This New Year's Eve we have a "blue moon" (2 full moons in one calendar month, which happens about once every two-and-a-half years*).
Like a lot of people, I get "blue" in the winter. It might sound odd, but I love this dark time, it requires a sort of restful surrender. Music and singing help me through. And as the days get longer, the blues fade away.
This song was written by Wiley Walker and Gene Sullivan. I am sending you the version from my recent debut album
Nell Robinson in Loango.~ It features some amazing musicians I met this year, Jim Nunally, John Reischman, Trisha Gagnon, Nick Hornbuckle and Greg Spatz (aka John Reischman and the Jaybirds), and the sweet harmonies of Keith Little.
To all the folks who have been such generous and loving supporters of my music and journey this year...thank you.^
As the darkness gives way to light, may your new year be filled with love and beauty and music and joy, and...your blue moon turn to gold again.
Nell (Hilary)
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* The original definition of a "blue moon" or "belewe moon" (meaning betrayer moon) was the third full moon in a season of four full moons (as opposed to the regular three full moons). More here if you are interested.
~ Thank you so much to those of you who have bought an album! We printed 1000 CDs and 250 vinyl LPs of "Nell Robinson in Loango" and I so want these babies of mine to be out in the world, not moldering in boxes in my basement. You can buy them at nellrobinsonmusic.com/shop or cdbaby.com/cd/NellRobinson. I hope you enjoy the music and the stories behind it.
^ While I am counting my blessings, I'd like to acknowledge many of the musicians I have had the privilege of singing with in 2010. Singing is a very intimate thing to do with others, it exposes your heart to sometime strangers. You try to be brave but not harden yourself. The current Red Level: Yoseff Tucker, Dave Gooding, John Cogdill; Jonathan Schiele; Laurie Lewis, Tom Rozum, Andrew Conklin, Cary Sheldon, Tony Marcus, Richard Brandenburg; "Loango" musicians in addition to the above, Chad Manning, Patrick Sauber, Todd Phillips, Kathy Kallick, Joe Craven, Mike Witcher; Glenn Dauphin with his beautiful harmonies; Soldier Stories Band: Mayne Smith, Harry Yaglijian, Johnny Harper (Schiele and Gooding again!); Larry Carlin, Claudia Hampe, Christina Nypaver, Alan Bond; Chuck and Jeanie Poling; 09 SFBOT Committee: Jeff Kazor, Tom Lucas, Brian Lamoreaux, Jack Thrift, Ken Frankel, Dave Zimmerman; Deirdre Donovan and the MGB Band; Take the Stage shows: Lou Ponticas, Lisa Burns, Dennis Chowenhill (Zimmerman and Nunally again!); Take the Stage folks at Grass Valley, including Kelly Trojan, Jacob Ofman, Linda and Michael Juratovac, Scott Peterson, Fred Cone, Geoff Sargent, Maureen Blumenthal; TTS Spring, Summer and Fall participants; David Thom and Larry Cohea (and Dauphin again!) for a friend's birthday...if I left you off the list, sorry! (What can I say, my brain is getting old.)
