Debbie Poryes - Jazz Pianist: Links

YouTube: I am playing the first tune from my new DVD, a live solo piano concert I played in the summer of 2008. It's beautifully recorded and filmed by master engineer, Bruce Mishkit.
Debbie is Interviewed about Healdsburg Jazz Festival: I am discussing the importance of hearing real and beautifully maintained pianos as well as my upcoming Healdsburg Jazz Festival concert.
Debbie Poryes New CD Recording and Release: February 9, 2009

Dear Friends, Current and Former Students,

2008 was truly an exciting year! As you know, my new CD, “A Song in Jazz,” came out last summer, to wonderful reviews and sales as far away as Japan and England. I even made the #1 slot on the Canadian Jazz Earshot chart, and Top Ten in about 25 American cities. My Jazzschool CD release concert was sold out, recorded and aired on KCSM, and I received an immediate date thereafter at Yoshi's where we pulled in close to a full house for a Monday night. I was happy to see so many of you there, some of you for both gigs!

Many of you have told me how much you liked “So It Seemed,” my original tune on the CD, and have encouraged me to keep writing. So I started this year by writing two new tunes, "Catch Your Breath" and "Prayer for a Child," both of which the trio performed at our gigs. And, I am continuing to work on developing my personal voice in jazz piano that emphasizes space, a warm touch, melodic complexity and singing lines, sonorous voicings, innovative voice leading (and still swing! Whew!).

Inspired and encouraged by all these developments, I decided that I want to record and produce a second trio CD to include several of my own tunes on the new disc as well as my usual array of interesting arrangements to both beloved and lesser-known standards. Now that I’ve just gone through the process, I know what it takes, both artistically and on the business side, to accomplish such a feat. As many of you know, I've had to overcome some major physical obstacles to my piano playing over the last 20 years, and I've found that the recording studio, with a great instrument, is a perfect way for me to control the hours and conditions under which I can play.

Here's the challenge: I financed the first CD myself and can’t do that again. So this time, I am seeking private and foundation funding to support the project. Based on my experience with the first CD, it will cost about $16,000 to record, produce, and promote a second CD ($3,000 for two days of recording in the studio, $2,000 to make a final mix, $1,500 to design the cover, $2,000 to duplicate 1,000 copies, $500 to pay copyrights on the standards, and $6,000 to pay for the radio distribution and print promotion). Through this letter alone I've raised over $2000 already!!! So I am now in the process of applying to the wider community of national arts foundations. Here’s how you can help:

• Talk to your friends and family: Perhaps you know someone who is on a foundation board, or someone who loves jazz and wants to support the creation of new work. Please send their name and contact information my way and I’d be glad to follow up, or feel free to forward this email.

• Make a tax deductible donation: Your support means more than I can
say. Also, it helps demonstrate to potential funders that people believe in the project and have already thrown their support behind it. Supporters will be gratefully acknowledged in the liner notes of the CD, on the program for the CD release concert, and on my website.

Debbie Poryes New CD Recording and Release is a sponsored project of Fractured Atlas, a non-profit arts service organization. Contributions in behalf of Debbie Poryes New CD Recording and Release may be made payable to Fractured Atlas and are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.

Started in 1998, the New York-based Fractured Atlas has sponsored over one thousand musicians, theatrical groups and other artists. They provide many programs and services to artists as well, including health care. Please feel free to check out their website at www.fracturedatlas.org.

Checks should be made payable to Fractured Atlas with "Debbie Poryes New CD Recording and Release" in the memo line. Please send check contributions to Debbie Poryes New CD Project, 321 San Carlos Ave, Piedmont, CA 94611. You can also make donations online with a credit card by going to my link at the Fractured Atlas website (click link above).
Thank you for your consideration. Your support and encouragement mean so much to me.

With gratitude,

Debbie
CD Baby: One of the best websites for discovering independent musicians. Support art for art's sake! You can buy the CD and have it shipped to you or download it. It's a great site for me if you use it as they give me excellent bookkeeping and service, plus the best percentage that I earn.
Lisa Reedy Promotions: Am I glad that my first experience with a radio promoter is with Lisa Reedy! She is a phenomenal worker who has gotten my CD into rotation on over 300 stations around the world. She keeps almost daily email contact with me and is always available by phone if I want to talk with her directly about some detail. And, she is easy to communicate with and has a great sense of humor. We have a lot of smiles in our email exchanges.
Kari-On Productios: Kari Gaffney is organizing my print and internet publicity campaign to get my CD out to jazz publications and critics. She is an absolute doll to work with, very detail oriented and I'm learning a lot from her about publicity. This is also a first for me, to work with a publicist, and I feel very fortunate that it's Kari.
Debbie Poryes E-presskit: This is my new E-presskit designed by Kari Gaffney. I can use it for booking and press contacts. It has photos, biographical information, and an interview. It was so enjoyable working with Kari on making something that is an honest presentation of myself.
The Berkeley Jazzschool: Susan Muscarella has created an incredible institution for the performance and teaching of jazz. There is a great variety of faculty and course offerings. The performance space is intimate, has a beautiful Steinway Grand, and truly delicious food and drink from the Jazzcaffe.
The Bassment: This is the music store at the Berkeley Jazzschool where you can purchase my CD "A Song in Jazz". I buy my music paper there also! They are open M-Th 4-8:30, Sat 10-4, Sundays during concerts.
Groove Yard: This is a CD and record store at 5555 Claremont Ave between Telegraph and College in Oakland. It is run by Rick Ballard, one of our local jazz heroes. Rick publishes an e-newsletter about the local jazz scene. Sign up for it at groove2@earthlink.net and support the Groove Yard by purchasing CDs and records there. He doesn't have a website, so call him at 510-655-8400. He is open daily!
Bill Douglass Bassist and Bamboo Flutist: See the "bios" page.
Drummer David Rokeach: See the "bios" page.
Salvo Design: Ken Salvo's design services. When I first saw the cover that he designed for me, I was just knocked out by how beautiful and light hearted it was. He can design anything you need! He listens to what you want and is very easy to work with.
Deva Productions: Music and Production services of Bruce Mishkit. Bruce is a fantastic recording engineer. Because he is an excellent musician as well, he hears in detail. And, he is very articulate and willing to explain patiently about the equipment and other technical aspects of the recording process.
The Golandsky Institute: This is the organization devoted to the teaching of the Taubman Approach to piano technique. I have been studying this technique for 17 years, first with Nina Scolnik in Southern California, and now and for the last 10 years with John Bloomfield. I have had problems with wrist pain on and off since my early 20s and studying this technique and learning a more natural approach to playing the piano has not only allowed me to continue being a pianist, but also to make my sound rich and full. I am so grateful to the genius of Dorothy Taubman, and to Edna Golandsky who has carried her invaluable work forward.
Rebecca Bogart Piano Studio: Rebecca is a fabulous classical pianist and amazing teacher. I learned many creative ideas from her about teaching. She is also a tireless advocate of the Taubman Approach to piano technique and really knows detailed applications in the classical literature.