BREAKING NEWS: TONIGHT'S SHOW (July 12) CANCELED

Sorry for late notice...But the venue (Project Lodge, Madison) just notified us about 30 minutes ago that due to unforeseen circumstances they are canceling the show tonight (July 12). No other information was given.

I doubt we will want to reschedule at this venue (hmmm) but look for another co-bill between Likely Stories and Amy Curl/Dan Kennedy in the near future - we were really looking forward to sharing a show with them! Also Likely Stories will be planning our CD Release Party soon...stay tuned.

Have a great evening - sorry for any inconvenience!

3 is a Magic Number!

Related shows (3-way collaborations) - see tracyjanecomer.com for details on shows:

• July 12, 2008 - Likely Stories performing at Project Lodge in Madison, WI
  
• July 19, 2008 - Tracy Jane Comer/Michael Bryant/Randy Green performing for Hanson House concert series, Cambridge, WI
• August 1, 2008 - Tracy Jane Comer/Michael Bryant/Randy Green performing at Gov. Nelson State Park in Madison, WI
• August 2, 2008 - Tracy Jane Comer/Michael Bryant/Randy Green performing for "Folk on State," Madison, WI
• Late summer or early fall: CD RELEASE PARTY to be scheduled for LIKELY STORIES debut CD!

____________________________

"3 is a Magic Number" seems to be the recurrent theme in my musical world. I have been privileged to be part of some very fine trios and 3-way collaborations over the years, and in the coming weeks I have shows involving a couple of my active collaborations.

A group of 3 can mean several things; for instance, it can be a group with one frontman who has a couple of sidemen playing along. BUT, the type of collaboration I like best is when 3 individual writers each contribute songs and get together to work out arrangements. This way the audience gets to hear each participant's music and result can be a very satisfying diversity.

As a multi-instrumentalist, I particularly enjoy these "in-the-round" style collaborations (i.e., trading off the lead) because it gives me a chance to play different instruments -- like lots of cello, some dulcimer, keyboard, sometimes fiddle etc., and I play some different styles of guitar as well including some lead lines and even some electric guitar. I thrive on variety, and I get that by combining forces with other writers.

Here are highlights of current collaborations (ones with upcoming shows):

• Tracy Jane Comer/Nancy Rost/Dave Schindele - A.K.A. "LIKELY STORIES"
  We are all "solo" artists with our own performing schedules, but try to perform as a group every few months and we get together fairly regularly to play. We have been working together for a couple of years and actually have a CD that will be coming out very soon!
  In this collaboration I sing (lead and backing vocals) and play guitar, cello, sometimes melodica, piano, fiddle; Nancy sings and plays piano; and Dave sings (lead and backing vocals) and plays piano and hand drums.
  Both Dave and Nancy have very sophisticated and musical styles with superb lyrics -- they blow my mind with some of what they come up with. Folks who enjoy music as much for the poetry of the lyrics won't be disappointed. With Dave's music I often think of Carole King, Stephen Sondheim, Burt Baccarach and sometimes Peter Gabriel. Nancy is well versed (pun intended) in many styles and her music often takes on a jazz flavor. She often incorporates humor (overt or subtle) and/or outright zaniness...Nancy is full of great surprises!
  I count these two colleagues among the best writers I know. I have been very pleased with the arrangements we come up with together. From my standpoint, I get to make much use of the cello in both "regular" (bowed) and bass (plucked) roles, and their music is wonderful to play cello with....so much so that I decided to buy an electric 5-string cello recently to expand my sound capabilities and increase the bass-playing capabilities (with the added low string).
  
• Tracy Jane Comer/Michael Bryant/Randy Green -- This is an unnamed entity, but it follows the pattern of "in-the-round with collaboration." This group is myself (guitar, cello, vocals) with two of my longest-term musical colleagues, Michael Bryant (guitar, vocals, bass), former frontman for now-defunct group Sticky Fingers, and Randy Green (keyboard, guitar, vocals), who often performs as supporting artist with me but who is a musician/writer in his own right in addition to being my producer, manager, and co-writer. Again, this combination brings a lot of diversity to the table and lets my try out some different instruments and instrumental styles.
  Michael has an unforgettable voice, smooth as silk and reminiscent of the late Dan Fogelberg, and he writes wonderful and very memorable, infectious (in a good way!) songs. Michael and I were both part of former trio Sticky Fingers and have also done duo shows with him a number of times. Michael works by day as an audio/video software specialist with Sony Digital. Randy, who owns/runs Randy's Recording in Cottage Grove, has started writing again and performing some of his own material lately (after a break of many years) and so we have been working his songs into our duo act and also featuring Randy on lead vocals for some covers. Randy often brings a welcome levity to my shows with his distinctive style of humor, and that humor is reflected in some of his original songs as well. Other times his writing is philosophical and deep (not surprising if you know Randy).
  I think what we do together offers a pleasingly balanced "musical diet."

So - I plan to do more with these and other collaborations in the future...and hope to see some of you at upcoming shows!

First full tablature file now available!

OK, just for you guitar enthusiasts, I have finally posted the first full tablature file of one of my pieces. I started with "Movin' in the Right Direction" since that is the one I have had the most requests for. Others will follow, starting with more instrumental works. Let me know if you have a special request for any song's tab and I'll put it in the queue.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD TAB FOR MOVIN' IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION
(NOTE: This piece requires both a full capo and a partial "Esus" capo...otherwise the tab will make no sense.)
Next in line: "Riffles and Runs." Or, let me know if you'd rather see something else up next instead! (Use CONTACT form on my web site or post a comment to this blog.)

Selected chord charts and scores available now

For those of you who are musicians yourself...I have posted a mixed bag of scores and chord charts for some of my songs. See the MUSIC page of my web site (www.tracyjanecomer.com) and follow the link at the top for the LYRICS page. Later this year I plan to publish guitar tablature for my instrumental pieces plus some vocal tunes as well. Let me know if you would like a chart or more info on a song!

RIP, Sallie Jordan Rohrbach

Re: My previous post, I very sadly report that Sallie's remains were found and identified on May 21.

She will be sorely missed by many!

Her killer is in jail, being held without bond. It seems they have collected a fair amount of evidence quickly.

http://www.mahalo.com/Sallie_Rohrbach

I have set up this little page with a few collected links:
http://www.tracyjanecomer.com/sallie.htm

A friend of mine is missing in NC: Sallie Jordan Rohrbach

I do not know if I have many readers of my blog or not, but on the off chance that this might be helpful if some of you readers are in my "home" area of North Carolina...A friend of mine from high school, Sallie Rohrbach (pictured at right) of Angier, NC (near Raleigh), is missing and now apparently presumed dead, since someone has been charged with her murder. She was last seen in Charlotte, NC on Wednesday May 14.

This appears to be a good page for the "big picture" of the story as it progresses:
http://www.mahalo.com/Sallie_Rohrbach

I've posted a picture/info and some relevant links here:
http://www.tracyjanecomer.com/sallie.htm

Anyone who has information or has seen Sallie is asked to call the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department at 704-336-2311 or Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600.

Sallie is a lovely person -- very sweet, happy, funny, loving and kind. I hope everyone will offer some prayers or positive vibes for her well-being.
Thanks,
Tracy

AWARD: INSTRUMENTALIST OF THE YEAR!

I was named INSTRUMENTALIST OF THE YEAR at the 2008 Madison Area Music Awards! [See some pics on the photos page of my web site - more coming soon!] This award was for my acoustic guitar work. A HUGE THANK YOU to those of you who partcipated in the voting process for this year's MAMAs! The ceremony was a blast and I was very, very honored to receive the award. (Incidentally, I have been nominated five times previously in the MAMAs, but this was my first win. I'm glad it didn't take me quite as long as it took Susan Lucci to win an Emmy!)
Congrats also to...
...my manager/producer Randy Green who was a winner with recording artist Robert J for the song that Randy wrote, "Home Movies," which won Folk/Americana Song of the Year.
...Ben Johnston-Urey (Classical Song and Classical Album) - Ben is my church bandmate (Cornerstone)
...the Mud Angels (Blues Artist, Blues Song, Female Vocalist - frontwoman and fellow Tar Heel Laura England) - I assisted Randy Green in the studio (Randy's Recording) during the recording of their latest album and am a big fan.
So...if you are looking for some great tunes, pick up the latest CDs from these artists! (See links above for Robert J or Mud Angels; Ben's CD is available at Ward Brodt in Madison or contact me for more purchase options.)
Thanks again for your support and help!