that first hint of chill in the air. No doubt we’ll still have a few hot and humid days coming up, but today everything feels swept clean.

Raison D’Etre’s August schedule was almost leisurely, giving us the time to enjoy seeing those of you who ventured out from your busy lives to share an hour or two with us. On perhaps one of the most humid evenings all summer we played at the Dilly Deli’s fabulous courtyard space. The owner, Chuck, came out to greet us remarking that “whoa, it looks like Woodstock out here.” While we were puzzling over whether or not we looked like love children, we finally decided he was noting that there was a pretty big outdoor crowd for a Saturday night. It was a hot, hot night, but a great time playing three sets for appreciative and fun people. Thanks especially to Charlie and Gayle for coming by and to the really nice table of partiers who stayed around for the late set and bought our CDs. Plus, our waitress rocked.

The following week brought us to Joseph Beth Booksellers with two indoor sets amid the volumes. We love bookstores and bookstore people! Violet Rae and Vickie were happy to greet friends from Morehead State University’s Drama Department who gathered with the gals for some merriment at Don Pablo’s following our sets. We were very pleased to see our good friend, Dixie, who brought a friend along, and it was great to see Medicine Woman, too. Thanks to all who came by to listen, buy a CD, or just plant a kiss on Berta’s unsuspecting cheek between songs--love ya, Stuart! Big thanks to Barb Hudson for having events like this instore.

August 22 sent us on an adventure to Shepherdsville, KY where Bullitt County Library has a wonderful concert series for their patrons. Charlie and Randy(Programs and Director, respectively) told us that the crowd would be great, but we weren’t prepared for how much they listened to every word and took part in the banter. Musicians--song writers, especially--live for this kind of exchange. Bravo, Bullitt County Library! We enjoyed every minute of our time with you. And, of course, some of our friends from the Louisville area showed up. It was so wonderful to see Cookie, Kathy, Donna, and Erin and her beautiful twins! Some months are just meant to savor, and this year, August was that month for us.

Good thing we had that savoring time, because September promises to be a whirlwind. We’re playing two fund raisers that we’d like to call to your attention here, and of course, The Old West Festival will be getting underway on September 12.

We’re playing our cowgirl set at the Old West Festival on Sept. 12, 27, and October 10, but the Festival runs for 5 consecutive weekends beginning September 12. Be sure to find your way out highway 32 into Brown County for a unique experience for the family. Download and print out a “Side Kick Discount” at this link:

Old West Fest Discount
The 2nd Annual Bluerock Music Festival is coming up on September 19 from 1-8 pm at Blue Rock Farm. EG Kight, blues sensation, is the headliner with Raison D’Etre, Tracy Walker and Jake Speed & the Freddies playing opening sets for her. Hope to see you there, It’s fun, family-friendly, and fabulous.


Last, but not least, is Grailville’s 65th Anniversary Bash. Come on out to Loveland to shake the hand that feeds you!


Hope you’re enjoying the changing of seasons.

Raise on!
And don’t defer those bountiful dreams!

Roberta
Scribe of the Raison

I couldn’t turn on a TV anywhere in Greater Cincinnati without hearing the pronouncement that this July was one for the record books. According to the scribes who note these trends, we haven’t had a July this cool since 1947. Well, I agree, but for different reasons. Sure, I’m enjoying the bounty from the garden that steady rain brings. And I cherish the below 80 temperatures any day. But, the cool I’m feeling is from all the great experiences Raison D’Etre basked in this month. The ones that make me resort to that 1980s favorite saying of my former student, Kelly Webster from Simon Kenton, who often said “cool beans.”

Our performance month started 12 days into July with a trip to the Chautauqua community of Lakeside on Lake Erie. We played on the town Gazebo for the summer concert series where Lakeside Association was auctioning off some unique Adirondack chairs for the benefit of programming and recreation. Artists from the community had painted each chair in a different theme. What a delightful way to raise funds for everyone’s benefit while nurturing the creative spirit! The auction participants--plus Lakesiders who brought their picnics to the park--formed a receptive audience for our music. Many stayed around afterwards just to talk.

View of the chair auction audience from the stage:


Thanks to Shirley Stary for inviting us back to this one-of-a-kind destination. We stayed around the next day to do our “Lakeside in a Day” tourism which included sampling just about every restaurant, walking all the streets, and swimming in Lake Erie. Cool breezes prevailed.

After swimming shot from Vickie's phone:


Last look at the pier before we headed home:


For more photos of this lovely town, here’s a link to our photo page:

http://www.raison3.com/photos.html
The next weekend we had two fulfilling performances at home. July 17 brought us back to the Queen City Balladeers’ summer showcase in Eden Park, Edensong. We shared the stage with other acts beginning in the letter “r.” Cool coincidence? You decide.

Rubber Knife Gang
Rabbit Hash String Band
Raison D’Etre
The Tillers(OK, no “r.” at the beginning. but there is an “r.”)
Ricky Nye

It was a picking and singing good time back stage and onstage. Thanks to the Balladeers for 46 years of putting on these concerts. And we really love our cool T-shirts!

The next night we returned to College Hill Coffee Co. to a fairly packed house of friends and family. Women from Grailville’s “Practice of Poetry” sessions showed up, so I felt that the pressure was on. These women listen to lyrics because they are awesome writers. Thanks to Tina and Phyllis and all the great staff at CHCC for welcoming us “home.” They have both the “cool” and the “beans” since they combine them so well in delicious iced coffee.

And what could be cooler than a standing ovation? We were privileged to receive that honor at Sycamore Senior Center for our July 22 performance of “Sister Acts,” our musical journey through some of the great singing sister acts of the last century. We adore singing these great songs for the appreciative and discerning audiences who often heard them from the original acts. Violet Rae and I debuted our duo version of “Swing Canaries,” on the following Saturday at The Anderson. We’ve been singing this catalogue of 1930s and 1940s songs for well over 13 years, but this was the first time we performed it as a duo string band. Even though I forgot my sheet music, our cooler heads reigned as we shared VRae’s lead sheets, and I played “Sentimental Journey” from short term memory.

We concluded July with a seasonably warm and humid evening in Arnold’s courtyard. What was cool about that, you may ask. Well, it’s Arnold’s for one. And Joe Zerhusen dropped by after his shift as the Reds' announcer to say hello. So good to see Joe after all these years!


We hope you’ve enjoyed the cooler than normal July. I sure have. Thanks to every one of you who bless us with your presence.

Raise on, dear ones...
And don’t defer those “cool beans” dreams!

“...true love and home grown tomatoes.”--Guy Clark

Summer’s here for real. Fourth of July, fireworks, and the very first of those home grown tomatoes are ripening on the vine. No doubt you will hear Guy’s song performed at a few outdoor concerts this summer at Farmer’s Markets, coffee shops, and festivals. Most likely you’’ll hear a version or two on your favorite Front Porch type radio show. Raison D’Etre doesn’t do Guy’s song since many of our close musical compadres already do their own bang-up arrangements; however, we share his passion for the unparalleled flavor that only a home grown specimen can bring. I have a theory that home growns taste better because the careful work of our own hands draws in some kind of supportive energy from the universe. Or maybe the plants themselves respond to the adoration of constant watering, weeding, and preening just like people do, leaning toward the warm light of our hopes, not wanting to disappoint. Maybe after being cared for so patiently and particularly, they just want to give us their best. Whatever the reason, I am grateful for the miracle of red and plump.

So, to celebrate the beauty of those home grown wonders, I include a glimpse of my first homegrown tomato for 2009. It tasted every bit as good as it looks...


Raison D’Etre had a bumper crop of June experiences including a Creative Aging mini-tour of our Swing Canaries show. We shared some songs from the 30s and 40s with the lovely folks at St. Charles Adult Day, Wilson Salvation Army(our favorite sing along group,) and the residents of The Lodge of Montgomery. Bill Schinkal sent us a few shots of the Wilson Salvation show, posting them on their website as well. Take a look at his shots on our photo page at

http://www.raison3.com/photos.html
We were delighted to help out with the Hope Emergency Fundraiser which took place at the Old West Festival grounds on June 6. Madame Gigi’s CanCan Dancers, Raison D’Etre, and the gunfight re-enactors performed for the revelers as they ate some wonderful barbeque dinners and enjoyed the ambience of Drew Deimling’s wonderful attraction. Be sure to check out this great home grown festival this fall because it’s fast becoming a destination for families who want to experience some colorful American history and family fun without truly leaving the Cincinnati area. Time to dust off that cowboy hat and explore, pardner.

http://www.oldwestfestival.com

And what would June be without some downtown Cincinnati music events? Fountain Square hosts several free music events under the umbrella of the PNC Summer Series. Raison D’Etre was happy to play a set on June 25 for the lunch crowd. Pru Hunt preceded us with a half hour of her original tunes about Cadillacs, Tom and Huck, and the Ohio River. I (Roberta) joined her for some harmony on a couple of those tunes. It was the hottest day so far, but hey, now all of us are well-tempered for the Dog Days ahead.

Hope to see you somewhere this summer. We have lots of home grown concerts coming up as well as a few adventures out of town. Until next time...


Raise on, dear friends...
And don’t defer those ripening dreams!

Roberta of the Raison

Raison D’Etre’s had a busy May! Here’s hoping that your month has been as much fun as ours. We started out the first weekend with an Elderhostel Concert in Northern Kentucky saluting the Kentucky Derby, then headed due south for The Governor’s Derby Day Celebration on the Capitol grounds where we played a set on the Capitol Stage following some savory Stephen Foster singers and some tasty bluegrass. And did I mention food? The state parks were serving up some great breakfast sandwiches while kids took part in a stick horse derby on the hour. We were worried how the downturned economy would affect the Derby spirit, but everyone was decked out in crazy hats and Kentucky smiles. So, the sun shines bright indeed. From the Erlanger Elderhostel group who were discussing their Derby picks with us to my former student and super soundman at the Governor’s event, Matt Roser, everyone was ready for the Seabiscuit type Derby we had this year...underdogs cheering for the underdogs!

The following week, I(Roberta) took a couple of days to attend the KPAN training facilitated by Jean St. John of Covington’s Center for Great Neighborhoods and Arts in Education Roster Artist, Pat Ritter. Many of Kentucky’s teaching artists gathered at Happiness Hills Retreat Center in Berea, KY for a fabulous two-day training in marketing. Below are a few photos courtesy of Jennifer Rose and Alfredo Escobar that show us hard at work learning the finer points of marketing our services and products via social networking.



The Conference Space & Housing



Artists at Work Learning to Twitter



Supper, oh, yeah!

Later that weekend Raison D’Etre played two sets for the “Family Matters” art exhibit at Grailville Retreat Center in Loveland, OH. It was a beautiful Mother’s Day event with a feast at 5:30 pm. Parents, children, and art lovers browsed the exhibit and roamed the Grailville grounds in search of the farm’s spring babies. Poet and Co-Director, Pauletta Hansel, offered up her husband, Owen, as our roadie...as long as we returned him in time for the Feast!

May 16 took us back to College Hill Coffee Co. for two sets. We were a little concerned that the lovely weather would keep people outdoors way past our 7:30-9:30 sets, but folks came on over to this friendly neighborhood establishment to have some food and fellowship. I heard that the College Hill Historical Society was even in attendance. How’s that for supporting your neighborhood businesses? As always, Tina and her staff treated us great, and we had an especially grand night for singing.

Pru Hunt and I(Roberta) took a little three-day jaunt down to Greenbo Lake State Park for the very first Gathering of Writers and Songwriters organized by MotesBooks dynamo, Kate Larken. The 30-some writers and songwriters who showed up for this workshop/retreat were thrilled to receive classes, readings and performances from Marianne Worthington, Anne Shelby, Silas House, Jason Howard, Kate Larken and Sue Massek(Reel World String Band.) Plus we had the opportunity to share our pieces in an “open mic” setting each evening. Every shared piece was incredible, making me think “wow, I’m so lucky to be with these people for a couple of days.” At the end of each activity-packed day--we were also invited to hike to a cemetery, go on a pontoon boat ride, and take a wild flower hike--we engaged in a magic mountain tradition called a “swarp.” The swarps went on until the wee hours. And I am proud to say, so did I! Here’s a photo of most of our group on the last day. Thanks to Silas House who took the shot via timer. If you are in need of something to jumpstart your writer soul, this is the Gathering!

http://www.raison3.com/hostbaby2/js/tiny_mce/themes/advanced/langs/en.js">f="http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=viewImage&friendID=73270628&albumID=598569&imageID=46999080">
We hope to see you at some of our upcoming performances. We’ll be at Summerfair on May 30, a fundraiser for Hope Emergency at the Old West Festival on June 6, and you can even catch us at Fountain Square in Cincy for a lunch concert, June 25th. Check our calendar page for details:

http://www.raison3.com/calendar.html
Until next time,
Raise on!
And don’t defer those swarpin’ dreams...

“It’s raining violets...”

So says the song “April Showers.” We’ve certainly had our share of rain this month, bringing the violets to my old Kentucky home right on time...white ones, light ones, and deep purple ones. April is one of those months that requires some belief in the promise of Spring. Skies can feel so vast and gray sometimes, but then we see the redbuds and the violets and the profusion of bluebells along the creek on the way to Easter at the Hickeys, and we know that April is going to deliver again.

Because April is notoriously non-busy for Raison D’Etre, we use it as a month to rehearse, retool, and re-vision. We’re hard at work on some new songs for our Sister Act show, adding a few cowboy songs to our Golden Girls of the West set, and putting the finishing touches on a few of the original songs from TALES FROM THE TALL SIDE that have not yet made it into our regular sets. In addition, we’re planning our harmony workshop for Grailville next month.

We also took some time to host Carla Gover--formerly of Zoe Speaks--for a house concert on April 10th. At our house in Wilder, we are able to host concerts for up to 30 guests in our “Elks Hall”-looking basement. So far, we’ve hosted The Troubadours of Divine Bliss, Anita Camarella and Davide Facchini, and now Carla. Carla’s concert was inspiring, as she shared many new compositions-in-progress, some of her familiar songs from Zoe Speaks, and a few very interesting ballads that she studied in her recent fellowship at the Berea College folk music archives. To give you an example of how organic Carla’s concerts are, she asked me to sit down with her a few minutes before the first set to try out a descant she’s writing for one of her newest songs inspired by her ballad studies. She just wanted to see if it would fit into the song the way she’d envisioned. Then before the end of the set, she called me up to try the part. It was really fun for me and the audience to be both involved in and witness to the creative process.



For a few more photos of the Carla Gover Concert, go to our photos page:

http://www.raison3.com/photos.html
We have several public performances coming up next month where you can hear the results of our April wood-shedding. If you ‘re in Frankfort on Derby Day, we’ll be up on the stage at 11:30 am performing some of our newest songs from TALES FROM THE TALL SIDE. And mid-month, we’ll be back at College Hill Coffee Company for two spring sets. And finally, we’re excited to have some new songs to debut on The Vocal Arts Gazebo Stage at Summerfair.

Until then, “keep on looking for a bluebird, and listening for his song
Whenever April showers come along.”

Raise on, and don’t defer those blossoming dreams!

And that’s what it’s all about in this children’s dance song. A couple of weeks ago, after digging out from an ice storm/snow storm/deep freeze again, my husband Gary and I decided that the Hokey Pokey was pretty much a philosophical statement for people who put their “whole self” into what they’re doing every day while still remembering that even the struggle can be joyful. So we did the hokey pokey around the kitchen for a few minutes and shared a really good belly laugh in our snow gear.

We know about the Hokey Pokey in our area mainly because of a TV performer called “Uncle Al” who invited us to jump around in our jammies in front of the set, or to attend his broadcasts all “gussied up” for the camera. He was on air in Cincinnati from 1950-1985, an astonishingly long run for any kind of television program. In his trademark straw hat and ubiquitous accordion, he advised us to “put your toys away, don’t delay...” and told our moms all about Barq’s root beer, cream soda, and Mama’s Cookies, the local sponsors who brought us our daily installment of Captain Windy, Uncle Al, Hattie the Witch and the other characters inhabiting this dance along, sing along adventure world.

Al Lewis--the real guy behind the Uncle Al magic--left us this week at age 84. He’s inspired a few generations of humans to do the hokey pokey and turn themselves around...
and that’s what it’s all about. Try doing a few rounds of the hokey pokey in your kitchen when you’re having a particularly rough day. If you’re anywhere near a mirror, I’m telling you, it’s a big cure for what ails you.

Last month, Raison D’Etre put our whole selves into launching our dual release of “Tales from the Tall Side” and “Swing Canaries.” Bev Holiday hosted a release event at Kentucky Haus Artisan Center for “Swing Canaries” near the beginning of the month, while Tina Stoeberl scheduled us for our “Tales from the Tall Side” release concert at her comfortable coffee establishment, College Hill Coffee Company, on Valentine’s Day. We were overwhelmed by the loving support at both events! Thanks so much to those of you who carved time out of your busy lives to share it with us. And thanks to WVXU’s Lee Hay and Brian O’Donnell for the “Around Cincinnati” segment, and we’re grateful to WNKU for giving us some inaugural spins on Music with O’D and Morning Music with Michael Grayson. And a very big thanks to Nancy James and Sandi Megowen of Northern Kentucky Magazine. Violet Rae was very excited about her time on the interview couch. So what if we never actually made it in to the Uncle Al Show(our mom worked during the broadcast hours.) Being interviewed by Nancy James is always enjoyable.

This month we continue with another release event. We’re honored to play at the 10th Anniversary Show of Music Cafe at the Fitton Center in Hamilton, OH. Check our calendar page for a link to their website:

http://www.raison3.com/calendar.html
And if you’d like to read the latest article about our dual release, Ryan Clark talked to us recently for the Cincinnati Equirer:


http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2009903020375
Raise on, dear friends...
And don’t defer your chance to do the hokey pokey!

Roberta of the Raison

“You make me smile with my heart.” --Rodgers/Hart

Back when I used to practice singing in Ed Yelton’s woods, “My Funny Valentine” was one of my favorite songs. A girl could gingerly climb over the barbed wire fence--to keep the cows in, not me out, I reasoned--and be very far away in a few jogs through the knee-high golden grass. Once I found the shaded canopy of the hickory, sassafras, and maple trees, I could stand on the upper edge of the cow path overlooking the little frog pond and sing just as loudly as I pleased. The deep impression carved by the creek transformed that spot in the woods into a natural amphitheater where I could hear every note of the song bounced clearly off the hardwoods. Back then, I think I enjoyed the song purely for its melody which seemed smoky, mysterious, and grown-up. I was a sucker for anything minor, modal, or major 7th.

But lately, I think I love the song for its theme of total acceptance. Who wouldn’t want be loved even if their looks are “unphotographable?” And who wouldn’t want to be described as someone’s “favorite work of art?” I’m now happily a sucker for paradox.

If you’d like to enjoy a unique interpretation of this song, I’ve included a link to a video of Rickie Lee Jones.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uip6iv7pWmw
February News

1. “Swing Canaries” release event
2. “Tales from the Tall Side” release events
3. Raison D’Etre on the radio and TV
4. Where to buy the new recordings.

Swing Canaries at Kentucky Haus

We’re having a release event for our swing compilation, “Swing Canaries,” at Bev Holiday’s wonderful Kentucky Haus Artisan Center on February 7th from noon-2 pm. We’re doing an all-swing set at noon, and will debut some tunes from “Tales from the Tall Side,” as well as our other recordings during set two. Bev carries food, pottery, jewelry, and music by Kentucky artisans. Visit her lovely shop at

http://kentuckyhaus.com
“Tales from the Tall Side” Release Events

Our seventh recording, “Tales from the Tall Side” includes 8 original songs plus a little swing, a little cowgirl, and a beautiful anthem to Northern Kentucky written by Boone County bassist and song writer, Daniel Wilson. Release concerts include our next appearance at College Hill Coffee Company and Casual Gourmet on February 14th and our upcoming March 24th performance at Music Cafe in Hamilton, OH. Hope to see many of you in the weeks to come.


Raison D’Etre “on the air”

“Tales from the Tall Side” has been getting airplay on WNKU and WYSO in the past week. Listen for us on Brian O’D’s show, Valentine’s Day, February 14 @ 11:30 am on WNKU and on an upcoming episode of “Around Cincinnati” on WVXU. Cable subscribers can find us on “Northern Kentucky Magazine,” Insight Channel 6 on February 5th for an interview with host, Nancy James, and a few tunes.

We’ve been getting a lot of play on an internet station called “Women of Substance Radio.” The folk shows featuring our songs air at 7-8 pm(so that’s probably 4-5 pm our time since the station is in California) on Tuesdays and Thursdays. We’re also in their regular rotation, so we could pop up other times amid the big stars of women’s music. Tune in at

http://www.live365.com/stations/breenoble
“Swing Canaries” and “Tales from the Tall Side” On Sale...

You can buy our latest recordings at the Kentucky Artisan Center in Berea, KY, at Kentucky Crafted: the Market February 21-22 in Louisville, KY, at Kentucky Haus Artisan Center, and of course at CD Baby and iTunes.

http://cdbaby.com/cd/raisondetre6
http://cdbaby.com/cd/raisondetre7
Here's hoping that February brings you higher love!

Raise on, Little Valentines,
And don't defer those work of heart dreams.

"Each day is Valentine's Day."

Roberta
Raison D'Etre

In mythology, Janus was the god who could face two ways: toward the past and the future. We make a big deal out of January each year when we celebrate the arrival of a new calendar year and even note the importance of the month by inaugurating our President in this space of time that marks endings and beginnings. And so we have at least two vestiges of Janus in our language: “January” and “janitor”--a month for taking inventory on the past year and beginning a new one and a person who takes care of the doorways and hallways to sweep them clean.

As the janitor for Raison D’Etre, I proudly and carefully look over the highlights of our 2008 and document them in a photo journal on this page:

http://www.raison3.com/photos.html
So, take a look before I get broom happy and sweep them away for newer adventures.

In honor of Janus, Raison D’Etre has added two new recordings to our Detremental Records catalogue. It took us most of 2008 to produce our latest CD, TALES FROM THE TALL SIDE, a 12-song collection with 8 new originals, a controversial song from the 1940s, one cowboy tune, a familiar sing-along, and a beautiful anthem to Northern Kentucky penned by our friend, Danny Wilson. We had a lot of fun recording at Group Effort Sound Studios. So much fun that we asked Dan Murphy what would be involved in putting together a compilation of our swing music. So the part of Raison D’Etre facing the past is that collection entitled SWING CANARIES while TALES FROM THE TALL SIDE urges the listener to “find a new beginning” on the first track which is called “Braver Self.”

You can now--as of this Inaugural Week--find both of our newest recordings on CD Baby at the following links:

http://cdbaby.com/cd/raisondetre6
http://cdbaby.com/cd/raisondetre7
We hope you’ll go give them a look, listen and maybe even a purchase, if you are so moved.

So far in January we’ve found a new beginning by taking part in the One More Girl on a Stage whole house concert at the Southgate House on January 10. 14 women-fronted acts played in the parlour, lounge, and ballroom of Newport’ s rocking mansion for the benefit of the Susan G. Komen Foundation and the Julie Martin Memorial Fund.

While it’s still up, take a look at Violet’s photo in The Cincinnati Enquirer:

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20090118/LIFE/901180315/1079/rss04
The photographer caught her playing kazoo on a song from our new CD, “Legacy.”

Here’s hoping that you are finding some new beginnings this first month of 2009. I’ll be sweeping out the hallways here in Raison D’Etre land to make room for all those new adventures.

Raise on!
and don’t forget to make a clean sweep for those dreams...

And speaking of dreams, have a safe and meaningful Martin Luther King, Jr. Day!

Roberta, the Janitor

"So I will throw Veterans' Day over my shoulder. Armistice Day I will keep. I don't want to throw away any sacred things.
What else is sacred? Oh, Romeo and Juliet, for instance.
And all music is."--Kurt Vonnegut,
BREAKFAST OF CHAMPIONS

November 11th is a sacred day for me because of this quote, our mom’s birthday and, of course, because of Kurt Vonnegut. He was born on this day and begins BREAKFAST OF CHAMPIONS with a little explanation of the meaning of this date to WWI veterans:

“It was during that minute in nineteen hundred and eighteen, that millions upon millions of human beings stopped butchering one another. I have talked to old men who were on battlefields during that minute. They have told me in one way or another that the sudden silence was the Voice of God. So we still have among us some men who can remember when God spoke clearly to mankind.”

If I were teaching high school today, I would begin my writing workout session with a reading of Kurt’s quote and a brief sharing of the cartoons in BREAKFAST OF CHAMPIONS. Later in the day I would notice that the paperback copy of that book had disappeared from the book rack and that several sophomore boys were gathered in the back of the room giggling. And I would rejoice. More reading victims lured in by Kurt’s cartoons.

Raison D’Etre is reminded of November 11 several times a year when we play for military reunions as the Swing Canaries. We’ve been performing that show since the 50th Anniversary of D-Day at the Cincinnati Museum Center, so well over 13 years! However, most of our swing era tunes are spread over 6 of our recordings. In January 2008, we decided to make it one of our goals this year to release a compilation recording of these songs. So, now we have! SWING CANARIES, our 6th CD, is now available for anyone who wants all of our recorded swing songs on one disc. You can reserve your copy by sending us $12.00(check payable to Raison D’Etre, includes postage) at our contact address at this website:

http://www.raison3.com/contact.html
In a few weeks it will be available on CD Baby for those who like to order through that great on-line service. We’ll keep you posted.
Raise on, and don’t defer those dreams!

Roberta

“Leaves don’t drop, they just let go,
And make a place for seeds to grow.”--Carrie Newcomer

So many seeds planted in my head from the incredible beauty and weightless grace that is SOLATIDO. Violet Rae, Vickie and I packed up the Jeep and headed for the highest mountains in North Carolina ostensibly to hone our song writing skills among the other 23 song writers who gather at Wild Acres Retreat Center each year, each soul hoping to give full rein to the creative process. But, so much more happens...

For one thing, we shared the mountain this year with the Duke Writer’s Workshop. What could be more fun than 23 songwriters getting together? Well, just add 30 writers of fiction and nonfiction to that, light us up, and watch us go!

Every day we met at 9 am for our writing prompt, then set off for some quiet space to write. At 11:30, we’d gather back at the Studio(the songwriter’s gathering place) to share the songs or fragments in group. Sharing with SOLATIDO(or “So, la ti da” as some of the participants have come to call it) fellows is a welcome experience. My first attempt at a song from the “shoe” prompt provided by Georgann Eubanks, our fearless facilitator, did not make it into group share because we had so many folks willing to share what they’d written. However, I think that listening to the other songs made me that much more comfortable with our group. In no time at all we were singing along with the obvious chorus to Joe Pfister’s Pete Seeger-like composition, “Who Will Fill My Shoes?” as well as clapping along to the bluesy collaboration between Randa and Diane(who had just met, by the way) about the woman who might wear the flashy dark blue satin pump they had pulled from the pile of prompts.

As the lunch bell rang, we were still amazed at how many good songs came from just selecting a shoe from a pile. When the lunch bell rings at Wild Acres, you drop whatever you’re doing and bask in the gentle care of the dining hall staff as you dine “family style” at a table filled with writers to whom you pass the biscuits and little pieces of your own life story. We sat with mystery writers, business writers, poets who were also doctors, teachers, nurses and software documentors. A sample of lunch time banter, “so, have you ever heard of Tift Merrit? Well, she lives right across the street from me and was my babysitter.”

After lunch we all headed to a reading given by one of the Duke Writer’s Workshop faculty. This became a “must do” for Raison D’Etre as we received as much inspiration from hearing the works of these talented folks as we did from listening to our songs in circle. After the readings the first full day, one could elect to get some peer coaching or climb to the Pinnacle. Violet Rae and I decided that since we were in the mountains, we owed it to ourselves to climb to the top. So, Georgann led an equally mixed group of Duke/Solatido participants to the Pinnacle where we could look directly upon Mount Mitchell, NC’s highest peak and marvel at the magnificence of the Blue Ridge. As a little rain storm loomed on the horizon, our caravan headed down the mountain so as not to miss the really important scheduled event -- 5 pm Happy Hour! Picture 50+ writers on a porch overlooking the mountains, many of us in rocking chairs, drink in hand...yes!

Following dinner, several songwriters performed for the Duke folks in their studio area and then later gathered in the canteen for some late night jamming. We put Kate, Jen and Freddie through most of their set lists while the string band held forth for at least one set. Raison D’Etre played “This Kind of Rain” for the Duke folks right as Carrie Newcomer arrived. I felt breathless all the way through the song...climbing the mountain, happy hour, Carrie Newcomer, but managed to get through without falling over.

On our second full day we proceeded through the same delightful schedule: breakfast, lunch and dinner at the dining hall, morning prompt, share, reading, etc. However, Carrie joined us for the prompt share and sat right next to me while I sang for the very first time a song I wrote from our “smells” prompt. Much to my delight, the other songwriters chimed right in on the “sha la la” part. Violet Rae shared her song inspired by the curry smell which for some reason took her back to Saturdays with mom’s chili. Tim acted as her “Mr. Music Stand” while she read her fresh song from a notebook.

All this was prelude to the profound influence of Carrie Newcomer as a spiritual presence and teacher. To begin our session with us, she picked up her guitar and sang her song “Geodes.” Now, I’ve heard that song before on the radio and thought, “good voice, good song,” but nothing prepared me for the totality of words plus voice plus spirit.Carrie’s whole workshop was about finding inspiration in the sacred ordinary. As somebody who actually has some geodes thrown in my flower garden because they seem somehow precious to me for what they have inside, I have never heard such a beautiful tribute to the human spirit:
“you can’t always tell, but sometimes you just know.” I think Carrie Newcomer gave me the perfect metaphor for how I feel about each and every person I met at Wild Acres. They look ordinary on the outside, but have that crystalline beauty inside distilled from whatever makes them write and sing.

Anyway, Violet Rae, Vickie and I listened to everyone’s music on the way home, hoping not to lose that Wild Acres glow for a long, long time. If you’d like to check out a few pictures from our journey, I posted a few, courtesy of Donna Campbell, on our photo journal page:

http://www.raison3.com/photos.html
You can also read about SOLATIDO at the retreat site:

http://www.solatido-workshop.net/
Raise on, dear friends
And don’t defer those shining glimpses into the heart...

“And inside there shines a secret bright as promise.”--Carrie, again

Here's the last installment of "April, Come She Will" lyrics:

"The autumn wind blows chilly and cold--September, I remember
A love once new has now grown old."--Simon and Garfunkel

That concludes my six-month journey through quoting “April, Come She Will” lyrics--a journey that coincides with Raison D’Etre’s 6-month recording project with Group Effort sound Studios. We have three more sessions scheduled in the studio this month and hope to have a finished CD by fall. Stay tuned for news about our release events.

Meanwhile, we’re doing plenty of live music and always have our live double DVD with us,”Live@Java5” for anyone who wants to experience our Mobile, Alabama concert without leaving the comfort of your home. You can buy the DVD from us at any concert, or mail order it by sending a $15 check to:

Raison D’Etre
Roberta Schultz
622 West Johns Hill Rd.
Wilder, KY 41076

Make all checks payable to Raison D’Etre, and we’ll send a two hour concert your way.

Just for fun, there’s a segment from our live DVD on Kazoobie Kazoos’ blogspot. They featured us last month:

http://kazoobie.blogspot.com
Check our CALENDAR page for September live performances.

http://www.raison3.com/calendar.html
Hope to see you somewhere down the road.

Raise on, dear friends...
And don't defer those google searches.

Roberta of the Raison

--Simon and Garfunkel

It’s high summer in Kentucky. The bugs are in a frenzy, the gardens are in a tangle, and the kids are getting ready to go back to school. Everybody knows that the lazy,hazy,crazy days are winding down to Labor Day fireworks and getting back to business.

But if you’re itching to play a bit more before the seasons change, we hope you’ll come on down to Cincinnati’s Piatt Park on your lunch break for Cincinnati Park Board/LPK Acoustic Lunch. Raison D’Etre will be there providing the tunes(weather permitting) from 11:45am-1:45pm on August 26. You bring the sandwich!

We’ve had a record summer playing Sister Acts and Swing Canaries shows for some of the best audiences in the world. And Roberta has been plenty busy presenting her solo program, “The Story Behind the Song” as well as performing with the song writers of the Ceilidh Group featured on “Isn’t it a Wonder.” If you’re looking for a great gift for a new mother or your favorite niece, nephew, grandchild,child or child-at-heart, proceeds from this delightful CD go to several children’s programs in Greater Cincinnati. Check out the website at:

http://www.ceilidhgroup.org
If you’re thinking of doing some early online holiday shopping, Raison D’Etre will send you a free “Isn’t it a Wonder” CD for every Raison D’Etre CD you buy at CDBaby in September and October. Just go to:

http://www.cdbaby.com/all/berta
Offer ends October 31, so you have plenty of time to shop! FREE STUFF! Who can resist that? And it’s for a very good cause. You will be so happy with your braver self when you hear “Isn’t it a Wonder”-- because it is.

Even with the busy summer we’ve had, Raison D’Etre has logged several studio sessions on our upcoming recording tentatively entitled, “Braver Self.” We have seven new originals recorded already and are working on at least two more for the project. There will probably be at least one swing tune from our Swing Canaries set and maybe even a cowgirl song. We’ve had a lot of fun doing this one at Group Effort. In fact, one of the tracks is already getting some airplay on Women of Substance Radio.

Check them out at:

http://www.live365.com/stations/breenoble
You’ll be listening for “Another Train” by Vickie and “Broken Radio” by Roberta. But the rest of what they play is awesome, so you can’t lose.

Raise on, dear friends!
And don’t defer those dreams...

Next month marks the end of the Simon and Garfunkel lyric adventure.

And give no warning to her flight.”--Simon and Garfunkel

July is flying by for sure! I keep saying things like, “we just had this really great house concert featuring Anita Camarella and Davide Facchini” or “the wine festival was just last week,” only to realize that weeks have passed since then. So, before July completely flies, I just wanted to tell you about a couple of public shows for Raison D’Etre.

On July 24th we are returning to the unique concert experience that is Live@ the Lodge in Clifton Reserve, OH. Concerts take place in a Greene County Park lodge next to a stream, but weather is usually not a problem since the concerts are inside the comfy lodge. Doors open at 7 and music starts at 7:30 pm. Check out the series website at:

http://www.co.greene.oh.us/parks/events-live-at-the-lodge.htm

July 25th takes us back to Cincinnati’s best coffee house venue(according to CityBeat, 2008), College Hill Coffee Company and Casual Gourmet. There’s never a cover charge, but the staff encourages filling the performer tip jar which they display quite prominently and elegantly. We always have a good time at this beautiful, friendly establishment.

For more on their music line-up(updated to this weekend,) see:

http://www.collegehillcoffeeco.com
We are still recording basic tracks for our upcoming CD, “Braver Self,” at Group Effort Sound Studio and will post a few of the rough mixes up on myspace for you to enjoy soon. For now, you can hear a few tunes from “Hearts Content” and very rough drafts of the newer songs at:

http://www.myspace.com/raison3
Hope your summer is filled with fun and a few cool breezes.

Raise on,
And don’t defer those midsummer dreams!

Roberta of the Raison

In restless walks, she'll prowl the night."--Simon & Garfunkel

Still quotin' the song. Remember, you'll have all the lyrics by September.

June's tunes are changing plenty for Raison D'Etre. We have a bunch of bookings for our Sister Acts shows(harmony sister groups from the Andrews Sisters to the McGuire Sisters to the Webster Sisters.) And we're doing two more weekends at the Old West Festival in Brown County as The Golden Girls of the West where we do an entire set of cowboy era music. The Festival is a real blast! Check it out at:

http://www.oldwestfestival.com
And if it isn't enough trying to keep up with those two very different sets, we'll be doing our Swing Canaries show for the 1940s Weekend at Cincinnati Museum Center on June 21 at 1 and 3pm. On some days, when I wake up I have to ask myself, "who are we today?"

At least we get to be ourselves, Raison D'Etre, with our very own swinging country folk for two very delightful June events:

Acoustic Thursdays on Fountain Square, June 12 from noon-1 pm and The 2nd Annual Summer Wine Festival at Lakeside Vineyards in Felicity, OH on June 27 from 5:30-7:30 pm.

And, if you feel like a real change in tune, join us for a House Concert in Wilder, KY when we host the fabulous Italian duo, Anita Camarella & Davide Facchini for some 4os era Italian swing. He's a smokin' guitarist who has played with the likes of Tommy Emmanuel and she has the voice of an angel! They're passing through our area between their All Star Guitar appearance at the Ryman in Nashville and their adventure in Kansas and Colorado. If you'd like to sample some of their music, check out their Myspace page:

http://www.myspace.com/anitacamarelladavidefacchiniduo
We're taking reservations for the House Concert by e-mail:

roberta@raison3.com

Have a great month, June bugs!
And don't defer those crazy dreams.

Roberta, Violet Rae, and Vickie

resting in my arms again."--Simon and Garfunkel

Here's the next line of the song. Just wanted to get some news up here pretty fast. Violet Rae and Vickie just received "Honorable Mentions" in the West Coast Songwriters 2008 Competition for their new songs "Legacy" and "Another Train." The website is

http://www.westcoastsongwriters.org/contest_winnerinfo.htm
but they listed the song credits incorrectly. Gotta give the girls their props!

We just returned from Door County, Wisconsin which is a beautiful place on both Green Bay and Lake Michigan. We played for a Cross Stitcher's Retreat on Sturgeon Bay. And you would think that would be a sedate bunch of ladies, but you would be wrong. Many of them came to the concert in feather boas to whistle and sing along.

After the concert, we drove up the peninsula to join the retreat members at Square Riggers for an authentic Door County fish boil. Randy Turner, the retreat organizer, assured us that we would not want to miss this spectacle of local color. He is never wrong about that, so we went.

Out behind the rustic lodge restaurant everyone gathered around a huge metal cauldren that was heated by pine logs stacked vertically. The Square Rigger's owner told us about the fish boil technique and tradition. Whitefish steaks(from the very bay in front of us), potatoes, parsnips, carrots, and onions were rising to a boil in the cauldren as he spoke. Once the "stew" came to a rolling boil, the gentleman threw in a little kerosene and a column of flame three feet wide shot up from the cauldren at least twenty feet into the air. Everyone gasped and applauded as our dinner was also our fireworks display. It seems this pyrotechnic display boils off the excess fish oil and makes the steaks less "fishy" tasting.

Back inside the restaurant, the wait staff came around to assist us in removing the fish bones as we dined on the tasty whitefish and veggies served with some great tasting Door County Wine. Another great road gig with fun people.

Raise on,
And don't defer those
roadside attraction dreams!

Roberta

P.S. The baby redbirds hatched and flew off in 10 days!

When streams are ripe and swept with rain."--Simon and Garfunkel

For the next several months, I’m quoting the Simon and Garfunkel song as my monthly quote. By September, you will have the entire song lyrics. But if you need instant gratification, here’s a lovely version of the song by a fantastic South Koren singer on youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ro4F6Iic5L0
Raison D’Etre only played two formal gigs in April, which is also National Poetry Month, the cruellest month, and the anniversary of Kurt Vonnegut’s death, depending on which media sources or very old books you regularly consult. But since spring is real evidence of rebirth every year, it’s hard to be completely sad in April even after taxes or without Kurt. Something about the fact that a redbird is sitting on her nest this very minute inside my front porch light helps me take heart. If she can manage to “keep on keeping on” in that precarious position just to bring her babies to the world, who am I to despair? Large, scary beings pass by her nest making her fly to the nearest bush at irregular intervals, and still she sits and waits. Strange shadows leer at her from a window, but she fixes a steady eye on the voyeurs as she holds her all important stance. She’s got serious business to conduct here called LIFE. That, of course, brings me back to Kurt Vonnegut(anyone trying to follow the logic in this, I’m sorry. There are circles inside circles in my head.)

Kurt Vonnegut said that the purpose of life is “to help each other through this whatever it is.” So, I’m beginning with the redbird outside my door. I have her back(or her side as it turns out) for the duration of her brooding. If anyone comes to visit the Schultz family, please use the side door for the next few weeks.

April took Raison D’Etre to the Richwood Flea Market for two sets on their food court stage. Then we were off to a three-day song writing/arranging retreat at Prairie Pond Woods in Adams County, Ohio where we worked on three songs for our recording session April 20 at Group Effort Sound Studios. We finished out April at Kentucky Haus Artisan Center in Newport. Several folks who are “helping us through this whatever it is” deserve our heart-felt thanks:

Mike--thanks for the lunch and the invite to play the Flea!
Cindy--thanks for the beautiful creative space that is Prairie Pond Woods!
Dan--thanks for your mellow demeanor that makes recording so easy.
Bev--thanks for having us at your shop and for keeping me from losing it after the wreck.
Bev’s mom is the door woman extraordinaire. Thanks to Audrey for all her help.
Tony and Nilsa--thanks for coming out to see us at Rabbit Hash and Kentucky Haus. The video is really good. I hope to post clips from it it on our myspace site and youtube very soon.
Don--great to see you in Newport and Covington. Thanks for your continued support.
Dottie--what a surprise to see you this month! Hope all is well with the Rizzo Family. Thanks for buying our CD!
And special thanks to the gals who met Becky for lunch and stayed for our concert.

I have to go check on the redbird because any day now, I expect to see babies...

Raise on, dear friends...
And don’t defer your dreams of rebirth.
I’ll just bet that somebody has your back(or side, as the case may be.)

Roberta of the Raison