Michele Mele - Blog

I’ve always loved NY.

The first time I was here was 25 years ago on a professional development weekend. One music teacher, one art teacher, a business teacher, and, I think, a French teacher. Add the Waldorf Astoria, 2 days of Museums, and lovely dinners and stir. Some of the stories are not appropriate for public consumption!!

Since then I have never fallen out of love with NY and I finally figured out why, only a few months ago. Everyone in New York is there because they want something better. They want to move forward, they want more, they want PASSION. From the most recent immigrant to the established business professional, from the struggling server/actress to the most successful musician, New York holds the key to self-fulfillment.

I think it’s because of the variety of people, the variety of businesses, still, and the huge respect and reverence for the arts.

As a Toronto girl, another city that I know and will always love, playing in New York means stepping out of a comfortable circle and into a magical realm. Everything feels possible - probably because everything IS possible here!

I welcome this opportunity to play at Iridium and I really feel confident that it is a spring into the universe of possibilities.

So, for the Library gig I need a little P.A.

Flying in, I don’t want to bring my wireless mic and clumsy amp, so I’m trying to think of a way to get a system up to the 179th Street Branch. They have no audio equipment, and I’ll be singing to tracks because of the same issue of trying to get a musician and their instrument way up there!!

The family workshop will be fun and wonderful but the logistics need to be worked out. Angst is rising but panic is not ensuing…yet!

I’ll need a little digital CD player… my computer, 1 or 2 speakers, and an amp/mixer with a bit of reverb and a mic and I’ll probably have to set it all up myself as there doesn’t seem to be a “sound man!!”

So much for playing the Diva game!!!

Hopefully all of that will fit in a cab, since I don’t have a dolly to bring it on the subway, and besides, it’s difficult to move heavy equipment in heels! I know local guys must deal with this all the time, but it feels a bit different as a “foreigner!”

The truth is, it’s all nothing compared to how much I love doing what I do!! It just doesn’t matter! (hahahahah)

After a year of sold-out houses in and around Toronto, performance artist, musician, singer/songwriter, and teacher Michele Mele brings her show, Naked on the Rocks, to New York’s prestigious Iridium Jazz Club on Friday, May 29 at 7PM. Accompanying Mele on this musical journey will be some of New York’s finest musicians. The following day, May 30 at 3PM, Michele will be presenting a Children’s Workshop at the New York Public Library, 179th Street Branch.

* Friday May 29, 7PM: Iridium Jazz Club, NYC,
1650 Broadway, 212.582.2121 ($20 Tickets, $15 Minimum)
* Saturday May 30, 3PM: New York Public Library
179th Street Branch. Free 45 min concert/workshop
* Tuesday, June 9, 8PM: Statlers Piano Lounge and Cabaret at Statlers, Michele Mele Quartet
* Wednesday, June 10: Daniel’s of Nobleton,
Michele Mele Quartet - Open-Mic (All welcome)
• Wednesday, June 17: Paul Hahn Pianos
7PM Mini-concert / 7:30PM Q&A with Michele Mele and Bernie Senensky

Well, today is still very charged with some kind of positive powerful energy.

The chain reaction thing is amazing. One thing leads to another…remember that song by…who was it?? I can’t remember. Anyway, the focus of the Iridium gig has created a need for networking and positive action from my end. Consequently, I have had to create some other gigs locally, and they in turn have motivated me to get my new show going. Resurrecting some tunes written a few years ago has motivated me to write more new material, and that has made me feel great!! (Hahaha!)

Publicity for the gig has created a need to reconnect with contacts that I had lost touch with, or who had come into my life for some unknown reason… Mamapalooza, for example, is an organization that I was introduced to by my wonderful friend, singer/songwriter/performer Debbie Fleming.

Today I realized why I had to connect with them. I had done 3 free gigs with their Mother’s Day events here in Toronto, and really enjoyed them each time. I didn’t know why I was doing it, besides my usual love, joy, excitement, peace always found in music!! It was my musicians and it was always out of pocket, but I did them anyway.

My “team” Steve and Robbie asked me to think of any contacts or organizations to get in touch with who are in New York who would like to come out to the show. Mamapalooza is perfect!!! They are based in New York, they are all for mothers, and all the performers are mothers. They understand multi-tasking and getting dinner on the table before heading out to a gig!

Suddenly something small and tiny and seemingly insignificant, falling into place, has so much energy to it, it makes me laugh! (Hahaha!)

The issue of trust has been coming up a lot over the past few months…

 It shows itself in various arenas: kids, spouses/partners, employees, vendors and, of course, since I’m writing this sitting beside the piano, music.

 I find trust one of the most important elements in the presentation of a musical experience. Trust among the players, trust that the audience is there to enjoy themselves, and trust in yourself, that you have done the work and it will all be OK.

 My daughter was singing in a local competition recently, and we were rehearsing together. She has the sweetest voice I have ever heard (of course!!) and sings perfectly in tune with a phenomenal sense of rhythm. She was feeling like she was out of tune and wasn’t sure if it was good enough. Well, the truth is, it wasn’t great, but the reason was, she was not letting go. If even one note is to be received as true and pure, then there must not be any of the Self attached to it. One has to totally let go and stop thinking. The only way to stop thinking/worrying/forcing/over-functioning, is to trust in oneself.

 Have fun. Enjoy the moment, and be one with the music, and in turn all the people around you, and in turn, the universe.

I know it sounds “blah blah blah”… but TRUST ME (hahaha) I also know it’s true.

 Mailing out the charts for the show, the first time was like parting with a baby. It was really quite an experience. I had copied the parts and made a second set of books. I felt like I was sending off my treasures to an unknown destination never to be seen again… or worse, to be scrutinized and criticized by heavy unsympathetic musicians who wouldn’t be able to follow all the markings and think the music was… you know… the “s ” word!!!

 Well, I was immensely relieved when they let me know that they had received the packages with a CD and the music and had already listened and were looking forward to doing the gig!!!

 All I have to say is I LOVE NEW YORK MUSICIANS!!!!!!!

 This time, I didn’t think twice about sending out the books and am looking forward to working with my wonderful darling colleagues again!!! Imagine that! I just can’t wait and think it will really be a lot of fun!! And now that “my team” is in place I have no worries!!! (hahahaha)

 That will all change next week!!!!

I’m feeling confident and secure because of my trust in the universe.

Everything that has occurred over the past 6 months was meant to happen. I was fortunate enough to play at the Bitter End in Greenwich Village in NY a few months ago. My friend had connected me with the booking agent and a guitar and bass player. The booking agent listened to my stuff and offered me a date right away. Wow! I was really excited.

I emailed the musicians and was thrilled by their speedy and enthusiastic response. They had also listened to some of my music online and were looking forward to the gig. I sent them the charts along with a CD and one email about musical nuances in the songs. After many phone calls and emails, we realized there would be no rehearsal. We arrived at the venue in time for a quick sound check, and in no time the show had started and I was singing the last song.

We could feel the energy of the audience. They were happy and enjoying the music. We played the show without any mistakes… well, only one missed cue… but it was funny and we all laughed, so - all good. We bonded as performers and sounded like a band that had been playing together for years. We were received wonderfully with abounding positive feedback and new fans. We all left the club feeling like we had found new soulmates and stepped into a new space. What a high. I had even received an email from Tony Salvatore, the guitar player, saying how much he enjoyed the gig and wanted to do it again.

The following night I found out that the booking agent was furious that there weren’t enough people in the club…. I fell into the hole…I cried and cried…and cried.” I’ve ruined my career, why did I do this? I thought everyone loved it. Am I in another world? I’ll never work in NY again…” My darling girlfriends “talked me off the ledge.” A few days later I was talking to Scott Barbarino of Iridium Jazz Club and he said “We’re working really hard to fit you in Michele. Hang on one second and I’ll make a call and let you know.” And within minutes I was playing Iridium May 29th… Yikes!

The most wonderful and beautiful part of this story is that I met my production team, Steve and his beautiful partner Robbie. They are total soul mates, and they get me…. not that I’m that hard to “get.” They were the reason I had to play Bitter End. And I had to meet Tony. He has recommended a book to me: The Gift, by Lewis Hyde. It has been an amazing read because it articulates many of the things I feel and stress in my show, and is affirmation that I am not the only one who believes in the elegance of art.

Now I know that the upcoming gig is the “real” one. It’s going to be fantastic because the energy is unstoppable.