sarahsharp-blog

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Super raw, but pretty sweet.  Our volunteer soundman angel friend, RR recorded one track straight off the board last week. 

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RENT PARTY

I’m delighted to find this demo from 11-05-2014.  A song called Rent Party, written with Slim Richey and Kris Wade. They’re on this demo. It started with Slim giving me pages and pages of notes he had. He had wanted to write this song for years. I spent time with Slim’s note, pulled in Kris Wade and Kris and I worked on it the night before this demo. We came up with the music, melody, used as many of Slim’s ideas as we could cram into this song. Slim was so excited, he came to my house the next night to make this demo. Slim added the coolest part. The trippy slowing down key changing waltz part. Listen for it. It’s so Slim. The whole thing is. These were excellent times. Literally a few days before Slim got a cancer diagnosis.  I think we tried this song live once at Elephant Room. Never recorded it.  We should!

Rent Party Slim Richey, Kristopher Lee Wade, Sarah Sharp

Sweet Lucile was living hard More like hardly living, she was stuck She lost everything but 3 holes in the roof, an old silver tooth and an endless string of bad luck She asked Minnie Moore, girl what do I do, where’m I  gonna go now Minnie said, bitch chill out, I got it figured out and I’m finna tell you how

You know back in the day, Fats had the right idea He would spend his last dime on some not so fine shine and at the end of the night, he would more than break even So all we need’s some 80 proof, pass the hat, everybody’s down with that, let’s raise the roof  

If you need to make a dollar, well there ain’t no need to holler, Girl, we all know that your money’s spent (Hidy Hidy Hos say - “ain’t that the truth!”) Just loosen your collar, gonna do like Fats Waller, And party down to pay the rent

We told everyone we knew about the party, the neighbors, the milkman, paperboy, event the fuzz Freddie the freeloader slipped something in the punch that gave EVERYONE an extra buzz

These 4 dudes show up out of nowhere that none of us had ever known One of them was so handsome in a white tux, all the ladies said “Hidy Hidy Ho”

There was a heay-set guy with a derby & a cigar, goes to the piano, starts talking about a viper And there was some guy guitar, he was playing with 2 fingers, had pencil thin ‘stache, Fiddle player they called Stuff, It was more than enough That everybody threw down all their cash

If you need to make a dollar, well there ain’t no need to holler, Girl, we all know that your money’s spent Just loosen your collar, gonna do like Mr. Waller, And party to pay the rent

The music sounded groovy Everyone was flippin And we knew that we were trippin when the record they weren’t playing didn’t ever start skipping (waltz starts on slowing, changing keys)

It was like coming out of a dream Lucile didn’t know what in tarnation had happened Everyone was gone except, Minnie over in the corner in her BVDs nappin’ She said…. Man, Minnie wasn’t wrong All you need’s a little, Dough, re mi stick of tea, & a song

If you need to make a dollar, well there ain’t no need to holler, Girl, we all know that your money’s spent Just loosen your collar, gonna do like Fats Waller, And party to pay the rent If you need to make a dollar, well there ain’t no need to holler, Girl, we all know that your money’s spent Just loosen your collar, gonna do like Mr. Waller, And party to pay the rent

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This is love. We love @gpatharris too, but he's not here yet. @balconytv @balconytvaustin @blackfret volunteer appreciation party. #musicatx #photoby @joelynchbtv (at Balcony TV!) https://www.instagram.com/p/BqDl-BClOyF/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=zm7j8thy9wlg

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What Angus drew during church. 

“It’s a penis that stole the buttcheek’s candy on Halloween with people stood by in the background and he’s running away, but he’s running over lava on a bridge, so once he steps on the cracked bit, gonna fall cause he can’t jump and he can’t walk over it because he only has balls for feet.

Either way, he’s doomed. And he’s also peeing on the buttcheek’s head.”

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Carolyn Branda - Eulogy

11-5-49 to 7-16-18

This is the Eulogy I gave at my mother’s funeral yesterday.

On the day George Harrison from the Beatles died, my mom called me in tears and told me of a memory from before I was born, when Elizabeth was a baby. They were on a road trip to visit uncle Pat and aunt Patty in Kansas.  They came upon a landscape where they could see an entire train in the distance. It was running parallel to the highway with the sun rising behind it.  Neither mom nor dad had ever seen that before, the full length of a train. The sunrise behind it was spectacular and at that moment, the Beatles song “Here Comes The Sun” came on the radio.  My mom wept as she described this as one of the most exquisitely beautiful moments of her life, in which she was truly happy. 

Mom felt everything that deeply. I’m certain this contributed to her piano playing, her parenting and all of her relationships. How deeply she cared about everything.

Mom is remembered by so many here as a musician with a magnetic personality who was always everyone’s favorite person to talk to. The most well-read, well-spoken, philosophical, interesting person at the party with a sharp sense of humor and a unique ability to understand people. Her spirit was equal parts analytic, empathetic and generous.

Mom loved her family deeply.  As the oldest of 8 children, they were an extension of her identity and at least half of her social life.  We hear stories of how our house was where everyone wanted to be and how she was always available.

My siblings and I have been talking about this and Liz remembers Mom from this time, from before she was very ill. For Matt and me, it’s more of a cloudy impression, but what’s certain for all of us is that she had an incredible heart, which came through in countless ways. Adopting Matt without hesitation when he needed a family, and instantly loving him as her own... carrying a deep sense of right and wrong and compassion. 

Mom was passionately political. And while sometimes that part of her could be difficult for some, her politics were always truly guided by a genuine concern for people who are overlooked and most in need, caring about “the least among us” in the way that Jesus would. At her core, Carolyn had a beautiful heart.  

She gave the pleasure of her music to me, and to so many people, and that pleasure will always be there.  In addition to the music she made, we’ve noticed that a common theme in our memories is what it was like to witness mom experience music. The way she danced, the way she grooved…

Elizabeth remembers mom streaming tears as they listened to Fleetwood Mac’s “Landslide” in the van. I think of mom dancing in her seat while driving that van to  “We Built This City on Rock n Roll”, The Pointer Sisters, Spyro Gyra.

Mom passed on Monday and one point towards the end of the day, my kids went down to play at the neighbor’s house. In my first moment of stillness with the new reality of her being on her way to heaven, or already there, my instinct was to fill that space with as much joy as I could conjure. I pulled up Stevie Wonder’s “Isn’t She Lovely”.  It’s the song that is my fondest childhood memory. It turns out to be one of Liz’s as well... our parents singing and dancing to it as if it was written about us. I danced in my living room to the entire song, moving like mom would, including the way she rolled her wrists and as I lifted my palms up and up, encouraging her spirit to fly free and go swiftly on her way to God.

Towards the end of the song I said out loud to her, “Mom, I’m sorry that so much of your life has been so difficult, but now you are free and I feel a deep sense of purpose around creating as much joy and light in my life and for my children as we can.” And I told her that I intend to share that with her because I have no doubt that mom and I will remain connected.

And then… as if in fluid conversation, my music player randomly chose the next song. It played “Here Comes the Sun.”

And for that moment, I could see her whole life the way she saw that whole train.  And it helped me see that her journey was much more than her struggles and to feel immense gratitude for the purity of her spirit that will endure and the love we will always share.

 I love you, mom.

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“Vinyl… Although I’m surrounded by digital media throughout my waking moments, listening to a great jazz, blues, Motown, classic rock, or pop record is a welcome respite from the disconnectedness of our time.” “It’s an active (interactive), sensual experience. The smell… pulling the shrink-wrap off virgin vinyl, the anticipation… knowing that something new awaits your …

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Last night, y'all... @parkerjazzclub Is an exquisite room to play. We'll be back! Regram from @jojolemon (at Parker Jazz Club)

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Just released the 1st of 4 EPs coming out over the next year.  

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INDIE 5-0: 5 QUESTIONS WITH SARAH SHARP

Sarah Sharp is a multiple Austin Music Award-winning songwriter and Jazz singer. As a former member of Jitterbug Vipers , the DIY release of her full-length debut of Viper Jazz inspired originals earned her top placements in the 2014 Austin music awards for Best Female Vocalist, Best Producer, Best Songwriter, Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Band of the Year, Best Jazz Band and was featured on NPR’s Song Travels with Michael Feinstein. 2018 promises to be a game-changing year for Sarah. She is one of the winning recipients of Austin’s Black Fret Grants and in addition to funding, Black Fret provides access for Austin based musicians to an Advisory Board comprised of 38 of Austin’s leading music industry professionals. We were lucky enough to get to chat with Sarah about her musical influences, latest single and more!

1. We are loving your new single, “You Don’t Dare ”! Could you tell us a bit about the writing and recording process?   I wrote the song about a theme that I saw repeating in many relationships. It’s basically saying, “Why not just go all the way through it and see what happens, instead of guarding against every potential hurt or difficulty. It’s more difficult not to know. You’ve been hurt. You survived. How bad can it be?”

I recorded this track in Brooklyn with Wilson Marks – guitar, Jared Engel – bass, Nicholas Faulk – drums and Phoebe Hunt producing. Wilson and I met Phoebe’s band when she had us as part of a music festival in Bentonville, Arkansas where we all used her band as the house band.  I loved playing with her players so much, I decided to go to Brooklyn to make a record with Phoebe producing. Two of the songs from this EP and all 5 songs from the next EP, which comes out in a few months are from those sessions.

2. If you could have dinner with any musician, dead or alive, who would it be and why?

If I have to name one, Billie Holiday.

3. With acclaim from various outlets such as NPR with the Jitterbug Vipers, did you feel any pressure writing your new solo songs? Even during my JBV days, I was constantly writing. I love to write, so there’s no pressure there. I suppose there is concern though that people might not want to make such a big shift into this territory. The Phoebe’s Dream album was such a lighting in the bottle piece of magic and it captured Slim Richey so beautifully before he passed. There was no way for me to stick such a specific niche or attempt to keep what we had going without Slim.   My next EP is more Pop, the 3rd EP is the most Jazz, probably the closest to JBV.  I think by the time the 3rd EP comes out, people will hopefully accept that it’s all me, even though I span a lot of genre territory.  The plan is to release a new EP every 3 months over the next year and PERHAPS I’ll keep going.

4. Who are your top three biggest musical influences? This question is so hard. This might be more what I listened to growing up than direct influences, but surely it’s all an influence. Willie Nelson, Eva Cassidy, Carole King, Billie Holiday, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, early Bonnie Raitt, Harry Nilsson, Leonard Cohen, early Sting, Leona Naess, Beyonce’s Lemonade album, Fatboy Slim & I love his side project Brighton Port Authority, James Taylor, Mark Geary, Rolling Stones, Eminem, Elliot Smith…

5. What’s next for you? Any plans to tour this year?

My main focus is releasing these four Eps over the next year. I would love to tour again. I’m trying to build up to that. It’s such magic when you can afford to tour and hopefully keep the band feeling fulfilled and appreciated on the road.

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Guitar vocal duet, inspired by Peggy Lee's version. This was a quick demo this morning, just sitting next to Mitch in the control room of his studio. We slapped down a take so that Mitch could write us a chart to play it next week at Continental Club. I'm quite fond of this! I'm honored to play with Mitch. We wrote a song together this morning as well. :)

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“I have a bubble, a cloud, and a bucket above my head.”

I think she was my mom in one of our past lives...

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From the mouths of babes… The day before I had this conversation with my 7 year old daughter, I tried a session with a spiritual guide who talked to me about my past lives, contracts I was carrying… Woo Woo stuff.   The last thing she told me was that I needed to have a bubble, to place a bubble somewhere high, like above my home and fill it with every dream, hope, positive intention. She told me about her bubble. I wrote it down. Wrote some intentions in the bubble.

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“Mom, is it Ok if I be the real superhero Batman when I grow up?” - Angus

“That would be amazing, I would be so proud... If you can be safe. Do you think you can be safe?” - Me

“Yes....... but first I will have to find Gotham city then we’ll have to find Batman and he’ll have to teach me how to aim the bat boomerangs.” - Angus

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Francie Meaux Jeaux & Sarah Sharp Jitterbug Vipers C-Boy’s Austin, Texas 2015 #dkcoley

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Some favorite @jitterbugvipers pics from the last few months.  Photo credits include Mike Woods, Cisco Gamez, atxhippiechick, Charles Acosta, Clayton Hodges and ourselves

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Sarah Sharp of the Jitterbug Vipers C-Boys Heart & Soul Austin, Texas October 3, 2014

#deborah k coley