Baby, I'm a Fool

You all know I love Jazz. While listening to Internet radio (love it!) today I discovered a gem of a vocalist--the lovely Melody Gardot.

Every artist has a story. Melody's is at the heart of her music. When she was 19, Melody was hit by a car. During her recovery she used music as a form of therapy, even recording and releasing tracks while still in the hospital. Once out, she started playing around Philadelphia. Before long Universal Records signed her. Her first full-length album, Worrisome Heart, displayed her gift for transforming the traditions of jazz and blues with her intimate and personal sound.

Why haven't I heard of this gal before now? No matter, she is amazing. The song is, "Baby, I'm A Fool", the video is retro-noir-sexy and not available to embed on blogs so please, do visit the link and indulge! As for me...iTunes, here I come.

Happy Weekend, Readers!

Image via, artist info via.

Friday Music: Kelly Clarkson - Already Gone

Well, alright, Kelly Clarkson. I'm a little late to the party as this single has already been released but I sure like this version. Much nicer than the album version...it's not overdone, just emotional and lovely. I think she looks better, too, than in the "official" video. More natural, more real. Her country sound is shining through nicely as well. Pause my playlist in the right margin to enjoy this video clip...

Happy Friday, my friends!

Neat Things: American Idol Season 8

Ah, yes...American Idol's back and the auditions "start" on Fox tomorrow night.



I am really not a big TV-watcher, and "reality" shows can be some of the worst of the offerings on the airwaves. That being said, I shall now contradict myself and publicly admit (at least to the 83 people who read my blog) that I am a fan of American Idol. It took awhile to grow on me, and yes, I get weary of the bickering, the judges, Seacrest, and the rest...BUT...as a singing competition it is always such FUN!

Leave me a comment and let me know who your favorites were from any of the past seasons and if you'll be tuning in for Season 8!

Chris and I watch together. Here are some of our favorite performances from seasons 1-7.

(Just click the pause button on my AI playlist in the right column to enjoy the music on the video clips!)













Top to bottom, Contestant/AI Season: Melinda Doolittle (4), Kristy Lee Cook (7), Elliot Yamin (5), Brooke White (7), David Cook (7), Kelly Clarkson (1), Fantasia Barrino (3), Bo Bice (4), Michael Johns (7), Blake Lewis (6), Clay Aiken (2)

Lead Me On...takes me back

Thanks to a 30 second radio clip this morning...and a few clicks of the mouse across the Internet...we're going to enjoy Amy Grant in concert on Monday night! Amy's CD, Lead Me On was originally released in 1988. On June 24, 2008, Grant re-released the album in honor of its 20th Anniversary. The two-disc release includes the original album and a second disc with new acoustic recordings, live performances from 1989, and interviews with Amy. The current 20-city tour is a chance to celebrate and remember these wonderful songs.

"Watching people shed the years and remember the vibrancy and passion of a younger version of themselves is the only way I can describe the view from my vantage point [on the stage]. Looking back and remembering the best parts of our younger selves, less road weary and jaded, just might give us fresh inspiration for the next stage of life...which I believe, is the most important chapter yet." ~Amy Grant

Amy Facts

Amy Lee Grant (born November 25, 1960 in Augusta, Georgia) is an American singer-songwriter, best known for her Contemporary Christian music and pop music, and a New York Times Bestselling author, TV personality, and occasional actress.

Grant is considered by many to be one of the true pioneers of Gospel and Contemporary Christian music. She has had a strong influence on Gospel music and the Christian culture in the United States and beyond. She is the best-selling Christian music artist of all time, and is the 19th best-selling female solo artist in the United States. Grant has won six Grammy Awards, 21 Gospel Music Association Dove Awards, and had the first Christian album ever to go Platinum. Heart in Motion is her best selling album, which has exceeded sales of 5 million. [1]

Amy Grant has been one of my favorite singers since age 9. Through listening to her lovely voice I learned I was also an alto. In middle school, I penned poems and songs of my own inspired by her albums. In our senior year of high school, my best girlfriend and I sang a duet of her version of "El Shaddai" at our church.

Since 1977, Amy's heart has always shone through her voice and her songs. I haven't seen Amy in concert since 1991 so this concert will be like visiting an old friend. I like to think of her as a girl, sitting on a stool on a stage, guitar in hand, singing about her faith in God, her family and friends, about herself, and most of all, about love.

The play list for this weekend is all Amy Grant. I've included a variety of Amy's best through-the-years...from 2008 all the way back to 1977. If you think you know who Amy Grant is because of the Top 40 Pop charts just know that there's much more to Amy than her radio singles, "Baby, Baby", "Every Heartbeat", or the Peter Cetera duet back in '86, "Next Time I Fall". If you're a fan then you're probably already turning your speakers up. If you're new to Amy, give her a listen and find a new voice to enjoy.

Have a happy weekend, everyone!

[1] Wikipedia article, 2008.

Photos displayed are copyright by various sources.

Text copyright (except as noted), pfeiffer photos 2008.

Camp Namanu...sure to shine, all of the time

In elementary school, I was a Blue Bird and then a Camp Fire Girl. I memorized the Camp Fire Law, did service work, sold Camp Fire candy, earned colorful beads and patches to decorate my blue felt vest and for eight summers I enjoyed a week at Camp Namanu (pronounced: nah-mah-new) in Sandy, Oregon. My first job after graduating from high school was working with youth as a counselor at Camp Namanu. In the summer of 2004, unemployment and some stresses in life found me out in the woods, working, once again, at Namanu--this time as an Office Manager.

Camp Namanu, founded in 1924, is a magical place for many generations of campers, staff and alumni. In the forest, near a river, rustic, full of traditions and rituals and ever so lovely. This is a place to make some new friends, visit my old friends, sing camp songs around the dinner table or around a campfire, live in and learn about nature, sleep under the stars, laugh until my sides ache, work hard alongside others, hike up a creek, swim in the river, create things with my hands and to feel, if only for a week (or a summer), that I am accepted, just as I am, by all those around me. It is a place that I miss when I leave, long for when I've spent too much time in a city, and can go back and visit again and again through the years and it welcomes me, it always feels the same.

Last weekend launched the 86th year for Namanu with the annual Open House, and I visited again. Hubby Chris has come to enjoy it (although in a different way than me) as well. Each summer, when I visit, I invite a child (or two) that haven't experienced camping at Namanu. This time I invited our best friend's youngest, Rachel, we took a picnic and made a day of it. As hoped, she enjoyed exploring Namanu as much as I did sharing it with her. We enjoyed the fresh air, sunshine, birds, trees, old friends and, as always, hugs and laughter.

We all have a place that is special to our heart. For some, it's only in our memories but for me it's six miles east of Sandy, a mile up a gravel road, overlooking a river and part of who I am.

For view a video clip about Camp Namanu click HERE.

(Camp Namanu photos by Chris, Pfeiffer Photos 2008)

Flicker of a campfire, wind in the pine,

Stars in the heavens, a moon that shines,

A place where people gather meeting friends of all kind,

A place where old man trouble is always left behind,

So give me the light of a campfire warm and bright,

And give me some friends to sing with, I'll be here all night,

For love is for those who find it, I've found mine right here,

Just you and I and the campfire and the songs we love to hear.

What is the tie that binds us

Friends of the long, long trail.

Just this--we have shared the weather

We have slumbered side by side

And friends who have camped together

Shall never again divide.

photos copyright pfeiffer photos 2008 - all rights reserved.