Show Schedule - Sept./Oct.

Hi all - After a long long long hiatus from performing I have some shows coming up! I'll spare you the shameless marketing lingo....you can see all the detail of any of these shows by clicking the related links. Suffice it to say that it feels soooo good to be making some music again, especially with my favorite collaborators. I really look forward to sharing that experience so hope to see some of you at these shows!

UPCOMING SHOWS (September/October - See web site for dates farther out)

Sep 26, 2009 - Saturday
Oregon, WI (US) - Art in the Barn
Michael Bryant & Tracy Jane Comer (duo) opening for Graham & Co. (Tracy will also join Graham & Co.)
This will be a rare and great opportunity to hear Michael's gorgeous voice and beautiful songs -- I'll be backing him up for this spot.
DETAILS | POSTER

Oct 2, 2009 - Friday
Sun Prairie, WI (US) - Higher Grounds Coffeehouse (Hosted by Living Water Church)
Tracy Jane Comer & Friends
With very special guests as supporting musicians:
Delores Jenison & Carol Hulland (backing vocals); Randy Green & Field Stark (keyboards); John Driscoll (percussion); and Faye Bruggink (clarinet).
DETAILS | POSTER

Oct 9, 2009 - Friday
Oregon, WI - Oregon Arts Festival
Tracy Jane Comer Trio (with Randy Green & Michael Bryant)
Opening events for the weekend festival.
DETAILS

Oct. 15-18, 2009
Mountain View, Arkansas - I'll be attending SERFA Convention (Southeast Regional Folk Alliance)
Performing as official showcase artist as part of 3 of Cups with my colleague Rachel Nelson

Oct. 30, 2009 - Friday
Madison, WI
I am not performing BUT I am helping to promote a HOUSE CONCERT for the fabulous JACK WILLIAMS.
DETAILS

WANT A REMINDER EMAILED FOR ANY SHOW, 2 DAYS IN ADVANCE? You can schedule your own show reminders a la carte - I do not send out show reminders so this will be my only email to you before these shows. To set up your own, access my show schedule HERE in this nifty format (thanks, FanBridge!) and click the "Remind Me" button for any show(s) that you want reminders for.

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HOUSE CONCERT - COMMON TIME HOUSE CONCERTS PRESENTS JACK WILLIAMS (national touring artist now based in Arkansas)

Date: October 30 - show starts at 7:30 pm, doors open 6:45 pm
Jack is one of my all -time favorites and is one of the best guitarists you'll ever hear. He writes wonderful songs delivered with humor, honesty, and insightfulness....and as a South Carolina native he does so with a southern wisdom and kindly charm. And I can think of no better way to enjoy Jack's performance than in a house concert. I'm helping to organize this...My pals James and Sarah graciously offered their lovely home (and new addition perfect for house concerts!). Click here for full details and to find out how to RSVP. If you've never been to a house concert you're really missing out -- it is *the* best way to experience acoustic music from fine songwriters -- up close and personal.

RIP Aunt Jane

RIP Jane Geddie Stephens
8/13/1946 to 8/14/2009

Jane was my aunt and my life hero, who enabled me to become a musician and did more for me than I could begin to recount. And I am just one of the many lives she touched.

Jane had requested a song be played on CD at her Celebration of Life service..."Wayfaring Stranger," a traditional tune recorded previously by one of my side projects, Sticky Fingers, but not yet published on CD. A number of folks have been asking about the song. I have uploaded the song temporarily for anyone who wants to play or download it:
http://tracyjanecomer.com/MP3/WayfaringStranger.mp3

More related links:
Obituary

Legacy page where folks can leave comments

Peace,
Tracy

Thyroids, radio, and CDs

Howdy friends/fans. Here's a grab bag of unrelated items...

(1) I'm saying goodbye tomorrow (Wed. March 25) to my thyroid gland. Prayers or general positive vibes appreciated. I'll be in the hospital overnight but if all goes well will be home by Thursday evening and enjoying some good drugs. I'm looking forward to watching some stupid TV and working puzzles for a few days but will be anxious to get back to working out and playing music as soon as I can.

(2) I've got some songs on JANGO internet radio now - if you could check it out, play a tune or two and give my songs a positive rating (assuming you like what you hear) that would be super....it would help get me more plays in regular rotation. If you are unfamiliar with Jango, please check it out -- it's a VERY COOL internet radio station where you can customize what you want to hear by creating your own "stations" of your choice of artist, genre, etc. You can find my songs at this link or click the JANGO logo at left:
http://www.jango.com/music/Tracy+Jane+Comer

(3) THANK YOU to those who attended the Likely Stories CD release show or have ordered a CD!! Likely Stories is a collaborative project with my pals Nancy Rost and Dave Schindele -- some duos, some trios, a mix of instrumentation (I played a good bit of cello!) with songs written by each of us. If you missed all that -- the CD is now available for sale online....click the CD image to get there or CLICK HERE. You can listen to audio samples there to see if it's your cup 'o tea. (More sales options and downloads through iTunes etc. coming soon!)

Peace,
Tracy

Likely Stories CD Release Show March 21

Likely Stories CD Release Show
March 21 (Saturday)
7:00 pm to about 9:00 pm
(doors open at 6:30)
Prairie Coffeehouse - Keyeser, WI
Intersection of County Highways C and DM
Keyeser WI 53532
(608) 846-4462
No Cover - Freewill Donations

Likely Stories is a singer-songwriter collaborative...we each perform some of our original songs in-the-round and back each other up with harmonies and various instruments.


Tracy Jane Comer (cello, guitar, vocals, bass, percussion for this show) Dave Schindele (piano/keys, vocals, percussion)
Nancy Rost (piano/keys, vocals)

See our web site for more info and audio samples, or to order a copy of the CD.
Or click here for an MP3 that contains short samples of all of the tracks!

Full details about the show here:
http://www.tracyjanecomer.com/showinfo/2009-03-21lscdrelease.htm

The CD will be discounted to $10 for all who attend the show!

Get ready for Mardi Gras with a special night of JAZZ MUSIC and NEW ORLEANS THEMED CUISINE!

Dinner and a Show - Jazz Night

When: Febrary 20, 2009 - 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm (NOTE revised times!)
Where: Good Shepherd Lutheran Church - 5701 Raymond Road, Madison WI 53711
Enjoy a delicious dinner of fine traditional New Orleans cuisine (prepared by guest chefs) served to you at your table and enjoy a show by award-winning musicians setting the New Orleans mood! The guest chefs will be preparing traditional dishes including Chicken Pontalban, Pralines, Cafe Ole, and Beignets.

While you enjoy your meal you will be treated to dinner music by Jim Cali, followed by a full show of jazz performed by Hanah Jon Taylor (flute/sax), Tracy Jane Comer (vocals/guitar), and Ben Johnston-Urey (keyboard) with Leif Madsen (drums), Steve Kasprzak (upright bass) and guest Randy Green (keyboards). This is an all-star cast of award-winning musicians!

All proceeds from this fundraiser go to defray the cost of the senior high youth's trip to the ELCA National Youth Gathering this summer in New Orleans. At this event, Good Shepherd's youth will join with 30,000 other young Lutherans for worship, learning, fellowship and service.

Tickets are $25 per person or $40 per couple; space is limited to reserve your tickets now. See THIS LINK for online sales or call the church at 608-271-6633.

Goodbyes, Part 2

(This is a continuation of previous entry, and the following content was originally part of that post.)

The past two years have provided many reasons to reflect and prioritize (refer to previous entry, "Goodbyes"). Spending time with my loved ones is definitely a priority to me now.

Consequently, I have made a decision to change the nature of my musical life for the indefinite future. This decision is to allow me to heal emotionally and physically from the effects of an increasing lack of balance and a blurring of life vision in the last several years, since beginning my career as a singer-songwriter. Sadly, the nature of independent music in today's world requires a 24/7 effort in marketing plus a plethora of other tasks and details and trivialities that do not involve picking up an instrument or singing. For me, that leaves far too little time for music, let alone for other things in life.

I will always have music in my life in one form or another, even if just in my living room. But for me, making music a "business" has removed the joy and steadily drained my creative energy. I applaud those who are more energetic (younger!), or have the resources to accomplish the marketing and booking work via outsourcing. There are many fine artists out there who enrich our world with great music.

I appreciate the strong support I have had from terrific fans at live performances and through Internet sites and music sales over the years. I may record and publish some new material for digital release in the future and may perform from time to time in informal settings but I am not seeking bookings and will probably not be updating websites/profiles regularly.

Peace,
Tracy

Goodbyes

I said goodbye to my longtime best friend (for more than 30 years), Mary Ann Kyles Ingram, on October 30, 2008. She lived with cancer for over 2 years. I say "lived with cancer," because that is exactly what she did.

She was just 45 years old, mother to six terrific children (ages 5 to 19) and a devoted wife. She packed at least 10 years worth of living into the last 26 months and was a wonderful role model to everyone for treating each day as a gift. She gave her all to her children, homeschooling them plus being a scout leader, dance coach, sports mom (basketball, judo and more), and in providing them many opportunities to make friends and explore all kinds of activities from piano lessons to Gavel Club to designing computer games. And she and her husband have raised their children in a very faith-centered household as well. Her children have thus been empowered to live up to their full potential with confidence, honor, dignity, and compassion, and with a sense of balance.

I was very fortunate to be able to visit Mary Ann frequently during her illness, so a blessing for me has been in getting to know her children better and forming bonds with them. It was an honor and a privilege to be with her family, around her bed, when Mary Ann drew her last breath.

Another blessing has been the opportunity to learn from Mary Ann's example. The last 2+ years have been a time of much reflection for me in terms of examining priorities and looking at issues of life balance.

I lost another good friend in May to a tragic murder, and my grandmother passed away in July. Now there are others very close to me with serious health concerns. More reasons to reflect and prioritize.

Continuation/more in next entry, "Goodbyes, Part 2..."

Peace,
Tracy